p. 173 | ONE THOUSAND CANVASSERS WANTED

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 14, 1882

ONE THOUSAND CANVASSERS WANTED.

By Stephen Nelson Haskell

BY ELD. S. N. HASKELL.

The two books “Thoughts on Daniel” and “Thoughts on the Revelation” have recently been issued by the S. D. A. Publishing Association in one volume, in suitable style for canvassing, printed on heavy tinted paper, making a book of 840 pages, two inches in thickness, nine long, and seven wide. It is put up in extra binding, contains the portrait of the author, and sells for $3.00, $3.50, and $4.00, according to style of binding. It is sold by agents, and is already becoming one of the most effectual means of getting the light before a class of people who have hitherto been unacquainted with our position. Those who have given their attention to canvassing for this book have thus far been very successful. In the city of Battle Creek over sixty names were taken by Bro. Geo. King, working twelve consecutive days, with the exception of Sabbath and Sunday. Having gained permission to examine this list of subscribers, I found that it did not consist of the names of our brethren. Three ministers, representing three of the four denominations in the city, not including our own, the president of the bank, and leading physicians, lawyers, merchants, etc., were of the number of persons who had subscribed for the book.

Bro. King has also made a six weeks’ trip in Ohio, visiting seven cities. Although canvassing some for the book, his principal business was to work up canvassers for it. In this he was successful, disposing of fifteen outfits to persons who are about entering fields, or have already done so. In addition to this, Bro. King sold about seventy copies of the book himself, more than half of them to the same class of persons as those referred to in Battle Creek,—the mayor of each of the cities, the judge of the Supreme Court, and many more of that class of men who would not be inclined to visit an S. D. Adventist place of worship. In the early history of the gospel, some came to the Saviour by night (John 3:2); others secretly believed on him (John 19:38); also the apostle speaks of visiting persons of reputation privately (Gal. 2:2), and people are much the same now-a-days. While introducing the book, as a short commentary on Daniel and the Revelation, and as giving a brief history of the world, the solution of the Eastern Question in the extinction of Turkey, the attitude of the various nations of Europe, also the United States in prophecy, remarks like the following were frequently made: “These are subjects to which my attention has been called of late.” “These are subjects upon which I would like to read.” “I did not know that this country was mentioned in prophecy,” etc. Thus an interest was awakened to purchase and read the book.

The old fable of the world’s conversion has about faded out of the mind of the more sensible portion of the reading public. Who cannot see in all this the providence of God, indicating the last steps to be taken before the loud cry of the third angel? I fear that many of us are asleep over the most unmistakable evidences of the closing scenes of this work.

Canvassers are wanted everywhere to sell “Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation” and our health publications,—not men and women who never have succeeded, and never can make a success of anything; but energetic, persevering persons, who will not be turned aside from their purpose, those of piety and moral worth, courteous, kind, gentlemanly, having a heart beating in sympathy with, and fully devoted to, the cause of God.

The dark war-cloud hangs heavily over Europe, and in a brief space of time the work of spreading the truth in these nations will be done. It will ere long burst, spreading bloodshed, distress, and confusion everywhere, and terminate in the unmingled wrath of God, when the slain of the Lord will be from one end of the earth to the other, and they will not be gathered, lamented, or buried, but will be dung upon the ground. Jer. 25:33.

The dragonic voice has already commenced to utter imprecations upon those who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Rev. 12:17. Men in high standing, who give evidence of moral integrity, are inquiring for light. Who will give themselves to God as colporters or canvassers, thus becoming agents to give the last notes of warning to a dying world? is the question which now comes home to us.

“Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation” is the best commentary on this portion of the inspired word that has ever been printed. Not less than nine or ten chains of events are here brought to view, which bring us to the closing of this world’s history. The book of Daniel, in which is found four lines of consecutive events leading to the establishment of God’s everlasting kingdom, not only has the direct sanction of our divine Lord, but contains definite instruction to the end that we should read and understand the prophecies therein contained.

There can be no calling more honorable than that of spreading the knowledge of these truths. There should be not less than ten thousand copies of “Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation” sold within the next twelve months.