Helping the Schools by Wm. Covert

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 10, 1903

Helping the Schools

By Wm. Covert

The interest taken in the sale of “Christ’s Object Lessons” has resulted in a work which will never be forgotten by our people. Its influence will continue to bless the Lord’s cause until the end.

The schools for various reasons had become so involved in debt that their very existence was endangered. Although much remains to be done, yet so much has now been accomplished that a very great change for the better has taken place. The schools that have taken hold of this work heartily are having increased prosperity. Besides this, many new schools are being planted, and the whole cause of Christian education is being greatly strengthened and enlarged.

The work of selling “Christ’s Object Lessons” is an excellent school of itself. Many hundreds in different conferences have entered it. Those who have gone into it with brave hearts to learn, have in many instances gained rich experiences, and gathered much fruit of their labor. A large per cent of these will continue to labor for the Lord. Had all our people gone to work when the call was first made, and moved in harmony with the Lord’s plan, much more might have been done. All who have been skeptical, and have criticized, have missed a great blessing which the Lord intended them to have. But is it not possible for many of those who have not yet taken hold of this work to do so now? These books are not all sold yet. Not all the people have learned of it. The debts on our schools are not all paid yet. Other schools are to be built. Quotas are not all full. Are there not many who wish to be enrolled among the workers, and unite in the jubilee song when the work is done?

This is an opportunity which none can afford to lose. While the leaders in all departments of the cause are to work, and to teach others how to labor, yet the work itself must be learned by individual application and effort. The Lord must be sought. The book must be studied. The purpose for which it has been produced and sold must be understood. The great theme upon which it treats must be made the living issue of the heart. The scope, the design, and the blessedness of Christian education, which this whole enterprise is to benefit, must be imbibed and loved in order to enjoy the work in all its fullness. A rich blessing will come into the soul of him who submits his faculties to be used by the Holy Spirit, and will shed abroad more fragrance than the odor of sweet incense. Instead of a hardship, such will count it a sacred privilege to be closely connected with Jesus in his present living ministry.

The book can be sold. Large numbers of them can be disposed of where there is a willing mind to work. There are many instances of marked success which testify to the wonderful possibilities that might be attained through the sale of this book. In the conference where I have labored since this book has been on sale (Wisconsin), persons can be counted by the score who, with no great amount of labor, have sold more than twenty books each. It is believed that less than a thousand persons have attempted to sell the book, and yet about ten thousand copies have been disposed of in this State since it was placed upon the market. This count, of course, includes all the languages in which it has been represented.

One sister, who was an octogenarian before she heard the truth of the message, and who is now more than fourscore and four years old, has sold five copies of the book in her own home to visitors. Her daughter in whose home she is staying has sold eleven to the neighbors in the village. One sister whose health has been such that she could devote only a limited portion of time to the work, had, when she reported to me a few weeks ago, sold and delivered more than one hundred copies of the book. Though she gets no commission for her work, save that of the blessedness of the Lord’s joy, yet she desires to labor on. Another sister in the same city, who is more able to work, has sold one hundred and fifty books without commission, besides one hundred on contract. This sister was not a book agent, and did not think she could sell books until after she made the effort with “Christ’s Object Lessons.” A colporteur, who handles nearly all our books, has carried “Christ’s Object Lessons” along, and has sold three hundred and sixty copies. This brother says that one copy of “Christ’s Object Lessons” sold in a neighborhood often makes a demand for more, and therefore the necessity of going over the same territory a number of times before the work is done. Going over the same ground a number of times has been tried by several workers with encouraging results. In some instances persons have gone over territory and failed to sell these books, and others who have learned of the Lord how to work have followed them, and sold many books.

Almost the whole question of success depends upon the preparation for the work, and the love for and faith in it. Had all who have started in this work had the spirit of it as some have, and could the presses have printed the books, millions of copies could have been disposed of before this time. But the chief question now is, Shall the allotted quota be disposed of in all our conferences before the 20th of March? It can be done. Each individual in all our ranks should hold himself personally responsible to see that it is done. We do not want to go to the General Conference with a remnant of this work unfinished. There are many other things waiting upon it. The good of the cause forbids that we should allow the work with “Christ’s Object Lessons” to hinder other things now demanding our attention.

Wm. Covert.