A WORD TO CANVASSERS by Arthur G. Daniells

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 21, 1901

A WORD TO CANVASSERS.

By Arthur G. Daniells

Synopsis of an Address by Elder A. G. Daniells in Battle Creek College Chapel.

I am very much pleased to have the privilege of saying a few words regarding the canvassing work. This phase of our work is especially ordained of God for the world-wide proclamation of his last message to men.

Canvassing for our literature affords an opportunity for hundreds to effectually make this truth known to the world. It is a means by which the following words of the psalmist are being fulfilled: “The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.” Ps. 68: 11.

The privilege of being one of that great company that is publishing the word can be appreciated only as we understand the meaning of all that is involved. “Faith,” says Paul, “cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” But “how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? and how shall they preach except they be sent? How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things.”

A CALL FOR CANVASSERS.

There are thousands of honest, sincere people in the world who do not believe the third angel’s message, simply because they have not heard it; and the reason they have not heard it is because they who know it have not told it to them. The Lord’s command to his people is: “Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain. Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the Lord cometh, it is nigh at hand.” Joel 2: 1.

That is the great event that is about to transpire, and in view of it the Lord says, “Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain.” Why? For what purpose?—That all the inhabitants of the earth may tremble. Not with terror, not with a fear that would lead them to flee from the presence of God, but with that fear that is the beginning of wisdom; that fear that will lead an individual to believe God, obey his word, depart from evil, and dedicate his life to the service of his Redeemer.

DELAY NO LONGER.

We must blow the trumpet and sound the alarm, and we must do this work with whole-heartedness, and do it now. The day of the Lord cometh, and it is nigh at hand. We have reached the time when there shall be delay no longer. In the tenth chapter of Revelation we have a most impressive presentation of our time and work.

A mighty angel is brought to view. He has in his hand a little book open. Placing his right foot upon the sea and his left foot upon the earth, he raises his hand to heaven, and swears by him that liveth forever and ever “that there should be time no longer.” The word here translated “time” may be properly translated “delay.” That is the idea in the original, and it is so expressed in the margin of the Revised Version.

The message of this angel is the advent message. It is a proclamation of Christ’s coming and of the end of the world. The angel swears by the Lord who lives forever that this event shall be delayed no longer. On God’s part it might have come centuries ago. Man’s unbelief and rebellion have caused delay for ages. But a time is set beyond which this greatest of all events can be delayed no longer. And that time is thus clearly stated: “In the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished.”

THE BEGINNING OF THE SEVENTH TRUMPET.

The seventh angel brought to view here is the seventh of the seven trumpet angels of chapter 8. The sounding of this angel is clearly presented in chapter 11: 15–19. The sixth trumpet ceased to sound in 1840. The seventh trumpet was to sound “quickly.”

The beginning of its sounding was to be marked by the opening of the judgment in the sanctuary above. That was in 1844. The seventh trumpet is to continue to sound until the earth shall have been renewed, and given to Abraham and his seed for an everlasting possession. That carries us beyond the thousand years between the coming of Christ and the resurrection and destruction of the wicked. Thus we see that the sounding of the seventh angel extends over a period of more than a thousand years.

The seventh trumpet began to sound in 1844. It has been sounding fifty-seven years. That is only the beginning of that long period of more than one thousand years.

THE MYSTERY OF GOD.

Now the Scripture says that in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished. What is the mystery of God? (Voices: God manifest in the flesh. Christ in you the hope of glory.) Yes, it is Christ in you the hope of glory. But what is the general term by which we express it? (Voice: The Gospel.) That is right. Then it is the gospel that is to be finished in the beginning of the sounding of the seventh angel. We are already in that time, the closing work is in progress, and the solemn oath of the angel is that there shall be delay no longer.

GOD CALLS ON US THIS DAY.

Dear friends, do we not all rejoice that that time has come? Do we not all desire to place ourselves where God can work through us, so that the end will be no longer delayed? Do we not long to have God’s last message go to the uttermost parts of the earth, arousing the world and leading the people to tremble and prepare for the coming of Jesus?—Of course we do. We want it. We desire it. It is our privilege to take our stand for that here and now. But we must all personally place ourselves where the Lord can use us. It must be an individual work. I can not make a consecration for you. The consecration I make of myself to God may help you, but it will not be for you. It will not take the place of the consecration you must make, and so it is with everyone. God calls upon us this morning to make a full surrender, a full consecration, so that he can come and take complete control of us, and guide us, and use us where he will, and as he will, to carry forward his work. If every Seventh-day Adventist in the world would place himself so completely under the Lord’s full control that God could do with him what

he desires, it would not be long before this message would be sounded with great power through the earth. The light would lighten the whole earth, and Jesus would close his work.

THE HIGH OFFICE OF THE CANVASSER.

Among those who are to have an active part in bearing this light to the world are our canvassers and colporteurs;—those who take our publications to the people and place them in their hands for study. It is of their work that I am to talk this morning, and I want to give you some facts that ought certainly to encourage all of us regarding this line of work. I do not know, and I do not pretend to say, just what line of work God calls you to do; whether it is the preaching of the word, or canvassing. I don’t care anything about that. God makes the choice. He assigns our work to us, and what we want is to know what the Lord has for us personally to do. The one whom God chooses for the ministry must go to that work. Those whom the Lord has especially fitted and chosen for Bible work must do that, and those whom God has blessed with capabilities for the canvassing work must go to that work, and they must believe that it is ordained of God, and that they are God’s messengers. There is no difference in the character of the work. There is a difference in the way of doing it, but the character of the work is the same, and I believe that canvassers who go into the field should go with a full sense of the dignity of the work to which God has called them.

THE CANVASSING FIELD A SCHOOL OF EDUCATION.

I think that in many cases the Lord calls individuals into the canvassing work to fit them for a different line of work. I have in mind a case that illustrates this. Two or three years ago when I was at Avondale school near the close of the term, I was talking with different students about their summer’s work. One young man had a burden to go out with a tent as tent master, with the idea of learning to preach. He had spent all his life in an office, and had circumscribed ideas of gospel work. It seemed to some of us that he ought to get out in the country, and come in contact with people in different conditions and circumstances, and learn what the world was like. We encouraged him to go canvassing. He said he had no ability nor burden for that. He was sure he would be a failure. We tried to get him to see the reasons why we wanted him to do that kind of work. Finally he said to us, “Well, I will go, but I am sure I will make a failure, and I want you to take the responsibility of my failure.” He went out, but contrary to

his prediction, he made a real success. By the time the vacation closed, he returned to school with enough money above all expenses to pay his way through school the following year.

A year later it seemed to all the brethren that this young man ought to connect with a tent. He was granted a license, and spent the summer in tent work. When the winter came, instead of going back to school he was called to one of the colonies, where we had organized a new conference, to take charge of the work as State agent. He continued there one year, and then was called to Raratonga to take charge of the Raratonga Mission field. He is now at Raratonga in charge of that field. God has blessed that young man since the day he surrendered, and said he would go into the canvassing field and do his level best. Nothing has occurred that has stopped him in his growth and development. Now, I say again that sometimes the Lord calls a young man or woman into the canvassing field to fit him or her for a different line of work, and whether it is for a short time or for life it is our privilege to know that it is God’s work, that he has ordained it, and that we are his messengers.

DOUBLING OUR TALENTS.

E. P. Boggs: Here is just one sentence I would like to have read.

A. G. Daniells: “By diligence in canvassing, by faithfully presenting to the people the cross of Calvary, the canvasser doubles his powers of usefulness.” Testimony No. 34, p. 339. Isn’t that good? “By diligence in canvassing, by faithfully presenting to the people the cross of Calvary, the canvasser doubles his powers of usefulness.” We all want to do that. We want to double our powers of usefulness. God tells us that faithful canvassing work will do that.

REVIVAL OF THE CANVASSING WORK.

Here are a few statements regarding canvassing that I know you will be pleased to hear. They are in this new Testimony No. 34. I will say that a great deal of light has come through the Spirit of Prophecy during the last year or two on the question of canvassing, that teaches us that this work must be revived among our people, and I want to tell you, dear young friends, that I believe we are now standing on the verge of a great revival of the canvassing and missionary spirit. I believe that our canvassing work is going to come up to the place of dignity and importance that it should occupy, and that hundreds and hundreds of men and women in a short time will be called to this work, and will be carrying the books to

the people who sit in darkness. I am sure of that. I am glad we have the privilege of beginning this revival right here in this school, and I pray that the students who are here will join us and be among the very first to take hold of this work, and to help create this revival.

THE WORK FOR THIS TIME.

Here is a statement: “God has ordained the canvassing work as a means of presenting before the people the light in our books, and canvassers should be impressed with the importance of bringing before the world as fast as possible the books necessary for their spiritual education and enlightenment. This is the very work the Lord would have his people do at this time.” No. 34, p. 313. Do you get the full import of this statement? First, God has ordained the canvassing work as a means of presenting before the people the light contained in our books. Now what is the light contained in our books? It is the light of the third angel’s message, is it not?—Yes. And God has ordained the canvassing work as a means of conveying that light to the people who are in darkness. This is the very work the Lord would have his people do at this time.

On page 24 of Testimony No. 34 we are told, “It is the essence of all right faith to do the right thing at the right time.” The essence of right faith is to do the right thing at the right time. Then, dear friends, let us pray that God will give us the right faith, in order that we may do the right thing at the right time. What is the right thing to do at this time? The canvassing work is “the very work the Lord would have his people do at this time.” This shows us that as ministers, and teachers, and students, and people everywhere, we must give our attention to this great work. We must take hold of it with a will, with a determination, with an intelligence, that will cause this work to go forward as God has ordained it shall.

GOD’S ESTIMATE OF THE CANVASSING WORK.

Again, “The canvassing work, properly conducted, is missionary work of the highest order, and it is as good and successful a method as can be employed for placing before the people the important truths for this time.” p. 313. The canvassing work is a missionary work of the highest order. This is God’s estimate of the canvassing work, and we are not to discount it a particle. It is missionary work of the highest order, and it is as good and successful a method as can be employed for placing before the people the important truths for this time.

THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR LITERATURE.

Let me read another statement: “I have been instructed that even where the people hear the message from the living preacher, the canvasser should carry on his work in co-operation with the ministry, for though the minister may faithfully present the message, the people are not able to retain it all. The printed page is, therefore, essential, not only in awakening them to the importance of the truth for this time, but in rooting and grounding them in the truth, and establishing them against deceptive error. Papers and books are the Lord’s means of keeping the message for this time continually before the people. In enlightening and confirming souls in the truth, the publications will do a far greater work than can be accomplished by the ministry of the word alone. The silent messengers that are placed in the homes of the people through the work of the canvasser, will strengthen the gospel minister in every way; for the Holy Spirit will impress minds as they read the books just as he impresses the minds of those who listen to the preaching of the word. The same ministry of angels attends the books that attends the work of the ministry.” p. 315. Thus the canvasser who joins the minister in the field, is a yoke-fellow. He is a co-laborer with the minister. Both are co-laborers with each other, and with the angels, and with the Holy Spirit. They are all bound up together.

Our ministers should encourage our young people to work for the distribution of our literature. Our students and our young men and women everywhere should take hold of this work, and go all over the country selling our books, papers, tracts, and pamphlets to the people.

A WORK OF DISPATCH.

If we were fully aroused, and our hearts consecrated to this work, we could soon warn the world. Think of this great district,—the Lake Union Conference,—Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Ontario. Here are nearly 20,000 Seventh-day Adventists. If we would take up this work in earnest, we could warn every man, woman, and child in this Union Conference in a short time. It could be done if our people would only work. If our young men and women would only take up this work, carry tracts with them, and take their Bibles, they could soon go over this conference, and leave something for the people to read that would give them a knowledge of the truth.

ESPECIALLY FOR CANVASSERS.

Here is another statement: “There are many who because of prejudice will never know the truth unless it is brought to their homes. The canvasser must find these souls and minister to them. There is a line of work in house-to-house labor that he can accomplish more successfully than others. He can become acquainted with the people, and understand their true necessities; he can pray with them, and point them to the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world. Thus the way will be opened for the special message for this time to find access to their hearts.” “Let the canvasser remember he has an opportunity to sow beside all waters.” p. 314. These are blessed words. I would like to talk about them, but I can not now because our time is limited.

THE WORLD IS ASLEEP.

I will read another statement: “The time has come when a large work should be done by the canvasser. The world is asleep, and as watchmen they are to ring the warning bell to wake the sleepers to their danger. From the light given me I know that where there is one canvasser in the field there should be one hundred.” p. 315. Mark that statement, and think of what it means. Where there is one canvasser in the field there should be one hundred. That is increasing our canvassing staff one hundredfold, isn’t it? See what it would mean. Increase the staff of workers a hundredfold, and you will improve the spirit of the canvassing work a thousandfold. If you could get this staff of workers together, they would study the field and the work, and would communicate a spirit that would bring a great revival in this work.

EACH MUST ACT A PART.

Every young man and woman in our ranks ought to be directly connected with some line of work in this cause, unless there is some very good reason for returning home for private work. I do not know what your calling is. I do not know how you are situated, but it does seem to me you ought here and now to learn of God whether he would have you enter this line of work. Are you called home? Is there something that you must do on the farm or in the home? Does God call you there? If so, go. But if he does not call you there, if you can possibly leave your home for the summer, and engage in this work, will you not lay your plans here to do that? Will you not go out into the field, and give your whole vacation to this work? Now we want, not only to induce

young men and women to take hold of this work, but we want to see it so organized that they will have the prayers and hearty support of all our ministers and teachers and our people who are engaged in the work.

THE CANVASSER NOT A PEDDLER.

The canvassing work must be raised to its proper place among other lines of work. We must not look upon the canvasser as a book hawker or a peddler. We must look upon the canvassing work as standing on a level with any other branch of the ministry, and the canvasser as walking alongside with the minister, the nurse, the physician, the teacher. That is where he is working, and he must have the prayers, and the co-operation, and the warm, hearty sympathy of all connected with the work just the same as any other gospel worker.

FROM A MISSIONARY STANDPOINT.

Here is another statement: “Since canvassing for our literature is a missionary work, it should be conducted from a missionary standpoint.” p. 317. This is the only true standpoint from which to work, and it will give us greater success than any other method can possibly bring to us. It is not merely to get enough money to put us through school another term, or to provide us a living. We want to get money for these purposes, of course, but we must not make that the chief motive. It will not do. The preacher who goes out to get a living, and simply puts in his time to get $10 a week, is a failure, and has no business in the ministry. The canvasser who goes out simply to get a living will, in the end, make a failure. He may get his living the same as the minister may get his living for a number of years, but in the end the life work will be a failure. We must go out with the missionary spirit, go out to give the light we have, and to save the people. With that motive prompting us, we are going to have success in selling our books. We are going to have success in doubling our power of usefulness, and we are going to lay up treasure in the kingdom of heaven, so that at last, even if we continue in this work as long as we live here, we shall have all our life work transferred to the kingdom of heaven.

NOT BELITTLING TO THE MINISTRY.

Now I will read another statement: “Let none think that it belittles the minister of the gospel to engage in canvassing as a means of carrying truth to the people.” p. 321. “There are some who are adapted to the work of the colporteur, and who can accomplish more in this line than by preaching.” p. 323. If one can accomplish more in the canvassing work than by endeavoring to preach, how wise, how sensible for him to accept it, and say, I am a co-laborer with God.

THE CANVASSING WORK A PART OF THE MEDICAL MISSIONARY WORK AND OF THE MINISTRY.

Then again, “Genuine medical missionary work is bound up with the ministry, and the canvassing work is to be a part both of the medical missionary work and of the ministry.” p. 323. I want you to get that statement. See what it means. I will read it again. “Genuine medical missionary work is to be bound up with the ministry.” Then every minister ought to be prepared to do genuine medical missionary work. “And the canvassing work is to be a part both of the medical missionary work and the ministry.” What a broad sweep this gives to the canvassing work. I hope the day will come when our canvassers will have good instruction in medical missionary lines, so that when they go out, they will have a broader field than heretofore.

But I will not detain you longer. We long to see a revival of the canvassing work in this country. In this conference, the Lake Union Conference, including the States I have referred to, we intend to revive this work. We intend to talk it and labor for it until we see this work broaden out to its utmost capacity. We have several hundred churches. It has been suggested that we get every one of the churches in the Lake Union Conference to contribute at least one canvasser to our staff. (Voices: Amen.)

E. A. Sutherland: If that should be done in some of the States in this district, there would be 100 canvassers where there is now one.

A. G. Daniells: You have heard that statement. Would we not then be walking in the light God has given us? When we walk in the light, will we not have the blessing of God?

When we follow out the teaching of God, there is light all along our path. There is blessing and there is prosperity. I do not know where you live or what you may be called to do, but I truly hope you will consecrate your lives to God’s work. (Voices: Amen.) Make up your mind that you are going to do your part, and then as we form companies to go into the States, join those companies, and under your company leaders go out and prosper in this work during the vacation, and come back to school next fall rejoicing in the blessings you have had during the summer. I believe if you go out and work this way, you will have something to rejoice in when the summer is over.