TO THE DIRECTORS AND MEMBERS OF THE IOWA T. & M. SOCIETY.
By Geo. L. Butler
At our recent quarterly meeting at Sigourney, matters came before the board for their consideration relative to the prosperity of our Society. Among these came the question, What can be done for the circulation of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES? We have in this Conference made almost a total failure in our efforts to secure subscribers for this valuable paper. This is a cause of deep regret to me. This has been partly owing to the difficulty of obtaining money these hard times. Many would like to read the paper, they say, but have not the money to spare to pay for it. Some of our workers have told me they have solicited as many as fifty persons without getting one full-paying subscriber, and yet many would say they would like to read the paper. Such most certainly ought to have the opportunity. What is the best way to do this? The board of directors at the recent meeting fully decided to recommend the plan of clubbing the SIGNS, as is being done in other Conferences, and as Bro. White and Bro. Haskell have recommended in REVIEW. This seems to us the most reasonable way, the most economical, and the most likely to produce permanent benefit to the workers, as well as to the readers of the paper. In case a person has the paper ordered to him for a year through the Society, and at the Society’s expense, and he cares nothing for it after looking at a few copies, the balance of the year is most likely lost. But in the clubbing plan, if it was found there was no interest after a little, it would be sent to others, and most of the year’s issue saved. It might thus be changed, and many have the light offered to them. This plan tends to train a body of workers in every church, and get them interested in the salvation of their fellow men. This is a crying want among us. We want to get our people to plan, and pray for the salvation of our fellow men. Many are dying spiritually for a lack of this exercise. A body of workers who would meet every week to consider and plan, and pray for openings to scatter light, and fill them, if not more than three in number in a church, would be a source of light and strength to that church. There is many a church, which, if a few of the workers were taken from it, would fall to pieces, but which will prosper because there are a few earnest workers in it. Such have light, food, and spiritual strength, which are felt in the meetings of the church. The more of these workers there are in a church, the more strength will be manifest in that church. What a relief it would be if every church would organize a club for the SIGNS, of from five to eight copies, and look up openings every week where these could be judiciously circulated! The board of directors earnestly recommend the directors to visit every church in their several districts, and lay this before the members of the Society and encourage them to subscribe for copies, either on the installment plan or by paying down at once, as recommended by our leading brethren. At the Sigourney church one brother orders ten copies. These and others will come to one address, and the members will find names to whom these will be sent. We hope this will be carried out in all our churches. Here is an excellent field in which our sisters can work. Though it is very late in the spring, yet much can be done. Better commence now, and do what we can. We intend to ask all our churches to adopt the plan of giving one-third additional to the amount of their s. b. for the support of the T. and M. work. This will put our Society upon a firm basis, and we may hope for its prosperity with the blessing of God, which will be sure to come when we all get to work earnestly for the Lord. Wherever I go (and I expect to visit many churches between this and camp-meeting), I shall use my influence to have this plan carried out. This Conference is an excellent field in which to circulate the SIGNS. This work is onward. Let us take hold of it. Our debt is nearly paid off. A little more effort the present quarter will place our Society once more above want, when we shall be in a condition to do something for the Master. Come, friends, one and all, let us go to work.