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NOW WHAT SHALL I DO?

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

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 52, No. 20.

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“NOW WHAT SHALL I DO?”

By Stephen N. Haskell

Circumstances render it necessary to make more or less changes in our tract society officers every year, and none affect the working of the society more than a change of State secretaries. Whatever the condition of the society, the question is usually asked, “Now what shall I do?” The following will be found essential steps in securing prosperity to a society, and a proper and systematic manner of performing its work:—
1. The State secretary should obtain (if he does not already possess them) the address of every member of the society; and he should classify those in each district by themselves, with the librarians, secretaries, directors, and canvassing agents.
2. The secretary should become familiar, by correspondence or otherwise, with each officer and canvasser, and should know what he is doing, and see that all are working to carry out the objects and purposes of the society.
3. He should see that each district secretary's account agrees with his, and that each account is balanced every quarter.
4. He should see that every pledge made to the society, or to any other branch of the cause in the Conference, is recorded in his journal, noting also the time at which it is to be paid.
5. He should see that the proper officers in each district have a copy of the pledges in that district, and that the money is collected when due. The district secretary should record in his book the pledges made in the district.
6. When donations are received in the Review or Signs, the volume and number in which the receipt appears should be given in the secretary's journal, opposite the pledge.
7. He should see that there is a supply of premiums (Way of Life, Household Manual, and Child's Poems), in each district for the use of canvassers.
8. He should see that each district secretary has a sufficient number of the members' and the librarians' blank reports for his district, at least four weeks before the church quarterly meeting, so that every member may receive one in time for the meeting.
9. Let not the State secretary consider his work done until each officer in the society is performing his duties properly.
10. He should see that all agents who devote their time to canvassing on a per cent, transact their business directly with himself. Premiums may be obtained from any district by the canvasser. When this is done, he can pay the district secretary; or he may send the money to the State secretary, who should give credit for the same to the district, and notify the district secretary.
11. Special efforts should constantly be made by all the tract society officers, first, to induce every Seventh-day Adventist to become a member of the society; second, to have each family of our brethren take the REVIEW, REFORMER, INSTRUCTOR, and COLLEGE RECORD; and third, when a pledge paper is being circulated they should see that every individual has the privilege of pledging, even if the sum is no more than one penny.
12. They should exercise great promptness and dispatch in all the business of the society.
13. In order to be successful in bringing up a society and keeping it in a prosperous condition, the State secretary must take time to pray; he must anticipate the wants of the society, and never rest until all the above points are perfected in the Conference.
14. It is understood that the president is at the head of the society, and the secretary is to act in reference to his plans; therefore it is important that the president should make it a point to carry out the above suggestions wherever he goes.
15. Above all, never get discouraged. The tract officers should all co-operate. Ministers also, should assist, and never rest until every individual professing present truth is a live member in the cause of Christ.
S. N. Haskell.