A Good Impression by S. H. Lane

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 21, 1902

A Good Impression

By S. H. Lane

In a canvasser's meeting recently held in connection with one of our camp meetings, several very interesting experiences were related. I wish the great REVIEW family could have listened to them.

One brother arose, and in substance spoke as follows:—

“At a meeting of our missionary society, I was asked to give a canvass for the Signs, as I had taken a lively interest in the sale of that paper. I had never seen a printed canvass. I had composed one which I thought very good, and I had no difficulty in giving it before the company.

“One of the brethren present was employed in a large, wealthy firm. He earnestly requested me to canvass his employer for the paper. Flushed with the praise I had received, I readily promised to do so. Soon a reaction came, however, and really I wished that I had not promised. To canvass a rich employer for a paper which cost two or three cents seemed almost equal to asking him to purchase a bag of pop corn or a bag of peanuts. Determined not to act the part of a coward, I took a roll of four or five Signs under my arm, and started for the office of the employer. It was some distance, and when I arrived there, my courage was almost gone.

“The office was in the second story, and as I looked up, the stairs seemed to reach to the clouds. My knees felt so weak that I thought I could never climb with the stairs, so I walked on to the next block. But as I thought of my promise, and the good I might do, I started back for the stairway, and strange to say, my courage failed me again, and the second time I passed. O, how my heart ached as I thought of what the Lord must think of me! Standing in a doorway, I prayed to God for help; he aided me, and I started again. I began to climb, but I would rather have carried seven tons of coal up in the sight of the whole city than to carry those few papers. I pressed on, opened the door, and entered a large room occupied by busy clerks. The room was divided into sections by wire partitions, with a narrow passage from the entrance along one side, at the end of which was a door labeled ‘Private.’ I knew that that was the lion’s den. I walked to the door, hoping that the proprietor would not be in, or that something would happen so I would not have to meet him. On reaching the door I was flustered, and my rap was so faint that it was not heard. Feeling that the eyes of many of the clerks were upon me, I stepped again to the door, and gave a more vigorous rap. A clerk came, and I asked to see the proprietor. I was informed that he was busy, and that I would be obliged to wait, and he closed the door. I remained outside and waited five, ten, fifteen, twenty minutes. It seemed an age to me. I read all the signs I could see on the opposite side of the street, all the time planning how I could avoid stating to him that I was a Seventh-day Adventist, as the Signs had a cut of several of our institutions. I prayed earnestly, but did not get the victory until I crossed the threshold, and the thought came to my mind, ‘Ye are ambassadors for God!’ I then realized that I was a representative of the great King, bearing an important message that was to affect this man’s destiny. It was no longer I, but the Lord worked in me.

“Seeing that I must be brief, I accosted him, and laying the paper in front of him on the table, I began a canvass. I told him that I was introducing religious literature by selling these periodicals, and I desired to sell to all whom the Lord loved, and I was sure that he was one of that class, as he had been greatly blessed and prospered. I told him of the first-page article, of the Outlook and Home departments, and turning to the next page, I said, ‘These buildings here illustrated were erected by the Seventh-day Adventist people to—’ ‘Wait,’ he said, ‘are you an Adventist?’ I replied that I was. ‘Is this an Adventist paper?’ he then inquired. I replied in the affirmative. ‘You need go no further,’ he said, ‘I know all about you. I sent my wife to your Sanitarium at Battle Creek, and she is now a well woman. George, make out a check for ten dollars for this young man. You can send your paper to me for one year, and apply the rest to aid your church.’ I was delighted, and fully convinced that had I not frankly told him that those pictures illustrated Adventist institutions, I would not have obtained his subscription, nor even sold him a paper, much less secured the donation.

“From that time to this I have tried to improve every opportunity to spread the truth by the sale of our books and papers, and the Lord has greatly blessed me in the work.”

The writer, as he listened to this experience and that of many others, noticed that those who work are the ones who are full of faith and courage. They do not indulge in a spirit of criticism, but are always ready to help in every way they can. I trust that all our people will now work to spread the message in these prosperous times. S. H. LANE.