The Colporteur Work in the Atlantic Union Conference
By E. R. Palmer
THERE are many encouraging indications that the colporteur work is making steady progress in the Atlantic Union Conference. Although the battle has been a hard one, and the way has seemed trying and difficult at times, yet the Lord has greatly blessed Brother Tolf, their general agent, and his associates in their effort to secure colporteurs to sell our literature this season.
The writer recently enjoyed a most interesting experience with a number of these workers while attending the camp-meetings in the Northern New England and New York Conferences.
In the Northern New England Conference the meeting was held at Manchester, N. H., a convenient railway center for their territory, which includes the States of Vermont and New Hampshire. Brother W. F. Brockway is the field missionary agent of this conference.
Meetings were held daily with the colporteurs, and several general missionary meetings were held in the large tent. At the close of the meeting a colporteurs' institute, with twelve in attendance, was held.
It was a great privilege indeed to attend this meeting in the conference where, twenty-six years ago, I made my first effort to sell our literature. The privilege of meeting the brethren and sisters called to mind many precious experiences and victories, and narrow escapes from defeat, in those early days of our colporteur work, when, with little instruction, my youthful feet were treading untried paths of experience among the mountains and through the valleys of Vermont. I shall never forget nor cease to appreciate the words of encouragement, the prayers, and the hospitality of our brethren who did all within their power to make my work successful at that time. It was a great encouragement to see the work still going forward and making progress in the old home field.
The statistics presented at the camp-meeting show that ten colporteurs had been employed thus far during the present year, and that there has been a gain of fifty per cent in the sale of literature during the first seven months over the corresponding period of last year. Several of these colporteurs are each hoping to be able to sell $1,000 worth of literature, and thus be entitled to have their expenses paid to the next General Conference.
COLPORTEURS WHO ATTENDED THE CAMP-MEETING AT UTICA, N. Y.
The camp-meeting in the New York Conference was a most excellent one. The camp was beautifully pitched, and all the arrangements and appointments were most satisfactory; and best of all, the Spirit of God was present in a marked measure in all the meetings.
Our brethren and sisters had been working hard in the New York Conference in all departments of our work. Thirty-five colporteurs have been engaged in circulating our literature during the first part of the current year. They are a sturdy company, as may be seen from the accompanying cut. Last year only one colporteur in the Atlantic Union Conference sold as high as $100 worth of literature in one week. This year sixteen colporteurs have passed the $100 mark, and eight of these are New York canvassers, two of whom have not fallen below the $100 standard a week during the summer season.
Brother E. E. Covey, the field missionary agent, has been greatly blessed in his effort to secure a large company of energetic, faithful workers. One of his number who has been selling "Desire of Ages," told me that he had never before seen a time when the people were so anxious for our literature. He said it seemed that all he needed to do was to show the binding and explain a little of the contents, and the Lord would do the rest. How true it is that the Lord does help us, and sends out his good angels before us to open the doors of homes and the doors of people's hearts as well, for the third angel's message.
Colporteur work is becoming more and more the great pioneer agency of the gospel. Indeed it has been the pioneer since the days when the Vaudois colporteur left his mountain home in the Alps, and wended his dangerous way through the papal countries of Europe, even to the very gates of Rome.
In that terrible European war of 1870, when with their cannon the soldiers burst open the gates of Rome, a Vaudois colporteur, with his bundle of Bibles, was the first to enter; and so it has been ever since; wherever a door has been opened for the gospel, there the colporteur has entered, and scattering the seeds of truth, has prepared the way for the living preacher. Some have said, and they have said it so earnestly and repeatedly that they came fully to believe it, that our literature could no longer be sold successfully in New England. But the prophets have prophesied falsely, and the colporteur work is steadily advancing in the Atlantic Union Conference.
May the Lord continue to bless both the colporteurs and their leaders.
