An Appeal for Workers in the Southern Field.
By Walter Harper
DEAR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THE BROAD HARVEST FIELD: I am now in Hickory, N. C., near the Blue Ridge, about eighty miles east of the far-famed health resort city of Asheville, N. C. This part of the State is beautiful—plenty of foliage and variety of soil. Fruits, vegetables, cereals do well; in fact, the country produces enough of the necessary things of life. Land is cheap, and climate in these hills and mountains is healthful, with plenty of good water. Railroads go almost everywhere, and after July 1 the fare is to be two and one-fourth cents a mile in North Carolina. I began canvassing here last week with that priceless volume, “Great Controversy.” The idea seemed to prevail that this book could not be sold in the South. I came to demonstrate that, by the help of the Lord, it can be placed in the homes of the people. Our sufficiency, our success, our all, is of God. Lean heavily on the Everlasting Arms. Have faith that God will work in our behalf, then work as earnestly and perseveringly as if all depended upon our efforts. This combining of human effort with divine aid will accomplish marvelous results. I have seen it in North Carolina, in Tennessee, in Kentucky, and in States in the West. It does one’s soul good to meet with Southern people. There is an almost universal respect for religion and the Bible. Nearly all belong to some of the popular churches, but there are but few Catholics. I have found none so far. In this thriving city of 6,000 people there is no Catholic Church. Very few canvassers are seen here, and seldom an agent for books. Doors are open everywhere, not only in this State, but all over the ten or twelve States in the South with their millions of people. You have no trouble in getting a hearing, seldom refused and then not rebuffed. It is a pleasure to see such uniform courtesy and kindness of heart, and wide, open-hearted hospitality. The South is noted for these traits, and you have but to come here to prove its truthfulness. What a contrast in this part of the United States to see such a regard for God’s word, as compared with the infidelity, scoffing, open blasphemy, profanity, and all its long train one often meets in the West, North, and East. I can not recall hearing an oath since I reached this town. The latter-day delusions, such as Evolution, Spiritualism, New Thought, Christian Science, Mormonism, and a host of others, are almost unknown. There are few trades-unions, labor strikes, etc., in these parts. Times are the best ever known, business prosperous, labor scarce, and not enough to meet the demand, wages far better than for long years. To me this seems like a new world, a new experience. There is a large territory here in North Carolina, and other States are open, ready and longing for workers, white to the harvest. Large counties, county after county, have never been touched. O, why is all this shameful neglect? Why stay in the worn-out, worked-out territory of the West, North, East, and Northwest when there are scores, yes, hundreds, of new, fresh counties in the needy South pleading for help, calling for God’s saving message for to-day? Dear souls, cut loose, sell out, and come. God wants you here. His blessing will rest upon you here. You will have a new vitalizing experience here. You will feel that Heaven’s banner of love leads you, Heaven’s canopy is over you, shedding its beams of light and glory over your pathway. Here you will be doing the closing work of God,13soon to wind up. But rest assured that the enemy will contest every inch of the way when you decide to come. You will be buffeted, darkness cast over you and across your pathway till you make the move. Every sophistry will be presented to make you believe it is not the proper thing for you to do. Don’t listen to it. I have been all over the ground, and I know what you will have to meet. I know how to sympathize with you, and you all have my prayers. May God bless you all, and all whose hearts God makes willing to arise to the call. Come and close up the work; then we will go home to Zion, the new Jerusalem, with songs and everlasting joy upon our heads. Those who think of locating in North Carolina should first correspond with Elder T. H. Jeys, Spero, N. C., for further information; and if you think of canvassing, write also to Horace G. Miller, Gastonia, N. C. WALTER HARPER.