_Northern Union Conference_
By J. S. James
It is now five months since I began to labor in the Northern Union Conference in the interest of the canvassing and missionary work. I arrived in this field just in time to begin work among the camp-meetings of the union conference. My first visit was at the South Dakota meeting held at Woonsocket. At this gathering was a large number of young people who took a great deal of interest in the canvassing work. There seemed to be a live interest in this branch of the work on the part of all the conference officials, and some time was devoted each day to its advancement. About twenty-five persons volunteered to go into the field after the meeting. The conference was unfortunate in not being able to secure a man to put in charge of this work who could develop and follow up the interest created. South Dakota has a large amount of good material for the canvassing work, and I hope to see steps taken soon that will bring this work to the front. My next visit was at the Minnesota meeting held at Maple Plain. Here, as in South Dakota, a large number of young people had gathered at the meeting, but on account of the bad weather and local interests of an imperative nature in connection with their school, not so much time as would have been profitable was devoted to the canvassing work. The work in Minnesota is in charge of an experienced canvasser, who is doing everything in his power to enlist the members of this conference in that work. Minnesota is a splendid field for the sale of our books, and a large corps of workers should be in active service. My visit to the German meeting in North Dakota was one that I shall long remember with great pleasure. This was strictly a German meeting, and nearly all the services were carried on in that language. It was necessary for me to talk through an interpreter. A good interest was manifested on the part of some, and good support was given by the conference brethren, but as the season was late, and the farm work was pressing, very few were able to begin work this year. A goodly number, however, are planning to take up the work in the early spring. May God grant that we shall see a strong corps of German and English canvassers carrying the last message of warning to the people in North Dakota next year. My next stop was at the camp-meeting in Alberta, Canada. The brethren gathered at this meeting have gone to this country within recent years. Many of them are poor, and have to battle against the hardships of pioneer life. Many who would like to engage in the work are tied up on “claims,” or otherwise engaged. However, some have decided to enter the work next year, and those who have been in the work expect to continue. Alberta is a promising field for our canvassers.19The people scattered over that vast expanse of country, with long distances between, are glad to see a canvasser, glad to buy his books, and glad to welcome him the second time. The last meeting I attended was at Parkdale, Manitoba. Here the old-time ring was given to the canvassing work by the president and the field secretary. Special meetings were held for the benefit of those who were interested, and a number of volunteers offered themselves for the work. With an experienced man in charge and the material at hand, together with the encouraging yield in the crops, a good work should be done by the laborers in this rich field. As I traveled over this vast territory, and saw the fields waving with the ripening grain waiting to be harvested, I could but wonder at the vast resources of this field, and the wonderful opportunities for our God-fearing canvassers. At the time of this writing, as I pass from place to place on the train, I see thousands of men at work gathering and thrashing this crop. So great is it that the railroad facilities are not sufficient to carry it to market. Thousands of bushels of grain remain yet in the stack to be thrashed late this winter, or if already thrashed, remain in sacks piled up in the field. When I see these things, I am led to exclaim, Surely God’s people are standing in the “market-place,” saying, No one hath hired us. Now is the time for God’s people to work for the sale of our books. “Ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves,” is the promise of God to us at this time. May God turn the hearts and minds of his people in this union conference to this important branch of the message.