Our paper has thus far met with very general approval. We have issued the SIGNS only once in two weeks for want of suitable help to make up our rapidly increasing lists of subscribers, keep the accounts, and do the mailing. And we do not wish to advance far in the volume before our circulation shall reach ten thousand at least.
Our terms are plainly stated as follows: "Two dollars a year to those who choose to pay a subscription price, and free to all others as far as the paper is sustained by the donations of the liberal friends of the cause." If we can have 5,000 paying subscribers at $2.00 a year, we can furnish additional copies to any amount for $1.00 a year. The sum of $10,000 will pay the expenses of the first 5,000 copies of the SIGNS weekly for one year, including editing, type setting, press work, paper, mailing, office rent, etc. The expenses of additional thousands would include only paper, press work, and mailing. Hence the second 5,000 could be furnished for one half the first 5,000. The SIGNS OF THE TIMES cannot be published any cheaper than the Review and Herald. The money must come from some quarter. Let the friends bear this in mind while making long lists of subscribers. We want all the $2.00 subscribers that can be obtained. We want all to send in their donations to the SIGNS who would esteem it a pleasure so to do. And then we want hosts of names, "money or no money," under the following restrictions.
1. The agent that obtains them 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 to the office of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, in order for them to become bona fide subscribers, according to postal law regulating the mailing of papers. In order then, for names to be entered on the lists of subscribers to the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, they must be accompanied with the statement that the persons have requested, or at least have consented, to take the paper and pay the postage.
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 SIGNS with any degree of interest, and if they would like to have it continued, and if they wish to pay the subscription price, or donate to its 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.
The Tract and Missionary Societies are invited to consider the foregoing points, and co-operate with us in our efforts to reach the people, in a systematic effort. Bro. J. N. Ayers of Farlinville, Linn Co., Kansas, sends us forty-two names for the SIGNS, accompanied by the following sensible statement:
"Seeing a notice in the Review and Herald inviting the T. and M. Societies to forward the names of those who would read the SIGNS and pay the postage, and that you would send it without money to them, the following named persons have all been visited, their promise obtained to receive it, and have agreed to pay the postage, and have promised to read it. No one of them have ever taken any of our periodicals. Many more can be obtained. How many should I send from this district. We are but partly organized, but will have the district fully organized by the 19th of July."
In answer to the above inquiry, "How many should I send from this district," we would say, Send along all you please, if you will strictly comply with the above rules, not excepting the third which requires that Tract and Missionary workers shall unite personal effort with the influence of our paper. This matter in Kansas is taking the right shape. While we seize that mighty lever, the press, we invite all live Christians to lift with us. We have no idea of spending time and money in publishing a paper to be sent out recklessly everywhere that the fancy of novices may dictate.
Later Bro. Ayers sends us fifty-two names with the cheerful note below. This brother naturally takes in the idea, as every man will who has a sufficient amount of good sense to qualify him to do any good in this world, that it takes cash to publish in California as well as in other parts of the world. Through the SIGNS OF THE TIMES we wish to erect thousands of pulpits more especially in the Pacific Coast States and Territories, where we can appeal to the people weekly, when we shall be well established and in full force, upon the exhaustless themes of "repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ," necessary to a fitness to receive the dear Saviour at his second advent.
Bro. Ayers in a second letter says:—"Below you will find some names for the SIGNS OF THE TIMES obtained by the members of the T. and M. Society of the Missouri and Kansas Conference, District No. 3. We are just getting organized. I think we will be able to send you some money donations before long for the support of the paper. I believe it will accomplish more than tracts. Hoping that the paper may be liberally supported, I remain as ever your brother in hope of eternal life."
Bro. A. Gleason of Toledo, Ohio, in the following note does not seem to forget that it costs labor and money to print a paper. He says:—
"Herewith find a few names for the SIGNS OF THE TIMES. These persons I have seen. All agree to comply with your request, namely to pay postage and read it. I will get some more names that I have written to. Also will try to canvass a portion of this city if desired. You may put me down for $10.00 for the support of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES."
Bro. J. G. Walker of Tres Pinos, Cal., has also entered upon a good work which he expresses in these words: "God speed the SIGNS OF THE TIMES. I have fifteen names which I have obtained as subscribers for the SIGNS, on the following terms. I told them to give me their names and try the paper, and when they had read a few copies, if they did not think it worth two dollars per year that they might let me know and have the paper stopped, and we would not charge them anything for what they had taken."
That all our friends who wish to co-operate with us in the circulation of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, may know what the law regulating the mailing of papers is, we here give Sec. 162 of Postal Law. It provides "That the Postmaster General may prescribe, by regulations, an affidavit, in form to be taken by the publisher or clerk, agent, or servant of the publisher, of any newspaper or other periodical which may by law be sent to regular subscribers, without payment of postage at the mailing office, to the effect that neither he nor any other proprietor, clerk, agent, or employe within his knowledge will send, cause or permit to be sent through the mail, without prepayment of postage of stamps, any copies of such newspaper or other periodical (naming it) except to bona fide and regular subscribers thereto; and if any such newspaper or any other periodical shall be thus unlawfully sent, with knowledge or consent of such proprietor, or his agent, clerk, or servant in charge of such business, or if such affidavit shall, when required by the Postmaster General, or any special agent of the Post Office Department, be refused, the person guilty of the offense, or refusing to make the affidavit, shall forfeit and pay fifty dollars in each case."
We give the decision of Judge Sherman at Cleveland, Ohio, of what is necessary to constitute a person a "bona fide and regular subscriber" of a paper according to the intent and design of the law. He says:—
"I would not wish to be understood as holding that the terms employed by the act, to-wit: 'bona fide and regular subscribers,' were to be construed so strictly as only to embrace persons who, by their own hand, have made subscriptions; but it is quite plain that no one can be a subscriber unless he has subscribed himself, or by some authorized agent, or has subsequently, in some sufficient way, ratified the subscription which may have been volunteered for him. It follows, that the sending of newspapers without the prepayment of postage to persons who have not subscribed themselves, or by any authorized agent, or not subsequently ratified it, is not a sending to subscribers, and is a violation of this section. In such a case, where a party not yet authorized desires to subscribe and have the newspaper sent to some other party, the only way of keeping within the law would be to prepay the postage until the party to whom the newspaper was sent had explicitly signified, in some unequivocal manner, that he ratified the subscription which had been made for his benefit, and was willing to occupy the position of, and be considered as, a regular and bona fide subscriber."