A Canvassing Institute in Mexico City by H. H. HALL

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 3, 1908

A Canvassing Institute in Mexico City

By H. H. HALL

According to the arrangements made by the committee appointed at the last General Conference Council, a canvassing institute was held in Mexico City, July 19-29. It was attended by Brethren J. A. P. Green, Earl C. Hackett, J. L. Brown, and A. A. Reinke, of California, who had been selected to open the book work in that field. They arrived the seventeenth, in company with Brother L. E. Borle, of the Pacific Press, who is to take charge of the printing-office there. Brethren S. Marchisio, Christian Schulz, and E. Fernandez, who have been engaged in colporteur work in the republic, were also present. Mrs. Burgos, a Bible worker, and Dr. W. S. Swayze, Elder G. W. Caviness, and Brother Placentia attended nearly all the meetings, and assisted in our language study.

Our first meeting was certainly one that we shall all long remember. Brother Caviness welcomed the new workers, and expressed his conviction that the work among the fifteen millions of Mexico must be carried on largely by means of the printed page. Dr. Swayze related some interesting incidents proving that many people were anxious to know the truth, and closed his talk with these words: “It is the literature that is going to do the work in this republic.”

We began at nine o’clock in the morning with a season of prayer, in which nearly every one pleaded for ability to learn this new language quickly, so as to present our books intelligently. This was followed by an hour’s general instruction, led by Brother Green. After a ten-minute recess, we studied the Spanish canvass for “Coming King.” (Copies of this canvass in Spanish may be obtained by addressing the writer.) This continued for another hour, following which we took up the study of “Gospel Primer” in Spanish, and the Spanish language.

At three o’clock each day we held a council meeting, in which the various questions relating to the work in Mexico were carefully considered. Following this, we again took up the study of the “Coming King” canvass.

I have seen canvassing classes who thought it was hard to memorize an English canvass. How I wish they might have been with us as we struggled with this one in Spanish. But in the ten days we had practically mastered it, and were able to apply it to the Spanish book very intelligently.

As a result of our council meetings, it was decided to make special effort among the better classes. We found these classes accustomed to simple contract forms similar to the guarantee blank we use in the States. Therefore we decided to print some of these in Spanish, and see if they could not be used.

Dr. Swayze is well acquainted with the leading men in Guadalajara, and volunteered to assist Brother Green after he had mastered the language, in meeting and securing the orders from these gentlemen. Every canvasser will appreciate the advantage such names will give our workers there. While learning the language, and getting familiar with the best methods of entering the Spanish homes, the English-speaking portions of the city will be worked. Brethren Marchisio and Schulz, who have been doing colporteur work with the paper and tracts, will continue in that line for the present. At the close of the institute they started out on a trip that will probably last six months.

Just before I left, Brother A. G. Nelson, of New Mexico, sent in a list of over fifty subscriptions for El Mensajero, the Spanish paper, which had been taken in connection with his other work in a week’s time. This makes something over six hundred subscriptions he has sent in this year. The record for another colporteur was over one thousand subscriptions in a year. Brother Bowers, who is working near Mazatlan, on the Pacific Coast, has sold books during the past three months to the amount of four hundred ten dollars Mexican.

Any one desiring additional information concerning the book work there, should write to J. A. P. Green, who has been elected canvassing agent. His address is Num. 1420 Avenida 20, Tacubaya, D. F., Mexico.

H. H. HALL.