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California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists · OAKLAND, CAL. · Dec 31, 1874

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 1, No. 12.

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Questions and Answers.

By John Norton Loughborough

BRO. R. D. H., District No. 3, asks, How are missionary members residing away from a church to get their tracts and make their missionary reports?
Reply. Such should write to the director of their district, he sending to them their missionary documents. The district secretary should open an account with all such scattered members. The whole State is divided into nine districts, so that every individual in the State is comprehended in some district. A list of these districts we published in SIGNS Nos. 8 and 10. By looking over the list of districts you will see in what district the county of your residence is included; and you will also see the post office address of the director to whom you are to write for tracts, and to whom you are to report two weeks before the quarterly meeting in your respective district.
If the director in any district knows of scattered Sabbath-keepers in the territory of his district, let him write to them, inducing them to become members and workers in the missionary cause.
Our worthy State Secretary writes: "I am in receipt of a list of subscribers from St. Helena. Is it my duty to keep a list of all subscribers? I can't find any such instructions in the Constitution; will you please instruct me as to the way this list should be kept."
Reply. There is no direct instruction on this point in the Constitution; still you will see by instructions from Bro. Haskell, to missionary societies, in Review, Nov. 24, 1874, that it is expected that all our State business on the papers published at Battle Creek, will be done through you. He says to different States: "Do all your business through your State Tract Society secretaries. Send them the names and addresses, and they will forward a copy of them to the Office. Then those at the Office will return to the State Tract Society secretary a statement of the business. This system will save much perplexity and many mistakes that might otherwise occur."
Your book for this business is simply a copy of all your business letters sent to the Review office. I can show you a sample at the quarterly meeting, of the book in which I have kept a record of four hundred and nineteen business letters I have written to the Office from California.
As our State credit business with the Review office is to be done through the State Secretary, so the business of the districts in this State with the SIGNS office should be done through the district secretary in each district. This does not relate to individuals who make orders to the SIGNS office accompanied by the cash. Such can write direct to this office if they choose.
Our Secretary also asks, "How about blank reports, I have had a call for some and have none on hand. Is it not your duty to send them to me?"
Reply. Yes, I will send you a good supply soon, and then, as your list will show how many members there are in each district, you will send the required amount each quarter to the director in each district, about three weeks before the district quarterly meeting, as required in Article V. Sec. 2. No. 4.
The secretary in each district should have a list of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES taken in their district whether paid or trial subscribers, and the director should occasionally see that inquiries are made to know how the trial subscribers stand. I will copy here what was said by Bro. White when the SIGNS was started.
1. "The agent who obtains them (the names) should have some evidence at least that the persons would candidly examine Bible subjects.
2. The agent must obtain the request or at least the consent (either by word of mouth or by letter), from persons to become subscribers, and must so report.
3. The agent should preserve a list of all the names sent to this Office, and should feel in duty bound to visit the persons or write to them as often as circumstances will admit, and learn whether they read the periodicals sent with any degree of interest, and if they would like to have them continued, and if they wish to pay the subscription price, or donate to their publication. Here is a cross to take up, an excellent field of missionary labor. Here is a chance for some of our people who are inclined to exclusiveness, to move out and become broader in their feelings and in their labors."
J. N. L.