The “Chain-Letter” System by H. E. ROGERS

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 22, 1908

The “Chain-Letter” System

By H. E. ROGERS

H. E. ROGERS

There has recently come to light at the General Conference Office, in correspondence from some of our brethren and sisters, what may at first appear to be a very simple request in the form of a “chain letter.” The request is that the person receiving the letter write other letters asking “five friends to join us in prayer that God will bless all missionaries in their work, and raise up young men and women to go forth with the glad tidings.”

This certainly seems to be a simple request, one in harmony with which all who are praying are doubtless complying every day. But there is an objectionable feature to which attention should be called, and that is the matter of expense. There is no request for money to be sent anywhere,—just the simple request to unite in prayer for the object stated, and to write to five other persons asking them to unite in the plan. The whole expense is for postage. At first this seems very small; but the multiplying, compounding, ever-increasing rate of succession makes possible an expenditure doubtless far exceeding anything contemplated by the projectors of the scheme. Such is the deceptive working of the “chain-letter” system. Its use should not be encouraged and furthered; for no worthy end is warranted by this means, and certainly none of our people desire to promote an unworthy end by questionable means.

Note briefly the result of the “chain-letter” system: In this particular case, based on each person’s writing five letters to persons who in turn write five letters to persons who in turn write five letters, it requires but a few minutes’ computation to see that when only the twentieth series of letters is reached, with no break at any point, there will have been spent, for postage alone, at two cents for each letter, the immense sum of nearly two trillion dollars! It was the purpose of the one who began this chain letter to have the series run to the one thousand mark; but it is at once evident that long before that number of letters could be written, the entire population of the world, heathen as well as Christian, would be requested hundreds of times to unite in the plan, requiring the expenditure, for postage alone, of more money than is represented by the aggregate wealth of the world multiplied inconceivably!

The “chain letter” is a deception, and only a deception, even when used for a seemingly good purpose.

Takoma Park, D. C.