District No. Five by S. C. Osborne

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 3, 1900

DISTRICT NO. FIVE.

By S. C. Osborne

TAKING all things into consideration the work in this district is quite encouraging. The shipments from our branch house at Kansas City during the month of April were $300 more than they have been for the same month for several years, and the May shipments were $400 better than April. We attribute this increase of sales largely to the fact that nearly all of our canvassers are now selling large books, such as “Great Controversy,” “Daniel and the Revelation,” “The Desire of Ages,” etc. In this way the third angel’s message is placed in the hands of the people, and the canvassers’ profits are greatly increased. A recent testimony states that we should engage in the sale of the large books, and we have enjoyed much of the Lord’s blessing and financial prosperity in heeding the admonition. A large number of the small books are being sold for “helps.” One young lady, a beginner, reports $70 worth of orders for “The Desire of Ages” in two weeks, and during this time she sold $24 worth of helps.

During the last two weeks of the school year I held an institute at Union College, College View, Neb., being assisted by the State agents of Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa, for the benefit of the students who desired to canvass during vacation. About thirty attended the institute, being almost equally divided between districts four and five. This number, together with fifty who entered the canvassing work at the close of the winter term, makes quite a large number who have gone into the field from Union College this year.

Brother Blosser, the Texas State agent, and myself also held an institute at Keene Academy, Keene, Tex. Twelve were in attendance, the small number being accounted for by the fact that many intelligent and energetic young people, who were in the work last year, have entered the nurses’ course or taken up carpentry, broom making, or some other line of industrial work. It is sad indeed to see good workers in the cause of God take up these other lines of work.

There has been so much rain in the southern portion of Texas this year that it has almost ruined the work in that part of the State; but the State is large, and there is still plenty of good territory.

We expect to have several good canvassers at work in Arkansas before long. This conference is so small that unless it gets help from other States, but few canvassers will be in the field. Three States have offered to help the work there by each sending an experienced canvasser, which will be greatly appreciated.

With the blessing of God we hope to see a good work done in the district this year.

S. C. OSBORNE, Gen. Agt. Dist. No. Five.