Tent-Meeting Supplements.
By Editor
ABOUT four years ago it was recommended that the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, with a two-page supplement containing special notices of the meetings, be used before and during the tent-meetings, to advertise the meetings and secure an attendance. The plan which has succeeded the best, was for one or two colporters to enter a place where meetings were to be held, two or three weeks in advance of the tent, and canvass the place thoroughly for three months' or six weeks' subscriptions for the SIGNS. Then after two or three copies of the paper had been received and read, and the readers begun to be familiar with the doctrines and sentiments of the paper, and as soon as the tent was pitched, the first supplement containing the large picture of the tent was attached to all the SIGNS circulated in that vicinity. Besides this, hundreds of extra copies of the SIGNS and supplement were usually given to persons who were not subscribers. The distribution of these papers week by week, by the colporters, gives the most favorable opportunities to get acquainted with the people, to invite them to the meetings, and to answer questions, and introduce Bible-readings. This plan of labor met with general favor. It was found that the distribution of the papers and the visiting brought out larger and more interested congregations, and interested many in the truth who could not come to the tent. We also find that false reports are not believed, and prejudice is not so easily aroused against the truth in places where the papers are thus circulated. PRICE OF "SIGNS" FOR TENT USE.
For four numbers of the SIGNS, with supplement attached, we charge $12.50 per hundred. For six numbers, the first two without supplement, and the last four with supplement, $18 per hundred. For the four two-page supplements detached, $2.00 per hundred. For the SIGNS one month without supplement, $11 per hundred, or 250 copies one month for $25. While we believe that the above is the very best plan, we know that it is quite expensive, and at the request of one who wishes a less expensive plan, we have prepared a four-page SIGNS SUPPLEMENT filled with short, pointed articles which are calculated to interest everybody, and especially those ignorant of present truth, or those investigating it. The fourth page of this Supplement contains a large tent cut, and a full advertisement of the meetings, giving time, place, speakers, subject, etc. This advertisement is about the size of an ordinary hand-bill, such as has been generally used in tent-meetings. On each side of this display advertisement is a narrow column of reading matter, the first calling special attention to the meetings. After a place has been visited by colporters, and as many subscribers obtained for the SIGNS as possible, and when the time comes to advertise the tent-meeting, this four-page Tent-meeting Supplement should be placed in the hands of every English-reading family. And this may be followed by the distribution, as the meeting proceeds, of the regular four-page Supplement which is printed semi-monthly. Of these we have already printed six numbers. We shall keep constantly on hand a large quantity of each number, ready for use in tent-meetings. In meetings where our brethren have used these and similar papers, they have usually distributed two numbers each week. The fact that these Supplements take up the various doctrines, in about the same manner and order in which they are usually presented in the tent-meetings, makes them of especial value for this purpose. When distributed by hand, the time and place of meeting, with an invitation to attend, may be written with a pencil, or printed with a rubber stamp, or it may be printed on at the local printing office. When 400 or more of each number is wanted and the dates can be given, they will be printed on by us without additional charge. PRICE OF FOUR-PAGE SUPPLEMENTS FOR TENT USE. 500 Tent Supplements (with big tent cut), $ 7 50
1,000 " " " " " " " 10 00
Each additional thousand copies, 9 00
Regular Semi-monthly Supplements, $1.00 per hundred, $9.00 per thousand. Each Supplement contains nearly as much reading matter as a 32-page tract, and costs less than half as much, besides presenting the matter in a more acceptable form. When ordering by mail do not be afraid to tell just what you want. And in doing this remember to tell us:— - Full particulars about the meeting, including the date, location, names of speakers, etc.
- How many of the Tent Supplements containing full page advertisement of meeting are wanted.
- How many numbers of the regular four-page Supplement are wanted, and how many of each number.
- To whom the papers shall be sent, and to whom charged.
PUBLISHERS SIGNS OF THE TIMES.