Canvassing for “Great Controversy” in the South by Walter Harper

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Jul 11, 1907

Canvassing for “Great Controversy” in the South

By Walter Harper

THROUGH the favor and blessing of the Master, I began canvassing in North Carolina on Thursday, May 2, just one month ago to-day. As I reported in a former article, I desired to prove that the most timely and important book, “Great Controversy,” can be sold in the Southern States. The impression seemed to obtain that only the lower-priced books could be sold in the South. I felt that it was a mistake, and a determined effort of the enemy of all truth to side-track this treasure volume of timely warnings for these perilous times, and leave it idle on the shelves in our publishing houses, and thus deprive the people of a book which the Lord has said should be scattered far and near at this time.

His biddings are our enablings. Believing his word, though weak and worn with much traveling, with fear and trembling I began work the very afternoon of my arrival, after traveling two nights to reach this place. I felt that God was my sufficiency, my all and in all. I tried to cast all my cares on the Source of all strength, and lean heavily on the everlasting arms.

The Lord hears and answers prayer. No one ever faithfully seeks God in vain. He never disappoints those who come to him. By Friday, May 31, the Master had given me one hundred and eight orders for “Great Controversy,” cloth, marbled ($2.50), and three orders for “Daniel and the Revelation”—two in full morocco ($4.50), and one in cloth, marbled; besides one hundred and five orders for the “New Testament Primer” in cloth, and a few of the same in board cover, also one order for “Looking unto Jesus.” Last Friday afternoon about one o’clock, or in only half a day’s work, I had taken seven orders for “Great Controversy” and six for the 50-cent-style “New Testament Primer;” and the day before I took five for “Great Controversy” and seventeen for the “New Testament Primer,” in cloth, or twenty-two orders for that day, all told. It has been one to eight orders a day for “Great Controversy,” usually four, five, or six a day. To the Lord be all the glory, honor, and praise evermore for it all. He grants it all. I wish a host of canvassers and workers from all over the West, North, and East would come South and labor among these good, kind-hearted people. You may talk on the Lord’s coming, or on any other Bible subject you want to, and they are glad to listen. There is room for many canvassers here. God will greatly bless all who will come now.

WALTER HARPER.