THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES by S. N. Haskell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 28, 1878

THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES.

By S. N. Haskell

At the General Conference, a resolution was passed in reference to the SIGNS OF THE TIMES. (See No. 17, present volume.) The resolution embraced four points, as follows:—

1. Our brethren who take the SIGNS for their own use should pay the regular price, two dollars per year.

2. Ministers and agents are authorized to furnish it to new subscribers, on trial, at one dollar fifty cents per year, or four months for fifty cents.

3. Churches and individuals subscribing for a club of not less than ten copies, to be used for missionary purposes, should pay at the rate of one dollar twenty cents per year.

4. When smaller clubs are taken, the price to be paid is to be referred to the tract society officers.

Two points should ever be kept before the brethren by the tract society officers and workers: 1. The cause must be sustained; 2. Every advantage possible should be given to the missionary workers. Should thousands of dollars' worth of publications and periodicals be ordered which could not be paid for, even were they judiciously distributed, it would be bad policy; for it would very soon so involve the publishing interests as to greatly embarrass the cause.

When our brethren subscribe for the SIGNS at two dollars, they assist in sustaining the office in furnishing the SIGNS for missionary work at one dollar twenty cents per year. We believe our brethren will not only take an interest to subscribe for the SIGNS themselves at the regular price, but to see that clubs are taken wherever it is practicable at one dollar twenty cents per year. One dollar per month will pay for a club of ten copies. We do not believe there are any churches so poor that they cannot do this much in the missionary work during 1879. There are more than one thousand of our brethren who could pay this sum during the year and never

feel it. This would pay for ten thousand copies of the SIGNS.

We now have eighteen Conferences. Were each Conference to take five hundred and sixty copies of the SIGNS, or fifty-six clubs of ten copies each, it would amount to more than ten thousand copies. There may be two, or at most three Conferences that would not feel able to pay for this number, namely, Texas, Kentucky, and Maine, but all the others can do more than this. Such Conferences as Michigan, Iowa, Wisconsin, and New York should take from three to five times that number. There are churches that have disciplined themselves in this work, having organized V. M. societies, that could alone manage five hundred copies each, providing they could pay for them. We mention Battle Creek, Mich., and South Lancaster, Mass. There are many other churches that would gladly use from one hundred to three hundred copies.

Every church or company of S. D. Adventists in the country can and should be obtaining an experience in this work. A great work is just before us, and we want thousands of conscientious young men and women to gain an experience in this kind of labor. Also a field of labor is hereby opened to many who are confined at home by their household duties, but whose influence might yet be extensively felt in behalf of the cause of God. Societies can arrange so that they can take a club of not less than five copies at the same price. This would cost but fifty cents a month, or six dollars a year. Those not connected with any church can do their business directly with district officers or the State secretary. If there are brethren who cannot use the SIGNS themselves, they should pay their money to the State secretary with a statement of what it is for, and he will add to those clubs that are in greatest need of more copies.

We appeal to our missionary workers everywhere. If you are taking a number of copies, can you not enlarge the number you are now receiving? Those who have never taken hold of this work, will you not commence now? Ascertain how many can be paid for in monthly installments by your church, and order at once through the proper officers. The next volume of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES should commence with a list of not less than ten thousand subscribers east of the Rocky Mountains.

S. N. HASKELL.