Evangelistic Canvassing in the Cities by W. W. E.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 19, 1914

Evangelistic Canvassing in the Cities

By W. W. E.

THE question of reaching our cities with the third angel’s message is one that may well be given consideration in all parts of the field. We are living in an age when city building is a part of the world’s program. And in these centers of congested humanity are to be found all classes of people. While it is true that they are centers of crime and corruption, yet it is also true that there are many of God’s humble children among all classes, who will accept the light of truth when it is properly presented to them.

In the parable of the supper, in Luke 14: 16-24, the last call to be given, it is urged that the invitation be extended to the “highways and hedges.” It is said to the messenger, “Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city.” And the language of the parable indicates that the invitation is extended personally to individuals.

There is no better way of doing this than in the sale and distribution of our literature in its various forms. It is becoming more and more evident that in order to reach the millions of our cities, we must of necessity use a large number of workers on a self-supporting plan. Our literature provides for this. During the past twenty years or more, considerable work of this kind has been done in our cities, but much more remains to be done than has yet been accomplished. There are many thousands of foreigners in these cities who must be reached with a cheaper class of literature, and there is another class who can be reached with magazines; but there is a field in these cities for the sale of our large subscription books. Occasionally we find here and there a worker who has ventured to enter the cities with our large books, and some remarkable records have been made in their sale.

For the encouragement of others who may feel a burden upon their hearts for this work, I give below the figures showing the work done by a colporteur in one of our large cities. The record covers fifteen months’ work, and is as follows:— Protestant Magazine sold ........ 2,300 Liberty sold .................... 300 “Daniel and the Revelation” and “Great Controversy” actually delivered— To police and county officials .. 101 To postmasters .................. 2 To business men ................. 49 To tradesmen, barbers, etc. .... 102 To women ......................... 29 Total large books ............... 283

While this is not a remarkably large record, yet it shows clearly that our large subscription books can be sold in the cities. If this brother could do it, there are others who can if they will only consecrate themselves to God and enter upon the work with faith and courage. While this brother was selling this amount of literature, he not only supported himself and family, but had the privilege of seeing a number accept the truth as a result of his labor.

Now as the winter months are coming on, two or more workers could go into a city and rent comfortable rooms together, and thus live on an economical basis. They would in this way be able to do excellent work during the winter months. Are there not those who read these lines who feel that a responsibility rests upon them to go into the cities with our books, on a self-supporting basis, carrying the truth into hundreds of homes the coming winter? W. W. E.