THE T. AND M. INSTITUTE.
By S. B. Whitney
This Institute, held in Battle Creek, Mich., Dec. 18–31, and noticed in last week’s REVIEW, was a decided success. The number in regular attendance was eighty-two and the average attendance of these was eighty-one. There were a few others so situated that they could attend but a small portion of the time. Rapid progress was made in most cases. This was especially observable in the matter of writing business letters, of which there were five sets in the course. The following rules were given for writing these letters:— - Number all business letters.
- Write plainly, and give full address.
- State whether the subscription is a renewal or wholly new.
- State whether premiums have been furnished or are to be furnished.
- State the price to be charged on each subscription.
- In sending money, state the amount, how sent, and for what it was received.
- Give full address at the close of each letter.
In examining Nos. 1 and 2 of these letters, which were considered together by the committee, two hundred and twenty-five violations of these rules were detected; while in No. 3 there were only forty-eight, in No. 4 fourteen, and in No. 5 only seven. The improvement in other respects was nearly as rapid. At the outset few of those in attendance realized the extent of the enterprise or how much they had to learn; and it is therefore not surprising if some, not seeing the importance of the matter, did not feel the interest in it that it deserves. But as step after step was brought out by Bro. Haskell’s patient and untiring instruction, and we began to see more clearly the system and its workings, and had demonstrated before us, not only the utility but the necessity of such a system, our apathy gave place to an intense desire to become thoroughly acquainted with all its principles, and we only wished we could have another week in which to continue our study and practice. The wish was often expressed that all our T. and M. workers could enjoy such a privilege, and those who might have availed themselves of this opportunity, and did not do so, can hardly realize the loss they have sustained by their neglect. The system, when rightly understood, is harmonious in its workings, and is the best adapted to its design of any we have seen; indeed, we do not see how it can well be improved at the present stage of the T. and M. work; and we especially recommend it to all the officers of all our tract societies, and urge them to avail themselves of the earliest opportunity to gain the instruction needed in order to put it into practice. At the close of the last meeting, remarks were made by Elders Corliss, Lane, and Farnsworth, expressing their appreciation of the benefits they had received, after which a rising vote of thanks was tendered to Bro. Haskell and his co-workers for their patience and perseverance in imparting such valuable instruction.