An Encouraging Beginning for 1913 by Editor

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 6, 1913

An Encouraging Beginning for 1913

By Editor

As we completed this, the first summary of the colporteur work for the new year, we could not help rejoicing over the splendid showing which it gives, and over the substantial gain which it shows over the corresponding month last year. Eight of the unions in North America made a gain in their book sales and eleven in periodical sales. The grand totals show a gain of more than $10,000 in book sales, and a gain of over 55,000 in the number of periodicals sold in North America. In the book sales, the Columbia Union leads with a report more than twice as large as that of January last year, and also double that of any other union. The Lake, Central, and Southwestern Unions also show splendid gains. Evidently our colporteurs have learned that books can be sold just as well after the Christmas holidays as before, and as well in winter as in summer. This splendid beginning that has been made strengthens our hopes that 1913 will be the best year we have ever yet seen in the history of our colporteur work.

Changes in the Summary

We have rearranged the form of our summary, so as to show the value of book and periodical sales in each field for 1912 and 1913. This will enable each field agent to see at a glance whether the work in his conference is growing or declining. About half of the conferences in the United States show a gain this month over January of last year. We hope the other half may join this honor roll next month.

We are also able this year to compare the sales of our foreign periodicals with those of 1912. Owing to the low price at which most of these periodicals are sold, the value of sales is considerably smaller than in North America, but in the number of periodicals sold, the foreign fields are far ahead of this country. Again we rejoice over the successful work of our colporteurs.