p. 8 | A Plea for the Large Books by E. R. Allen

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 6, 1906

A Plea for the Large Books

By E. R. Allen

E. R. ALLEN

I HAVE been watching with much interest the canvassers' reports from several States, both North and South, and from these I notice a strong tendency to handle the cheaper books. The question constantly arises, Why are not those books being sold which the spirit of prophecy has told us should be sold just now, namely, “Great Controversy,” “Daniel and the Revelation,” and “Patriarchs and Prophets”?

True, all our books are good books, and I doubt not many an agent consoles himself with this thought when urged by the Spirit of God to take up advanced work with the larger books. Some of the smaller books are splendid works for beginners in canvassing, and possibly quite appropriate for the more experienced agent to sell in certain localities. Yet it is my opinion that one who will read and understand the smaller works will also understand and be much more benefited by such books as “Great Controversy.”

To sell these cheaper books over a territory, and not follow with some work giving the whole message (which all must admit these books do not do), is as if one should put up a tent, preach a few sermons on general topics, the coming of Christ, etc., and remove to another place without saying anything about the Sabbath, the mark of the beast, and other important subjects treated so clearly and forcibly in the three books mentioned by the spirit of prophecy as “meat in due season,” just now. As late, I believe, as June, 1905, the Lord designated the three books which I have named as the books for the times.

Some may say the higher-priced books can not be sold, but this has been demonstrated to be untrue. The best binding of some of our smaller books is but little less than the drab cloth binding of “Great Controversy.” The majority of people who will pay the price for the former, can be induced to take the latter if properly shown.

One day lately I worked in a territory previously canvassed for one of these smaller books, and about the only good I could discern was that it had somewhat prepared the way for “Great Controversy,” of which I sold five. This result I believe will always follow, especially if the same agent will follow the cheaper with the more important works. If the State agents would see to it that every district worked with the cheap books was recanvassed a few months later with the books giving the whole message, our efforts to hasten the coming of Christ would not be so nearly lost. Are we really advancing the cause at all when we sell the cheaper books because we can make more money, or because we are afraid the people will not like the books which give the message with no uncertain sound?

I long to see the time when our more experienced agents will take to heart the lessons on pages 44 and 45 of “Manual for Canvassers,” and go forth with power to warn the world as quickly as possible, even though they do not make as much money, and even though they awaken the ire of the enemy by so doing.

“If our canvassers are controlled by the spirit of financial gain, if they circulate the books upon which they can make the most money, to the neglect of others that the people need, I ask, In what sense is theirs a missionary work? Where is the missionary spirit, the spirit of self-sacrifice? The work of the intelligent, God-fearing canvasser has been represented as equal to that of the gospel minister. Then should the canvasser feel at liberty, any more than the minister, to act from selfish motives? Should he be unfaithful to the principles of missionary work, and sell only those books that are cheapest and easiest to handle, neglecting to place before the people books which will give most light, because by so doing he can earn more money for himself? How is the missionary spirit here revealed? Has not the canvassing work ceased to be what it should be? How is it that no voice is raised to correct this state of things?”

If our work is not “equal to that of the gospel minister,” is it not because we are not “intelligent and God-fearing canvassers”? Let us not be satisfied with our attainments, but ever seek higher and wider fields of usefulness, and see to it that God himself is directing our steps and shaping our plans from day to day.

Lilesville, N. C.