General Conference Bulletin, vol. 1

STATE AGENTS’ WORK

A. F. HARRISON

(Read before the Canvassers’ Convention.)

MUCH has been said in the past upon the canvassing work, as to what the canvasser should be and do, while little has been said in regard to the State agent and his work. Every candid thinker who has had any experience in this kind of work knows that it is essential to have some one to direct it. I take the position that if a Conference had only two canvassers, one of them should be a State agent. There must be some one to lead out; some one who can assign territory, give instruction, advise, and assist in all difficulties that may arise from actual experience. Has it not been fully demonstrated beyond a doubt that the general principle upon which we have been working in the past is a good one? But suppose that from some cause the work should not prove self-supporting in every case, should we drop it? Should we allow it to go down? If so, would we have the approving smiles of God resting upon us? Is this not truly as much His work as the ministry, colportage, or Bible work? Has he not spoken plainly in regard to this matter? This being true, does it not throw a heavy responsibility upon us as State agents to devise plans, and adopt methods, that notwithstanding the hard times, or the difficulties that may arise, the work may be carried forward to its completion? GCB February 19, 1895, page 228.6

The articles on the “Science of Canvassing” in the past few numbers of the Home Missionary are excellent. They fully set before us what the State agent should be. Surely we should appreciate such instruction, for it is timely. GCB February 19, 1895, page 228.7

You will notice the statement in the November number, “A State agent should be an experienced canvasser.” This is true in every sense of the word, and when he receives his appointment as such, he should not come to the conclusion that his canvassing days are at an end, and all that he has to do is to visit workers, write letters, and travel about from church to solicit new recruits. All these things are essential in their place. But just how and when to do them, to save time and have a telling effect upon the cause, is the essential point. I believe that one of the most important features of a State agent’s work is to successfully handle the workers that he may already have under his charge, keeping them in the field and at work. GCB February 19, 1895, page 229.1

In order to do this it often becomes necessary to visit them at intervals as circumstances may direct. If new workers should enter the field or difficulties arise, his visits should be more frequent. On the other hand if all are old and experienced workers, and have the spirit of Christ, his visits may be deferred an indefinite length of time. But when he does visit them, he should study to make it profitable to all concerned. He should not visit them in order to fill in his time, and make it appear to the Conference Committee that he is rushed with business and that it is absolutely necessary to make the trip in order to keep the work moving, and on reaching the company simply have a jolly good time, and after inquiring into the spiritual and financial standing of each, wind up by holding a reading on faith and push, and quietly retire from the scene of action, congratulating himself that he has done a good work, and that in the future this company will have no trouble in succeeding. GCB February 19, 1895, page 229.2

When the State agent visits workers, it should be at a time when his presence is really needed, when even old experienced canvassers will be glad to meet him, and by counseling, and interchanging ideas each may be mutually benefited. If there is one who for some cause is not succeeding in his work and needs special assistance, go out into the field with him, and learn by actual experience the nature of that field, its special difficulties, and the causes for the agent’s poor success, and demonstrate by actual work that success can be obtained there when proper methods are followed. Work with him for a day or so, instructing him by precept and example until he can succeed in the work. If possible, before leaving that section of your field, take a piece of territory and canvass until you receive enough orders for a delivery. Leave these in the hands of some one of the company to deliver, allowing him a certain per cent for delivering the books. In this way the State agent can often turn over to the Conference, or Tract Society, from time to time, a handsome little sum, which will go a long way toward defraying his necessary expenses. GCB February 19, 1895, page 229.3

In working in this manner, I am confident that we will have but little trouble in convincing all concerned that our visits are a success. This will also inspire courage in all the workers, and they will watch for your reports, and your advice and counsel will be gladly received. GCB February 19, 1895, page 229.4

Now there is another essential point connected with this work that will always prove a great source of strength and encouragement to the canvassers, and that is for the State agent to keep up a weekly correspondence with all his workers. In this way he will be able, not only to keep in touch with them, but will become acquainted with their spiritual condition, and will understand their needs and wants, and be able to administer accordingly. When two or three are working together, a general letter will often accommodate all. Do not fail to give them items of interest from all parts of the field, and in this way their ideas will broaden, and their interest will increase, and I can assure you that the letters will be appreciated, and in return will not fail to bring back cheering reports of all work done during the week. We should economize our time. We seldom need to write long letters. Study to make them short, interesting, and right to the point. Long exhortations are out of place entirely. Much of this kind of work could be done nights by lamp-light, at a time when it would not always be advisable to study, while we could devote the early hours of the morning to improving our minds and arranging the work of the day. GCB February 19, 1895, page 229.5

There is another subject that is just as important as those already considered. A State agent is not only expected to keep his canvassers in the field, and at work, but it is his duty to add to the ranks those who are called to engage in the Master’s work. GCB February 19, 1895, page 229.6

At this time the question arises, What is the best way to accomplish this in order to save time and expense and insure the best results. GCB February 19, 1895, page 230.1

When a State agent is appointed to a new field, the first thing for him to do is to become acquainted with his workers, and one of the best ways to do this, is to visit them and spend a few days with each company, and after that is accomplished, let him settle down to hard work canvassing. What is to hinder him from doing as faithful work in the field as any of his agents? GCB February 19, 1895, page 230.2

But should there be from time to time inexperienced hands who desire to enter the work, first make sure by correspondence and inquiry that they are proper persons to engage in the work. If you cannot at first give them the benefit of an institute, then if possible call them where you are, and when the time comes for them to enter the work, go out into the field with them for a week or ten days, laboring side by side with them, until they make a success of the work. In this way you will combine theoretical and practical instructions in happy proportion. Whatever orders are secured, allow the one you are working with to retain all of his while you retain all of yours. Leave your orders with the agent to be delivered, allowing him one half the profits for delivering. This will be a help not only to the agents, but there will also be some revenue flowing into the Conference treasury. GCB February 19, 1895, page 230.3

A State agent should always be in communication with the president of the Conference. He should keep him well posted in regard to the progress of the work, and in turn the president can assist him in counsel and advice. GCB February 19, 1895, page 230.4

When drilling new workers, do not leave them for any interest that may arise in other parts of the field, and when no more is to be done for them, return again to your canvassing. When working alone, do not fail to turn over all the proceeds to the Conference. Work faithfully and at the close of the year you will have been able to turn many dollars into the Conference treasury. GCB February 19, 1895, page 230.5

We should learn at the very beginning of this work that there is no use of running here and there all over the State at every beck and call that comes from some one who thinks he wants to enter the work. If we do, Satan will keep us running all the time, and there will be but little accomplished. GCB February 19, 1895, page 230.6

During the past we have made considerable ado over the fact that the only thing that was lacking in order to make this work a success was for the canvasser to put more push and snap into his work, that he could not expect to succeed when he worked only two or three days in the week. Now if this is true of the canvasser, is not the same applicable to the State agent? Have we improved our time as we should both in the field and at home? Is it not a fact that while many of the canvassers have been guilty of spending too much of their time in talking and visiting, we have devoted too much of our time in traveling and answering missionary letters. While the canvasser imagines that he can deviate from his regular occupation to that of holding Bible readings, and still make a success of the canvassing work, have we not left our legitimate work and come to the conclusion that we stood next to the president of the Conference, and therefore should spend the most of our time visiting churches, trying to preach? What kind of influence has this had in the past upon the individual canvasser who is traveling from door to door among the people? they have not been blind to these things. GCB February 19, 1895, page 230.7