p. 48 | Delinquent Subscribers by James White

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 21, 1873

Delinquent Subscribers.

By James White

Delinquent subscribers have been coaxed to pay up, and warned to pay up. They have been told that we designed to adopt the strict pay-in-advance system about the commencement of the year, and common honesty demanded of them to pay up. They have been turned over to the officers of our Tract and Missionary Societies, who have addressed letters to many of them, and yet there are nearly as many falling behind in their subscription as ever. What next? Answer: After this one more warning, we shall drop their names. Our plan is this:—

1. On the first third-day of each month the REVIEW AND HERALD lists will be examined, and the names of all whose subscriptions have run out will be dropped; but not, however, without being warned by a cross with a blue pencil on next to the last paper due them. This will commence with the month of February, 1873. Those delinquents who do not wish to put us to the trouble of taking out their names must pay up immediately.

2. Delinquent subscribers for the Health Reformer and the Youth's Instructor will be notified by the blue cross on the margin of the last copy due them, and they will have plenty time to renew before their names are dropped.

3. All the names dropped will then be drawn off, and forwarded to the several presidents of the different Tract and Missionary Societies, for the proper persons to see to the collection of all dues, and also to see that as many as possible renew on the strict pay-in-advance plan.

4. We invite each delinquent to attend to this matter, and not cause the Tract Societies the trouble to do just what they should do. Two dollars or less may be sent to the Office in a letter by mail, at our risk. A larger sum should be sent in post-office order, or in draft. If sent in bank notes, it must be at the risk of the sender.

5. Prompt action will be expected on the part of the Tract and Missionary Societies, in the collection of dues, especially the first month, in inducing all to renew their subscription who are able to do so, by paying one year at least in advance, and in furnishing our periodicals to the worthy poor. We hope they will be encouraged to make especial efforts the first month, and vigilantly attend to the work, in the prospect that their work will be very light after that, as this plan relieves the Societies of much of the work they now have on hand relative to delinquents.

6. We now offer our periodicals to the Tract and Missionary Societies, to furnish to the worthy poor, to ministers, and to such other persons as they think proper, and pay for them from their general treasury, at the following rates:—

REVIEW AND HERALD one year, $1.00 Youth's Instructor “ “ .25 Health Reformer “ “ .75

7. Do the best we can, there will be losses. A strict account will be kept of the losses by delinquents, and the friends of the cause everywhere are invited to donate to make up the deficiency.

Thank God, the Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association, by reason of the oneness of all its friends, is becoming a powerful institution. Give us 6000 subscribers for the REVIEW AND HERALD, paying $12,000 a year, and all the expenses of that 6000 copies are paid. Additional 1000 copies, costing only paper, printing and mailing, can be afforded for $1000, or one dollar a year. A similar calculation can be made on the Youth's Instructor, and Health Reformer.

Let the working men and women in the ranks be encouraged to work on. The prices at which we offer the Tract Societies such periodicals as ours, astonish the world; yet the Association can do it and sustain no loss. The encouragements to ministers and people to work courageously and energetically are great. God speed the work of truth.

JAMES WHITE.