Postal law is decidedly favorable to our publishing house's sending out books to patrons by mail. The postage on Bound-books, Pamphlets, and Tracts is alike, at the rate of one pound for eight cents. This is one-half the rates one year since. Again, the United States' mail is one of the very safest and surest institutions beneath the sun. The losses on money sent to this Office annually amount to next to nothing. And the losses of books sent out from this Office through the mails are equally small. And, again, books can be so strongly and thoroughly enveloped as to make them as secure by mail, as by express, and much more secure than when slammed about the country, half packed, in a colporteur's trunk. Of the latter we often have painful experiences in trunk-worn and finger-soiled lots returned to this Office.
We offer our publications to our patrons by mail, becoming responsible (1) for their safe protection while in transit through the mails from all injury, (2) for their safe arrival at the office of their destination, and (3) for all sums of money of $2 or less in one letter. Larger sums should be sent in draft or money order, or currency can be sent in small bills divided between two or more letters sent at different times.
And, again, we appeal to our patrons on the point of their duty to sustain the Publishing Association. It has been so liberal with the T. and M. Societies, and so merciful with poor ministers, and so lenient with those it has trusted, who neglect to pay, that our noble publishing house is laboring under embarrassments. We ask you to send your orders for books direct to this Office to be safely received by you at retail prices. Every hymn book you order by mail, enclosing one dollar, puts nearly twenty cents into the Association's hands above wholesale price when sent by express to some member of the church. If churches will club together and send for books by express at published prices they will help us now when we need help.
Again, officers of Tract Societies will sometimes order as many tracts as you can hold between your thumb and finger, and make out a five dollar order by express by a single copy of this and that at liberal discount! We are ashamed for these men who become stingy over our discounts which have embarrassed the Office. We want no more such little business. And decide to give no discount from the book fund on orders from Tract men less than $10, in tracts alone. It is painful to fence against small deal. It is trying work for the farmer to build fences against small animals. We ask our friends to send in their orders for the New Hymn Book, Testimony No. 27, and all other books they need to be forwarded to them by mail at published prices. Do not hold your money until next camp-meeting, or till some agent comes round. We have more than twenty tons of books on hand, such as you need, and we need the money for them now. Just look over the list of publications, and order those you need without delay. J. W.