Ellen G. White on Faithfully working a territory:

Guarding Unworked Territory Holds Back Sales—I am sorry that it should be thought necessary to delay the work in some places because of territorial lines, and that it should be considered irregular for the workers to sell books in certain territories where the field is neglected. This has held back the sale of our books. Changes should be made regarding this condition. If territory that is claimed by a certain conference is not faithfully worked for the circulation of our literature, those workers who have a burden for that territory should not be forbidden the privilege of laboring there.—Letter 328, 1907. {PM 298.1} (bold emphasis mine)


Is this really acceptable in our church structure today?

When your letter and Elder Kilgore’s, regarding the work in Nashville, were read to me, a great burden came upon me, and for a time I thought that my reason would give way. I was so weary, having just come from the Portland camp meeting and having labored very hard while there, that I was in no condition to have such matters brought before me. It takes so long for our leading brethren to read beneath the surface that I feared that perhaps I had said something which would have been better deferred in regard to the publishing work in Nashville being conducted as separate and independent from the work in Battle Creek. So often the same old difficulties arise and are presented in regard to disturbing the “regular lines.” But God will work in some way to make His people understand that the regular lines have become full of irregular practices. [The phrase “regular lines” referred to the publishing work at Battle Creek. The “irregular practices” included the exercise of kingly authority (PM 132), the printing of “The Soul-Destroying Theories of Romanism” (Testimonies for the Church 8:92), and a variety of other improprieties. (See The Publishing Ministry, 127-178.) Meanwhile, in 1894, Ellen White’s son, Edson, had begun a privately supported ministry for the blacks in Mississippi and Tennessee. Edson’s sacrificial publishing ventures in the South, while independent of the “regular lines,” received Ellen White’s strong sympathy and support.] {20MR 142.4}


I am one that doesn't reserve this problem for publishing only, this is very wide spread.

No Kingly Authority in Publishing Houses—There is to be no ordering, no exertion of kingly authority. Enough of this kind of work has been done in our publishing house at Battle Creek. Its influence has soured those in the office, who now need converting through and through. This harsh management, this ordering and scolding, is not of God but of the enemy.—Letter 55, 1901. {PM 132.2}


WOW! People needed to be reconverted as a result of this "kingly authority" being exerted and imposed on those working in the office.

I'm afraid the colporteur work (literature evangelist canvasser) Ellen White is referring to, and which in her day was highly encouraged, has fallen into the most neglectful condition in our day -- at least in this part of the world.

What can be done to get the printed word out to the people like the "leaves of autumn"?

One way - the Internet, in the form of digital text and digital audio, of both EGW and the APL. Many Adventist ignore the APL even though EGW said we are the spread their work also, see {RH, May 25, 1905 par. 21}

I don't have any problem with sharing what our Adventist Pioneers (APL) taught. Much of that has stood the test of time. But, not all. The Bible and SOP are present truth for these times.

Our Periodicals

God has given me light regarding our periodicals. What is it?—He has said that the dead are to speak. How?—Their works shall follow them. We are to repeat the words of the pioneers in our work, who knew what it cost to search for the truth as for hidden treasure, and who labored to lay the foundation of our work. They moved forward step by step under the influence of the Spirit of God. One by one these pioneers are passing away. The word given me is, Let that which these men have written in the past be reproduced. And in The Signs of the Times let not the articles be long or the print fine. Do not try to crowd everything into one number of the paper. Let the print be good, and let earnest, living experiences be put into the paper. {RH May 25, 1905, par. 21}

Not long ago I took up a copy of the Bible Echo. As I looked it through, I saw an article by Elder Haskell and one by Elder Corliss. As I laid the paper down, I said, These articles must be reproduced. There is truth and power in them. Men spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. {RH May 25, 1905, par. 22}

Let the truths that are the foundation of our faith be kept before the people. Some will depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. They talk science, and the enemy comes in and gives them an abundance of science; but it is not the science of salvation. It is not the science of humility, of consecration, or of the sanctification of the Spirit. We are now to understand what the pillars of our faith are,—the truths that have made us as a people what we are, leading us on step by step. {RH May 25, 1905, par. 23}