FINANCES by Stephen N. Haskell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 8, 1878

FINANCES

By Stephen N. Haskell

CONSIDERABLE has been said in reference to the indebtedness of the tract societies; but as yet this debt has been diminished only about $1000. Soon it will be necessary to order books for the camp-meetings, which will increase this indebtedness. As a remedy for this, and to assist the Publishing Association to go forward with the various enterprises depending upon it, it has been suggested that each tract society raise a fund sufficient to pay present indebtedness and also to pay for a supply of publications to be kept on deposit in each Conference. The present indebtedness of the tract societies at the REVIEW Office is $11,227; at the SIGNS Office

$5,314, making a total of $16,541. Instead of this indebtedness, these societies should have a surplus of at least $10,000. This would make twenty thousand dollars' difference with the REVIEW Office, and would relieve the SIGNS Office by advance pay, besides enabling the tract societies to do a cash business with both offices, and to have a good supply of publications on hand to be furnished to their respective districts.

This should be brought about by January, 1879, so far, at least, as to pay this indebtedness. During 1879 let there be a prompt settlement each quarter, and before the year closes the tract societies will have sufficient funds to do a cash business. This can easily be accomplished if all our brethren take hold of the matter, commencing this summer at the various camp-meetings, to raise a fund. This fund will be kept good by each individual paying to the tract society a sum equal to one-third his systematic benevolence. At first, this may seem to be asking too much of the tract societies. There are but few, not directly connected with the offices, who appreciate the circumstances of the two offices at the present time. The wants of the cause have so increased that during the Conference year of 1877 and '78 it has been absolutely necessary to add buildings, presses, and other machinery to the Office at Battle Creek, at a cost of not less than $12,000. The SIGNS Office is in a similar condition, having been obliged to enlarge its facilities to meet the increased demands of the cause.

It has now become necessary to erect a house of worship at Battle Creek, that will seat not less than twenty-five hundred people. This will cost, according to the most careful estimates, from twelve to fifteen thousand dollars. This house must be built immediately. Much of this money will have to be advanced, as the house should be completed by autumn.

Now what shall be done? I know our brethren love the cause, and I verily believe that all the brethren and sisters will feel interested to do their utmost that the cause be not hindered for want of means. Every branch of the work needs funds to carry it forward and keep up with the providence of God. But what we are pleading for in this article is that the tract societies help, by promptly paying their indebtedness. This is but just and right, and God's blessing will rest upon them if they do this. Another consideration is that one hundred dollars could be judiciously employed in the missionary work where ten are now used; but were plans now laid to do this, they could not be carried out without greatly embarrassing both the workers and the Association. Soon will come our fall campaign of missionary labor, with its demands for Health Annuals, premiums for canvassers, etc., etc. To move forward here, funds will be required by every society.

Many of our Conferences have not held a general quarterly meeting for the quarter ending with the month of July, and therefore there will not be as much money paid in this quarter as usual; but do not forget the wants of the Associations. What is due on the SIGNS up to July 1, should be sent immediately to the SIGNS Office, Oakland, Cal., and each district should forward to their State secretary or treasurer what is in their hands, so that as large a payment as possible can be made to the Publishing Association at Battle Creek. Yes, more; individuals should feel that a few dollars now will be of great service in the cause of God. A little sacrifice on the part of each of our brethren just now to help financially, will be appreciated at the headquarters of God's work on the earth.

A few Conferences have commenced nobly on raising the fund here referred to. New York, three months ago, had not less than $1,500 pledged toward a three-thousand-dollar fund to be paid this fall. Michigan will come out ahead this fall. New England will raise $2,000 at their camp-meeting. We feel very anxious about this matter, as we see that the cause is so enlarging in all its departments, and there are more extensive enterprises for our tract societies than have yet been entered upon. The Lord is soon coming, and what we do must be done quickly.

That the tract societies may move understandingly, the Office will send to each society a statement of their present indebtedness. This may be obtained at the camp-meetings, and we hope there will be a general effort made to place the tract societies in the condition above referred to.

PUBLICATIONS.

When the tract societies were first organized, they dealt almost exclusively in tracts, which they gave away. What bound books they used were placed in libraries. The Office retained its retail trade, but the tract societies were helped by a book fund, which paid one-half of the wholesale price of the tracts. This book fund finally became exhausted, and the tract societies began to receive the benefit of the retail trade. That is, they purchased all the publications at wholesale prices, and sold to the brethren, at retail prices, such as were not for free distribution, which gave a profit to the societies. (We will remark just here that there is no objection to this plan.) Money was still received at the Office directly, more or less, from our regular subscribers. But it was soon ascertained that as the tract societies were constantly doing business with the Office, it was more convenient for many of our brethren to do their business through the societies. This was all right, but the Office depended largely upon this money to pay for paper, help, etc., and therefore when our societies have not been prompt in remitting it at least quarterly, the offices have felt its loss. The book sales differ from the regular tract business, in that the latter is a constant drain on the society, while the former is cash.

THE PERIODICAL BOOK.

The periodical book was prepared to enable tract societies to keep their periodical account with churches and individuals, separate from their tract account. This periodical account will show, first, all who subscribe and pay cash; second, all who pay monthly for the SIGNS, or the poor who thus pay for the REVIEW and the REFORMER. This money should be collected promptly, and at least as often as every quarter forwarded to the office at which it is due. It would be better to pay oftener than once a quarter when it is practicable to do so. No doubt many of our brethren think that just my pledge, or my subscription is so small that it does not amount to much; but one dollar each from one thousand members makes one thousand dollars. It is the little sums that have been wanting, which have caused such a debt on the tract societies.

THE DIME TABERNACLE.

Many hundred circulars have been sent out to our tract societies and others to solicit pledges on the meeting-house to be built at Battle Creek. Three papers have been sent; one, setting forth the necessity for a house, its object, etc.; another, designed for the names of the donors and the amount of their donations monthly, to be preserved by the librarian; a third, upon which the names of the donors should be written, to be forwarded with the money donated, one paper each month, to REVIEW AND HERALD, Battle Creek, Mich. These papers were sent in many instances directly to the librarians, that the first month's donations might be returned immediately to the Office, so there might be funds to commence at once on the house. In some instances, two or three may have been sent to different individuals in the same church, or company of Sabbath-keepers, but wherever there is a tract society officer, the business should be done through him. If there are two or three officers in the same church, the highest tract officer should act as agent and forward papers and donations to the Office of the REVIEW AND HERALD.

There are five classes whom we expect to act as special agents in forwarding the funds to the REVIEW AND HERALD. 1. Those acting as librarians in each church tract society; 2. Ministers, who travel everywhere; 3. Individuals living where there is no church or company; 4. We expect a hearty co-operation on the part of all the tract society officers; 5. Also from the leading brethren or sisters in any church or company where there is no tract society organized. All the brethren and sisters, and the children, will want to be represented in the largest house of worship ever erected by Seventh-day Adventists, at their most central point. We expect to see the dimes returning monthly for one year from all interested in the third angel's message. A list of the donors will be published each quarter. S. N. HASKELL.