To Delinquents in Iowa.
By GEORGE I. BUTLER
I do not know but it will seem superfluous for me to say anything to this class after the recent stirring appeals from Bro. White through the Review. It would seem that such would be moved to act if anything could move them. But I desire to unite my feeble voice with his against this crying evil of not paying for our valuable periodicals after having had the benefit of them. And what I shall say is in reference to Iowa merely. In the recent statement of the percentage of indebtedness of the different States, which Bro. White gave in the Review, it was plainly seen that Iowa stood about the worst on the list, notwithstanding, as Bro. W. says, we have had the help of some of the best laborers in the field, who have been sent here to our assistance. This exhibit is certainly disgraceful to us, and I wish to take that part of it which belongs to me as an individual, and profit by it. Such a state of things I was not aware of till recently upon receiving the lists of our periodicals. This large indebtedness is made up of several classes. 1. A few here and there have, through gross negligence, permitted themselves to become indebted for several years' subscription, until they find themselves behind nine or ten dollars, and I can say from personal knowledge that, in some of these cases at least, they have a plenty of this world's goods to settle up all such matters. For such neglect there is no excuse. For men who are thus able to pay, and are guilty of such neglect, to talk of their love for the present truth and how they are trying to overcome, is simply sickening. 2. There is a much larger class who become careless and allow themselves to get behind because they are not personally appealed to for this debt as they are for others, and because they find many calls for their means in other directions. They do not realize that the little they owe will amount to much to the Office. They forget that it is mainly by such small sums that our Conference presents the disgraceful spectacle that it does of depriving the Publishing Association of some five hundred dollars which belong to it, and of the use of eight or ten thousand in all by the whole field. If the sum is small in each case there is the less excuse for not paying it, when it is seen that by so many pursuing this course such a disgraceful result is reached. “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much.” 3. The worthy poor are not meant in these remarks. We desire them to have the paper freely. But men able to labor in such a State as Iowa ought to be ashamed to plead inability to pay for the paper promptly; a few hours' work will do it most any season of the year. By worthy poor, I mean widows with dependent families, or aged and infirm persons, or wives of unbelieving husbands who will not permit them to have means sufficient to do what they would be glad to in reference to this matter. Such should have the thoughtful care of all who are in better circumstances, and should never be made to feel that they are not welcome to the paper. One great reason why Iowa stands so badly is because of the many scattered ones who never attend meeting and are never stirred to act in such things. From one third to one half of the subscribers to our periodicals rarely attend our public gatherings, and as a general rule they are much farther behind than those who live where they can attend meeting. To such scattered friends we earnestly appeal to attend to this matter. We will try to set this before all our churches by word of mouth. But this is the only way we can get access to you. Examine the pasters on your papers. If the figures are less than the volume and number at the top, you are in debt and should pay up. Common honesty requires this, to say nothing of religion. If no higher motive influences us, let us have some sense of shame to see our Conference stand about the worst on the whole list, and determine that it shall not long remain so. Let us not hinder the noble work of the Publishing Association by withholding the means which rightfully belong to it, and so hinder the work of God. La Porte City, Iowa, Feb. 1, 1872.