Elder G. A. Grauer’s Experience in the Work with “Christ’s Object Lessons”
By G. A. Grauer
I HAVE so much to say that I could talk for an hour. I must first make a confession—and it is very humiliating to make this confession. But when the call came for us to sell books, I said I would not do it. But, brethren, I could not rest. That book was before me wherever I went, and at last I could not sleep. Then the idea struck me, Why not go to the Lord and ask him about this thing? I had forgotten all about the Lord, and I went to him, and made it a matter of prayer, and just as surely as I was convinced before that it was not my work, I was then convinced that it was my work.
I began canvassing, and sold between fifty and sixty books. I went to the churches, asking the Lord to help me sell the book, touch some hearts to get them to work, and we had a real old-fashioned prayer meeting. The next day was rainy, but that day about fifteen books were sold, and by the next two weeks we had sold more than our quota.
I said to the church, “You are living here in a city of fourteen thousand. If you have sold your quota, are you satisfied? Do you think it is too much to put a thousand books in this city?” They did not think it was too much. I said, “The money is only a secondary matter; it is the carrying of the everlasting gospel that is to be considered first. There is a blessing in this book, and we shall see our work increasing.” And, brethren, the church has sold its quota twice, and is working harder than ever to sell another thousand.
I went to another church, and there I put the same proposition. They said to me, “What shall we do? The people from Bethel came down and canvassed the city over again and again.” I said, “Brethren, let us canvass it over again.” The books were ordered. I told them I was sure they could sell them. I said, “You give me the names of some of those people, and I will try it.” You may be sure they did not give me the23easiest persons in that city. They gave me about a dozen names. They said, “You might as well try to squeeze blood out of a turnip as to get money out of these people.” I said, “I can do it.” But before I went, I asked the Lord to go with me. Of all these people I canvassed, only one refused. I sold books to eleven of the twelve. I said, “It is the work of the Lord. The people are educated to it, they know that the movement comes from the Lord.” I told them that this was only the beginning. I would have been disappointed if they had stopped there.
I want to tell you one more thing. Brother Covert is a canvasser, too. He canvassed one man and sold him a book, and got his pay. Not knowing that, I canvassed the same man over again, and sold him a book. How was that? I do not know how it was, but I know the Lord helped me.
I visited another church after this. Their quota amounted to nearly four hundred copies. This church is living in the woods, no city near. I emphasized the fact that in selling this book, we are doing gospel work. That church got its quota. Then I said, “Now, brethren and sisters, if you cannot sell your books, let me know, and I will help you.” They told me that they would be glad to have me visit them again, but if I wanted to sell their books, I had better stay away. The people are taking hold of this work, and the Lord is blessing. I hold Bible readings, make missionary visits, and preach often. But besides doing all this work, I have sold between fifty and sixty books. Brethren, this work has brought me nearer to the Lord; it has done all good—the church members have new life in them. These two churches have instructed me to write to Brother Covert that they will stand by him until the last book is sold.