The Canvassing Work and Our Schools
By J. B. Blosser
In the earlier days of the canvassing work those who engaged in it were men and women who had accepted the truth through the labors of our ministers. They had been faithfully instructed in the special truths for this time, so that they could readily present them to others, and with a little instruction they could take the books containing these precious truths, and, with a heart filled with the love of God, they were well prepared to make the work a success. There are yet many such souls who should enter this branch of the work in the same way; but by far the greater number who are now available for this work are the young men and women who are in our schools, or ought to be there. Many of these young people have been raised in the message, and it is the ambition of their parents that they become useful in carrying the truth to the world. These young people, too, are earnestly praying that God may guide them into the place that he would have them occupy; and since God is calling for many of this class to enter the work as evangelistic canvassers, in fact, is emphasizing this call, it is the purpose of this article to encourage them to take up this work, and to offer some suggestions as to how our schools can render them valuable help in preparing them for this work. A few quotations from the testimonies of the spirit of prophecy will be in place:—“There ought to be connected with our schools the best possible facilities for the preparation of laborers for both home and foreign fields.”—“Gospel Workers,” page 284. “Canvassers are to be educated and trained to do the work required in selling the books upon present truth which the people need. There is need of men of deep Christian experience, men of well-balanced minds, strong, well-educated men, to engage in this work. The Lord desires those to take hold of the canvassing work who are capable of educating others, who can awaken in promising young men and women an interest in this line, leading them to take up the bookwork and handle it successfully. Some have the talent, education, and experience which would enable them to educate the youth for the canvassing work in such a way that much more would be accomplished than is now being done. Those who have gained such an experience in this work have a special duty to perform in teaching others. Educate, educate, educate young men and women to sell the books which the Lord by his Holy Spirit has stirred his servants to write. God desires us to be faithful in educating those who accept the truth, that they may believe to a purpose, and work intelligently in the Lord's way.”—“Manual for Canvassers,” pages 63, 64. “Let those who have been in school go out into the field, and put to practical use the knowledge they have gained. If canvassers will do this, using the ability that God has given them, seeking counsel from him, and combining the work of selling books with personal labor for the people, their talents will increase by exercise, and they will learn many practical lessons which they could not possibly learn in school. The education obtained in this practical way may properly be termed higher education. There is no higher work than evangelistic canvassing; for it involves the performance of the highest moral duties.”—Id., page 65. In a recent unpublished Testimony occurs the following: “Time is short. We are to hold out urgent inducements to the men who are now to be engaged in missionary work for the Master. The highways and byways are unworked. The Lord calls for young men to labor as canvassers and evangelists, to do house-to-house work in places that have not yet heard the truth. . . . Those who go forth in this work will be wonderfully blessed. The Lord calls for volunteers who will take their stand firmly on his side, and will pledge themselves to unite with Jesus of Nazareth in doing the very work that needs to be done now, just now. . . . Canvassers are to be educated to take up the work of circulating these publications. Our books and papers are to go to places that are still in the darkness of error. The Lord calls for young men to enter our schools. Schools are to be established in which our youth can receive an education that will prepare them to go forth to do evangelistic and medical missionary work. Let these schools be established out of the cities.” It is a noticeable feature of these earnest calls for the young to enter the work as evangelistic canvassers, that the work of the schools is associated with their training. Does not this plainly indicate that our schools are to become the recruiting and training ground to a large extent of those who are to engage in this work “that needs to be done now, just now”? But do we see anything like a large per cent of those who are completing their schooling entering this department of work?—No, no. This is the sad but true answer. Why?—Well, there are several reasons, which we will not discuss in this article; but perhaps a few suggestions as to how the schools can render assistance in changing this state of affairs will be to the point. The work of training can be begun in the church school. The children can be encouraged to sell some of the smaller publications, papers, etc., and then they should be encouraged to relate their experiences in the presence of the whole school, for the encouragement of all, and for the instruction of those who may be edified by their experiences. Many of our church-school teachers are doing a noble work in this way, and the fruit will appear in due time. Then our industrial schools and academies can render valuable aid in many ways. During the school year each student should be encouraged to make a special study of some one of our large books, so that when vacation comes, he can with a little special instruction go out to sell these books, and later take up the study of another, and so on until his schooling is completed, when he will be ready to enter the work, and make it a success. In this way an intelligent corps of canvassers can be developed; and as those who go out during vacation return to school again, they will bring into the school the sweet leaven of their experiences in placing the truth in the homes of the people, and it will not be long before the whole spiritual atmosphere of the school will be pervaded with the desire to enter this work. Some of our colleges are doing a noble work in preparing canvassers by offering a special course for their training. Such a preparation is offered at Berrien Springs during the fall term. The books to be sold will be carefully studied, and a large portion of the time will be spent in the adjoining country in actual work, accompanied by the writer and others who have had actual experience in this work. The time has come when the spirit of prophecy says the canvassing work is to be revived. The time has come when our youth should be enlisted in this soul-saving work. These youth are in our schools, or should be there; therefore the time has come when our schools must, if they meet the demands of the time upon them, throw their strength into the work of giving these youth a training for this work. Will they do it? I believe they will. Let us all, conferences, laborers, and people, co-operate with our schools in meeting the mind of God in this important matter.