TRAINING HEALTH BOOK AGENTS.
By E. R. P.
Some difficulty has been experienced or apprehended by agents with regard to the training of canvassers for handling health books. Nearly all have joined heartily in the movement to unite the conflicting interests of our religious and health books, and we are thankful for progress along this line. Now, dear workers, the greatest difficulty in this undertaking is in our minds. “As a man thinketh in his heart so is he.” A little determined, intelligent effort by State agents and general agents will solve the question. We are frequently receiving requests for some one from the Sanitarium to attend institutes, and give instruction in health principles, and the methods of handling health books. These requests are all right, and we wish we might have a good teacher of this kind in every institute; but let us not wait and delay action until such help can be secured. Every State can begin at once without any special help from abroad. Let us first, for convenience’ sake, forget that we have two classes of books. In fact, I will be glad when we have so united these lines that it will lead to dropping out our old phrases, such as, “our religious books and health books.” In our canvassers’ institutes we arrange for holding several classes; viz., a Bible class; a drill class, in14which the canvassers learn to handle and describe the book; a book-study class, in which the agents are arranged in classes according to the book to be canvassed for; and a class for practical instruction. Other classes may be arranged for if found desirable. Now, some of these agents will desire training for handling health books. Such persons can be provided for very easily. The same general instruction should be given to all agents regardless of the book for which each is to work; but when we come to the class for book study, each agent should be taught the vital points in the book for which he is to canvass. Those who are to sell health books must be taught from those books just as is the case with all other books. All that is required is for each State and general agent to study the contents of the health books, and enter heartily upon the work of instructing. It will, of course, be a great help to our institutes if a good nurse or some other health worker can be secured as a teacher, and now that the health work has been established in all parts of the field, it may not be difficult to secure help locally. Now, brethren, let us take hold of this work actively and with courage, and the Lord will give us success. We will be pleased to correspond with any who may not feel clear on this question.