Putting in Full Time by A. F. Harrison

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 18, 1908

Putting in Full Time

By A. F. Harrison

I HAVE just been looking over the reports of the workers in the Southern Union Conference, and while I rejoice to see so many names of persons who have recently enlisted in our ranks, it pains me when I see how little time many of the workers are putting in, and I wonder what can be the matter. There are very few who have put in good time. How shall we feel about this kind of work in the judgment? What excuse can we render then?

I remember once when I was a young man I hired out for fifteen dollars a month and my board. I never lost a day in eight months, and never put in a day less than from twelve to sixteen hours long. I was up in the morning before daylight, and worked until after dark during the months of June, July, and August, and never thought of grumbling or complaining. That would be about fifty-seven cents a day, or three and one half to four and one half cents an hour for hard work, through harvest. That year I saved out of eight months' wages one hundred ten dollars in cash, and thought I was doing well, and so I was. But what could I have saved if I had worked only fifteen or twenty hours each week? How long would my employer have wanted me?—Not long, I assure you.

I did all this for one object, and that was to gain a little of this world's goods. But now I am working for the Lord, and for souls who are perishing for want of light; and to put in only a few hours would indicate a lack of interest in this work, don't you think so? When a canvasser puts in full time, you can rest

assured that he is anxious to reach the people, and bring this precious message to them. Such a course shows also that he is anxious to meet his Lord, which can never be done until this work is finished.

I notice, however, that a few have put in good time. Brother Elliott, of Alabama, a new worker, in last week's report shows sixty hours' work, and I see that his sales are over one dollar an hour. I have an idea that he felt good when the week's work was done. Brother Cheek, of Louisiana, was out forty-nine hours, and his orders were over one dollar an hour; Brother Collison, of the same State, reached the standard, forty hours, and was rewarded to the amount of $1.32 for each hour's work.

It is not the good territory that these brethren have that enables them to take so many orders, but the hours' work that they faithfully put in; for I notice that those who put in only a few hours do just as well for the time they are out.

Now, dear workers, don't you think it is about time that we were waking up, buckling on the whole armor, and getting right down to business? What do you say? I shall watch the reports. — A. F. Harrison, in Report of Progress.