The Tract Society and the Advance-Pay System.
By S. N. Haskell
It is well known that each State Conference, a few years since, assumed the responsibility of paying the delinquency on our periodicals in their respective limits. Subsequently, the tract societies in these various Conferences took this matter in hand, raised the money and have settled this bill of indebtedness with the Office of Publication. The names of those whose papers have been stopped have been placed in the hands of the officers of these tract societies for the purpose of collecting what is collectable, and of obtaining a renewal of their subscription, and especially to learn who are unable to pay. Those who are worthy, yet unable to pay for the periodicals, should have them. And it will be a pleasure for each tract society to pay for all such. And the constitution provides that a record of the names of all such shall be kept. But while this work has been going on in the different Conferences, many have written to the Office, stating their circumstances, some requesting a little time, when they would pay. In such cases the periodicals have been continued. But many of these individuals who promised payment have not responded. And it has been ascertained that some of these individuals are well able to pay for their paper. Now, to save further imposition on the Publishing Association, and not to deprive any who are worthy of having our periodicals, it is thought best to put this entire matter into the hands of the tract societies. Those, therefore, who should have the paper and are not able to pay for it, and those who wish time granted them, will apply to the director, secretary, or president, of the society in the Conference where they live, who will hereafter attend to all such business. Therefore any letters hereafter received at the Office as described above will be forwarded to the secretary of the tract society of the Conference in which the individual lives who wished the favor; and the secretary will forward it to the director of the district in which he resides, and the director will ascertain the facts in the case and act accordingly. The tract society will advance the pay for all whom it deems worthy, and the advance-pay system will be strictly carried out. Therefore, every such name that is now on the list will at once be forwarded to the secretary of the tract society, and if there be no return by Jan. 1, 1874, the names will be dropped from the list. Hence, all who have written to the Office to have their paper continued without pay must, before Jan. 1, 1874, apply to the proper officers of the tract society. Those living outside the bounds of any Conference, and, hence, beyond the limits of any organized tract society, will correspond with REVIEW AND HERALD as heretofore; also those scattered individuals who may not be acquainted with the officers of the various tract societies can write to the REVIEW AND HERALD, and the letters will be forwarded as above described. S. N. HASKELL.