p. 19 | Experiences Gained and Opportunities Lost

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 27, 1913

Experiences Gained and Opportunities Lost

By E. M. Graham

With Home Workers’ Books in California

THE following few reports will show what some are doing who have begun work with these books. One report shows 7 hours’ work, 14 orders, value $9.75, or $1.39 for each hour’s work. Another, 10 hours, 10 orders, value $5.75, 57 cents an hour. One report shows 41 orders taken in 14 hours, value $19.75, or $1.41 an hour. Again, 31 hours, 63 orders, value $45, $1.45 an hour. These figures show that this work pays financially. But this is not the chief consideration; it is the salvation of souls for which we are working.

One sister who had never before had experience with these books took 18 orders in about 14 hours, value $11.50, or 82 cents an hour. She said that two persons who had heard of her work through their neighbors, stopped her on the street, and asked to see the books. It is hardly necessary to say that they gave their orders. This shows that the books are just what Christian people are looking for, and we should do all in our power to get them into the homes of the people. About 40 “Home Workers’ Prospectuses” have been sold in the Southern California Conference this fall. There is still plenty of room open for the sale of these books. Are there not others ready to volunteer for this work?

Here is an experience that is not so satisfactory: A sister had but recently started to take orders for these home workers’ books. The Lord greatly blessed her in this work, and in about twelve hours she took more than $20 worth of orders. She said the people not only seemed anxious to get them, but many insisted on her coming back and telling them about the Bible truths.

She found so much joy and real happiness in this work for the Master that she determined to devote her life to it. But last week, when she had determined to put in more time, on picking up the morning paper, she saw that the city council had just passed stringent license laws on all classes of solicitors, pedlers, and book agents, making the cost of license prohibitive for our books.

She has been much worried ever since. She said to the California field agent, who visited her and who reports this experience, “For several years I have felt that I should be in this work, but have put it off without a reasonable excuse, and now it seems I am too late; and having learned to love the work, the door of opportunity has closed. O, how I wish I had been more faithful!”

The saddest words that can be said are, “Too late.” Let us see to it that we do not have to say them.

E. M. GRAHAM.