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General Conference Bulletin, vol. 1

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    PROGRESS AND NEEDS OF THE CANVASSING WORK IN GREAT BRITAIN

    N. Z. TOWN

    (Read before the Canvassers’ Convention.)

    THE labors of Brother Ellery Robinson, the general agent, together with the visit of Brother E. M. Morrison in the spring of 1891, resulted in placing the canvassing work in Great Britain on a solid basis as regards principles and methods. As a rule the same methods which work successfully in America will work there.GCB February 24, 1895, page 314.3

    In 1890 the number of orders taken amounted to 4407; in 1891, 9932; in 1892, 18,138; in 1893, 11,531; in 1894, 7127. On an average the deliveries run from 65 to 70 per cent of the orders taken. During the past year, several of the regular canvassers have been engaged in the sale of Present Truth. This partly accounts for the falling off in orders during 1894. The year was also a short one, owing to the institute which was held at the beginning. The average weekly sales of Present Truth have run from 9000 to 10,000. There have also been 1332 “Steps to Christ”, and 99,784 tracts, and 3958 pamphlets sold. The per cent of deliveries has been considerably better the past year than during 1893.GCB February 24, 1895, page 314.4

    The north of Ireland has been quite thoroughly canvassed with “Bible Readings”, which has resulted in arousing considerable prejudice. Among the four millions of Scotland very little has been done outside of Glasgow, and only a small portion of that city has been worked. At present there are canvassers located in thirteen of the forty counties of England. A little canvassing has been done in some of the others, but more than half of the English counties have not yet been entered. Hardly a mark has been made in some of those that have been entered.GCB February 24, 1895, page 314.5

    But instead of containing only a population of a few thousand as have most of the counties of the States here, the English counties correspond more nearly to entire States. There is an average population of nearly one million to each county in England.GCB February 24, 1895, page 314.6

    To get a better idea of the density of the population in the British field, compare it with the United States. The area of Great Britain, Ireland, and the numerous islands around the coast, is less than that of Missouri and Illinois. But into that area is massed a population equal to that in all the States excepting those in General Conference District No. 1. Then, too, one seldom meets any but English-speaking people, so that a canvasser is able to reach a much larger per cent of a given population than in most other countries.GCB February 24, 1895, page 314.7

    During the past year there has been an average of one regular canvasser to each million of the inhabitants of Great Britain. It must be apparent to all that, with such an immense population of intelligent English-speaking people almost wholly unwarned, and with so few workers, the crying need of Great Britain to-day is more men. But there is one feature of this need that may not be so apparent to those who are unacquainted with the work in that field. From among those who have accepted the truth from time to time, quite a goodly number have entered the work, until at present there are thirty-two giving their whole time to canvassing. From this it may appear to some that there is not so much need of sending over more men; but instead of this being an argument against sending more, it is one of the strongest reasons why more good men are needed. Many of these workers have had but little experience, and they need help. The canvasser must properly learn his trade, to be successful. It is a recognized fact that no one thing will help a beginner more than to be associated with some experienced person who has been educated in correct habits of living, and who is able and willing to show by example as well as by precept what it means to succeed. We have such men, but the book-work in Great Britain needs at least twenty-five more good, reliable, experienced men.GCB February 24, 1895, page 314.8

    There is also need of more men to engage in the sale of Present Truth. In England there is no such thing as subscription lists for papers to be supplied through the post. One reason for this is no doubt the high rate of postage on periodicals, as it costs a half penny for every paper sent by post. All papers are, as a rule, supplied from news shops and by agents going from house to house. Even in the small villages and in the country, agents have their regular weekly rounds. Some of our canvassers have tried to get people to subscribe for Present Truth, but it is nearly impossible to get even a three months’ subscription. Neither are there tract societies which are able to take large clubs of Present Truth each week to send out to the people. So, instead of doing a little canvassing in the “densely populated portions of Great Britain” for the Present Truth, you see the very existence of the paper depends on canvassers. Selling Present Truth does not afford very large wages to the agent; but an active single man has no difficulty in making a living at it. The paper also opens the way for other publications; so a live agent is able to sell a goodly number of books and tracts to his customers.GCB February 24, 1895, page 314.9

    The following extract from a letter received from one brother shows what a little kindly interest taken in others will accomplish. He says: “The work here in this vicinity is onward. Last week our little company ordered 970 copies of Present Truth. Those who are selling papers here are all beginners, you might say. A young man I picked up from off the street one day orders 170 weekly. Last winter, or autumn, he was penniless, homeless, and nearly in nakedness, — scarcely fit to be seen on the street. Now he has good warm clothes, a few pence in his pocket, and a good warm bed to sleep in, boarding himself. Another young man who is crippled, and whose father and mother are both dead, orders this week 220. He has told me many times that if I had not found him, he would have been in the workhouse. Sister Beckford is ordering 100. Brother Haddon, an old man, is ordering fifty weekly.” None of these people knew anything about the truth until this brother interested himself in them. It could hardly be expected that every one would have such an experience as he has had in picking up workers, but the same interest taken in some of the others, on both books and papers, as he is taking each week in those working with him, would more than double their efficiency.GCB February 24, 1895, page 315.1

    Instead of the weekly sales of the Present Truth being about 9000, why should they not be three times that amount? Nothing that has been done in Great Britain has had such marked effect on the people as the circulation of this paper. In nearly every place where it is sold, people are inquiring in regard to the truth, and several have decided to obey.GCB February 24, 1895, page 315.2

    The present prospect for the canvassing work in Great Britain is good. The general financial depression has been felt there, but none of the agents have been compelled to quit the field, and only a few have needed any financial assistance. Trade is beginning to revive again this year, and I believe there are few places that present a more encouraging outlook for the sale of our books than the British field.GCB February 24, 1895, page 315.3

    What better investment could the General Conference make than to select fifty good men, and send them to Great Britain?GCB February 24, 1895, page 315.4

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