THE CANVASSING WORK

Meeting April 17, 6:30 P. M.

C. H. JONES: First I wish to say a few words in reference to the relation which the publishing houses sustain to the canvassing work. We look about in the great world, and see that in every line of business, every one is reaching out for success. We want to succeed in our work. How can we succeed? It must be by co-operation. And in order to have co-operation there must be an understanding of each other’s plans and methods. In the minds of some a great gulf has been fixed between publishers and canvassers. This gulf should be wiped out entirely. This is all one work. We are all in the same work with the same great object in view,—namely, getting the truth before the people.GCB April 21, 1901, page 362.5

The Lord calls some to one line of work and some to another. He calls some to write and prepare articles for the papers, and to prepare manuscripts for books. Then the Lord calls the publishers to prepare these writings for the canvassers,—to set type, make the plates, and print and bind the books, and get them ready to be taken out. There is another class that is called of the Lord to take these books to the people. These workers are all needed, and not one can be dispensed with. We are all working on a common level, with a common object. We have One for our Master, even Christ, and all ye are brethren. Let us not separate into classes and distinctions of that kind, but come close to one another, and have real heart-to-heart talk.GCB April 21, 1901, page 362.6

We all believe that men are called God to the work of the gospel ministry. But I also believe that persons are called of the Lord to other lines of work as well. Some are called into the publishing house. I felt that call myself. I believe it was a call from the Lord, and I have given twenty-five years of my life to that work and the Lord has blessed me in it. I have been approached by men many times, asking me to go into other lines of work; but I did not feel that the Lord called me away, and so I have stuck to it. I believe just as truly that there are persons who receive a call to enter the canvassing work. The call may not be very loud; it may be the still, small voice that whispers to you, when you are alone and quiet, but still the call comes and your minds have been impressed. I think the testimony of many of you would bear me out in this. I am glad that a goodly number of men have been called to this work. But what have we been told as to how many there should be? That “where there is now one there ought to be one hundred.” I believe that the Lord’s Spirit will go out and move upon hearts, and perhaps all they will need is a word of encouragement from some of us, and they will step out and take up this line of work.GCB April 21, 1901, page 362.7

It is a difficult work. There are perplexities and trials connected with it. So with every line of work. But we have not enlisted in the army of the Lord for an easy place. In the office we have perplexities to meet. I know something of what it is to meet these perplexities in both places. I was a canvasser before I became connected with the publishing work. I know the difficulties of going from house to house through the cold and heat, meeting rebuffs, and being turned away from the door. But do not be discouraged at that, for the Lord is in the work. But I do not want to talk of the difficulties, only just enough so that we may sympathize with one another, and not feel that the difficulties are all on one side. Let us take courage and look on the bright side.GCB April 21, 1901, page 362.8

In the Pacific Press we have about 200 employees. I often speak to them at our chapel services on Sunday morning, and at other times when we seek the Lord together, and tell them that we are only a part of our great force of workers. There are hundreds in the field, who form a part of our company. I want to assure you to-night that in our meetings you are remembered in our prayers. I believe we have a prayer-hearing and a prayer-answering God. We pray for you that he will give you success in the work. And we want you, dear brethren and sisters, to remember us in your counsel. We do not need your criticism, but encouragement and help.GCB April 21, 1901, page 362.9

We are trying to improve our work. We make mistakes, but I believe we are doing better than years ago, and we are going to try to improve right along. We have set the mark high. We want to reach perfection. The Lord says that is what we should reach. We want to reach it in the publishing house, and we want to see the canvassers reach it. In every line of work we want perfection.GCB April 21, 1901, page 362.10

This being the work of the Lord, the commercial idea must be left out entirely. We can not hope for success in adopting wordly policy or methods, neither in the office nor in carrying the books to the people. We can hope for success only as the Spirit of the Lord is with us. The more of the Spirit, the greater the success.GCB April 21, 1901, page 362.11

Ability and learning are useful acquirements. But God can take humble instruments, also, and make them successful in carrying forward this great work. We want to keep that in mind. And we want to keep out the commercial idea.GCB April 21, 1901, page 362.12

Of course we must have something to live on. The Lord knows that, but our first thought should be to do the work in the fear of the Lord and the Lord will give success.GCB April 21, 1901, page 362.13

It is true that too many of our people have been ready to go into almost any other line of work rather than this. Other lines of work have been exalted, and the tide seemed to be running in the other direction. But the Lord has told us that “if there is one work more important than another, it is that of getting our publications before the people;” and “that the earnest, devoted, God fearing canvasser occupies a position equal to the gospel minister.” The gospel minister I understand occupies the highest position in this work. Now the Lord places the canvasser upon a level with the gospel minister. That thought has sent a thrill through my soul. When we think of this, what a spirit should actuate the canvasser! First, in taking hold of the work, and then in carrying it forward to success.GCB April 21, 1901, page 362.14

The minister of the gospel stands before a large congregation, and he expects that, the Spirit of the Lord working through him, will impress minds to decide to accept the truth and give their hearts to the Lord. The Lord uses human instruments to do this work. Now the canvasser has exactly the same work to do, except that he works with a smaller congregation, with a single individual. He must influence that mind, bringing it to a point where it will decide to take the book, and then the book will do its work. Now with our publications on religious subjects, we can not hope to influence minds to buy them, unless we have the help of the Lord. But we have a promise of that. “Jesus walks by the side of the canvasser as he from place to place.” “The Holy Spirit is there to impress the mind just the same as the Holy Spirit impresses the mind of those who listen to the minister of the gospel as he presents the truth.” O, that we might get that thought embodied in our hearts, and not start into the work unless we are sure that the Lord is walking by our side, that we can place our hand in his, that he will guide us to the right places, and then be with us to impress the mind of the individuals we meet! How can there be any failure in the work with such a mighty helper? The failure comes when we trust in self, thinking we are able to do the work. We leave Christ out, then comes failure. But there is sure to be success if we take the Lord Jesus with us.GCB April 21, 1901, page 363.1

The canvassers are being termed by the Lord “the evangelists of the denomination.” Now it seems to me that with all this encouragement and testimony, we ought all to go away from this meeting with greater courage and more earnest determination to push this work than ever before. Push it forward to success. I can assure you the publishing houses will co-operate with you fully wherever we can. You shall have our help and our prayers, and we want your counsel and encouragement.GCB April 21, 1901, page 363.2

There are a few things that are necessary in order to succeed in this work, aside from this matter of the Lord’s being with us. There must be thoroughness in the work. In the first place there must be thoroughness in the preparation. Then the territory must be canvassed thoroughly. God has jewels scattered here and there, and we do not know just where they are. It seems to me that when a canvasser takes territory, he ought to make up his mind to call on every family in every house. It might be possible for you to pass a house by when the Lord has a jewel there. He may have some one there who is just longing for what you might give him. How do you know? The house may look discouraging. Sometimes it looks large, and we will think that proud persons live there. But the Lord has said we ought to labor for the higher class. Sometimes you may come to a small house, and think they are too poor to buy there. But how do you know? Perhaps there is some one there who needs the help you have for him.GCB April 21, 1901, page 363.3

I think of an incident related by Brother Dodge, of Montana. He has been a self-supporting missionary in the canvassing work. He has brought nearly as many into the truth as any minister in the Conference. He spreads the gospel wherever he goes. One day he was traveling along the road with a team in a sparsely settled district. It was getting along toward night when he saw a little hut. He first thought, “It is no use stopping there. I will drive on.” But something seemed to speak to him, “Go down to that house.” He obeyed this voice. There he found a man and wife with three children, two being at home and one away. He told them what he had come for, and gave them a canvass for “Great Controversy.” They became deeply interested in the book, and I think they decided to subscribe. It was getting late, and Brother Dodge wanted to stay overnight. The man said, “We have very poor accommodation. Farther on there is a better place than we have here.” But Brother Dodge said, “Somehow I feel impressed to stay here if you will allow it, and I will put up with what accommodations you have.” He stayed there, and before retiring, he asked them if they might have a season of prayer. They said, “Certainly.” He read a chapter, then had a season of prayer and retired. The next day they wanted him to stay a little longer. He stayed over Sabbath; and before he left, the man was so deeply interested in the truth that he was nearly ready to keep the Sabbath. When Brother Dodge came back after a little time, he found the man and his wife and two children keeping the Sabbath, and they had entered into correspondence with the one who was absent. The first thing he told Brother Dodge when he came back was, “We are keeping the Sabbath, and we have also discarded our pork and grease and these things.” He had taken hold of health reform.GCB April 21, 1901, page 363.4

I have no doubt many could relate instances of this kind here to-night. That whole family were baptized at the next local camp-meeting. But remember, Brother Dodge was on the point of passing by that house. So do thorough work. Give every family a chance. If they refuse, the message has come to them; and the responsibility rests with them. You are free. But suppose you pass one by. Will there not be some responsibility resting upon you, should there be a soul there seeking for light? We do not want to bear such a responsibility.GCB April 21, 1901, page 363.5

Another thing essential in this work is the matter of putting in full time,—diligence in the work. Let me read from Proverbs 22:29: “Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men [margin: “obscure men”].” Now if we are earnest in our work, and take hold of it with zeal and courage, the Lord will do just what he says. We will go before the better class as well as the poorer class. We shall stand before kings, and those in the highest places.GCB April 21, 1901, page 363.6

Again, I read in Ecclesiastes 9:10: “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.” I tell you we want to throw our heart and soul into everything we undertake.GCB April 21, 1901, page 363.7

Here again in Ecclesiastes 11:6: “In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand.” What do you get out of that? [Voices: Work all day.] Exactly. Not to commence at 9 or 10 o’clock and quit at 2 or 3, working, perhaps, only three or four days in the week. Be diligent. Get out as early as you can. Take hold of the work earnestly. And sometimes you can do some work in the evening. Perhaps you can do something in medical missionary work or in other missionary lines. The Lord does not want us to be slothful. In Romans we read, “Not slothful in business: fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.”GCB April 21, 1901, page 363.8

How should we succeed in our publishing work, if we should take hold in that way? If we should commence at 8 or 9 o’clock, and quit at 3 or 4? We could not fill your orders, could we? We have to work early and late. We usually work ten hours a day, but we are not limited to that. We often work till late at night, and sometimes all night.GCB April 21, 1901, page 363.9

So with our canvassers. If they are instructed to put in full time, it will go a long way toward solving the problem of success in our work. I believe we ought to talk plain with those who are entering the work, that they may not take it up expecting an easy time.GCB April 21, 1901, page 363.10

We sometimes get discouraged. After a poor day, we think that we can not go out again. But just then is the time to lay the promises before the Lord. Plead with him for help and strength, and he will not disappoint you. Then if we go out in that spirit, and take the Lord with us, we can go with courage, and we shall meet with some degree of success.GCB April 21, 1901, page 364.1

I have said some things in regard to co-operation between the publishing houses and the canvassers, but we want more than that. We want the co-operation of all connected with the work,—Conference officers, ministers, and all. We have an object lesson before us in the work of one of our districts the last year. I think that District 5 took the lead in selling subscription books. You remember that Elder Daniells was calling attention to the work in Australia. Their sales amounted to $84,000 during the year. Now what do you think District No. 5 has done? That one little district has sold books to the amount of $91,000. That is a good report. What has led to their success? I have watched the work there very closely. It seems to me it is because of co-operation. The territory has not been any better than many other parts of the United States, but success is due to the interest that all have taken in the work. The district superintendent, the canvassing agents, the Conference officers all the way through, the manager of our branch office, have all taken hold together in the work. They have not all gone out canvassing, but they have taken hold and spoken a good word for it. The presidents have gone in and helped them in their institutes. There has been the spirit of co-operation all through. You see the result. I believe the same results may be secured in other districts. I expect we shall see it this coming year. I believe our brethren are going to take hold of the work in just that way. I have seen that spirit here in the Conference, and it gives me great courage.GCB April 21, 1901, page 364.2

Just a word in closing in regard to this spirit of co-operation,—a oneness in the work. My mind turns to that wonderful prayer of our Saviour in the seventeenth chapter of John. This, I believe, is the longest recorded, but it is also the most precious. You know the great burden of that prayer, that there might be oneness among his disciples, a oneness in Christ Jesus. Let me read just a little, commencing with the twentieth verse: “Neither pray I for these alone [for his disciples and followers there], but for them also which shall believe on me through their word.” That, brethren and sisters, includes us right here to-night. The Lord Jesus has promised to pray for us, and is praying for us now. “That they all may be one, as thou Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us.” What for?—“That the world may believe that thou hast sent me.”GCB April 21, 1901, page 364.3

There can be no greater witness to the world than to show this spirit of oneness and co-operation. When the world can see Seventh-day Adventists taking hold as one man, and carrying this work forward, all spirit of jealousy, and criticism, and faultfinding removed, will it not have its influence?—It will have a mighty influence. It will prove to the world just what the Lord has said,—“That thou hast sent me.”GCB April 21, 1901, page 364.4