p. 197 | Our Apportionment by A. S. Hutchins

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 21, 1876

Our Apportionment.

By A. S. Hutchins

I am not to speak of the apportionment of a quantity of undivided property for the benefit of you and myself, dear brethren and sisters, yet I look forward in sweet anticipation to the time when the saints shall receive a reward according to their deeds.

At the recent general meeting held at Battle Creek, in the discussion of a more general circulation of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES and the HEALTH REFORMER, the committee apportioned to our State as you have all seen, as our number of subscribers to obtain for each one of these valuable works, 334.

Now when I consider our financial circumstances, and that our entire church membership falls short of this number, I am confident we must take hold of this work in earnest if we accomplish it. Shall we do it?

In the SIGNS OF THE TIMES of Nov. 30, 1876, Bro. White, in speaking of the circulation of 20,000 copies of that paper in our own country, asks, “Shall we have it?” and then expresses his unshaken confidence in the Tract and Missionary Society, by saying, “This Society will give an affirmative answer in acting their part in this great and good work.” Will the Green Mountain State act her part here?

If so, the question may be asked, What would be a just apportionment for each of our six districts? I should think, after reflection on the matter, that the following figures would indicate something near an equality. Dist. No. 1, 100; No. 2, 80; No. 3, 50; No. 4, 50; No. 5, 32; No. 6, 22.

Now my dear brethren, if we go to work and do the very best we can in this matter and fail to reach our quota, we shall have the consolation that we have done what we could. Every brother and sister should have the reading of the SIGNS and the REFORMER. And we should have a copy of each with us to show our neighbors and friends, and induce them to sign if we can. To new subscribers outside of our faith, the SIGNS is offered for $1.50 per year, and the REFORMER for 75cts. As a brother said about selling Health Almanacs, “We don’t know what can be done in this direction till we try it.”

We could do much more in our Conference if the men who should be in the field as canvassers were there. We have talent in this direction, but it is not brought into use. It is a matter of gratitude that several of our young friends from this State are in our College at Battle Creek, and to learn that more leave us in time to attend the next term. When Willie Wales left last spring for the College we lost a good canvasser. It was a cold, rough day last winter when he found time to drive out some miles to sell almanacs. Returning in five hours he had sold all he had, 47 in number. But his work is done and he rests in hope. May Heaven’s blessing rest upon those soon to leave us.

Other young men should be bending their steps toward Battle Creek to fit themselves for greater usefulness. And everywhere should we wake up, brethren, to the work of the Lord. We have the last message of mercy. “The great day of the Lord is near, it is near and hasteth greatly.” Awake, O church of God, awake! A. S. HUTCHINS.