Canvassing for "Thoughts on Daniel and Revelation."
By S. N. Haskell
WE are daily becoming more thoroughly convinced that personal labor, such as colporteur work and canvassing, is a work that will become more and more prominent in the spreading of the truths of the Third Angel's Message. We should devise every lawful means to get the truth before the people. We should possess as much zeal and earnestness, give as much thought to devise plans to accomplish this work, as the man of the world does to carry points which involve nothing but his selfish interests. And when we urge the canvassing for the SIGNS, and adopt the method of obtaining monthly subscribers, and then visiting, and at the end of the month securing yearly subscriptions if possible, it should not be understood that in this matter we exclude other means which are being used to spread the truth. Canvassers should enter the field everywhere with "Thoughts on Daniel and Revelation"—those who make a speciality of that one book alone. They can enter new fields and get people interested to read. Facts are continually coming to light which show that many subscribers can be obtained from those who have become interested to read the SIGNS for one month or more. Already encouraging reports are being received from those who have canvassed for "Thoughts on Daniel and Revelation" where the people first became interested to read the SIGNS OF THE TIMES. Those who have entered the field as canvassers for the SIGNS, in some cases average one family in every three who subscribed for the paper. After they have become interested to read the SIGNS, a canvasser for "Thoughts on Daniel and Revelation" follows in their wake; and one brother writes that he has "taken forty-two orders for Daniel and Revelation in about ten days," and he expected to take several more. About one hundred and twenty had subscribed for the SIGNS before, and then he adds: "This proves that the paper prepares the way for the book." The plan of sending out the SIGNS to individuals whom we never visit is a plan that should not be discarded; but far greater good can be accomplished if, when these people receive the SIGNS, they could receive visits from the proper persons to encourage their reading it, and to answer objections which may arise; also to furnish them other reading matter, as desired. Personal labor will accomplish far more than we have realized. There has not that importance been placed upon this feature of the work which should have been. The Spirit of God has spoken directly upon it. Colporteurs are wanted everywhere, and those colporteurs should be encouraged by the various Conferences. They are individuals that are selected. Not every person is qualified to act as a colporteur, any more than every person can be a minister; but they should be individuals who have some sense of the sacredness of this work; and realize the claims that God has upon them. We are expecting to see much accomplished this year by the colporteur work. Already much has been accomplished. It should not be a spasmodic effort; but men should engage in it who will give their lives to the work, who will devote their entire interests to the cause of Christ, and who will educate themselves for the work by a constant, persistent effort, and thus obtain an experience in the work that will make them successful. At first they may not succeed, but the more they apply themselves and seek God for his grace to help them, the more successful they will become. One brother thought he could not canvass for "Thoughts on Daniel and Revelation;" he was fearful he could not earn his living. We finally employed him, and paid him the wages which he was receiving, on condition that he would spend as many hours in making the effort to canvass as he did at his regular employment. He commenced with very little success, and for ten days accomplished comparatively nothing. He thought that we would be discouraged because he accomplished no more; but we had hired him for a month, and agreed to pay him for his time, providing that he would continue to apply himself to the work. He did this, and the last news we heard from him he was able to take five or six subscriptions per day. It is experience in the work that is needed to qualify us to do the work more successfully. Yet there be as much interest taken to make a success of the cause of God as there is taken to learn a trade, and then we shall see the cause of God prosper.