An Experience by S. H. Lane

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 30, 1902

An Experience

By S. H. Lane

At all the camp meetings I have attended in the Middle Western States, we have devoted a portion of the time of several days to experience meetings, in which our canvassers, and our workers who are not regular canvassers, but who devote what time they can to selling books in their respective neighborhoods, gave interesting items of their experiences. In the Oklahoma camp meeting an earnest sister arose, and said, in substance, with an enthusiasm which electrified the large congregation:—

“I am the mother of twelve children. We have always been in moderate circumstances, and I have had the work of the family to perform. I have been an Adventist for nearly twenty years. From the first, I have handed out tracts and papers. About ten years ago I felt impressed to canvass for our larger books. At that time my youngest child was eight months old, and my oldest daughter was twelve years of age. I knew I could trust my little ones with her for a few hours at a time. We then lived in Kansas. I stated my impressions in regard to canvassing to my husband, but he laughed at me, and declared that should I canvass the entire township, I could not sell three books, for all knew that I was an Adventist.

“I began with ‘Bible Readings,’ and almost immediately I sold three of the library binding to one man. At first I spent only a short time each day, but as my children did well, I began to spend an entire day occasionally. Inside of eight months I sold four hundred dollars’ worth of books, mostly of the best bindings. I delivered seventy-five books before I lost an order.

“Two years ago I canvassed again. One day I took nine orders, amounting to thirty dollars. Another day I secured twenty-seven orders,—two for ‘The Desire of Ages,’ fifteen for ‘The Coming King,’ and ten for ‘Gospel Primer.’”

“Eight years ago we moved to Oklahoma. Recently I was impressed again to canvass. We have a neighbor living near who is very bitter against all churches, and is especially hostile toward book agents, having driven one lately from his yard. I decided to try to place at least one of our books in his family. My husband said, ‘Surely, you will not dare to go there.’ I concluded to canvass his wife. I visited his home, hoping that he might be absent; but when I reached his house, behold, he sat on the porch. I felt very timid, but asked the Lord to aid me. As I approached, I handed him a copy of ‘The Marvel of Nations,’ and said that I would be pleased if he would look the book through. I passed into the house, and visited with his wife, showing her ‘Best Stories.’ When I was ready to depart, I asked him what he thought of the book. He turned to his wife, and asked her if she would like it. She replied, ‘Yes.’ ‘Bring me one, best binding,’ he then said to me. His wife said, ‘This lady has one which would be nice for our little girl.’ ‘Very well, bring one of the best binding.’ I delivered the books in about a week. He sent for another copy of ‘The Marvel of Nations,’ best binding, as he desired to send it to England as a present to a relative.

“When the work with ‘Christ’s Object Lessons’ was introduced, I felt that it was a call to me, and I began to sell that book in my neighborhood. I have sold twenty copies, and have been greatly blessed.

“I was born in Kentucky, and have longed to return to carry the message there, but until recently my husband has not been fully with me in the faith, but he now is, and we have determined to visit that State and carry the truth by the printed page.”

If all our sisters who can possibly do so would do as this sister has done, thousands upon thousands of dollars’ worth of books could be sold, and the message would soon go with astonishing rapidity. Now is the time, while money is plenty, and crops are abundant, to enter the work.

S. H. LANE.