Article December 3, 1910 Issue

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE AND SALESMEN

E. E. SUTHERLAND.

In starting out on the road to sell a line of merchandise, I should rather be possessed of my present knowledge and limited understanding of Christian Science, travel in a territory where the house I represent, the goods I sell, and myself are all unknown, than to have all the advantages in this respect without a knowledge of the power and availability of Christian Science to satisfy my needs, here and now.

When I learned that Christian Science is the direct opposite of what I supposed it to be, and that it presents the full and complete answer to Pilate's memorable question, "What is truth?" I was engaged in no business at all, having but a few months previously withdrawn from a medical manufacturing company. It is needless to say that, after having studied Christian Science enough to know something of the Principle governing its teaching, I did not reengage in business along similar lines. For nearly two years I devoted myself almost exclusively to the study of Christian Science, until it became necessary for me to earn sufficient money with which to buy a home for my aged parents. At this time a position was offered me to sell goods to merchants in California and the Northwest, for a manufacturing company located in one of the middle states. During these two years I had learned from my study of the Bible and Science and Health that "divine Love always has met and always will meet every human need" (p. 494); and this understanding did not permit fear or doubt to come into my mind, for so sure and certain was I of success that I took no thought of what I should say if asked by a prospective customer for some information concerning the fabrics I desired to sell; neither was I embarrassed when one of the first merchants I called on asked me if my goods were worsteds or cassimeres, but answered quickly and frankly, "I do not know."

I then explained that I was a druggist by profession, had been engaged in the manufacture and sale of medicines for nearly twenty years, but for certain reasons I was no longer engaged in that business. He expressed his conviction of the fact that it is unusual for a firm to send a representative so far from home who had no knowledge of the goods offered for sale; and more especially since the salesman, the goods, and the house were practically unknown in the territory. Notwithstanding this merchant had started with me to the sample room, he hesitated; said he had been in business twenty-five years, but never before had been asked to take up his time in going to the sample room with a drummer who confessed ignorance of his line. "Having handled this class of merchandise for a quarter of a century you must be pretty well posted," said I. He affirmed that he was. I then asked him what difference it could make whether or not I knew cotton from wool, or ramie from silk, as long as he was posted. He saw that I was willing to leave the matter entirely with him, and satisfied with this, went with me, and bought.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

THE CASTING OUT OF EVILS