I really shouldn't be starting any new threads and almost put this one as a reply in the 1928 PDF Messenger thread, but it is just too juicy to get buried right away.
I suggest that anyone even halfway interested in JW history download that 1928 Messenger PDF. It is full of treasures. Here is one I found on page 7 of the newsletter (page 25 of the PDF file). It was written by Clayton J. Woodworth, the quintessential WatchtowerWacko(tm). But in this case, he told the truth better than I've ever seen it told in ANY Watchtower publication. Here are some wonderful excerpts from his article:
Excerpts from C.J. Woodworth's Article in the 1928 Messenger
"One reason the Lord takes pleasure in his people is because they delight to do his will and to honor his name. The principal way open to most of us to do this is to get out on the firing line and sell books."
"...In going out in the service we should wish to make a success of it. A shine, a shave, a fresh collar, clean hands and a smile on your lips and in your heart are valuable."
"If you fail to get the immediate interest of your prospective customer it gives him an excuse to cut you short in your canvas by saying he is not interest, and once he has said that, the sale becomes very difficult. Your prospective customer is possibly more or less irritated by your ringing his bell or otherwise intruding upon him."
"...My introduction sells the people Judge Rutherford, and they like it...They like to follow one another, and to follow a leader."
"There may be a better way of presenting Judge Rutherford's book than to first present him, but if there is I do not know what it is. Anyway, since stumbling upon this introduction three years ago my average sales have been slightly over fifteen dollars a day."
Boy, he really told it the way it was and is!
No "placing" of literature, nosirreeee. "We SELL our literature.!"
No "sheep" to bring into our flock, by God. They are prospective CUSTOMERS."
And NO "contributions", either. Woodward bragged his average sales were over FIFTEEN BUCKS a day!
"Don't promote the message of Jesus Christ, dear brudders. Sell and promote Judge Rutherford, HE is a LEADER. Forget Jesus! Loser! What kind of leader is Jesus compared with THE JUDGE?"
Simply amazing and delightfully refreshing TRUTH for a change!
Farkel