p. 18 | Canvassers’ Convention by F. E. Painter

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 30, 1907

Canvassers’ Convention

By F. E. Painter

THE canvassers’ convention at South Lancaster, April 19-21, was an unqualified success, and I believe it has proved a real stimulus to the work of circulating our publications in this part of the field.

This convention was not a bookmen’s convention in the usually accepted sense of that term. The subjects were arranged with the view to being of interest and benefit to our people in general, and the canvassers in particular, rather than being especially adapted to the needs of those who hold places of responsibility as leaders in the work.

This convention being somewhat local in its nature, no attempt was made to call in many workers from a distance to attend it. However, Elder Westworth, president of the Southern New England Conference, and Brethren Boardman, Manry, and Webster, field missionary agents of the Vermont, Western New York, and New York Conferences, were present. Nearly all the conference workers and many of the canvassers of the Central New England Conference were in attendance. Most of these were assigned to places on the program, and almost without exception they responded with papers that were listened to with interest, and were pronounced excellent by those who heard them.

The convention was designed to serve as an introduction to the canvassers’ institute, which was held at the academy. This was, I think, in every respect the best institute I have ever attended at the academy. More than fifty persons united with the canvassing classes, and prepared for active service in the field. About forty of these were students at the academy, and the others were persons who came in from the near-by conferences to take the special course and attend the institute.

The offer of a year’s scholarship to those who will sell two hundred and fifty dollars’ worth of books, turning in the entire proceeds to the conference in which the books are sold, was an encouragement to the students, and doubtless led some to enter the work who would not, perhaps, otherwise have done so. But there was the clearest evidence of a strong, healthy interest in this work on the part of the students, aside from this offer. I think this is very largely due to the influence of Professors Machlan and Cottrell, and Elder Ketting, president of the Central New England Conference. These brethren are practical, thoroughgoing bookmen, who have had an experience in this work themselves, and realize the advantages to our young people of gaining an experience in it. From the time that the canvassers’ institute was arranged, Professor Machlan never allowed the students to forget that it was coming, and that they ought to improve the summer vacation by active work in the canvassing field.

He kept it before them so constantly that after a time a smile would go round every time he arose to speak, as they expected that he would give them something more on canvassing, and he usually did. I am very sure that the young people who go out into the canvassing work this year from the South Lancaster Academy will make a good record, and that the results of their work will be seen in eternity. The assistance of Brethren H. C. Wilcox, F. C. Webster, and E. A. Manry in the institute work was greatly appreciated, by both the students and

myself. These brethren promise to look after these young people carefully when they enter the work in their respective conferences, and to give them all the assistance necessary to get them rightly started, and to make a success of their work. We believe they will, and we are trusting that these students will have such a good degree of success that their influence will lead others to unite with them in pressing the work onward to final victory. F. E. PAINTER.