Notes of Progress by E. R. Palmer

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 19, 1906

Notes of Progress

By E. R. Palmer

We have great reason for thanksgiving as we present our summary for the month of May. We believe this to be the largest summary presented for several years. A casual glance at the totals indicates that this prosperity is quite general.

It is gratifying, indeed, to see that the greatest prosperity for the past month is shown by union conferences where the work has usually been considered rather difficult. The Southern and Southwestern Union Conferences are well in the lead, and yet it is a well-known fact that times are not so very prosperous in many of the Southern States. Thus we have another item of evidence to show that prosperity in this work does not depend so much upon good times in a worldly sense as upon good times in a spiritual sense. We greatly rejoice with our brethren in the South over the splendid advance they are making.

The month of May seemed to be an off month for the Pacific Union Conferences. Nearly all their agents were attending conventions or other meetings of some kind, and hardly any reports were sent in. However, some excellent work has been in progress in qualifying agents for the service, and we are promised a good report for the month of June. In fact, we have before us reports which indicate that the agents in the two conferences of California are now selling three or four thousand dollars’ worth of books each month. More students have been sent into the field from our schools than previously for quite a number of years, and there never was a time in the history of the work here in the West when agents averaged such large sales, as at the present.

The only reason why more books are not sold at the present time is that our force of agents is not large. Nearly all in the field are having remarkable success. As proof of this, and as an encouragement to our workers, I will give an analyzed report of the work in Texas for the month of May. Texas is the largest State in area, and appears in the summary with the largest report. Twenty-six agents worked an average of thirty-one hours each per week, and their sales averaged one hundred and ninety-two dollars each per month, or nearly fifty dollars each per week. This is one of the best reports we have seen for that number of agents. May the Lord continue to bless the canvassers in Texas who are putting in such good time and meeting with such excellent success; and may he also abundantly bless our dear Brother Eastman, who is back again at his old post after several years of faithful service in the foreign mission field.

We are now in the midst of the season. The best months of the year are before us between now and the holidays. The evidences are abundant that the Lord is with us and is restoring the old-time prosperity. Are not these omens sufficiently encouraging to induce scores, yes, hundreds, of our brethren and sisters to enter the work? There are many canvassers who have gained a rich experience in the past, but who for one cause or another have become discouraged and dropped out. But now the courage of every one is rising. This is an hour of advancement and success. Is

not this the time for these old workers to return to the field and fill up the ranks, and join in fighting the battles of the Lord? We give to all such, and to all others who can leave their homes and worldly employment, an invitation to this service.

E. R. PALMER, Sec. Gen. Conf. Publishing Com.