Chapter 5—Finance
Wages
The efficient colporteur as well as the minister should have a suf-
ficient remuneration for his services. But none should labor with the
expectation of receiving their reward in this life; their eyes should be
fixed steadfastly upon the prize at the end of the race.
The worker who has the cause of God at heart will not insist on
receiving the largest remuneration. He will not plead as some of
our youth have done, that unless he can make a stylish and elegant
appearance, and board at the best hotels, he will not be patronized.
Let all such be excused from entering the work. What the canvasser
needs is not the faultless apparel or the address of the dandy or the
fop, but that honesty and integrity of character which is reflected in the
countenance. Kindness and gentleness leave their impress upon the
face, and the practised eye sees no deception, detects no pomposity.
Unless our brethren are willing for the truth to be misrepresented
and misapprehended, they must exercise discretion in selecting can-
vassers and colporteurs. All real workers should receive good pay;
but the sum should not in anywise be increased to buy canvassers; for
this course hurts them. It makes them selfish and spendthrifts. Seek
to impress them with the spirit of true missionary work, and with the
qualifications essential to success.
Some of the workers in the canvassing field are making no sac-
rifices. When the way is all prepared for them, and they can secure
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the highest commission, they are willing to enter the field. Many in-
ducements are presented to canvassers to handle popular books; large
commissions are offered them; and many refuse to work for less in cir-
culating books that treat on present truth. Therefore the inducements
have been increased to correspond to those offered by other publishers;
and as a consequence the expense of getting our publications before
the people is large; many of the canvassers obtain their money easily,
and spend it freely.
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