p. 6 | PENNSYLVANIA by F. E. Painter

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 28, 1902

PENNSYLVANIA

By F. E. Painter

At the beginning of the year 1902 the outlook for the canvassing work in this conference is quite encouraging. For the year just closed we have nothing especially remarkable to report. We have held our own very well, and the value of books sold was a slight gain over the previous year. We begin this year with about our usual number of canvassers in the field, although there have been some slight changes in our ranks.

In October two of our best canvassers went to Georgia to help spread the truth in that needy field, and recently two other faithful canvassers left this State for the Southern field to continue the work of canvassing there. While we shall miss the faithful labors and companionship of these brethren in the home State, we heartily wish them Godspeed, and much of heaven’s blessings upon their labors in the South.

The consecration of these brethren should inspire many others among us to step into the ranks and take the places, not only of these, but of others who have left the canvassing work. Should this be done, the departure of these brethren will not be a loss, but a gain to the work in the home field. I

know of no other conference that has so large a number of young men and women who are so well qualified to enter the field as “canvassing evangelists” as Pennsylvania. I believe that many of these young persons are beginning to awaken to their responsibilities in this direction. A number of them have entered the work recently, and others are preparing to do so. Several of these are young women. We consider this encouraging. In the last few years most of our canvassers have been men, but we believe this work affords a splendid opening for many of our sisters to do active missionary work; and we are glad to see that some of them are manifesting a willingness to enter it. We hope soon to have some of our sisters in this work again, who have had experience in it in the past, so that we can associate them with these new recruits. Most of our canvassers had very good success with their holiday delivery, and feel much encouraged for the work of the year to come. Money is circulating freely, work is abundant, and conditions never were better for this work than at the present time.

We are planning for a vigorous campaign for the season of 1902. We intend to hold a canvassers’ institute of about one month’s duration as soon as arrangements can be made. We believe this will be a new inspiration to all who attend it, and we expect only those to attend who have a mind to work, and who expect to devote their time afterward to active service in the canvassing field. This school will be located in a suitable city or town where there will be a good field for canvassing; and practical instruction given in the school will be supplemented with actual experience in the field for one half of each day during the institute.

We are expecting a good report for January this year, as the month is opening with nearly all of our canvassers in the field. Our experience has demonstrated that, in this State at least, there is no necessity for the work stopping or even slackening to any great extent during the winter months.

The work for “Christ’s Object Lessons” received a new impetus at the general meetings held throughout the State this fall, and is progressing finely. Our ministers and conference workers are devoting their time during January and February to that work, and many of the people are taking up the work with renewed interest. The tract and missionary work is receiving more attention in many of the churches than formerly; new plans of work are being laid, and there are many encouraging indications of a revival of the missionary spirit among us. The Pillar of Cloud is rising and moving forward, and we must awake and go forward with it. We have our share of difficulties, but they cannot hinder the work of those who realize that they are in co-operation with Him to whom has been given “all power in heaven and in earth.” Let us be of good courage, for the battle is not ours, but God’s, and through Him we are well able to go up and possess the land.

F. E. PAINTER.