A GOOD RATING by A. J. B.

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 10, 1901

A GOOD RATING.

By A. J. B.

To protect themselves from irresponsible buyers, most merchants keep within easy reach what is known as a book of “retail reports,” or “book of rating,” in which may be found the name and business record—in brief, to be sure—of every customer in the county. These rating books are published by commercial companies who make it a business to visit every merchant and secure from him the name of every customer, together with his credit standing.

So thorough is the work done by these companies that it is possible for any merchant who rents a rating book for his county to have furnished to him “special reports on any customer, prospective customer, or newcomer to the county,” whether he be a farmer or a city resident.

Certain letters and figures indicate not only whether an individual is good for credit or bad for credit, but also whether he is prompt or slow, or whether he can be trusted for a large or a small amount of credit. For example, the letter “A” after a man’s name indicates that said individual is “prompt pay and good for large credit;” the letter “B,” that he is “prompt pay and good for moderate credit;” the letter “C,” that he is “prompt pay and good for small credit.”

When a name is followed by “L,” it means that the person is “slow to pay but good for large credit;”

when it is followed by “M,” it indicates that in his business deals he has been “slow pay but good for moderate credit;” while “S” means “slow pay but good for small credit.” The worst rating of all is indicated by the letter “X,” which means that those who have dealt with the individual “cannot recommend credit.” What is called a “large” credit ranges from $200 to $500; a “moderate” credit, from $50 to $200; and a “small” credit, from $5 to $50. It often happens that two or more letters follow a name, according to the number of merchants with whom the person has traded. Should two, three, or five merchants report the same thing concerning an individual, the figure 2, 3, or 5, as the case might be, is found after the letter indicating his rating.

It is known that heaven has at least two books of rating. In John’s description of the Judgment day (Revelation 20) it is written that “the books were opened.” Then it says that “another book was opened, which is the book of life;” and again, that “the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.” Doubtless the records kept by the merchants of earth often coincide, in their estimate of honesty or dishonesty, with those faultless ratings kept by our guardian angels.

He who is faithful in his accounts with God and with man, need have no fear of the second death nor of the Judgment day. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Daniel, all had a good rating in God’s sight. Of Abraham God could say, “I know him.” The record of Daniel’s business dealings was such that even his enemies at court, “the presidents and princes,” who in their envy “sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom,” “could find none occasion nor fault.” His rating was perfect. It is essential for every Christian to have a good rating, both in the books of earth and in those above which will be opened at the last day. A. J. B.