The Chair: The minutes of the Fourth and Fifth meetings of the Conference are found on page 89 of the BULLETIN, and by common consent were not read by the Secretary, but approved as printed.GCB April 8, 1901, page 113.5

Brethren F. M. Wilcox and H. M. J. Richards took their seats with the delegates.GCB April 8, 1901, page 113.6

Geo F. Watson, the Colorado Conference Committee has arranged that Elder Richards shall take Dr. Hills’ place as delegate in the Conference, he having been obliged to return home.GCB April 8, 1901, page 113.7

The Chair: During the last few years, a great deal of light has been committed to us regarding the canvassing work. This matter has been brought before the mind of the Lord’s servant very forcibly and frequently. It is today a living issue. In view of this, it has been decided to devote quite a portion of the time this forenoon to the consideration of this work. The matter has been under advisement, and certain persons have been requested to present different phases of the work.GCB April 8, 1901, page 113.8

L. R. Conradi: A few minutes will hardly be sufficient to say all that has been done in opening up the European field. I well remember, sixteen years ago, when Sister White was in Europe, and spoke of the great work that might be done in that country by the circulation of our literature. Surely the Lord spoke at that time, when he said that more could be done in Europe by the circulation of our literature than here or elsewhere: but it was a matter of faith for us to see it, because, wherever we turned, there were so many seeming obstacles in the way that it seemed that it was not possible in that country to do what had been done here. But even if every man be a liar, the word of God is true, and it has proved true.GCB April 8, 1901, page 113.9

We have since that time seen the canvassing work begin to increase and grow up in all parts of our field. I well remember when we first began. The publishers said, “Why, it is impossible in this country; you can’t do as in America; you can’t sell books by agents, and they can’t make their living in that way. You will have to work on a different basis.” Well, we did; and we first took the “Life of Christ,” and one of our brethren went into the city of Basel to circulate it. The leading publisher in town offered to put his agents to work, the best, experienced men, and they sold thirty-five copies. We felt that really the canvassing work was the great pioneer work for us, because the Lord has said so. We took a few young men, and instructed them in canvassing. We took the very same city of Basel, the very same book, and new beginners, and in a few months over five hundred books were placed in that city. Now we knew that the Lord had spoken the truth.GCB April 8, 1901, page 113.10

We have sixty canvassers in the field in Germany all the year through, and according to reports just received, they sold over $2,200 worth of books during the short month of February. For a long time we could not arouse much interest in the Holland field. Elder Klingbeil was sent there, and learned the language. He raised up a little company in one place, and asked the Lord to direct him to the next place. About this time he learned that a person in Amsterdam (a city of about 500,000 inhabitants) had sent to London for a copy of “Thoughts on the Revelation.” Elder Klingbeil went to Amsterdam, and hunted up this man, who received him as an angel, and eventually accepted the truth, his whole family, numbering seventeen, joining him in being baptized. This brother had chanced to find a copy of “Thoughts on Daniel,” which had first been sold by a canvasser to a rich man, who gave it to a Salvation Army captain, who, in turn, had sold it for a nominal sum to a third person. When the book came into the hands of the fourth person, it bore fruit. He sent for the companion volume, “Thoughts on the Revelation,” and thus his name came finally to the notice of our minister in Holland.GCB April 8, 1901, page 113.11

This morning I received a letter from one of our canvassers who is working in Asiatic Russia. He says: “The last six weeks I have traveled five hundred miles, by team and sleigh, in good weather, as well as through snow, rain, and storm. During that time I have sold fifty dollars’ worth of books. O, my heart rejoices that I could bring the gospel to so many souls.”GCB April 8, 1901, page 114.1

Brethren, that means hard work. I know the region of country in which he traveled. He says: “I found just ten German settlements where I could distribute these books and tracts.” Dear friends, if you could sell only fifty dollars’ worth of books in six weeks, traveling during that time five hundred miles in the cold, through storm and snow and rain, and finding only occasionally a settlement where you could work, would you still be of good courage in the canvassing work? He also says: “I found so many souls all ready for the truth. Every evening I would sit down and talk with them, and souls are responding to the call. I am thankful that we have the literature.”GCB April 8, 1901, page 114.2

We think sometimes that we must have large books. We heard this morning that our leaflets should be scattered like the leaves of autumn. In the Bulgarian language we have some simple tracts, and at first we had only one eight-page tract. We sent some of these down into Macedonia. You have all heard of the Macedonian cry, but not so much about the real Macedonia of today. There are some settlements of Bulgarians in Macedonia, and some honest hearts there read this little tract, and then studied their Bibles. The first we knew, a call came from Macedonia for the living preacher. Eight had begun to keep the Sabbath. That eight-page tract, which cost but a few dollars to print and circulate, started the work in Macedonia. I believe we should not only expend a few dollars in getting out publications in these different languages, but thousands and thousands of dollars, that they may be circulated everywhere. When in the East a few months ago, I met a Macedonian in Constantinople, another one up in Rumania, and another in Bulgaria,—all Sabbath-keepers from reading that little tract. They had come hundreds of miles, working their way, because of their poverty, that they might personally plead for a living preacher to be sent into Macedonia. To-day we have a minister on the road to that country, to develop the interest created by the small tract.GCB April 8, 1901, page 114.3

If our canvassers could be scattering our books everywhere as they should be circulated, and be led by the Spirit of God, the loud cry would be right here. I am thankful to say that the Lord is aiding in getting out our publications in these different languages. He opened the way also wonderfully in the Russian field, so that our canvassers secured the necessary government license to sell and circulate our publications. Also to publish in the Russian, Esthonian, Lettonian.GCB April 8, 1901, page 114.4

The importance of our literature can not be overestimated. May we all see the need of pushing it and of not becoming afraid; but remembering that there is a Lord above, who will help every man who goes in faith, and in the power of the Spirit. I thank the Lord for the help he has granted us in securing literature, and for what has been accomplished by our literature.GCB April 8, 1901, page 114.5

H. R. Johnson: There is one point which I would like to mention. Brother Loughborough will remember that he wrote a small book several years ago on physiology. I was in the office one day, and saw the book on the shelf. I asked Brother Nelson if I could get it. He said I could have it, so I took it with me. I lost it. A certain Norwegian found it. I learned where it was, and upon seeing him he said. “Will you sell that book to me? I have read that book, and am interested in it. I believe it is the truth.”GCB April 8, 1901, page 114.6

S. H. Lane: Thirty-six years ago I became connected with the Review and Herald Office. We began to print tracts, and were informed that on the last page in every tract we should advertise our literature. The policy was adopted; and from that day to this there have been very few books or tracts issued but what have had an advertisement of our books.GCB April 8, 1901, page 114.7

The last few months I have been opening the mail of the Review and Herald Office, and I have been surprised. I knew that our literature was having a large circulation; I knew that every week thousands and thousands of pages of literature were read, but I was astonished, when I first opened the mail, to see how this literature had gone everywhere. One of our canvassers went out to a colored school with “Coming King,” and began to sell it. There was a local constabulary law in the parish that secular books could not be sold, but that religious books could be sold. Finally the authorities took him in charge; and when the matter came up, they had to decide about the book. At first everything went against him; but bye and bye an infidel came in, and said, “I have seen that book, and isn’t there a town ordinance that provides that a man may sell religious books?” They had to admit that. He said, “I believe this book is intensely religious.” Well, then they had to suspend proceedings to see whether the book was religious or secular. So they appointed some ministers to decide the matter, and those ministers all had to read the book before they could give their testimony. After reading it some said it was a secular book, and some said it was not. Those who said it was secular, said that it told about big guns, armies, and war, the strength of the navies of different nations, etc., and that made it secular. The other side said that it told about the second coming of Jesus Christ, and the signs that foretell his coming,—and what was that but religion? So they disagreed, and put it before another party. The result was that they brought the matter before leading men of the town, who, in turn, had to read the book. By this means far more books were sold than if the matter had not been carried to court. They are all reading the book now.GCB April 8, 1901, page 114.8

Not long ago I received a letter from a young student in a university. He said that he had been reading “Steps to Christ,” and that he had seen in the back part of the book, advertisements of tracts. He inclosed postage stamps for the price of some tracts to be sent him. The price of the tracts had been reduced since the book was printed, so we enclosed some other tracts, and sent him a letter with that lot. I told him there was another book written by Mrs. White, “Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing,” that many thought superior to “Steps to Christ.” By his request we sent the book to him, and I wrote another long letter, which reached him ahead of the book. So he thought the book was not coming, and wrote back, asking if the book was coming. After reading the book, he wrote: “That book is splendid; I am convinced that those two books are actually inspired.” And there is no doubt of it.GCB April 8, 1901, page 114.9

I received another letter from Alaska, which said: “I inclose $15 to be used in the cause as seems best.”GCB April 8, 1901, page 115.1

A. F. Harrison: There is one thing which has burdened my mind. I have thought and prayed over it more than over any other one thing. It is this: Just as soon as an individual is born into this world, upon whom rests the responsibility of training and educating that child?—Everyone here would say that it rests upon the father and mother. Then when an individual is born into this truth, who should train him? Does it not devolve upon the one who brought him into the truth? I want to tell you that our churches are living out the education they have received. The churches everywhere are, every one of them, living up to the light of the instruction they have received. And who educated them? We, ourselves, brethren, have educated them.GCB April 8, 1901, page 115.2

I feel deeply over this subject. I want to speak to you of another thought that has been pressing itself upon my mind also; and it is this: That we have overlooked a certain class of people that are in our ranks to-day. If they were pressed into service, they would solve the problem of our publishing houses everywhere.GCB April 8, 1901, page 115.3

I wish to read a few selections from first-page articles of the Review and Herald, some of them dated as long ago as 1895: “The work of God is retarded by criminal unbelief in his power to use-the common people.”GCB April 8, 1901, page 115.4

Everyone should receive that in his heart to-day. Let me read another expression: “No one who desires to labor for the Master is to be refused a place in this work if he is a true follower of Christ. But let no one feel that because he is not educated, he can not be expected to take a part in the work of God.”GCB April 8, 1901, page 115.5

I well remember when the message of truth came to me, fifteen years ago in March. While I had no education whatever, there immediately arose in my heart a burden to carry this message to those in darkness. I expressed that desire to my wife, being too timid myself to express it to the minister; and so she carried it to him. With a long-drawn-out face, he said, “Sister Harrison, it takes an educated man to become a canvasser or a colporteur.” When she brought that news to me, I sunk into a slough of despondency, and remained in that condition for twelve months. So I went back to my farming, perfectly discouraged. But thank God for a church elder whose heart burned for this message. It took weeks and months under his prompting, before I could rise to the courage of thinking that I would sell our literature. But praise the Lord, I found that I could sell one book. I felt so good over that that I have never stopped selling books from that day to this. I thank God for a humble part in this work.GCB April 8, 1901, page 115.6

As I said before, our churches everywhere are living out the instruction you have given them, whether you believe it or not. God wants his Spirit to take hold of our hearts, so that we will wake up, not only to this line of work, but to all the different kinds of work that God has for his people to do.GCB April 8, 1901, page 115.7

When you say to a minister, “How is the canvassing work going along?” He will perhaps reply to you, “Well, I really do not know: we have a man appointed to look after that branch of the work.” I can tell you that that branch of the work will never prosper and grow in that Conference. [Voices: “So, So.”] What we want is to rise up now, and take hold of the canvassing work as never before. God wants his people, his ministers, to awake. I do not mean to say that as soon as a person accepts the message, he is to start right out; but we are to educate him, and train him in connection with this work.GCB April 8, 1901, page 115.8

I remember that at an institute held at Graysville, a man about thirty years of age, and who could not read, came into the class. When he undertook to read a sentence in the Bible, he would spell it out. Some of the brethren came to me and said, “Are you going to send that man out into the work?” “Well,” I said, “he wants to go, and I do not know what else to do only to send him.” Right by the side of him were three of our students, who had studied the books, and had learned their lessons well; and I want to tell you that that man who could not read, and of course could not write the names of the people, sold and delivered many more books than any other individual we had in all the territory. That caused me to think up a line of study in connection with our books, so the people who are not educated can take up the sale of them.GCB April 8, 1901, page 115.9

What we all need is to get hold of the Spirit ourselves. God wants our ministers everywhere to proclaim the gospel; and not only that, but to train the people. If we would take hold of the common people, and teach them that they have a work to do, and educate them ourselves, I believe they could learn to present the gospel. I feel intensely interested that our own people should wake up in connection with this work.GCB April 8, 1901, page 115.10

J. M. Rees: There is nothing that has interested this people during the Conference thus far, more than that which has been discussed here this morning. I want to say that as this matter of selling books is of so much importance that the Lord has spoken to us recently so much in regard to it, it seems to me that as laborers, we ought to get this matter so deep-rooted in our souls that we will go out and crowd it to the front.GCB April 8, 1901, page 115.11

If we want to get books into families, the best thing we can do is to begin with the head of the Conference, and let him show that he is interested in it. One man in Missouri, and his brother, borrowed three dollars to pay their way to the place where an institute was to be held; but when they went down to the station, they found that they could get only half way with the money they had borrowed. They paid their fare half the way. They took a number of copies of a special issue of the Signs with them, and when they stepped off the train, they started right out in the town, and sold enough copies of the special issue of the Signs to pay their way the rest of the journey; and they had as much money left when they got to the place where the meeting was to be held, as they had when they started. I said, “Those men will make it.” But when the institute was over, they did not have money enough to go to any other town, and the town where they were was not considered the best in which to sell books. But the canvassing agent said: “We will have to leave those two men here, and let them work to get money enough to go to some other field.” The very first report we received was from one of those two men; and it stated that in 105 hours he had sold $106 worth of books.GCB April 8, 1901, page 115.12

I am satisfied that we ministers, in raising up churches, have made a mistake. We have not properly educated those who have accepted the truth. God helping me, I am going to be a better man along this line than I have ever been before.GCB April 8, 1901, page 115.13

D. T. Bourdeau: I have been a thorough convert to the doctrine of distributing our literature for forty-five years, having made it a practice, since receiving the truth, to take tracts and other publications with me wherever I go. I have felt as if the hope for the French cause was to distribute our literature; but as we have to do mostly with Catholics, we can not expect to sell large books, so I have seen that our forte will be the distribution of our small tracts; and for a few years, I have been gathering different addresses from parties in this country, in Canada, and in Europe, and even in Asia, of those to whom to send our small literature, and I will simply mention one party to illustrate what is being done in Montreal.GCB April 8, 1901, page 116.1

When we pitched our tent in Montreal two years ago, the Lord opened the way for me to speak in the first Catholic paper in that city. One of those papers was received by a man in the northwest. He wrote to me, asking for literature. I sent him literature, and he took his stand on the Sabbath. He is now keeping the Sabbath in Montreal. He is conversant with eight or ten languages. He wishes to connect himself with some of our institutions.GCB April 8, 1901, page 116.2

I got some addresses from a medical school in France. I sent one or two bundles of tracts there, and got letters in reply. One man wrote that he had received the tracts, and he had been so exercised about them that he had brought them before a circle of literary men in that institution, and he got them all stirred up, and the man wants to connect with our people.GCB April 8, 1901, page 116.3

I feel the importance of first distributing our small literature among the Catholics. We begun on that very line when we accepted this message. We had no large volumes then to send out. I felt so deeply upon this point, that in Montreal I secured all the help I could get; and one young man, who could not speak French, came to help me. I taught him a few French phrases, so he goes from house to house, and he is disposing of from forty to sixty dollars’ worth of our French tracts every month among Catholics. Of course we are glad when he can dispose of them, even without pay, because it is a cross for the Catholic to receive anything of that kind without sanction of some high officials from the Catholic Church.GCB April 8, 1901, page 116.4

I mention these things so that you will think about our work among the French Catholics, and pray for us. We ought to have editions of fifty thousand of our small tracts for Montreal alone. God will stand by us in this work. We invite you, heart and soul, feeling intensely upon this matter, to co-operate with us in this branch of the work. The young man I have mentioned has not gone through one tenth of the city of Montreal, but we have handed out to French Catholics about one thousand dollars’ worth of French tracts, and they are generally well received.GCB April 8, 1901, page 116.5

The Chair: Now we have been sitting an hour and a half. We have half an hour left. Let us stand and sing, “We praise Thee, O God.”GCB April 8, 1901, page 116.6

The Chair: We will now ask Brother Osborne to speak on the subject of “Canvassers Needed, and How to Secure Them.”GCB April 8, 1901, page 116.7

S. C. Osborne: The first point I want to speak of is the first essential thing,—I speak now from the standpoint of the State agent,—a deep consecration in our own heart for the service of God. If our own heart is right, and we give ourselves unreservedly to God, so that he can take us, and use us, his presence will go with us everywhere.GCB April 8, 1901, page 116.8

The first thing I would try to say to the Conference is to get them to arrange for institutes, and to have the co-operation of the Conference presidents and the ministers. Brethren, Jesus Christ sacrificed for us. Of course there is hardship in this canvassing work, but there is a great blessing, there is a sweet peace.GCB April 8, 1901, page 116.9

I would urge the importance of following up by correspondence and personal visits any who are thinking of engaging in the canvassing work. These persons can be drilled in a short time, and, if they are accompanied by the Holy Spirit, usually make excellent canvassers if they put in faithful time.GCB April 8, 1901, page 116.10

A number of years ago I visited a certain State. There was only one canvasser at work. By searching out those who could be induced to engage in this work, we succeeded in selling ten thousand dollars’ worth of books by the next September.GCB April 8, 1901, page 116.11

We must be careful of our influence. If the Holy Spirit controls the canvasser, his influence is always good. I recall one incident of a canvasser being overheard praying in the woods, by some citizens of a town in which he was canvassing. These people told what they had heard, and after that everyone in that town had confidence in the genuineness of that canvasser’s Christian experience.GCB April 8, 1901, page 116.12

When you have started canvassers out, keep in touch with them by correspondence and personal visits. Let them hear from you at least once a week, and encourage them to report promptly to you. I have found it to my advantage to keep a record-book of the work done each week by all the canvassers in whom I am especially interested. By assigning a page to each worker, it can be seen at a glance whether the canvasser is succeeding, or having hardships; and when necessary, he can be helped when not selling many books, and encouraged to remain in the field. The very knowledge that such a record is being kept, proves to be a stimulus to canvassers to have greater activity and perseverance.GCB April 8, 1901, page 116.13

Mrs. Marian C. S. Crawford (nee Stowell), of Kankakee, Ill.: I desire to tell you what one tract did in the early days. In March, 1815, my parents, who had sold their farm, were living in the home of Brother J. N. Andrews, father of our beloved Elder J. N. Andrews, in Paris, Me. A copy of a little tract on the Sabbath question, by Elder T. M. Preble, a Seventh-day Adventist, came into my hands in some way, and I handed it to Brother J. N. Andrews. He read it, and gave it to his father and mother to read. It showed from history and the Bible, how the Sabbath was changed. They accepted the Sabbath truth, and brought the tract into our part of the house, giving it to my father and mother to read. My father said he had known for a great many years that the seventh day was the Sabbath, but he had thought there were things of more importance to observe. This was before Elder Joseph Bates and published any tracts, and before Sister E. G. White came to Paris. We accepted the Sabbath light, and then Brother Andrews sent the tract to Brother Cyprian Stevens and family, of South Paris, who accepted the truth also. Mrs. Uriah Smith and Mrs. J. N. Andrews were daughters of this Brother Stevens. Others joined us, and soon there were three churches—Paris, North Paris, and South Paris—of Sabbath-keepers as the result of this little tract. I praise the Lord for it.GCB April 8, 1901, page 116.14

W. C. White: I thank the Lord that we can have the record of such experiences. I give a hearty amen to what Brother Osborne has been presenting to us, and I want to say just a few words in regard to the time of beginning to train canvassers. Someone asked when to begin to train children. The answer was, With their grandparents. When shall we begin to train canvassers? Brethren, it rests with you and me, and with the mothers of our children, whether or not our ranks are filled with canvassers. God has blessed our faithful canvassers, who have been called at all ages and from all occupations to this work, and we want our children so trained that they will see that blessing. Now, if we only treat the canvassers’ work from the standpoint of what Christ is doing through them, in spreading the work, in getting the truth before the people, if we hold before our children the blessedness of the work, they are going into it, they are going to make good workers. There was a sister in New Zealand, a very successful Sabbath-school worker and tract society secretary. She was conducting weekly children’s meetings. She ordered a large club of the Bible Echo, and gathered her children together one afternoon of each week, and arranged an interesting program. She would take up the Echo, and tell them just what was in it, help them to study it, and explain to them the interesting features of the paper. Then she would give the papers out, and send the children out in different parts of the city. Each one had his own route, and they would sell from forty to one hundred copies. One of my ambitions for our church schools is that they shall teach our children to sell the Signs of the Times, and our tracts and some of our pamphlets, and that the day may come when they can earn a part of their education.GCB April 8, 1901, page 116.15

E. P. Boggs: They are doing that in many of the church schools in this country.GCB April 8, 1901, page 117.1

W. C. White: Good, I hope the work will go. We want to train our children to be canvassers. I am glad that the Lord has put it into the hearts of both of my daughters to do this work. They have had an experience in a little way already around home, and the last letter I got from my daughter she says she wants to occupy her summer in working with “Christ’s Object Lessons,” to help the schools.GCB April 8, 1901, page 117.2

Geo. A. Snyder: I have a great interest in the canvassing work. I started out as a canvasser, and I have tried several ways to get back into it. I tried it once, and made a failure. I wrote for a prospectus to go into the work, and received a letter which said, “While we are glad you have that interest, we are going to put you over the canvassing work.” I wrote back, and told them that while I had that much interest myself, I did not have enough interest for all the preachers in the Conference;” and so I did not go into it. Now, brethren, I have heard here this morning much about the ministers entering the canvassing work. I heard one time about a man who sent his hired man out to grease the wagon. He came back after a while with his face all grease and perspiration. His employer asked, “Have you greased the wagon?” “Yes, I have greased every part of it but inside the wheels, and I can not get into them.” I am glad we have heard some talk about the canvassing work this morning,—talk that greases where the wheels run. I have been preaching the canvassing work, and may we all from this time begin to preach this work. That is getting where the wheels run, and that is how we will get canvassers out into the field.GCB April 8, 1901, page 117.3

Meeting adjourned until 3 P.M., J. O. Corliss pronouncing the benediction.GCB April 8, 1901, page 117.4

A. G. DANIELLS, Chairman.
L. A. HOOPES, Secretary.

April 8, 1901 - EXTRA NO. 5

Seventh Meeting