To the Tract Societies by S. N. Haskell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 16, 1875

To the Tract Societies.

By S. N. Haskell

We are satisfied that the time has come when we should take the field upon the health question. We should steal a march on the enemies of health, on drug poisons, and such foes. Men and women must be enlightened upon this important subject. It lies in our power to do very much in this direction. Never was there a time when circumstances were more favorable for us as a people to engage in this work than the present.

1. We have a first class Hygienic Family Almanac which should find its way to 150,000 firesides before January, 1876. It has the advantage over a tract, from the fact that it is an almanac, and for that purpose it is as good as any. Every family needs an almanac; and shall not we who have committed to us the light of truth upon the subject of health reform, take advantage of this want of the people, and, while we supply this want, furnish them also the truth, which will prove a blessing to them in this life and also in the one hereafter.

Our tract workers are everywhere; and it is in their power to furnish the public with almanacs. And shall they not do it? We believe they will. Children, as well as those of more mature years, can take a part in this work. One little girl of six summers who has the spirit of the work goes out after school hours and sells them to the neighbors. She has already sold quite large numbers of them. To do something to advance the cause of truth seems to be her greatest delight. This is a sample of what is being done by many children within the bounds of this Conference, and this is as it should be. There should be a general interest by every lover of present truth to enlighten others.

2. We have a series of six health tracts already published. For clearness of thought and importance of matter, they cannot be surpassed. The world is full of people who are dying from dyspepsia, suffering from sick headache, and a thousand other ills, and are daily unwittingly bringing this suffering upon themselves by their unhygienic habits. The evil effects of many of these habits are clearly pointed out by these tracts. And there are thousands of people everywhere who would read upon these subjects if their attention was called to it. We believe the importance of these tracts for this purpose cannot be overestimated. Every director in the tract and missionary work should have a sufficient quantity of them to furnish each working member with them, and thus let afflicted humanity have the light.

3. The circulation of the Health Reformer should be increased by at least twenty thousand paying subscribers annually. Its present mechanical execution is not surpassed by any health journal in the country. The positions taken in it are free from those extremes which disgust sensible people. Although not denominational, it possesses a high moral tone in all its teachings, which will elevate society above the light, trashy reading of the present day. It is in the power of our people through the Tract and Missionary Societies, and individual effort, to do a great and noble work in getting it before the public. It is therefore proposed that the Tract and Missionary Societies offer an

INDUCEMENT,

not to the one who gets the subscriber, but to the one who subscribes for the journal. It is well known that the strength of the tract and missionary system is sacrificing labor for the good of others. The inducement is to give to the individual who subscribes for the Health Reformer the Household Manual which is now being issued. The retail price for this book is seventy-five cents. Therefore, the one who subscribes and pays one dollar, considering the price of the book, gets the Reformer for twenty-five cents. Then the Tract Society pays fifty cents for the Reformer. The remaining fifty cents goes to the Tract Society, after paying for the book, unless special arrangements are made with the canvasser by the Tract Society. This is not to interfere with those who are canvassing for the Reformer and doing their business directly with the Office of publication.

Let it be distinctly understood that this offer is not made to old subscribers who renew their subscription, but to new subscribers who have never before taken the Reformer. Also, all those to whom the Reformer was sent last year as a donation by the Tract Societies should be visited, and an especial effort be made to renew their subscription. An almanac for 1876, Health tracts, or “Healthful Cookery,” might be offered as an inducement, where it is necessary; or even the Household Manual, but discretion, and judgment should be exercised.

We appeal to the Tract and Missionary Societies in this matter. From the voice of the Spirit of God and the very nature of this work, we learn the fact that the health reform sustains that relation to the third angel’s message that the right arm does to the human body. And every one knows that the mind of a nervous dyspeptic cannot be reached by the rays of present truth, and also that he casts doubt and gloom upon all who chance to come under his influence. The time has come for us all to move forward.

We expect that each of our Conference Tract Societies will take hold of this matter. Sisters

as well as brethren can take part in this. The health tracts and almanacs will prepare the way for the people to subscribe for the Reformer. We are in earnest in this matter. The Lord is soon coming. The world is to be aroused to these momentous truths, and what are we doing? Will we let worldly interests and covetousness detain us from taking an active part in this cause? Shall we quietly sit by our firesides these long evenings, and let our neighbors and friends go unwarned? Shall we be satisfied to be drones in the service of God? Has not God committed to us this glorious truth for some nobler purpose than simply to enjoy the blessing ourselves? The fact that the providence of God has brought to our knowledge this glorious light is evidence that a responsibility rests upon us to impart it to others, and we will have to meet it individually at the bar of God.

This business can all be done through the State secretaries of the various Tract Societies who will do the business with the Office. When the presidents of the Tract Societies order almanacs and health tracts, let them not forget this other enterprise; viz., obtaining paying subscribers for the Health Reformer, and for this purpose let them order a sufficient quantity of the Household Manual to place in the hands of each director a few copies at once to commence with. There is not a moment to lose. The long evenings are at least one month in advance of us. A sufficient quantity of these books should be in every Society so that the person canvassing can leave one with the individual who pays his dollar for the Reformer. The Household Manual has been prepared expressly to meet the wants of every family. It contains much practical information for every household. It not only gives hygienic instruction, as how to make bread for dyspeptics, cause and cure of common diseases, &c., but contains household hints, such as how to remove grease from fabrics, recipes for making durable whitewash for buildings both outside and inside, cement for glass, wood, metals, stone ware, &c., clearing houses from rats and mice, etc., etc. We confidently believe that any good canvasser can obtain scores if not hundreds of subscribers with this book.

What we have here said in reference to the Reformer, health tracts, and almanacs, should in nowise diminish our interest in the SIGNS. All these enterprises together constitute the work of God. God has ordained that men should be instrumental in carrying them forward. Taken together, they should ever be a specialty to the people of God. Then there are often other calls upon our liberality such as the one coming from Kansas and Missouri to aid in this time of their great strait. Presidents, directors, and all the officers of the Tract Societies, should be alive to all of these different objects and enterprises, and keep them before the minds of the brethren and sisters, so that an interest may be taken in everything connected with the work of God.

We are not living for ourselves but for the cause of Christ. Says the apostle, “For none of us liveth to himself.” Our interests should be linked with everything that pertains to the cause of Christ. The man or woman who has ever felt the spirit of the advent doctrine, and who forgets these different enterprises, and sets before himself any object of personal ease or pleasure, laying his plans for years in the future, makes a great mistake. If such persons have not made themselves captains to go back to Egypt, they have really started.

The prize is before us. Our journey is onward. The work in which we are engaged is an aggressive one. Its nature is that which tends to bring about equality in interest and labor, and thus to forward this work. Every step we take should lead us to a greater spirit of sacrifice, greater devotion, greater renouncing of self. The second coming of Christ and all the truths of God’s word should possess greater attractions as we advance toward the period of final triumph. Our motives will all be tested by the varied circumstances under which we may be placed. It is the voice of God by his Spirit and his providence that calls us to act now. Efforts of the right kind, put forth now, means raised to help forward the special work for these last days, when it is most needed, will yield to the faithful soul everlasting fruit in the kingdom of glory.

S. N. HASKELL.