The Canvass for “Thoughts”-Shall It Be Resumed? by Editor

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Tuesday, April 21, 1885

FromAdvent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 62, No. 16

The Canvass for “Thoughts”—Shall It Be Resumed?

By Editor

We confess we have a feeling of sadness to realize how little has been done during the few months to circulate that most important “Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation.” The matter has been brought up forcibly to our minds in the special College course of the last few weeks; one hour every day has been devoted to the canvassing. We have felt much interested in the fact that some of our young people should labor in this department of the cause to circulate our reading matter everywhere. We have urged upon their attention the great importance of this as forcibly as we know how, and we hope with some effect. As the question has arisen, “For what shall we canvass?” we have been unable to think of any one thing more important than this most valuable book. We can easily see why this book is almost wholly dropped; we shall certainly enter our most solemn protest against its being longer neglected. We know how it came about, and we wish to cast no censure whatever upon any one concerning it. As times were hard last winter, and as a plan had been formed at the last General Conference to make a rousing canvass upon the Signs and “Sunshine,” it was somewhat easier to make money canvassing for “Sunshine” than for “Thoughts”; nearly every canvasser for the latter dropped that work and went for Signs and “Sunshine.” Month after month passed away and still the circulation of “Thoughts” is not resumed. There is scarcely a person in the tract societies who is now canvassing for “Thoughts.”

We believe the time has come to call attention to the fact that our tract and missionary society presidents and secretaries ought to use their influence to induce every one of those who have made a beginning in canvassing for this most valuable book to take it at once.

Spring has come, and money is more plentiful. The people are more hopeful than they were last winter, and our hopes should increase that this important work can be sold. Nearly 10,000 a year have been sold for two or three years. It would be a sad failure to see this canvass drop out. We ought to do much more the present year than ever before. But thus far in 1885 it has almost come to a standstill. We propose to speak of this subject through the REVIEW, in the camp-meeting and anywhere and everywhere, and thus induce our people to circulate this valuable book. Thousands of these books are already here in the office. Let the world have them, brethren. We have no book more important for general circulation among the people than this. It is a good thing for intelligent people everywhere to see our canvassers resume this work, and push it more than ever.