Pay in Advance by James White

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 28, 1871

Pay in Advance.

By James White

The terms of our periodicals are pay in advance. But we have made a great mistake in departing from this rule, and find that delinquencies among those who at the present time receive the Review, Reformer, and Instructor, amount to the handsome sum of Ten Thousand Dollars.

We now resolve to have those delinquencies settled as soon as possible, and immediately adopt the strict pay-in-advance system. We urgently invite all who are in debt for our periodicals to report themselves to this Office immediately. If they are able to pay, they should pay without delay. If they are unable to pay, they should report their inability by giving a statement of their circumstances. With all such, we will settle on easy terms.

In the name of religion and common justice, do we protest against that dishonest heartlessness practiced by some in neglecting to pay for a religious paper until a debt of five or ten dollars has accumulated, and then coolly order it discontinued without paying a cent of the honest debt. When any of our patrons wish to have our periodicals discontinued, there are just two things for them to do: first, pay up; and second, ask their postmaster to notify us that they wish them discontinued. This will end the matter.

But we advise all our patrons to settle up the past, and also pay in advance, in accordance with our terms, and let us have the use of what is our just due to help us advance the great cause in which we are engaged.

Not a few who are in debt for our periodicals will talk loudly of helping the cause, and will donate more or less, here and there, and will pay into the systematic benevolence treasury. Now, without the least hesitancy, we assert that God demands common honesty of men and women, and promptness in the payment of their debts, before he will accept their offerings. The very best way for any man to help the cause of God, and clear his own soul, if he has the sin upon him of negligence in paying for the religious periodicals he and his family read, is to pay up, pay in advance, and be sure to keep ahead.

God pity the worthy poor. To these we are happy to send our valuable periodicals on the most satisfactory terms. In our plain remarks we do not mean those who are really unable to pay. But we are fully aware of the fact that in a country of prosperity and plenty, like ours, the number who cannot pay for their periodicals is very small. And we are also aware of the fact that our liberal brethren, in the several States, are willing to pay for our periodicals, sent to the truly worthy poor at the terms we offer, which are one-fourth discount to all such.

Our people have taken hold of the work, to have this matter set right. The New England Conference, embracing old Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, has taken the lead. All our State Conferences become responsible for the settlement of all dues to our periodicals. They appoint agents, who are furnished with lists of the names, and accounts of our subscribers. These agents correspond with delinquent subscribers. Some feel irritated when thus addressed. They should be ashamed, and should repent before God, on account of their negligence in complying with the terms of our periodicals. These are the very last persons to complain.

The Publishing Association, by their neglect, is kept out of the use of Ten Thousand Dollars, now due from delinquents. Then our State Conferences have to take up the matter, simply because these delinquents neglect one of the plainest duties in the Christian religion; viz., “Owe no man anything.” PAUL. Our State Conferences appoint agents who correspond with delinquents, upon whom we have waited, and with whom we have borne, until waiting and forbearance cease to be virtues. And now, we repeat it, these delinquents are not the party in this matter that should find fault when their attention is officially called to their gross negligence. Our conferences do not appoint worthy men and women to be wounded by unchristian words from delinquents.

We recommend all delinquents to pay up as soon as possible, and not put our worthy agents to the trouble of addressing them on the subject of their shameful delinquency. If they would do their duty before God, if they would save our agents trouble, and if they would save themselves from the disgrace of owing for the religious periodicals they read, then let them simply pay up. Then, if they want our publications longer, they can have them by paying in advance.

But, wherever, under the broad heaven, men and women may be found who wish to read our periodicals, and who are too poor to pay for them, who are really the Lord’s worthy poor, we shall most gladly send our papers to them, if need be, to even the remotest lands. And, if our people will not pay for them at one-fourth discount, the Association will meet the entire expense. But these must report themselves to our Office, as often as once a year.

After the foregoing plain statements of what we hope to be able to do in furnishing our periodicals to the worthy poor, we shall not expect to hear any more of this miserable talk about urging and oppressing the poor. We ask nothing but what is reasonable and right. Our only wrong in this matter, is that we have allowed subscribers to fall behind. Every man’s paper should be discontinued, when the time to which he has paid, is reached. We repent of this error, and promise that when the accounts are settled, we will adopt the strict pay-in-advance system, which is the only proper one. We now call on our delinquent friends to immediately help us out of the dilemma into which our extreme forbearance has plunged us.

It will be of no use for delinquents to order their periodicals discontinued, through their postmaster or otherwise, until they have first paid up. The very fact that they have taken our periodicals from the post-office, and have paid the postage on them, proves them willing subscribers. And the law makes all such dues as collectable as any other debts. The courts have long since settled this matter.

If any errors occur, in accounts at our Office, we shall be most willing to have them corrected. If any are in doubt as to the standing of their accounts, and will take the trouble to write and inquire, our clerks will most cheerfully give them the information desired. If any of those who are behind are in limited circumstances, and yet wish to pay a part, we will settle with them on terms that will give satisfaction.

The clerks at our Office are Christian ladies who will correct mistakes, should they occur, patiently read all the explanations delinquents wish to make, and all the apologies they have to offer for the sin of delinquency. But what will constitute their greatest happiness, in the cheerful and faithful performance of their duty, will be the pleasure of receiving all dues, and the price of one year’s subscription in advance, and the changing of the figures in connection with their names on their posters, to correspond with the subscribers’ prompt action. This will be just and right. And no well-instructed and conscientious Christian will complain, or ask anything less. But, if any are disposed to be irritable, and use murmuring and unchristian terms in business communications to our Office, we hereby notify them that they had better save their time and stationery, as all such letters will be committed to the flames as soon as their contents shall be known.

We are very anxious that these accounts shall be settled before next General Conference. If they are not, they will be thrown into the hands of the General Conference, which will doubtless take very prompt action.

JAMES WHITE, Pres’t S. D. A. P. A.