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Manual for Canvassers
No canvasser should exalt the book for which he is working above
others that set forth the truth for this time. Should our canvassers
drop all but one book, and concentrate their energies on that, the
work would not be carried on according to God’s plan. Minds are
not constituted alike, and what might be food for one might fail to
attract another; therefore, books should be in the field treating in a
variety of ways the special subjects for this time. It will be necessary
for the canvasser to make a wise selection. Let no one who is doing
the work of God become narrow and short-sighted. The Lord has
many instrumentalities through which He designs to work. When
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one book is exalted above another, there is danger that the very work
best adapted to give light to the people will be crowded out. There
is no need of contrasting different books, and judging as to which
will do the most good. God has a place for all the voices and all the
pens that He has inspired to utterance for Him. It will be difficult for
some minds to fathom our most difficult works, and a simpler way of
putting the truth will reach them more readily. Let the leading workers
encourage the weaker ones, and show an equal interest in every one
of the instrumentalities set in motion to prepare a people for the day
of the Lord. Some would receive more benefit from papers and tracts
than from books. Papers, tracts, and pamphlets that dwell upon Bible
lessons, all need attention in the canvassing work, for they are as little
wedges that open the way for larger works.
The canvasser should carry with him tracts, pamphlets, and small
books to give to those who can not buy. In this way the truth will be
introduced into many homes.
Canvassing for Periodicals
A mistake has been made in soliciting subscriptions for our peri-
odicals for only a few weeks, when by a proper effort much longer
subscriptions might have been obtained. One yearly subscription is of
more value than many for a short time. When the paper is taken for
only a few months, the interest often ends with the short subscription.
Few renew their subscriptions for a longer period, and thus there is a
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large outlay of time that brings small returns, when, with a little more
tact and perseverance, yearly subscriptions might have been obtained.