The Development of House-to-House Workers
By H. H. Hall
“I AM deeply impressed with the fact that there is a great harvest to be reaped, and as we can not hire enough men to reap it, the whole family must go out and help, so that the grain may be gathered in before the storm.” So said one of the speakers at the missionary convention I had the privilege of attending last month. The speaker knew, and our readers know, what a storm in harvest-time means,—how all other work is laid aside that the grain may be saved. As in times of crises in the harvest of grain every member of the family takes part, so in the harvest of the world, in the midst of which we find ourselves, every “man, woman, and child among us” is to have “a specific place.” One of the easiest ways of beginning is by loaning tracts and periodicals. Following this is the sale of periodicals. Various methods for doing this were suggested at the last convention, only one of which we will refer to here. It is the plan of using tracts as an introduction. If, for example, you are selling the Signs, carry a supply of a little tract like “Heralds of His Coming,” and when your customer comes to the door, state that you are circulating publications on religious subjects, one of which is free. In nearly every case the tract will be readily received, and you will easily obtain a hearing, and often will receive an invitation to enter the home. Our missionary and health periodicals are pioneers. They are the advance agents for our other publications, pioneering the way for truth-filled books, which the Lord has moved upon his servants to write. The following is a list of books especially set apart by the General Conference Publication Committee for just9such workers. A discount of forty per cent to those who will engage in their circulation will be allowed. They will be advertised in our periodicals this fall, so that the public may be led to inquire for them:— “Thoughts on Daniel,” paper. “Thoughts on the Revelation,” paper. “Great Nations of To-day.” After the worker has gained an experience in selling these smaller books, and has, by repeated visits, become acquainted with his customers, he may arrange with his State agent to circulate the larger books in the same territory. Such work yields good returns, as is proved by the following quotation from a letter just received from one of our brethren who has tried it for years:— “During the past three weeks I have been following up the Signs work. In addition to finding many interested in the matter it contained, I have taken orders for two hundred dollars’ worth of books to be delivered at Christmas time. These were taken here in New York City, where good canvassers have been obliged to give up in despair.” And this is simply a fulfilment of the following special Testimony:— “I have been instructed that the canvassing work is to be revived.” “Our smaller books, with our journals, can and should be used in connection with our larger books.” Not all may be able to take every step mentioned in these suggestions, but certainly all can loan tracts, and nearly all can sell periodicals and some of the smaller books we have mentioned. Because of the on-coming storm, shall we not try?