General Conference Bulletin, vol. 3

COOPERATION IN THE CANVASSING WORK

L. A. HOOPES

A few years ago the denomination circulated nearly a million dollars’ worth of books annually. But how is it now?—There has been a great falling off. Why has it dropped off so much? There is a reason for it. We may not know just what it is; yet the reason for it. We may for us to look about us to see if we can find it. GCB April 1, 1899, page 39.4

The Lord has told us repeatedly that persons of good address should be chosen for this important branch of God’s cause. Just as much care should be exercised in the selection of men for the canvassing work as for the ministry. The Lord would never have said this if it were not essential. The Lord sees every branch, and knows the importance that should be attached to each one. God sees a fitness in things, and knows where to place men that they may accomplish the greatest amount of good. He has given to every man his proper gift, one after this manner and one after that. These gifts are given to every man to profit withal. They have been placed in the body of Christ (the church) as it has pleased him. GCB April 1, 1899, page 39.5

The canvassing work demands more of our attention. To use the language in the first-page article in the Review of June 20, 1899: “The canvassing work should never languish. The agencies set in operation to do this work need always to be under the control of the Holy Spirit of God. There must be perfect harmony and unity of spirit among the workers who handle the books which are to flood the world with light. Wherever the canvassing work is presented among our people, let both the health books and the religious books be presented together as parts of a united work. The relation of the religious and the health books is presented to me as illustrated by the union of the warp and the woof to form a beautiful pattern and a perfect piece of work.” GCB April 1, 1899, page 39.6

Please read the entire article. I again quote: “Just as much education is necessary for the successful handling of the religious books as for the handling of those treating upon questions of health and temperance. Just as much should be said regarding the work of canvassing for books containing spiritual food, just as much effort should be put forth to encourage and educate workers to circulate books containing the third angel’s message, as is said and done to develop workers for the health books. GCB April 1, 1899, page 39.7

“Let each publisher and general agent work as enthusiastically as he can to encourage the agents now in the work, and to hunt up and train new workers. Let each build up and strengthen the work as much as he can without weakening the work of others. Let all be done in brotherly love, and without selfishness.” GCB April 1, 1899, page 39.8

“The Lord desires his church to be a perfect body,—not all arms, not all body without arms, but body and arms together,—and every member working as a part of the one great whole. As the right arm is connected with the body, so the health reform and medical missionary work is connected with the third angel’s message, and is to work efficiently as the right arm, for the defense of the body of truth.” GCB April 1, 1899, page 39.9

The canvassing work is an honored branch of our cause, and deserves the hearty cooperation of every other part. We doubt not but that there are many intelligent young men and women who are doing practically nothing for the cause, who would make splendid canvassers, and would help to scatter the publications of present truth just “like the leaves of autumn.” Who are cooperating along this line? GCB April 1, 1899, page 39.10

Our ministers have a responsibility in this direction. They have much to do toward directing the young people into their respective occupations. There are enough people unoccupied who can do acceptable canvassing, to soon dispose of all the surplus stock which is now on the shelves of the storerooms, and to keep the presses running day and night to make new books, without doing a stroke of outside commercial work. GCB April 1, 1899, page 39.11

Brethren, it is cooperation that is needed. GCB April 1, 1899, page 39.12

THE GENERAL CONFERENCE BULLETIN. GCB April 1, 1899, page 40.1

BATTLE CREEK, MICH., SECOND QUARTER, 1899. GCB April 1, 1899, page 40.2