OUR ALMANACS by E. B. Lane

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 1, 1877

OUR ALMANACS.

By E. B. Lane

Everybody thinks they are good. I have heard but one fault found with them, and that is they contain no “up and down” phases of the moon for the people to plant their garden vegetables by, neither the signs of the Zodiac, by which they are guided in a similar manner. Nevertheless, they have sold well.

We commenced selling from house to house, but found this slow work, and therefore concluded to call congregations, and sell in them. Mrs. Lane spoke at these places, principally on the subject of temperance and health reform. At Harrisburg we had the free use of a Temperance Hall. We had a large audience; and a very favorable notice of the meeting appeared in the next week’s issue of their periodicals. At Mt. Crawford we had the Methodist church and an uncommonly large audience. Extra seats were brought in, and many still remained standing. The members of the Temperance Lodges marched in, dressed in their regalias, and seated themselves on reserved seats around the pulpit. Five gentlemen surrendered their tobacco. At Bridgewater the Lutheran church, a large house, was granted us. There were probably five hundred in attendance. Seven young men surrendered their tobacco. One lady, to encourage a gentleman friend to yield his tobacco, gave us her name to cease the use of coffee.

In our work with the almanacs we have had the free use of churches, halls and court-houses, and nearly all these have been filled to overflowing. At these meetings we advertised our periodicals, and distributed hundreds of copies, which were eagerly taken, and which were the means of obtaining a number of subscribers. With the help of Eld. Corliss and one or two others, we have disposed of seven hundred almanacs, for which we have received seventy dollars, allowing us about fifty dollars for T. and M. Society here in Va. We have between two and three hundred almanacs left, which we expect to dispose of, applying the proceeds in the same way.

I have been thinking what might be done each year with the almanacs if all take hold in earnest. Supposing each minister among us, during the months of November and December, call several congregations, give them a good, wholesome discourse on temperance and health reform; set before them the injuries done the public by the free distribution of medical almanacs, which advertise bitters that will intoxicate as readily and thoroughly as rum itself; tell them that in purchasing the Health Almanac, they make an advance move in the cause of temperance by crowding out the medical almanacs; also that the means shall be applied on a tract fund through which temperance tracts shall be distributed; explain the workings of the T. and M. Society somewhat,—if this be done, there will be no difficulty in selling them readily at full price. Mrs. Lane has demonstrated this in several discourses given in Michigan and Ohio this season.

Some of our brethren are saying that they cannot sell the almanacs in their Conferences. If we can sell them in this State, and contend with “hard times,” with the free distribution of medical almanacs, and dispose of the most of them in January and February, I think our brethren can sell them anywhere. Put them at full price, and push them out. They are a good thing, and no one need be ashamed of them. There is no need of losing several thousand dollars each year, which might be saved. It is easy to talk, I know; but having demonstrated our proposition this year, and last year also, we speak with confidence. Pardon us for speaking at all. May God help us all to prove so faithful that the “Well done” can be said to us.

E. B. LANE.