CANVASSING IN ALASKA by Walter Harper

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 30, 1901

CANVASSING IN ALASKA.

By Walter Harper

I am now canvassing at Skaguay, Alaska. God gives success. My wife and I left Seattle, June 23, for Juneau, Alaska, where we arrived the 26th, about 10 P. M. It was daylight still; in fact, the last rays of the sun still clung to the snowy mountain peaks. It was after eleven o’clock when we retired at the hotel, but still the light of day hung on. We began work next day; could do but little. There seemed a barrier between us and the people. Carelessness, indifference, objections, varied excuses,

etc., prevailed. We knew our only hope was in God. We sought Him in earnest prayer, with fasting. The Lord regarded our pleas, and wrought for us. The tide was turned. One day was favored with sixteen orders; another day with twenty-eight orders for books, etc., or sixty-three dollars’ worth; another day eighteen orders, or over forty dollars’ worth. Here the orders have ranged from one to twelve each day. The first orders mentioned were taken at Juneau and Douglas city, on Douglas Island, Alaska, about two miles across from Juneau.

The excuses, the rambling, shifting nature of the people here, made it trying at first to do much. But leaning on the Arm of infinite power brings victory. All the honor and praise is the Lord’s. In more ways than one, the enemy would have blocked our way here. One was a prohibitory license against all canvassers, agents, etc., of one hundred and twenty-five dollars. But God gave us favor, and overruled it for us. The first day at Juneau, my wife had no success save in the selling of one copy of “Steps to Christ.” Next day, in two and one half or three hours, she sold two “Desire of Ages,” $3.50 each, and one French “Great Controversy.” The “Desire of Ages” was a new book to her, having never handled it before. One day last week she was granted success by our dear Heavenly Father in taking three orders for “Desire of Ages” in two hours. She is not strong, and can canvass but a few hours in addition to housekeeping.

WALTER HARPER.