General Conference Bulletin, vol. 1

OUR RELATION TO THE DIFFERENT SUBSCRIPTION BOOKS

H. C. WILCOX

(Read before the State Agents’ Convention.)

IT is evident that the relation which our subscription books sustain to the Bible determines, to a great extent, our proper relations to the books. GCB March 1, 1895, page 420.14

The Bible is the best book in the world, for it contains all revealed truth for all time; and the real value of any other religious book lies in its efficiency to lead men to search the Scriptures, by further unfolding the truths revealed, so that their minds may be able to grasp them. GCB March 1, 1895, page 420.15

The true object of all our missionary canvassing is to place such books in the hands of the people as will best accomplish this work. And there is no single book which meets the requirements of all. GCB March 1, 1895, page 420.16

Some of our books appear to be adapted to the needs of a much larger class of people than other works are. Hence there is a great tendency among canvassers to decide in favor of a certain book as the best. Then they talk of it as being preferable to any of the others; thus many are led to think that it is the only book that should be pushed to the front. There are many, however, who would not be impressed by it, or see anything in that particular book of special value or importance to them, but who would readily be induced to purchase some work presenting the truth from a different standpoint. GCB March 1, 1895, page 420.17

The smaller books and pamphlets are well calculated to attract the attention and interest of the busy people of the world, and thus open the way for them to receive further light. In “Testimony” No.32 we are told that “men with one talent may reach a class that those of two or five talents cannot approach.” This is equally true of some of our publications, which are likely to be considered of little importance as compared with others. Yet these very works, by presenting some of the various points of truth in a clear and simple manner, may be the key to open the hearts of many to a thorough study of our deepest books. GCB March 1, 1895, page 420.18

There is great danger of our casting aside as of little worth some of the instrumentalities which God has provided to convey the truth to minds that could never be reached by other means. The value of a work which may save one soul can never be estimated. GCB March 1, 1895, page 421.1

Our many books are as well adapted to the needs of the different agents as to those for whom they labor, and each is the best for the special work which God designs it should accomplish. Therefore we are not to become judges of their comparative merits, but should esteem them all as good, and push them all to the fullest extent. GCB March 1, 1895, page 421.2

In “Gospel Workers,” p.353, are found the following statements, which cover the whole question:— GCB March 1, 1895, page 421.3

No canvasser should exalt the book for which he is working above others that set forth the truth for this time. GCB March 1, 1895, page 421.4

Should our canvassers drop all but one book, and concentrate their energies on that, the work would not be carried on as God would have it. It is necessary that a variety of books should be in the field, as minds are not constituted alike, and what would be food for one might fail to interest another. Some classes would be more benefited by papers and tracts than by books, and it will be necessary for the canvasser to make a wise selection of his books. GCB March 1, 1895, page 421.5

When one book is exalted above another, there is danger that the very work best adapted to give light to the people will be crowded out. GCB March 1, 1895, page 421.6

There is no need of contrasting different books, and judging which will do the most good, and then pushing to the wall the one deemed the weakest, for the advancement of another. God has a place for all the voices and all the pens that he has inspired to utterance for him. It will be difficult for some minds to fathom our most profound works, and a simple way of putting the truth will reach them more readily. GCB March 1, 1895, page 421.7

From these plain statements we can see that all the books and pamphlets, also the papers and tracts, must receive their due share of attention, if we carry forward the work as God would have it. And certainly his way is the best, if we are to attain to the greatest degree of success possible in this work. There is danger of some getting the idea that about all we can do from this on is to sell pamphlets, papers, and tracts. Now while this work is very important, we must not slacken our efforts with the large books, but push them more than ever. I quote again from “Gospel Workers,” p.354. GCB March 1, 1895, page 421.8

Papers and pamphlets and tracts all need attention in the canvassing work; for they are as little wedges that open the way for larger works. GCB March 1, 1895, page 421.9

They are simply an introduction to the large books, and in no way calculated to take their place, but sustain about the same relation to the large books as the small lines first used by life-saving crews to reach wrecked vessels, bear to the other apparatus required to bring the unfortunate mariners to a place of safety; and we cannot drop either without great loss to the cause. GCB March 1, 1895, page 421.10