S. B. and Clerk's Books by Dudley Marvin Canright

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 14, 1878

S. B. and Clerk's Books.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

ATTENTION has already been called to these books several times. Every one who has examined them is delighted with them. When they are so greatly needed, let none of our brethren put off obtaining them, but get them immediately. The question has been asked, “What shall we do with our old records? Shall they be transferred to the new books?” We answer, only this far: In the case of the Clerk's Book, take your old record, begin with the first name on the list, and copy into your new book the name of every person who has ever been a member of your church. Then just as far as possible, ascertain the date when each was received into the church, and what has become of him, and place this in the proper place against the name, with a reference to the page of the old record book where it is found. If nothing can be ascertained about it, then give the nearest you can. Say dismissed, or died, or expelled about such a date, as the case may be. In the first part of the record in your new book, give a brief history of the church up to the present date. Do not undertake to transcribe the whole of your old records, but simply give a summary. Then commence at the present time with a full account in your new book.

As to the S. B. I should not put any of the old records in the new book. Commence with a clean and square record.

D. M. CANRIGHT