p. 15 | The Southeastern Union Conference by V. O. COLE

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 9, 1908

The Southeastern Union Conference

By V. O. COLE

It has been only a short time since this, the youngest of our union conferences was organized. It includes East Tennessee (or the Cumberland Conference), North and South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. Perhaps a few items from each of these five local conferences may be of interest to our brethren living in more favored parts of the field.

We will first mention Georgia, which was the last settled of the original thirteen States. It is known as the great Empire State of the South. With its population of two million six hundred thousand we have only about one hundred and forty-four who make a profession of this truth. There are only five churches and two or three ministers in the entire conference. There are one hundred forty-six counties, most of which are thickly populated, and only two of these counties have been worked at all thoroughly with our books. Nearly one hundred counties have not been touched at all by our canvassers.

South Carolina has a population of one million three hundred forty thousand, with only about one hundred Sabbath-keepers in the State. It has forty-one thickly populated counties. Only ten of these have been canvassed at all, and that with only one book, “The Coming King,” leaving thirty-one counties which have not been touched with any of our books.

Strange to say, it was not until this year that any of our canvassers believed that our large books could be sold in these extreme Southern States; but those who are breaking off from the old idea, and using the larger books, are having remarkable success. One brother here in South Carolina, who had been working steadily for more than a year with “Coming King,” but had never taken more than $65 worth of orders in one week, began with “Daniel and the Revelation” a short time ago, and sold $118 worth the first week. Another had been using “Seer of Patmos” alone, thinking the people would not spend more than $1 or $1.50 for a book. But as he worked, his faith began to grow, so he clubbed the two books, “Seer of Patmos” and “Story of Daniel” together as companion volumes. He found that he could make just about as many sales with the two as he could with one volume alone. His orders for the first four days in working on this plan amounted to $75.

Next we will mention North Carolina, which is second in area and also in population, in this union. More than one million nine hundred seventy-six thousand are here waiting for this truth, and there are only about three hundred Sabbath-keepers in the State. It contains ninety-seven counties, of which thirty-two have been worked with only one book, and thirty-one have been only partially worked with one book, and thirty-four have never been touched with any of our bound volumes. This conference is noted for its high, healthy climate and beautiful mountain scenery.

Although the canvassing force is small, those who are putting in faithful time are doing well. One brother, who is working for “Daniel and the Revelation” recently came in Friday afternoon with $102 worth of orders that the Lord had helped him to take in one week.

The Cumberland Conference comes next. This conference includes the eastern half of Tennessee, and has a population of 796,931. The Southern Training School at Graysville is located in this conference; therefore it has a few more Sabbath-keepers than any of the other local conferences of the union. Here we have five hundred fifty Sabbath-keepers, yet this is only about one twelfth as many as there are in the California Conference. Here we have thirteen counties that have never been touched by our canvassers as far as our record shows; sixteen counties have been partially worked for “Coming King,” and a few others have been worked with some of our larger books. One brother writes that he has canvassed in seven different States; and, taking everything into consideration, he prefers East Tennessee to any conference he ever worked.

Last, but by no means least in importance, is Florida, which covers an area of 50,990 square miles, with at present only six or seven canvassers. There are forty-six large counties; and as far as the record goes, only eight of them have been worked with our books, and half of this number have been worked with only one book.

Much could be said to induce canvassers who lived in a less favored climate to take up work in this State; but I should think that the fact that so many thousands of tourists and invalids flock to this country to spend the winter and spring, would be a greater argument than any I could possibly present. While books can be sold at all seasons of the year, winter furnishes a golden harvest-time for the faithful canvasser.

It is a demonstrated fact that the South is a good field to canvass, and one attractive feature of the work here is that we do not have to go into long winter quarters; but the canvassers do well twelve months in the year. As a rule the people are hospitable. If charge is made for meals and lodging, it is usually a very reasonable amount, and that is deducted from the order for books.

Here we have a large home missionary field at our door. While we should cultivate a foreign missionary spirit; let us remember that those who make the best foreign missionaries become good home missionaries first.

Brethren, it is true that the Lord will soon come; yet this entire Southern field will have to be worked before any of us will be permitted to see the King in his beauty, or receive the reward that is laid up for the faithful.

If our great need, together with your love for the truth, and longing desire to see the work closed, should appeal to you to have a part with us in this work, the undersigned, the presidents of the local conferences, or the State agents, would be glad to hear from you, and gladly render any assistance possible in helping you to get located in just the right place. My address is R. F. D. 4, Riceville, Tenn.

V. O. COLE, Gen. Miss. Agent Southeastern Union Conference.