Another Advantage by F. D. Starr

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 24, 1902

Another Advantage

By F. D. Starr

THE various advantages there are to be gained in selling the excellent book, “Christ’s Object Lessons,” have been set before us,—the benefit that comes to the seller in the Christian experience that he gets, the benefit that comes to the buyer in the precious truth he purchases, the benefit that comes to the schools in the relief from financial embarrassment, the advantage to our work in having the reproach of debt rolled off from us, and the benefit to the cause in general in the openings for further missionary work that will be discovered by the worker while selling the book. There is still another advantage that the writer has discovered by experience. While explaining to a lady who purchased a copy of the book, that all the proceeds from the sale of the same go to pay off the indebtedness on our schools, she made inquiry about our schools, as to what was taught in them, their location, the expense of attending, etc., stating that they desired to send a son and a daughter, a young man and a young woman, to some good school. I took this opportunity heartily to recommend our school at College View, and give them the address of the president of the school.

Without doubt there are many cases like this, where there are young people who might be induced to attend some one of our various institutions of learning, the worker recommending the school that is located in the territory where he is working, whether it be Berrien Springs, South Lancaster, or wherever it may be. It certainly would be well to bear this in mind, and judiciously speak of the merits of our schools, and thus win some of the young people by inducing them to attend our colleges.

I believe, however, that much discretion must be used in referring to the matter of the debts. Many people know nothing about these debts, and I am satisfied that I have lost orders by mentioning the fact that the proceeds go to pay debts on our schools. The persons canvassed were about to purchase the book upon its own merits, because it evidently was worth the money, but this new suggestion put it more upon the basis of benevolence on their part, and of begging for assistance on the part of the seller, and with many this idea is not as acceptable as that of a business transaction. But in all events we can work to increase the attendance at our schools while selling the book.

F. D. STARR.