p. 884 | Home Workers' Books by F. H. Hall

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 11, 1913

Home Workers' Books

By F. H. Hall

It was nearly ten years ago that our home missionary leaders began to see the necessity of organizing a second division of our army of house-to-house workers with the printed page. While a glorious work was being done with large books by regular agents, but little thought had been given to what might be done by thousands of our people among their friends and neighbors with what we now know as home workers' books. In the providence of God, a vision of what might be done was given to these men, and by faith they sounded the following call:—

“We invite conference officers, and particularly missionary secretaries and State agents, to unite with us in earnest efforts to train our church-members everywhere to circulate small literature.”

— Minutes General Conference Publishing Department, March, 1904.

The Development of These Books

Since that time the books used by these workers have been greatly strengthened in number, languages, and contents. “Steps to Christ” has been newly illustrated, fully indexed, and editions in several languages added. A section has been added to “Christ Our Saviour,” on the second advent of our Saviour, instead of closing with his ascension, as in the old edition. “Glorious Appearing” has been thoroughly revised and newly illustrated, and German, Danish, Swedish, Spanish, and Japanese editions added. “Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing” has been newly illustrated. German, Danish, and Swedish editions have been added to “Best Stories.” “New Testament Primer,” a beautiful book for little folks, has been issued in English, German, Danish, Swedish, and Spanish; and another very attractive book for children, “Gospel Primer No. 2,” is now out. These, with the eight or ten books previously issued, round up the finest group of publications for childhood, youth, and age ever presented to the public. When we consider the further fact that each of them contains some phase of present truth, their importance cannot be overestimated.

Improvements in Handling

Continued improvement in the facilities for handling these books has also been made, until now we have report blanks, order blanks, and guarantee books, with the names of these home workers' books printed in. We also have a booklet containing canvasses for each,

and general information for those engaging in their sale. And best of all, we have a complete prospectus, containing sample cover and sixteen selected pages from each of the eighteen “home workers' books.” This prospectus is in the form of a loose-leaf binder, which permits any desired arrangement of samples, or even the elimination of any book or books that the worker does not care to carry. It folds up compactly, weighs but two and one-half pounds, and looks like an ordinary school note-book. Its price is only one dollar, post-paid, which is about half its cost.

Results Are Being Seen

With such books as these, and such facilities for their circulation as are being provided, and with the training our bookmen are now giving those who are selling them, results must follow, and they are following. The North Pacific Union Conference sold $7,000 worth last year, and from a letter just received from one of their leading men, we learn that they expect greatly to increase this amount this year. During November and December of last year, Southern California's thirty home workers placed copies of these books in nearly two thousand homes. Brother Morlan, their field agent, tried the new prospectus himself for thirty-five hours, during which time he sold as many as six copies in a single home, sold two books to a Baptist minister, and sold one “Steps to Christ” to a lady who later told him that it had done her boy more good than anything she had ever given him. His sales for the thirty-five hours amounted to $45.25.

A brother in western Washington sold a Sunday-school superintendent thirty-six copies of “Gospel Primer;” and Brother H. E. Loop, field agent of Upper Columbia, put in twenty-five hours with these books, his sales totaling $75.25.

Space will not permit our telling the details of how two brothers in one church became interested in the home workers' prospectus, and sold over one hundred dollars' worth each; nor of a woman, who, after buying two copies of the small books, inquired about a book with pictures of beasts, stating she had been searching for it a long time, and how eagerly she purchased and is now reading “Daniel and the Revelation;” of a Catholic woman who bought “Paradise Home,” and then asked for reading-matter to be sent to her family, hoping by this means to reduce their prejudice against Protestantism; of a young Baptist couple who purchased three small books from a lady agent, became interested, and have just accepted the truth as a whole; of a busy sister who became impressed with the opportunities of work which this class of books presented, and who placed two hundred and fifty copies in a single town; of a whole church of another denomination, which has accepted the ordinance of humility through the influence of reading “Christ Our Saviour.”

Brethren and sisters, these small books are having their influence, the same precious influence as has been exerted by “Great Controversy,” “Daniel and the Revelation,” and “Patriarchs and Prophets.” Shall we not do our part toward extending that influence by placing them in the homes of our friends and neighbors between now and the holidays, when people will be particularly interested in them? F. H. HALL.