Read, Remember, Act by D. A. Robinson

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 3, 1878

Read, Remember, Act.

By D. A. Robinson

The S. S. treasurers in New England should read what follows, and then act accordingly when the proper time comes.

1. Four times a year you should send a report to the Conference secretary and treasurer. The secretary will see that you have blanks for that purpose.

2. When to send the reports. This should be done on the Monday following the first Sabbath in January, April, July, and October, which will be the Monday following your church quarterly meeting.

3. Filling out blanks. This is where there is so much misunderstanding. Some adopt one plan, others another, and still others not any. There was, however, a marked improvement in the last reports that came in, but we want to see them just right. When a report comes from a church, and has under the head, “Pledge for the Quarter,” the amount that has been pledged for the year, it renders it impossible for us to make out a correct report, unless we happen to be good at guessing and guess just right. Now, my brother, take your blank and notice it particularly while you read. The first point after the heading is “Pledge for the Quarter.” Now the question is, What is to be put in the blank that follows it? Some put in the amount that has been paid during the quarter. That is wrong, unless each member has paid up his pledge for the quarter. Add the weekly s. s. pledges of all the members together, then multiply this sum by thirteen, and you have the amount to place under the above head.

A little further down on your blank you find this, “During this quarter we have paid,” etc. Under this head state what you have done with all cash paid out that has not been sent to the treasurer.

The last point is, “Paid to Conference Treasurer.” Here you should put the amount actually sent to the treasurer, and no more. We have seen some put down under this last head simply the treasurer’s name and address.

Now we do not wish to find fault with any one, but have tried to state these points so all can understand them; then there will be uniformity, and a correct report can be made from your blanks. Be careful, brethren, to make out your reports correctly. In conclusion let me emphasize this: Be sure to report every quarter, and also send your s. s. by bank check or post-office order. When I send you blanks after this, I shall give no instructions what to do with them. Fill them out both alike, and send one to Josiah Webber, New Ipswich, N. H., the treasurer, the other to D. A. Robinson, South Lancaster, Mass., the secretary.

D. A. ROBINSON.