Lake Union Notes by J. B. BLOSSER

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 29, 1902

Lake Union Notes

By J. B. BLOSSER

It is worth while to note that our State agents believe that the large books can be sold, and they are showing their faith in a practical way by actually canvassing for those books. A few words from the State agents will be of interest:—

Brother Moody, of Indiana, writes: “I have decided to go into the field, to experience the trials and difficulties, and enjoy the blessings and victories of meeting the people in their homes. As I have tried to talk faith and courage, and to impress upon others that we can succeed in the canvassing work, some have said, ‘You draw your salary from the conference, and of course you can have a living.’ Well, I have decided that from now on until Christmas I will give the most of my time to actual canvassing, and depend on my commission, with the rest of the canvassers.

“We have four brethren in our company here at Martinsville. We are of good courage, and believe that God will do great things for us in our work. I am glad of the privilege of associating with these brethren in this good work.” In another letter he says, “The Lord blessed me with fifty-five dollars’ worth of orders in twenty-five hours. All are going out to-day full of courage. I believe that God will give us success in the work. Pray for us.” Brother Moody is canvassing for “Patriarchs and Prophets.”

The Illinois State agent is doing a similar work, and we hope soon to get a report of it.

The following, from the Wisconsin State agent, illustrates what faith will do in selling the books, and demonstrates the truthfulness of the scripture, “According to your faith be it unto you:”—

“During the financial depression of a few years ago a panic seized many of our canvassers, and it became a settled conviction with them that our larger books could not be sold. As a consequence, many canvassed for books ranging in price from $1.50 down to twenty-five cents. During this same time representatives of other publishing houses were successfully disposing of high-priced books. They did this because they believed they could. That was the secret of the whole thing. This year many of our workers have changed their way of thinking. They believe that the large books can be sold, consequently they are selling them. The writer visited a brother some time ago who was spending his energies on twenty-five and fifty-cent books. It took quite an effort to convince him that he was capable of selling any of the large books. He finally concluded to make the change, and upon sending in his first report, announcing over thirty dollars’ worth of orders for “Home Hand Book” in less than twenty hours, he expresses his gratitude for having been directed to the book with which he is now working. The Lord is pleased to have us undertake great things in his name. This is no time for faint-heartedness. We must be strong and of good courage, and success is ours.”

From Ohio comes the news that “one young man left the academy when school was out, and took two hundred and twenty-four dollars’ worth of orders in five weeks, and another two hundred and sixty-five dollars’ worth in the last three weeks.” The latter is working for “Bible Readings.”

What the canvassing work needs is not so many men, but more of the kind that have the faith of Jesus, and believe the promise, “Lo, I am with you.”

J. B. BLOSSER.