To the Tract and Missionary Societies.
By S. N. Haskell
Ten Thousand Subscribers Wanted Immediately. HOW THE REMAINDER CAN BE OBTAINED.
1. Upon receiving this notice, let the presidents of the various tract societies notify their several directors how many names are expected from their district, and then let the director see that they are obtained at once and forwarded to the State tract society secretaries. 2. Let there be canvassers appointed for this purpose in each district. The directors should have control of the canvassing in their respective districts, and should lead out in it. There is no reason why this work should be done wholly by the brethren; for there are sisters who would be successful canvassers. The persons canvassing should be individuals of good deportment, such as fear God, and will make a good impression upon those with whom they come in contact. Let them visit public reading rooms and respectable families. Show the persons you call upon the REVIEW and Health Reformer, and, where they would be interested to read them, say to them that you propose to send them one volume on trial. If the individuals themselves propose to pay for it, always give them the privilege of paying full price, and, in such cases, the same is to be paid to the Office. The reduction of price is only made to tract societies and individuals when they themselves pay for the periodicals to be sent to others. Neighborhoods, villages, and cities, can thus be canvassed, and within three weeks’ time from the receipt of this notice, any Conference where the tract societies are organized, can furnish the desired number of names. 3. Do all your business through your State tract society secretaries. Send them the names and addresses, and they will forward a copy of them to the Office. Then those at the Office will return to the State tract society secretary a statement of the business. This system will save much perplexity and many mistakes that might otherwise occur. This work has commenced nobly here in Michigan. The Directors voted to send the two periodicals above alluded to, to 1000 persons. The sum of $500 was called for to meet this expense. There was an immediate response of $1000. Now we propose as follows: That Michigan send in 2000 names; New York, 1500; Iowa, 1000; New England, 1000; Illinois, 700; Ohio, 600; Minnesota, 500; Wisconsin, 500; Maine, 400; Vermont, 300; Indiana, 200. This is not to take the place of scattered individuals sending the REVIEW or Reformer to their friends. We say to such, Go on, and send in your names and 50 cents as heretofore. Neither is it designed to interfere with those that have moved out as canvassers on the Health Reformer and hygienic works on premiums. But this is to be an extra effort of the tract societies at this especial time. And while we recommend the canvassing to be done in each district under the supervision of the directors, it does not prevent any individual member taking a part in it, and sending the periodicals to their friends far and near. All are invited to take hold of this matter. The expense must be met by donations to the tract societies by its members and others. Nearly, if not quite, all of the various tract and missionary societies in the Conferences above named are able to do this as herein proposed; but the fund must be kept good. There will, therefore, be an especial call for donations in each tract society to meet the expense of this work in each Conference. Then at your general quarterly meeting, when the board of directors meet, they will apportion to each district what will properly belong to it to pay. Let no society hold back, thinking that the expense cannot be met. There are individuals in each Conference that will consider it a privilege to pay from one hundred to five hundred dollars rather than to see an enterprise like this prove a failure. Then all, even to the children, will bring in their offerings and cast them into the treasury, and thus help make up this sum. The time has come for action. The cloud is arising, and along the line there should be a move forward. Onward is our watchword! and we are confident that each Conference Tract Society will fill its quota of names. We expect to see this all accomplished within three weeks from the time this notice reaches the tract societies. The Office will open accounts with the tract societies for three months, until their next general quarterly meeting, when this money will be expected. There is, therefore, nothing in the way before the tract societies. We shall be anxious to see what Conference first fills up its list of names. Within the year past, these very tract societies have raised nearly $4,000 to pay their delinquencies. Some said, “It was paying for an old, dead horse.” But now it is all paid for, and we offer you an enterprise the fruit of which will be seen throughout eternity. The union, love, and blessing of God, lately manifested at our Conference, has inspired us with new courage and zeal; and we feel confident that no person whose heart beats true to the cause of God can feel otherwise. The waters are now troubled. The Spirit of God is moving upon hearts everywhere. Now is the time to step in ourselves, and to help others to the fountain of life. We wait for an immediate response from all parts of the field.