THE REVIVAL OF THE CANVASSING WORK.
By Arthur G. Daniells
The work known among Seventh-day Adventists as “gospel canvassing” is being revived. For this every believer in the special message and work for this time should thank God and take courage. The revival of the gospel canvassing work throughout the ranks of our people means more than at first may appear. It means the revival of the old-time missionary spirit. It means the more thorough and rapid proclamation of God’s last message to the world. It means that the coming of Jesus to end the cruel reign of sin will be hastened. Therefore, let all rejoice that the canvassing work is being revived, and let all who rejoice in this do all in their power to aid in the revival. Those who have given the proceedings of the late General Conference careful reading, will remember that the canvassing work was a prominent feature of the Conference. Our publishers and leading canvassers placed before the Conference, in a most earnest and intelligent manner, the meaning and value of this work to the cause of present truth. These efforts received a prompt and hearty response from the delegates. The good work they began has been taken up by ministers, physicians, and Conference committees during the summer, and presented to thousands of our people at the camp-meetings. This has brought new life to this branch of the work. The time has certainly and fully come when our people should engage in the circulation of our literature as never before. “The King’s business requires haste.” “All things are now ready.” The fields are “white already to harvest.” The end is “nearer than when we [first] believed.” “Son, go work to-day in my vineyard.” Winter is approaching. The heat of the summer is past. The evenings are growing longer. Crops are being gathered in, and marketed. In most parts of the country the harvests have been bountiful. Prices generally are high. Business everywhere is good. Factories are running day and night. Money is plentiful and is circulating freely. The whole country is enjoying unparalleled prosperity. Viewed from every standpoint, it is as clear as it can be that the hour has come for a great move on the part of Seventh-day Adventists. We should now enter upon the greatest campaign ever known in our history. God calls us to action. Everything about us demands vigorous efforts. We must place our literature in the hands of the masses who need the truths we prize so highly. Then let the leaders of the people sound the trumpet call to service all through the land. In the Lake Union Conference, which includes the States of Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, also the Province of Ontario, the call is being made for a thousand consecrated men and women to devote their entire time and energies to the sale of our literature. Conference officers, ministers, and State agents are throwing themselves into this campaign with an earnestness that means success. Nearly every State has a consecrated minister acting as State canvassing agent. In Michigan, Elder Wight has charge of the work, and is heartily supported by the Conference president. They have planned to have all the churches in the Conference visited by earnest ministers to arouse every member to do something this winter to place our literature in the hands of the people. Each member is to be instructed, and given the work for which he is best fitted. This should surely result in the sale of a large amount of literature during the winter, and the development of scores of successful canvassers for our large books. Elder F. L. Moody has charge of the work in Indiana. During the summer, Brother Moody was the general agent for the Lake Union Conference. At the Indiana camp-meeting, he was chosen by the people as their State agent until a suitable person could be found to take the place. About that time Brother E. R. Palmer came from Australia to this country, with a view of spending the winter here, and then proceeding to England to spend a few months in helping build up the canvassing work in that country. Owing to Indiana’s need of Brother Moody’s entire time, and Brother Palmer’s long and valuable experience in the canvassing work, it was thought best for the latter to take the oversight of the work in the Lake Union Conference for a time. Brother Moody and the president of the Indiana Conference have arranged to visit the leading churches in the State together to secure recruits for the canvassing work. Similar plans are being adopted by the presidents and State agents of Wisconsin and Illinois. With the earnest, intelligent, sanctified co-operation of Conference presidents, committees, and the ministers, this work must succeed. No obstacles can stand before it. Every difficulty will be swept away, and genuine success will follow. Then let this good work be taken up and carried forward in every Conference throughout the States. Let us sow the land with our literature, and thus help speedily to proclaim this gospel of the kingdom to all the world, and so hasten the day of God. A. G. DANIELLS.