THE HEALTH REFORMER by S. N. Haskell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 19, 1877

THE HEALTH REFORMER.

By S. N. Haskell

Our brethren have commenced to wake up in some Conferences to the importance of a more extended circulation of the SIGNS. As far as this is the case, it is as it should be, although as a people we have scarcely begun to do what must be done in this direction. We have repeatedly said that the Tract Societies were fully able to secure 25,000 interested readers for the SIGNS before the close of 1878, providing the plan of clubbing the SIGNS is thoroughly taken hold of. We are still as confident in this as ever. The experience of those churches that have taken hold of it confirms us in this belief. We have not recommended the REFORMER to be taken in clubs as extensively as we have the SIGNS. Not because it was not worthy of the most liberal patronage, and should be as extensively circulated as the SIGNS. But from past and present experience we are fully convinced that this number can be obtained by canvassing with and without the premiums, thus securing paying subscribers.

There are hundreds of men and women among us that can earn from two to four dollars a day with the premiums and per cent offered by canvassing. We do not make this statement without fully understanding what we say and the effort it requires to obtain the subscribers. There are a few in the field who are doing this. And some who now are the most successful did not average one subscriber per day when they commenced. But they sought God’s blessing upon their effort, and persevered until they mastered their business; and now they expect a subscriber at every third or fourth house they enter.

There are those of our people that have in the past obtained subscribers for books and magazines, and can sell anything from a six-penny toy to a thousand dollar piano, and that, too, where they neither need nor want it. We want these men and women to consecrate the same talent, energy, and devotion to obtain subscribers for the best health journal in the world. It seems to some a virtue to lose all their zeal and energy in the cause of God, when if they had a patent right to sell, they would make a success three times out of five. This is a sad mistake. If there is one thing more than another where earnestness, energy, and close planning are justifiable, it is in obtaining subscribers for those periodicals which contain the solemn truth adapted to the time in which we live.

It is a shame that we have not twenty where we have one devoting their time to canvassing for the HEALTH REFORMER. Young men out of employment, young ladies who have nothing to do, have you tried this? Have you made it a business? Have you gone about it relying on God to help you? Would you get discouraged as easily in anything of a personal gratification? We hope there are those who may read these lines, who will at once commence canvassing for the REFORMER, determined to make it a success. It should not be entirely forgotten by those clubbing for the SIGNS.

Our ministers should not neglect this work, both in new fields and among our brethren. The HEALTH REFORMER is connected with present truth. All our brethren should feel interested in building up the Health Institute, and there is no more successful way of doing this than by increasing the circulation of the HEALTH REFORMER.

The experience of Eld. Joseph Bates in connection with the health and temperance question, which was related in the first three numbers of the present volume of the REFORMER, and now the experience of Eld. J. N. Andrews, who is also a pioneer in this work, cannot fail to interest every lover of present truth. The articles of Sr. White in each number contain instruction which every family needs. In short, the entire make-up of the journal is adapted to the household.

How many shall we hear from, that will canvass during the summer months? Much can be done through the ensuing season in cities and villages. Who will respond?

S. N. HASKELL.