CANVASSING IN THE NORTHWEST.
By E. M. Morrison
At the beginning of the North Pacific and the Upper Columbia camp-meetings, which have just closed, not a single agent could be found in all this vast territory taking orders for our subscription books; but during the progress of these two meetings, the importance of the canvassing work, and the amount of good that may be done by the increased circulation of our denominational books, were so deeply impressed upon the minds of all by talks from Elder R. A. Underwood, Elder E. W. Farnsworth, and others, that all present seemed to feel the necessity of doing something to advance this branch of the work. Several who had thought of going out as ministers decided to labor in this capacity instead. Classes were organized and daily instruction was given in the canvassing work. In harmony with the recommendations of the International Tract and Missionary Society, the Tract and Missionary Societies in these two Conferences passed resolutions providing for a thorough and a systematic way of conducting the canvassing business. B. C. Taber was appointed general agent to take the lead in this work in the North Pacific Conference, and B. F. Winkler was appointed by the Upper Columbia Conference as general agent for that society. Brother Taber has had a wide experience in the book business while engaged in work for other publishing houses, and the schooling he obtained while with them will, we believe, with the Lord's blessing, make him abundantly successful in instructing others to handle our publications. Brother Winkler has been quite a successful salesman, though never a canvasser. He seems deeply in earnest and we believe he will succeed. Success has indeed already begun to attend the efforts put forth at these meetings to revive the canvassing work. The North Pacific Conference has over a score of men at work, and the Upper Columbia (a small Conference) nearly half as many. These agents are reporting orders by the hundreds notwithstanding they have scarcely begun. Brother Miller took thirty orders for "Marvel of Nations" in four days. Brother Cline took fifteen orders for "Great Controversy" in three days last week. Others also are doing remarkably well. Surely God's hand is in this work, and he is blessing the people here in the Northwest with abundant crops and prosperous business, thus preparing the way for the canvassers by enabling the people to buy books more freely than heretofore. We are truly glad to see these societies taking hold of this work in such good earnest while there is peace and prosperity, and our prayer is that God's blessing may attend all their efforts, and that his Spirit may go before and prepare the minds and hearts of the people to receive the precious truth carried to them by the canvassers, not only here, but all over the wide harvest field. E. M. MORRISON,
Pacific Press, Oakland, Cal.