Book Work at Union College
By G. Phillips
By request of Elder E. T. Russell, president of the Central Union Conference, and James Cochran, manager of the Pacific Press Publishing Co., Kansas City, Mo., I went to College View, Neb., February 17, and remained till February 28, in the interest of the canvassing work in the Central Union Conference. I was glad for the privilege of meeting with the college students, and for the interest manifested by them in this work. Surely God is moving upon the hearts of these dear young people to follow the instruction found in “Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. VII, page 331, which is as follows: “Let those who have been in school go out into the field, and put to practical use the knowledge they have gained. If canvassers will do this, using the ability which God has given them, seeking counsel from him, and combining the work of selling books with personal labor for the people, their talents will increase with exercise, and they will learn many practical lessons which they could not possibly learn in school. The education obtained in this practical way may properly be termed higher education.” The president kindly gave us the chapel hour each morning while here, and the Lord blessed us in laying before the young people the importance of this work, and our relation to it, and the call of God for those who had given up the work to return to it. To this call there were twenty-seven who responded. We had two meetings each day, preparing them for practical work in the field, which all seemed to enjoy; and we verily believe they will be able to go out and do efficient work for the Master. In the chapel each morning as we looked over the congregation composed of intelligent young men and women, our hearts were stirred within us as we thought what a mighty work this company would do if each one were consecrated to God, and would go forth in the strength of his might with our publications. Our minds were called to a statement made by the spirit of prophecy: “God calls for you, young men; he calls for whole armies of young men who are large hearted and large minded, and who have a deep love for Christ and the truth.” What we need at this time is not so much money, as consecrated, God-fearing, truth-loving men and women, who are as true to duty as the needle to the pole,—men and women who will work without having their way smoothed and every obstacle removed,—men and women who are well educated,—men and women who will condemn wrong in friend or foe, in themselves as well as others,—men and women who will neither flag nor flinch, brag nor run,—men and women who will stand at their post though the heavens totter or the earth reel,—men and women who are not too proud to be poor, nor too lazy to work,—men and women who will look the world and the devil squarely in the eye, and stand bravely for the right,—men and women who will gladly respond to the gracious call of the Master and work without murmuring or complaining,—men and women who will be as “calm as a summer evening and as firm as the everlasting hills.” And we surely see many young men and women in this college who are now, and others who can be, in this class of workers; and the president and faculty of this institution are faithfully and earnestly working to this end, and God is greatly blessing their efforts. We are told in “Testimonies,” Vol. VI, page 330, that we should educate young men and women to sell the books which the Lord by his Holy Spirit caused his servants to write. And these faithful teachers in this college are certainly doing this work.