The Upper Columbia Conference is making vigorous efforts to pay the debts on the Walla Walla College. From no field come any reports more encouraging than from the far Northwest. Elder G. W. Reaser, president of the Upper Columbia Conference, is personally taking charge of the enterprise of “Christ’s Object Lessons,” and is pushing it heart and soul.
The following is a circular letter which Elder Reaser is sending all over his field:—
College Place, Wash., Nov. 7, 1900.
Dear Fellow Worker: I send you herewith a copy of the Reaper, which explains the plans that have been adopted for the relief of our college from the heavy burden of debt, which has unfortunately rested upon it since its erection,—now nearly eight years,—and which, during this period, with the large amount of interest that has been paid annually, has, like a great vampire, been sapping its vitality. At times it has seemed almost impossible for the management to keep it running, and meet the demands that have been made upon it while groaning under this almost unbearable debt.
I trust, dear friend, that you will take the inclosed appeal directly home to your own heart, and that we can count on your co-operation in selling this book, and thereby “rolling back the reproach” that rests upon Walla Walla College.
Please pray over this matter, and ask the Lord to give you ability and wisdom that you may come up to the help of the Lord, and bear your part in this great work.
Any questions that you may desire to ask will be gladly answered.
We do not desire spasmodic, haphazard work, but wish a united, well-organized, intelligent effort, so that all territory may be intelligently covered, and the greatest possible number of books sold.
Please write to Upper Columbia Tract Society at once, remitting $1.25 each, for as many books as you desire, with which to begin the work, and may the Lord bless you richly as you engage in this heaven-born plan for rescuing our college from debt.
Sincerely your brother in Christ,
[Signed] G. W. Reaser.
P. S.—At a council meeting held at Spokane on the 5th inst., to consider the division of territory for a systematic and thorough canvass for “Christ’s Object Lessons,” the following distribution of workers and fields of operation was made: It was recommended that Elder Young visit Hazard, Valley, Colville, Myers Falls, Kettle Falls, and Fruitland, for the purpose of organizing our people and securing their co-operation in the work, before returning to British Columbia, after which he and Elder Stewart will devote their labors to an organized effort for the sale of the book in British Columbia; that Elder J. G. Smith be assigned to Spokane and suburbs; that Elder A. G. Christianson visit Harrison, Rockford, Lockwood, Cœur d’Alene, Post Falls, and Rathdrum; that Elder C. E. Ford go to Milan, Chewelah, Farmington, Moscow, Troy, Lewiston, and Pullman; that Elder C. E. Ford devote his attention to Medical Lake, Cheney, Davenport, and Wilbur; that Elder A. Schlotzhauer visit Edwall, Lind, Farmington, Endicott, and Westlake among our German brethren; and that Brother M. F. Hill organize our people for work at Toppenish, North Yakima, Ellensburg, and Swank Prairie. The writer will visit the churches and workers in the12southern part of our Conference for the purpose of perfecting organization for this work, while Prof. E. L. Stewart and his associate workers will have charge at Walla Walla, College Place, and Milton. Do not forget to take the Outlook Number of the Signs with you as you go out with the book.
G. W. R.
We have received two good letters from E. L. Stewart, president of Walla Walla College. It is encouraging to know that those in the college are working vigorously. This will give courage to the brethren in the field. I earnestly pray that the good work will go on, and that God will greatly bless those in the Upper Columbia Conference who are working hard to carry forward this precious cause in the earth.
College Place, Wash.
Prof. P. T. Magan, Battle Creek, Mich.
Dear Brother: I received your letter last evening. I wrote you a few days ago, but I will write you again.
I feel, with you, that now is the opportunity. We must pay the lion’s share of our college debt, the very first move we make; that will mean the summoning of every energy and every available turn. We are laying plans to do that, especially in the Upper Columbia Conference and in Walla Walla and the surrounding country. We expect to dismiss school for a day or two, thus giving the students an opportunity to engage, with the teachers and with our brethren in the village, in canvassing every man and woman within reach of the college. We are also laying plans to do a similar work in every part of the Conference; and I do not think that this district of the Conference will be behind in its work. If you think best, I will write a letter to the presidents of the different Conferences, although I had not thought of doing this, as the matter was so thoroughly discussed at the council recently held.
For my part here, I wish to be up with the rest, and not only up with them, but right where the Lord would have me be, with my shoulder to the wheel, and to leave nothing undone toward the selling of a book to every family in the country. So any suggestions that you may make will be thankfully received.
I will say that Elder Reaser himself has been put in charge of this work by request of the Conference Committee and the faculty. In this Conference every minister, Bible worker, canvasser, brother, and sister is expected to go into the work. We hope to have a ten-days’ or two-weeks’ study of the book first, and a thorough drill on the manner of presenting it, and then we are going to work with all our might. We expect to have those little introductory cards, so that the person holding them will not be working wholly as a canvasser, but will appear simply as a worker in the interests of education, stating also that the proceeds of the book, except where a regular canvasser is selling for commission, go for the interests of the college entirely. This is an excellent point. I am glad this came up this way; it gives our brethren a heart to push the work.
Please be free to make any suggestions at any time.
Your brother in Christ,
[Signed] E. L. Stewart.
College Place, Wash.
Prof. P. T. Magan, Battle Creek, Mich.
Dear Brother: Your letters just received on last mail, and I hasten to reply. I wish to say in regard to this book business that we expect to be with you in every move that is made. We do not propose to be behind in this business a hair’s breadth. We shall be glad to examine those little circulars you mentioned, and probably shall order about ten thousand. Elder Reaser thinks perhaps we can use ten thousand in this Conference alone. They will be just the thing either to send out a few days ahead of the canvasser or for him to carry with him. But they can not possibly take the place of this little introductory card, which we have printed. These cards are small, the main point being to introduce the canvasser not as an agent, but merely as a missionary, giving his time free. I will give you what is on the card, and if you have any suggestions to make in regard to the matter that should go on this card, be free to make them. We can change it any time: “This will introduce to you Mr. —, who is working free of charge for the education of worthy young people. Any courtesy shown will be appreciated by the managers of Walla Walla College.” This will gain an entrance for the canvasser when nothing else can. We shall wait to see the samples of these circulars you are getting out before deciding as to either what we wish to put on them or how many we shall take.