p. 192 | The Advance Pay System by Stephen Nelson Haskell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 26, 1872

The Advance Pay System.

By Stephen Nelson Haskell

We wish to call attention to the article, “Advance pay System,” by Bro. White, in the Review of Oct. 29. For eighteen months, the New England Tract and Missionary Society has labored to bring about the advance pay system in this Conference on all of our periodicals. Very much has been accomplished in this direction with the co-operation of the brethren and sisters. Hundreds of letters have been written inclosing a bill of the past indebtedness, with a year in advance added. They also contained a directed envelope with a postage stamp, so, without any expense to the receiver, they could be returned, stating their circumstances, whether they wish the paper or not. Some have paid no attention to these letters, although it is known they were taken from the office by the same individuals who called for the periodicals. Agents have traveled, in all, hundreds of miles to visit subscribers who requested their paper stopped; but we were suspicious that they might be worthy to receive the paper and felt a delicacy in stating their circumstances.

The Society has paid upward of $250.00 for the worthy poor and those that did not choose to pay. About one hundred papers have been discontinued during the past year, forty-eight of which the parties have absolutely refused to pay for, not stating that they were unable; yet it has never been stopped without evidence that it was not wanted.

There are, at the present time, a few who are more than a year behind, yet they have been written to. Now to carry out the advance pay system as suggested by the Review above alluded to, and that none may feel that they have occasion to say that they do not, or did not, understand it, we propose the following:—

The first week in December, 1872, the Secretary of the New England Tract and Missionary Society, who is the general agent, will send a printed letter to every subscriber of the Review, Instructor, and Reformer (excepting those who have taken the Reformer on a trial trip of four months), whose subscriptions have expired, or may expire by Jan. 1, 1873, containing a bill of their past indebtedness, with one year in advance added. Then if no attention is paid to the letter thus sent, nor to the call from the president of the Publishing Association, whatever action the Publishing Association may take in such cases, we hope all will consider to be just and right.

S. N. HASKELL, Pres. N. E. T. & M. Society.