Humble Laborers
There are some in Stockholm who in humble circumstances are
seeking earnestly to spread the knowledge of the truth. One of these
is Bro. Norlin, who labors as a colporter. Shouldering his pack,
stocked with our books and papers, he goes on foot from place to
place, often traveling many miles a day. His profits have been very
small, especially on those of our Swedish books that are published in
America, where the cost of production is greater than in Europe, and
the expense of transportation to Norway and then to Sweden must be
added to the first cost. When the whole expense is taken from the low
prices at which books are sold in these countries, very little margin
is left for the colporter. On one of the large bound books he received
but five cents a copy, on some other books only three cents. [
At the
General Conference of 1885, the Trustees of the S. D. A. Publishing
Association voted to furnish publications to foreign missions at the
cost of production. This will help the colporteurs in many fields.
] On
those works published at our office in Christiania he received one-third
discount; but these are mostly small pamphlets or tracts which sell for a
few cents each. Of course it is difficult to support himself and his wife
on such profits; but Bro. Norlin’s wife is an industrious worker, doing
house-cleaning, washing, or any other kind of hard work by which
she can help in gaining a livelihood. They live in a very economical
manner, occupying one good-sized room on a fourth floor, with the
use of a small kitchen with another family. This is a sample of how
the work has had to be done in Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. Those
who are thus traveling on foot and carrying the books and papers in
their leathern sacks are apparently engaged in a humble work; but they
should not feel that it is in any sense degrading. It was in a humble
manner that Christ labored when he was on the earth; he went on foot
from place to place, teaching as he walked. Those who are spreading
a knowledge of the truth are scattering precious light that some souls
will accept. In the kingdom of God the fruit of their labors will be
seen.
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