One Year's Canvassing in South America by E. Maximo Trummer

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 4, 1911

One Year's Canvassing in South America

By E. Maximo Trummer

KNOWING that our brethren in the home land are watching the progress in the “fields beyond,” I will give a brief outline of the canvassing work since our union conference a year ago. Our bookmen’s convention, which we held in connection with the union conference, was the first of the kind in this country. As Elder N. Z. Town was with us, the delegates from the various fields improved the opportunity to organize the book work more thoroughly, adopting the regulations and plans of the General Conference Publishing Department as far as the conditions of our field would allow.

The importance of translating into Spanish more of our standard works, such as “Great Controversy,” was duly considered, and we shall, no doubt, have these books as soon as we need them. All of us received much benefit from studying the needs of the work together, and we left the conference determined to press the battle to the gates.

Our aim was to work especially with our large books, such as “Patriarchs and Prophets” and “Home and Health,” and the Lord has gone before us wonderfully. Many times the orders for “Patriarchs and Prophets” have averaged one copy an hour, and the three highest records for “Home and Health” have been twenty-four, thirty-one, and forty-two orders in one day. The writer’s orders for books have included sales to fifteen Catholic priests.

In the entire union, the book work has realized a splendid increase, the orders for the year amounting to more than twenty-five thousand dollars, or three times those for the preceding year. And this in spite of the fact that two republics have had extensive revolutionary experiences.

The aim for the present year is still

higher. Our workers are better trained, and our experiences will greatly aid us in the future. The brethren realize that this work is here “to stay,” and, consequently, more are taking hold of it. Our fields are manned with men of courage and missionary zeal. A few months ago, Brother Schulz went to Bolivia, and he has had excellent success from the very beginning. Soon we hope to have a man ready for Ecuador, with the express purpose of giving all his time to the canvassing work. These men will enlist other brethren to work with them, thus increasing their force as fast as they can.

Special efforts are being made now with our Spanish Signs of the Times, and plans are on foot to create an active missionary spirit in our churches and Missionary Volunteer societies. The canvassing work is a live question with our young people at school, as five students made their scholarships this summer. Every one made it who went into the field during vacation.

Realizing that the circulation of our literature will be the greatest factor in bringing our solemn message to the people of South America, we believe that our God will continue to open the way before us. We expect great things from God. To him be all the glory for what he has enabled us to do.

E. MAXIMO TRUMMER.