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Colporteur Ministry
however common, is demoralizing. The Lord would have all who
believe the truth converted from these self-deceiving practices. They
should choose rather to suffer want than to commit a dishonest act....
If those who see the truth do not change in character corresponding
to the sanctifying influence of the truth, they will be a savor of death
unto death. They will misrepresent the truth, bring a reproach upon it,
and dishonor Christ, who is truth.
The question to be considered is, By what means the work can be
carried forward, and canvassers be prevented from embarrassing the
cause, and casting a burden upon the publishing houses by a careless,
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selfish way of doing business. This question is of consequence.—
Manuscript 168, 1898
.
Side Lines—Some have brought themselves and their families
into most distressing circumstances through poor management in book
canvassing. They have run in debt, and have borrowed money of men
not of our faith.
With the work of scattering our publications and advocating the
truth, some have mingled scheming, buying and selling. This makes a
bad combination. As they labor to obtain advantage for themselves,
they are allured by the prospect of buying things for less and selling
them for more than their value. Therefore the world regards them
as sharpers, men who will gain advantage for themselves without
considering the case of others. They do not keep the commandments
of God; for they do not love their neighbor as themselves.—
Manual
for Canvassers, 62
(1902).
Financial Gain Not Paramount—If our canvassers are controlled
by the spirit of financial gain, if they circulate the book upon which
they can make the most money, to the neglect of others that the people
need, I ask, In what sense is theirs a missionary work? Where is
the missionary spirit, the spirit of self-sacrifice? The work of the
intelligent, God-fearing canvasser has been represented as equal to
that of the gospel minister. Then should the canvasser feel at liberty,
any more than the minister, to act from selfish motives? Should he
be unfaithful to the principles of missionary work, and sell only those
books that are cheapest and easiest to handle, neglecting to place
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before the people books which will give most light, because by so
doing he can earn more money for himself? How is the missionary
spirit revealed here? Has not the canvassing work ceased to be what