Our Subscription Price.
By James White
THE regular subscription price for the SIGNS OF THE TIMES is $3 a year. With a circulation of 4,000 at $2 a year, receipts would equal expenses. But at present our lists are made up of less than 1,000 at $3 a year, and 2,000 at half price, and 1,000 free. In order for the SIGNS to be self-sustaining we must have not less than 2,000 subscribers at $3 a year, and 4,000 at half price. In that case we could supply a free list of 1,000 copies to foreign countries, to ministers, and the poor, foreign postage to be paid by our General Conference. Our people have done well in subscribing for the SIGNS at $3 a year for themselves, and in furnishing it for their friends at $1.50 a year, during the months of December and January. We shall expect during the next three months at least 1,000 additions at $3 a year, and 5,000 at $1.50 a year. We look for the 5,000 half-pay subscribers from three sources: first, individual effort on the part of those who subscribe for their friends; second, names judiciously gathered by the action of the Tract and Missionary Societies, and paid out of their treasuries; and, third, by canvassers appointed by the Tract and Missionary Societies, who shall take subscription for those not in the faith, at half price and receive this small sum from the subscribers. Of the first class, who subscribe for their unbelieving friends, (whether they collect pay of them, or pay $1.50 themselves for them) is our principal hope in the extensive circulation of our paper. The plan adopted at Adams Center, N.Y., and recommended by Bro. Haskell on page 70 of this paper, is good. Individuals who can spare the means and not feel it, are forwarding to this office orders, and cash at half price for copies of the SIGNS to be sent to them, for them to find places for among their friends. This explains one feature in this week's receipts, where $15 is acknowledged from M. Wood for ten copies, $9 for six copies to Vigilant Missionary Society, and so on down to smaller sums for less copies. If there is a person in the ranks of believers who is so poor, or so wickedly stingy as to discontinue the Review in order to avail themselves of the SIGNS at half price, we ask the privilege of sending that person the SIGNS free. One object of fixing the price of our paper at $3 is to prevent small-souled patrons of the Review from changing to the SIGNS. The design of our half-price proposition is to encourage all our friends to help in the work of pressing the light out into the world everywhere. In this we make a sacrifice. We have already sacrificed $2,000 on the SIGNS and Office, and we ask all our people who are able to do so, to give real and tangible proofs of Christian sympathy, by lifting with us in this work. Send in your names, accompanied with the cash, all the way from one to one hundred or more. And there should be in all the States from ten persons to one hundred, giving their time to the work of canvassing for the SIGNS OF THE TIMES at $1.50 a year. These must go a warfare at their own charges, unless employed by the Missionary Societies. This they will cheerfully do to an extent, more or less, if they have the missionary spirit in them. We are withholding matter from the SIGNS, and giving very sparingly from sketches of Mrs. W.'s life, and Bible reasons of our faith, waiting for a larger circulation. The SIGNS, by the grace of God, shall be just such a paper as the friends of the cause will take delight in sending to all parts of our own good country, and to all others where the English language is read. Send in the names and the cash, fellow-helpers, at the rate of $1.50 a copy for one year, and our paper shall be sent in this, or in any other country, post-paid, for this small sum. We would like to enter a thousand names from the Old World immediately for $1.50 each. Send in the names. Send the names, and let the SIGNS, blazing with light, go out everywhere. God speed the work. J. W.