Which Way Is Best? by Stephen N. Haskell

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · May 28, 1885

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 11, No. 21.

Which Way Is Best?

By Stephen N. Haskell

WHEN the plan of increasing the circulation of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES was considered at Battle Creek, last winter, the Review Office made the very liberal proposition of furnishing the 'Sunshine at Home' at greatly reduced rates. The SIGNS OF THE TIMES also proposed to unite in this move and furnish the SIGNS at reduced rates to the tract societies which take them in large clubs to remail to the subscribers who purchase 'Sunshine at Home.' When the presidents of some of the large Western societies agreed that they were not prepared to remail the papers from the State depositories, it was suggested by Bro. W. C. White, that for a few months the SIGNS Office would mail the SIGNS to the individual subscribers, for the societies, at the same price. This was very liberal to the tract societies, on the part of the SIGNS Office, as it would save them two cents a pound, the publishers' rates of postage, and also the labor of remailing.

Where our tract societies were straining every nerve to pay for as many publications as they could to use in the missionary work, they felt to appreciate this favor. Notwithstanding the financial help this was to our tract societies, there are some reasons why it was not so good in other respects. We wish to mention some of the advantages which we think will more than compensate for the trouble and expense of remailing the papers. We are in need of laborers all over the country, both men and women who feel a burden for souls. And by remailing the SIGNS to weekly subscribers, and corresponding with them, there are many who can educate themselves to be successful missionary workers. If this is entered upon heartily, realizing that it is the work of God, it will discipline the mind to take and bear other responsibilities in the cause of God.

There are those of our sisters who can do this work. By remailing the SIGNS weekly they keep constantly upon their minds the individuals to whom the papers are sent. Frequently while remailing the papers they will be impressed to mark certain articles and then drop a postal card to the subscribers and call their attention to the article thus marked. This will oftentimes open up a correspondence, and awaken an unusual interest in the individuals for whom they are laboring. In this manner their minds are drawn out and educated to take an interest in those who are reading the SIGNS weekly, then at the end of the term of their subscription they will be specially interested to have them renew and obtain other publications. If the subscriptions are sent to the SIGNS Office, and those in the State have no further thought or responsibility in the matter, they will gain none of the experience we have mentioned. We therefore think that educating workers and arousing a living interest in the cause in the respective Conferences, the results would be far better to mail their papers from the depositories; and the experience thus acquired will far more than compensate for all the cost. This will also give character to the work in their respective Conferences, and more intimately connect the secretary and tract workers with the individuals for whom they labor. In this way their attention can be called to the camp-meeting, and special invitation given them to attend. Also notices of new works which are published from time to time, can be sent to these individuals with the prospect of securing the sale of the books. A number of our Conferences have adopted this plan retaining their subscriptions, and with the aid of the colporter as he recanvasses, have labored directly for each individual subscriber. Such Conferences sell a larger number of Vol. 4, and take a more active interest in the recanvass.

There is no book published by our people that is more important and calculated to accomplish more good than Vol. 4 of 'Great Controversy,'

which is to follow the 'Sunshine' canvass.

There is no article in the SIGNS OF THE TIMES that is calculated to create more of a general interest than the writing on the first page. As this is followed with Vol. 4, the reader cannot fail to get an idea of what we are, as a people, and what we believe. What we need among our people is to get the spirit and burden to labor for the souls that are around us. Any arrangement that will accomplish this is of more value than dollars and cents. Besides the expense and labor of mailing, the SIGNS is not as much as it at first might seem. According to the late postal law which takes effect the first of July, the postage for remailing the SIGNS will cost but one cent per pound. This is only one-half what it has cost heretofore. The expense therefore will be less than four cents a year for remailing the SIGNS, and only one cent a quarter for each subscriber. With Dick’s mailing machine, which can be purchased for $10, 1,000 copies can be mailed in an hour. However, this would not be practicable for our small societies, as it involves expense of type, etc. One person can address by hand from two to four in a minute, or from eight to twelve hundred in a day. If the depository is located where there is a missionary society or a church so that the sisters can come in and assist in the work, the labor of mailing will be but a trifle.

It is still the privilege of our tract societies to have the SIGNS Office send out the paper to the individual on the short term subscription if they choose. But from the experience it gives and the influence of it, which we have seen upon our societies, we think it would be better for the societies to take the work in their own hands. Our souls are pained when we see so many of our people take so little burden of the work. There is danger of the missionary work becoming mechanical and formal. We are laboring for souls; this is our work. And whatever plan that can be devised, or whatever means can be adopted that will lead us to feel for our fellow-men around us, and thus labor for their salvation, will be more profitable than gold and silver. The question is not what is the easiest way for ourselves, but which is the most effectual plan. Not, how we can save the most money in the operation, but how it will tell the most directly for the salvation of souls. We should study, not to please ourselves but Him who died for us.