General Conference Bulletin, vol. 1

RELATION OF THE MINISTER TO THE CANVASSING WORK

D. A. ROBINSON

(Read before the Convention.)

THE work in which we are all engaged is one work, and this one work is the work of God. The relation of the workers, therefore, in the various lines, one to another, should be that of the different members of the human body, the one to the other. It is not for any of us to say which line of work is the most important. And so far as the different workers are concerned, one is just as important as the other, for although we are laborers together with God, yet the Lord declares that he that planteth and he that watereth is nothing. Each worker then in any line and in every line stands for nothing, but one nothing is just as much as any other nothing. Each and every one, therefore, is but an instrument in the hands of him to whom the work belongs. GCB February 15, 1895, page 168.1

A great work of saving souls remains yet to be done. Every angel in glory is engaged in this work, while every demon of darkness is opposed to it. Christ has demonstrated to us the great value of souls, in that he came to the world with all the hoarded love of eternity in his heart, offering to make man heir to all his wealth. He unfolded before us the love of the Father for the guilty race, and presented him as just, and the Justifier of him that believeth in Jesus, “for Christ pleased not himself.” GCB February 15, 1895, page 168.2

Since he pleased not himself, it is not the business of any worker to please himself, but rather “to please Him who hath chosen him to be a soldier,” “because as he (Christ) is, so are we in this world.” GCB February 15, 1895, page 168.3

Unfortunately an idea has obtained to some extent that the canvassing work is less important, less dignified, and less desirable than that of the Bible worker or the minister, but such is not the case. The declaration of the Spirit of God that “if there is one work more important than another, it is that of getting our publications before the public,” means exactly what it says, and as to the dignity of any work, it is dependent very much upon how dignified the workers make it. GCB February 15, 1895, page 168.4

“The canvassing work is God’s means of reaching many that would not otherwise be impressed with the truth. The work is a good one, the object high and elevating, and there should be a corresponding dignity of deportment.” Again, “the canvassing work is more important than many have regarded it.” And again: “The press is the instrument by which many are reached whom it would be impossible to reach by ministerial effort.” Every canvasser who appreciates the high and holy calling upon which he has entered, will not be affected by any influence exerted to make his work appear small or inferior to any other line of work; and any minister or Bible worker who is disposed in any way to belittle the canvassing work, and thus tend to weaken the hands of those engaged in it, is thereby, unconsciously it may be, “scattering abroad” instead of gathering with Christ in the great work of saving souls. GCB February 15, 1895, page 168.5

The word to us recently is that “ministers need to understand much more than they now do of the practical workings of the cause in its various branches.” It is an undeniable fact that since the development of the canvassing work, the minister has to a great extent ceased to sell our publications to the people. He has golden opportunities; the people are listening with interest to what he says; he has free access to their homes, and the opportunity presents itself again and again to place in these homes a variety of our publications. Why should he not, to the very best of his ability, do so. Generally speaking, why should he not learn the business, if he has not already done so. There are times in the ministry where he finds it difficult to reach the people in a public way, but at such times, very often they may be reached by the printed truth. In years gone by, it was a very common thing during a few weeks’ tent meeting, to sell from fifty to three hundred dollars’ worth of books. But this is rarely seen now. Is not this changed state of things worthy of our serious consideration? and is it not possible for our ministers and Bible workers to do far more in this line than what they are doing at the present time? Would not this strengthen our work as ministers, and make our efforts more efficient in establishing souls in the truth; not only so, but we would thereby the more closely link our interests and sympathies with the canvassers in the work, and so strengthen their hands. The ministers need lose none of their dignity if, when they find it difficult to get access to the people in a public way, they should for a time turn their efforts to the canvassing work. While they may counsel and encourage the canvasser in his work, they may receive in return valuable help which will enable them to be successful in placing the printed truth in the hands of the people, when the opportunities present themselves for them to do so. In this way the minister and Bible workers identify themselves more fully with the canvasser, thus unifying the work. Not only so, but a far more valuable object lesson is kept before the church, and those embracing the truth, from whose ranks we are constantly receiving recruits for active workers in the field. If those just coming to the faith and our churches can all see in the ministry a spirit of earnestness and courage in every branch of the work, it will inspire in them the same earnestness and zeal. GCB February 15, 1895, page 168.6