In the southwest corner of Wales we have had a very happy time during the past season’s work with “Great Controversy.” I think I never enjoyed canvassing quite so much before, and the gladness of heart and the peace and rest which come through working with and for the Lord are better than language can describe.
I believe I never before so keenly realized the presence of the Lord in the work, and the result which may follow from yoking up with him; while the instances of his providential care sharpen our faith in his interest for our personal welfare. “I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me.”
Experiences
I had a good delivery coming off early in September; but two or three weeks before that time the money I had by me was reduced to three and sevenpence (86 cents), with which to buy food, pay three and eightpence (88 cents) for notification, and seven and elevenpence ($1.90) for carriage on books. The thought of borrowing a little came, but something said, “Get it of the Lord;” so I watched to see what he would do. Pretty soon a man paid me seven shillings ($1.68) for a copy of “Great Controversy” which I had been using. A little later another man wanted the last new copy I had. Others bought small books, which came to hand in the meantime, so that when the time for my delivery arrived, I still had part of my three and sevenpence (86 cents) left, and all my bills were paid as they came due. That lesson in faith did me a world of good.
The Street I Dreaded
In the town where I had been working was a short business street which I dreaded to canvass; but one dull morning I went out, trusting in the Lord, to do it. At the first shop (a grocery) on the corner, I took an order from the owner for a seven-and-six ($1.80) “Great Controversy;” a little farther along, a tailor gave me an order for a fifteen-shilling ($3.60) one, and at the next door I received another. Across the street a chemist ordered a nine-and-six book ($2.28); and in the evening I took another order of a young man whom I had seen at another place of business in the same street.
Ups and Downs of Canvassing
One day I worked hard, and could not do a pennyworth of business. The next day I took nine orders for “Great Controversy.”
At a Big House and a Little One
At the big house I showed my book to a superior-looking servant, who ordered one. After I had called at another house, this same person came after me, saying that her fellow servant was offended because she had not been called to see the book. When I went back, she also ordered a book, and they thought that the gardener would like one; when I saw him later, he spoke for a morocco binding, making thirty shillings’ ($7.20) worth of books for the one house; and when they were delivered, the subscribers were delighted with them.
At the little house was an aged woman and a young woman, to whom I showed a copy of “His Glorious Appearing,” which they bought. While I was talking with them, I discovered that the young woman was a spiritually minded person. I started up the road, and she ran after me, wanting another copy of “His Glorious Appearing.” After going up the road and getting an order for “Great Controversy” at a farm, I returned by this cottage, and in the meantime the young woman had learned that I had a large book, and she wanted to know what it was. As I talked about the truths it contained, and the spiritual nature of our work, and she saw the list of orders, she remarked, “You are doing a great work, sir,” and ordered a large book.
How sweet those words sounded! It was cheering to think that amid the moral darkness there is now and then one who can appreciate the nature of our work. Truly we are engaged in “a great work,” and may the Lord inspire our hearts with new faith and courage to press the battle till the final victory is won.