Earlier text: Life Boat Subscription IncreaseThe Sale of “Christ’s Object Lessons.”
By Ellen G. White
NASHVILLE, TENN., Dec. 27, 1901. TO THE MINISTERS AND OTHER FRIENDS OF THE BERRIEN SPRINGS SCHOOL: There are times when things do not look as bright and cheerful as we could wish, because difficulties stand in the way of rapid advancement; but we hope, brethren and sisters, that you all will be encouraged to take a deep interest in the establishment of the school at Berrien Springs, and aid it by the sale of “Christ’s Object Lessons,” and in other ways. Let the sale of “Christ’s Object Lessons” be taken hold of interestedly in our large cities and in the smaller settlements. Brethren, wake up! The good hand of the Lord has been with our people in the selection of a place for the school. This place corresponds to the representations given me as to where the school should be located. It is away from the cities, and there is an abundance of land for agricultural purposes, and room so that houses will not need to be built one close to another. There is plenty of ground where students may be educated in the cultivation of the soil. “Ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.” We would have all understand, when canvassing for “Christ’s Object Lessons,” that they are doing a work that is essential. The school building should now be in course of erection. The Lord will help each one who will pray and work, and work and pray. The light which I have tried to present before our people is that we must arouse ourselves from sleep, and feel an interest in the school that is to be built up at Berrien Springs. Do not let this matter of erecting suitable buildings fade away from your interest. It is for this purpose that the sale of “Christ’s Object Lessons” should now be vigorously carried forward. Let our prompt action enable the interested ones to make successful the work of moving our school out of Battle Creek. The land has been secured, and now the work of preparing suitable buildings is to be engaged in without delay. Let all plans be laid, and the most desirable place be selected. Let those who have been faithful workers take hold and do their best. Let not this work fail. Let the students take hold of this matter in earnest. Let not managers, teachers, or helpers swing back into their old customs, or ways of letting their influence negative the working plans the Lord has presented as the best for the physical, mental, and moral education of our youth. The Lord calls for steps in advance. Because the teachers may never have been trained in physical or manual labor, they are not easily persuaded in regard to the very best methods to secure for the youth an all-round education; and even the very ones who have been the most reluctant to come into line in this matter, had they been given in their youth the physical, mental, and moral education combined, might have saved themselves many attacks of sickness, and their brain, bone, and muscle would at this time be in a more healthful condition because all the Lord’s machinery would be proportionately taxed. The best instructors should be secured in spiritual lines, in agricultural employments, and also in the carpenter’s trade, and in the printing business. The Lord would have these mechanical industries brought in and taught by competent men. Whoever shall engage in the sale of “Christ’s Object Lessons” should have the help and encouragement of their brethren. ELLEN G. WHITE THE NATURE, IMPORTANCE, AND TRUE NOBILITY OF THE CANVASSING WORK.
By George Ide Butler
Having written in the previous articles something concerning canvassing in earlier stages of the message, and what had been accomplished by it something over a decade ago, I will consider in this article canvassing itself, and what it is designed to accomplish. I shall speak of it as it is connected with our special work as an agency for advancing what we call “present truth,” as a preparation for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, by those believing that grandest of all events to be near, even at the door. What is canvassing? It is defined, To go about to solicit votes, orders, subscriptions, or the like; traverse a district (or region) for inquiry or in the effort to obtain something; solicit the support of a constituency by personal, individual interview, as to canvass a territory for a subscription book.” This definition, of course, is general in its nature, and it includes more than our kind of canvassing; but canvassing among us relates to the circulation of literature to benefit our fellow men, and to save them from eternal ruin at last. It includes more than the sale of our literature. Properly understood, it includes such character, conduct, and demeanor in the living canvasser as will impress the one canvassed that there is something more than the love of money in the motive prompting the canvasser in his efforts to secure the sale of literature. In short, no one will make a true success in canvassing for Seventh-day Adventist literature unless so actuated by the Spirit of Christ that he will impress the one being canvassed that he is on a far higher plane than the ordinary canvasser who simply canvasses for the money there is in it. In short, the canvasser for our literature, before he can hope for genuine success in our work, must be a truly converted man. The characteristics necessary for true success cannot be merely put on. There must be genuine heart work, brought about by the spirit of God, till the heart is changed by the love of Christ, our natural selfishness gives place to the love that was in Christ Jesus, and the canvasser is so imbued with the spirit of the Master that a good influence will be left upon the one canvassed wherever he goes. This blessed influence, pervading the canvasser, will greatly increase his proficiency, and make the people glad to meet him, and welcome him whenever he returns to them, and helps to develop openings for the special religious work that we hope will follow the canvassing work. Their success, then, is not merely the money success involved in the sale of our literature. The canvassing work is pioneer work on a self-supporting basis, ever keeping in mind the shedding abroad of light, precious light from God, for the present and eternal good of those receiving it. Canvassing in this sense, therefore, is just as really a part of true ministry in the cause of truth as that of him who stands in the desk, and speaks the words of life to an audience. Therefore, every canvasser should be and must be filled with the divine spirit in order to truly perform the work in which he is engaged. This consideration lifts the canvassing work to a higher plane than that of the ordinary canvasser, who is actuated solely by the sordid love of the money there is in it. The one is laboring for a selfish object, the other for the good of souls for whom Christ died—the same object really that prompted our Lord to come from heaven to save a fallen race. In the vast and grand work before us of enlightening the earth with God’s truth, preparatory to the appearing of Jesus to save his people, the canvassing work must figure most prominently. Indeed, in some essential particulars, it must needs do a work the ordinary ministerial labor cannot do. In the labors of the ministry, the people are invited to2come out and listen to the sermons delivered. The minister seeks to interest the people, and convince them of the truthfulness and importance of that which is preached, which, if received into the heart, will work a wonderful transformation in their lives and characters, and fit them for a higher, nobler existence. This is a blessed, noble work, that must never be neglected. But it must be obvious to even a casual observer that only a comparatively small number of the earth’s population will ever come out to listen to courses of lectures. There are large numbers of people so situated that they could not attend the preaching services if they desired to do so; many others who have no desire whatever to attend because of prejudice, and the evil reports in circulation against us, which they suppose to be true, and because of the efforts of the ministers and religious bodies in whom they have confidence who do everything possible to keep all away over whom they can exert an influence; besides, there are multitudes so located in our world that it is about impossible to reach them by public labors and direct religious efforts. Yet there are among these many precious souls just as worthy, and just as conscientious, and just as valuable as those who come into the truth through courses of lectures. In what way can we reach these classes? The canvassing work in various forms will be the leading agency in warning the world of Christ’s coming, and spreading abroad the truths of the message. If people will not or cannot voluntarily come out to listen in the public congregations, the Lord has designed that we should hunt out these precious jewels by personal effort, and canvassing is one of the most important, valuable, and economical methods of reaching them. Our literature is a mighty agency in God’s providence by which the light of truth can be spread abroad throughout the earth. There is no such literature elsewhere in our world. It is a treasure we as a people must highly prize. Clear light from the heavenly world is now furnished in almost every conceivable form to be disseminated by means of the canvasser, colporteur, and the voluntary efforts of our membership. The trained, devoted, intelligent canvasser, fully instructed and equipped for the blessed work, goes forth with our high class of literature, asking no regularly paid salary, and trusting in God and his or her own devoted labors for success. This, dear brethren, is God’s great and mighty agency for hunting out the precious jewels from the rubbish and earthliness, and also for gathering them to be bright stars in our Saviour’s crown of rejoicing. Some have felt that canvassing was not a very noble or exalted work, one not to be compared in excellency with the work of the preacher. They have thought that to stand in the public desk, and talk to the public congregation of Jesus and his love, to charm and instruct by public effort, was the very acme of service in the cause of Christ. That work, if done with faithfulness, love, devotion, and with consecrated motives, is indeed a noble work, and will receive its blessed reward. What is the true measure of excellency in the work of service in the cause of Christ? Is it not the degree of love we may possess, the willingness to sacrifice our ease, our pleasure, our means, the Christian bravery with which we grapple with seeming insurmountable difficulties, and through living faith overcome them? Is it not that “ready-for-either” spirit to give our lives and be sacrificed on the altar of Christ, or bravely, faithfully, and patiently, toil on, bearing the yoke of Christ, ever faithful unto the end of our probation? To illustrate: Is there no difference in the degree of excellency between the ordinary preacher and the minister who honestly seeks to labor for perishing souls, and preaches with earnestness the truths of the Word, and engages with zeal in private labor to advance the cause of Christ? The first might have accomplished much more had his soul been wholly imbued with Christ’s earnestness. He might have saved many more precious souls. The other cast in his whole being into the Saviour’s cause. It cannot be denied that the great mass of the true ministry of Christ are in the former class, and but a very small number comparatively are in the latter class. When we see such love as the martyrs manifested, or a Livingstone exhibited, and scores of others who have gone out among the heathen nations of earth to rescue the perishing, giving their lives cheerfully for Christ’s sake in order to reach the lost and ignorant, the love of the ordinary minister, though an earnest man, seeking to do some good, seems very small. The last days of darkness, of love of ease, of selfishness, and of creature comforts is a sad period just ahead. This period will be a school in which to develop the earnest devotions of Christ, of Paul, and of the martyrs. How full the ranks of our canvassers would be, were this earnest Christ spirit pervading every heart in our denomination! What a vast field of usefulness opens out before us in which almost any person can be a coworker with Christ in saving3fallen men! The world is to be warned. The precious jewels are to be gathered out of earth’s rubbish, to shine in the Master’s crown. These shall live through the eternal ages in bliss and joy forevermore. The canvassing work calls for the very highest form of purity, self-sacrifice, true devotion, self-denial, and true godliness. There can be no higher, nobler calling than that of the person who is willing to go forth in the Master’s name to search for the honest who will accept light and truth contained in our blessed publications. May God stir the hearts of our people to engage in this noble work. AM I CALLED TO THE CANVASSING WORK?
By J. B. BLOSSER
We have observed that, by the giving to men certain gifts, the Lord gave some, apostles; some, teachers; some, prophets, etc. The work therefore to which a man is called depends upon the “gifts” God may have bestowed upon that man. He may have so favored him that he may be called to do different kinds of work; for example, Paul was “appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher.” 2 Tim. 1:11. But since it is God alone that can correctly estimate the ability of any man, it must be He that does the selecting of the work that each should do. It is written, “He gave to every man his work.” It is the Holy Spirit that divides “to every man severally as He will.” 1 Cor. 12:11. It is God’s work, and is, therefore, a work that He has planned; and we should receive from Him our plans, as well as the particular work He has for us to do. But how does He choose to reveal to us our work, and the plans for it, and the methods of working?—Evidently He employs different modes of revealing them to us. For God, “at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets.” Heb. 1:1. The Lord is not limited in ways of speaking to the children of men. Our spiritual hearing may be so defective that He may4be compelled to adopt a means of communication that we will note, when we fail to hear, or heed another. To Abraham and Moses the Lord appeared, and spake face to face, giving them directions for their work. To others He chooses some one else to speak to them for Him, as in the cases of David, Saul, and the seven deacons at Jerusalem. Sometimes the Lord so arranges circumstances that they will guide one into the work, or the place designed for him. Joseph’s work in Egypt is a notable example of this. This latter mode, however, is usually a very harsh way of speaking to us, but often it is the only way the Lord can make us hear his voice, and assume our appointed work. No doubt in every case the Lord is speaking in all these ways, if we would only recognize His voice. That the Lord chooses His instruments, and reveals to them His plans for work, is clearly stated in the following: “The Lord has His eye upon every one of His people; He has his plans concerning each.” “As they seek the Lord for help, He will communicate with them. They will receive plans devised by the Lord himself.” “He provides opportunities, opens up means of influence and channels of working. If His people are watching the indications of His providence, and stand ready to co-operate with Him, a great work will be accomplished.”—“Testimonies for the Church,” No. 34. Let the honest inquirer for duty watch while he seeks the Lord for help, and rest assured that God will reveal to him whether he has called him to the canvassing work or not. It may be that he is calling him to some other responsibility through the canvassing work. If so, then let him take up the duty in God’s appointed way, and labor as earnestly as though he expected to stay there always. Then the Lord can bless his canvassing work, and will in his own good time make it clear to him when he has another work for him. Let each ask himself the question, “Is God appealing directly to me to take up this work?” He is saying that there should be “one hundred where there now is one.” Has He sent some one to you, whom you have evidences He is using, to urge you to take up this work? He is sending many such messages. The Lord is laying upon many of our brethren a burden to hold up before the people this work, and to urge them to consecrate themselves to it for a life service. Have they spoken to you? Has He spoken to you by his providential dealings with you? He has blessed many in the selling of “Christ’s Object Lessons,” which indicates that he would have some of them take hold of the regular canvassing work. Is there not something in your experience that he has used to impress you that you are wanted to work for him in this neglected work? He has said that what “we neglect to do in a time of comparative peace, we will be forced to do under a terrible pressure.” Too bad we do not now discern His loving voice. If in any of these ways, or in all of them, the Lord has been revealing his will to us, shall we not, like Isaiah, say quickly and gladly, “Here am I, send me”? THE FIRST STEP TO TAKE WHEN CALLED.
When the disciples responded to the call of the Saviour to follow him, they went with him from place to place, learning lessons from Him by observing his manner of working with the people. They followed him so perfectly that when they were themselves engaged in the work, the people recognized that they had been with Jesus, and learned of Him. So it was with David, Moses, Paul, and others. The Lord taught them lessons which they must learn before they could successfully do the work he had for them to do. The disciples were taught a few things, and then sent out for a season to get an experience, and to return to their lessons more thoroughly taught and to receive new ones. These principles apply in the canvassing work. “If God has called men to be laborers together with Him, it is equally certain that he has called them to make the best possible preparation to represent the sacred, elevating truths of his work.”—“Gospel Workers,” p. 282. “Those who have had an experience in this work, have a special duty to perform in teaching others. Educate, educate, educate young men and women to sell the books that the Lord, by His Holy Spirit, has stirred His servants to write.”—“Manual for Canvassers,” p. 64. No doubt in many cases where there has been an apparent failure, it has been due to neglecting this important step. When we consider the nature of the work of a canvasser, how he must meet all classes, under all circumstances, and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh him a reason of the hope that is in him, with meekness and fear; ready always to speak a word of cheer to them that are weary, as well as to give intelligent counsel and help to the sick and afflicted, well may we heed this instruction to make a thorough preparation. We shall have more to say at another time on5this question; but, suffice it now to say, that each should “make the best possible preparation.” When this is done, the Lord can and will do for us that which we cannot do for ourselves. Shall we not regard the canvassing work as one of the parts of the Lord’s work, one of the essential gifts he has placed in his church for the edifying of the body of Christ? Shall we not give due prominence to it as one of the essential parts of that body, that there may be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care one of another? Shall we not regard the one whom the Lord is using in this work as one called of God; and, regarding him as such, will we not, by our prayers and sympathy, “hold up his hands,” and petition God that a door of utterance be opened unto him? Shall we not try to encourage those who have drifted out of the work to return with humble, trusting hearts to their Heaven-appointed work? If we unitedly do this, we shall see the work prosper as God designs it should. THE CANVASSING WORK A CALLING.
“Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. . . . And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers.” Eph. 4: 8–11. Notice that it was in giving men “gifts” that He “gave some apostles,” etc. Let us examine whether the work of the canvasser is included in this list of laborers the Lord has placed in His church. If so, then He has given to men certain “gifts” which will qualify them as instruments through which the Holy Spirit will accomplish that work. In 2 Tim. 4: 5 we read, “But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry;” and in the second verse he is exhorted to “be instant in season, out of season,” preaching the Word, and doing his appointed work. This was the way Paul himself worked when he said, “I . . . have taught you publicly, and from house to house, testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” Acts 20: 20, 21. Therefore, we see that this house-to-house evangelistic work is necessary to make “full proof of thy ministry.” So, then, it is one of the parts of the Lord’s work, hence a “calling,” for which He gives men gifts that will enable them to do the work successfully, and to use them to His glory. But this thorough house-to-house work is being instant in season, out of season, in the very work of the evangelistic canvasser, as he goes on his visits to the homes of the people, talking to them of the love of God, and directing their minds to the truths of God’s Word. It is evident that the canvassing work is one of the parts of the body in which the Lord places members according as “it pleases Him.” Shall we not heed, then, the following instruction given in the twelfth chapter of First Corinthians: “And those members of the body, which we think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honor to that part which lacked: that there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it.” Following this instruction is a list of the different kinds of laborers which the Lord has placed in His church, indicating clearly that the instruction is given to correct any neglect of any one of the parts of His work. The ministry includes the “healing of the sick.” The canvassing work, the medical missionary work, and the ministry are bound up together. This fact is stated in “Manual for Canvassers,” pages 29 and 30: “Genuine medical missionary work is to be a part of both the medical missionary work and the ministry.” CURSE YE MEROZ!
By S. C. Osborne
WHY did the angel of the Lord say, “Curse ye Meroz”? We do not read of this people being very bad, or doing some fearful wicked thing; but on the contrary they seem to have been a good, quiet, peaceable class of people. Then, why curse them?—Because they failed to come and help their brethren break a yoke of bondage that had been imposed upon them by a heathen king. The Lord by his prophet said it was time for them to be delivered, yet it seemed like a hopeless task, for they were few in number while there was a great host of their enemies, heavily armed and well-prepared for war, having nine hundred chariots of iron. But there were a number that believed that the Lord would help them, and responded to the call, and went forth in the name of the Lord to fight against this great army. The Lord did help them, and with this little handful of faithful men he slew every one of that great heathen host. No one escaped. A song of praise and honor was sung in behalf of those who had taken part in the work, but a curse was pronounced upon those who failed to help. Is there not a lesson in this experience of the children of Israel for us at the present time? The Lord has called upon us to do a great and mighty work, and it must be done quickly, for the time is short. He has also promised to be with us, and help us do the work. But to human eyes the task looks impossible, and it seems almost useless for a little handful of people to undertake such a great work. But we have the experience which is related above, and there are many more to inspire us with courage and faith, and help us to respond to the Lord’s call for help, no difference how hard and difficult the work may seem to us. And we see that a reward is sure to come to those that are faithful, and will do all they can for the advancement of the Lord’s work. On the other hand, there is a great loss sustained by those who fail to respond to the Lord’s call for help. In the case mentioned above, a bitter curse was pronounced upon those who failed to come up to the help of the Lord against the mighty. It does not say why they did not come. They may not have had faith in the undertaking, or thought the others could fight better than they could, or possibly they thought it more pleasant to stay at home with their families than to march around over the country as soldiers. They may have thought they had good reasons for not going, but the angel said to curse them bitterly because they did not take part in the work. We have a great message to give to the world, and the Lord is calling for more laborers, but many are acting like the people of Meroz. It is sad to see it so, for they can expect to receive the portion that fell to that people. But the Lord still gives us an opportunity for helping, and shall we not take hold and do so before the Lord pronounces a curse upon us? Help is needed in every branch of the message; especially is this the case in the canvassing work. A great and good work can be done in this way, for thousands can be reached with the message by this method that could not otherwise be enlightened. The Lord has permitted us to see many souls brought into the truth through the canvassing work. Lately I visited a family that had been brought into the truth by “Bible Readings” and the efforts of the canvasser who sold it to them. The head of the family and two of his sons have done more or less canvassing since accepting the truth. Thus the work spreads, and only the judgment will reveal the amount of good that has been accomplished through this branch of the Lord’s work. Now is the time for us to lay plans for the coming year, and may the Lord help all whom he is calling to give heed to that small voice within, and plan to enter the work early in the year, and to remain in it. It is a noble work, and there are many blessed and valuable experiences for those who engage in it.6May many begin now, and do what they can. We know not how soon the curse may come on account of our failure to come up to the help of the Lord. I am glad to see those that were once good canvassers taking up the work again, also to welcome those who never canvassed before. The outlook for the coming year is encouraging, and I expect to see a good work done. S. C. OSBORNE,
Traveling Missionary, P. U. C. THE TRANSFER OF AGENTS.
By E. R. Palmer
(State papers please copy.) WE greatly desire that a uniform system be established immediately with reference to the transfer of canvassing agents, (1) from one State to another within any Union Conference, (2) from one Union Conference to another, and (3) from one country to another. We invite your attention to the following suggestions:— 1. In transferring agents from one State to another within a Union Conference, application for help should be made by a properly authorized officer in the conference to the president and general agent of the Union Conference. These Union Conference officers will confer with the officers of the State or States from which the help is wanted, and if the transfer is considered desirable, the agents asked for will be communicated with by the officers under whom they have been working. 2. When a Union Conference desires agents from any other Union Conference, application for the same should be made by the proper officers to the General Conference president and the secretary of the publishing department, and these general officers will take steps to secure the needed help by applying to the officials of those parts of the field which are best able to furnish it. 3. Distant fields outside of the United States should make application for agents to the general officers as directed under number two. 4. Agents who have a burden for another field, or who for any reason wish to be transferred, should present their desires to the proper officers in their own State conference, Union Conference, or to the secretary of the publishing department of the General Conference, as the circumstances may demand. In the event of publishing houses, or local conferences receiving applications for employment from agents outside their territory, such applications should be referred to the State conference or Union Conference in which the agents reside, or to the secretary of the General Conference publishing department. This system may seem slow, and liable to cause delay; yet while this may be the result in some instances, it will not require one tenth of the loss of time and energy caused by the confusion and disaster resulting from a disregard of the authority and rights of local organizations. The same careful consideration should be given to the transfer of agents as to the transfer of other conference workers. The policy of the General Conference will be to search out good, reliable agents to supply the wants of needy fields as far as possible; but vigorous efforts will be made to prevent all secret pulling of agents from one field to another; for such irregular practices can bring only evil to all concerned. We earnestly invite the hearty co-operation of all our fellow-workers in this important matter, and we desire correspondence with all who may now be in trouble along this line. E. R. PALMER,
Secretary Gen'l Conf. Pub. Dep't. PENNSYLVANIA
By F. E. Painter
At the beginning of the year 1902 the outlook for the canvassing work in this conference is quite encouraging. For the year just closed we have nothing especially remarkable to report. We have held our own very well, and the value of books sold was a slight gain over the previous year. We begin this year with about our usual number of canvassers in the field, although there have been some slight changes in our ranks. In October two of our best canvassers went to Georgia to help spread the truth in that needy field, and recently two other faithful canvassers left this State for the Southern field to continue the work of canvassing there. While we shall miss the faithful labors and companionship of these brethren in the home State, we heartily wish them Godspeed, and much of heaven’s blessings upon their labors in the South. The consecration of these brethren should inspire many others among us to step into the ranks and take the places, not only of these, but of others who have left the canvassing work. Should this be done, the departure of these brethren will not be a loss, but a gain to the work in the home field. I7know of no other conference that has so large a number of young men and women who are so well qualified to enter the field as “canvassing evangelists” as Pennsylvania. I believe that many of these young persons are beginning to awaken to their responsibilities in this direction. A number of them have entered the work recently, and others are preparing to do so. Several of these are young women. We consider this encouraging. In the last few years most of our canvassers have been men, but we believe this work affords a splendid opening for many of our sisters to do active missionary work; and we are glad to see that some of them are manifesting a willingness to enter it. We hope soon to have some of our sisters in this work again, who have had experience in it in the past, so that we can associate them with these new recruits. Most of our canvassers had very good success with their holiday delivery, and feel much encouraged for the work of the year to come. Money is circulating freely, work is abundant, and conditions never were better for this work than at the present time. We are planning for a vigorous campaign for the season of 1902. We intend to hold a canvassers’ institute of about one month’s duration as soon as arrangements can be made. We believe this will be a new inspiration to all who attend it, and we expect only those to attend who have a mind to work, and who expect to devote their time afterward to active service in the canvassing field. This school will be located in a suitable city or town where there will be a good field for canvassing; and practical instruction given in the school will be supplemented with actual experience in the field for one half of each day during the institute. We are expecting a good report for January this year, as the month is opening with nearly all of our canvassers in the field. Our experience has demonstrated that, in this State at least, there is no necessity for the work stopping or even slackening to any great extent during the winter months. The work for “Christ’s Object Lessons” received a new impetus at the general meetings held throughout the State this fall, and is progressing finely. Our ministers and conference workers are devoting their time during January and February to that work, and many of the people are taking up the work with renewed interest. The tract and missionary work is receiving more attention in many of the churches than formerly; new plans of work are being laid, and there are many encouraging indications of a revival of the missionary spirit among us. The Pillar of Cloud is rising and moving forward, and we must awake and go forward with it. We have our share of difficulties, but they cannot hinder the work of those who realize that they are in co-operation with Him to whom has been given “all power in heaven and in earth.” Let us be of good courage, for the battle is not ours, but God’s, and through Him we are well able to go up and possess the land. GREATER NEW YORK.
By George A. King
In large cities the canvassers will always need all the help that can be given them in getting acquainted with the people, and the Signs of the Times is the best and cheapest medium we have for this purpose. Even in suburban places and in small cities the Signs, when judiciously used, will be found to be a great help, especially at the present time. The use of the Signs and Good Health does not burn over the territory, but the free use of these publications will make many substantial and valued friends, who will open channels through which the worker may reap a harvest in the sale of our publications. The method of using the Signs is very simple. Take a good supply, folded once, in a nice satchel. (As you canvass from house to house, you will find many who will invite you in, and listen to your book canvass at once. You will also find many who are too busy to see you; many more, who, after you have canvassed them, must see their husbands before they can make any purchase. Many more want time to think over what they will do about it, there being so many opportunities to spend money; and still many more, who are ready to close their door against agents and peddlers.) Leave a copy of the Signs and your book circular with them with the understanding that you will call again when they have more time. This they like, as it is a ‘true, manly way of doing your work. It also affords an opportunity to meet with hundreds of people with whom you would not get acquainted without the use of these papers. The majority of the people will like the Signs or Good Health. When the way is open to display the book, make the most of the opportunity. The “Desire of Ages,” for a large religious book, works the smoothest, taking it all around, with all classes, and lays the best foundation for future effort with other books; besides, it is very appropriate just now, while many are asking, “Who is Jesus Christ, anyway?” Display8at once the great themes of this book. Reveal the life of Christ in prophetic history as the prophets looked through the ages four thousand years to His coming; His life as a youth for fifteen years; His life as a carpenter for fifteen years more; His life for the sins of the world; and His life in glory as pointed out in the transfiguration and in the last chapter of the book, the most exemplary life that ever existed on the face of the earth, in all phases of which was illustrated the principles of the golden rule and an untiring effort to establish them in the lives and hearts of men. A thorough knowledge of the book, skillfully used, will completely disarm all prejudice against your work, for the spirit of the Lord working through the truth will win the favor of the person canvassed. When the way is clear to reveal just what books are being sold, and it is wished to give the party a broader view of what the work is, and to open the way for the sale of other books, display “Patriarchs and Prophets.” It shows the providence of God in creation, the flood, and the exodus, showing the doctrine of evolution to be a great error. Display “Daniel and the Revelation” as showing how the prophecies have been fulfilled in the last three thousand years, and how they are being fulfilled all around us at the present time, thus showing that the Bible is God’s Word, and contains light for all ages. Everywhere we hear that Christianity has always been a failure, but the Christianity of Christ is always a success. Everywhere we meet the idea that evolution, and not the account of creation as given in the Bible, is true. On every side we meet the question, “Who knows that the Bible is the Word of God?” The question, “Who is Christ?” is all along the line. These four great books stand as four great forts against the errors of the age, and in behalf of the old family Bible and the Christian’s hope; and they meet the immediate needs of the time in which we live. A proper display of this set of books gives a better idea of the work, and establishes an influence with the people. It is a tiresome and discouraging job to go from house to house and do nothing, but there is something inspiring in the work, when in every call one has the satisfaction of doing something either in the act of distribution of literature or the sale of books. In the above method of using the Signs and Good Health, the results are not at all discouraging. Last year, while training in the use of periodicals for the introduction of books, nearly two hundred annual subscriptions were taken. Altogether the sale of literature amounted to about one thousand dollars. We also gave Bible readings to those who desired them. As the result of this work, about twelve have commenced to keep the Sabbath, and many others are interested. The interest awakened is being followed up by two of our Bible workers. Hence, the plan is a success from a harvest of sales to a harvest of souls.