SUMMARY OF TRACT AND MISSIONARY FINANCES.
By S. N. Haskell
|
Due Review & Herald. |
Due Signs of the Times. |
Publications on hand. |
Cash on hand and due on acc't. |
|---|
| New England |
$966 27 |
$104 18 |
$1700 00 |
$200 00 |
| New York |
533 15 |
…… |
466 29 |
…… |
| Pennsylvania |
208 96 |
…… |
…… |
…… |
| Vermont |
18 63 |
98 97 |
49 04 |
45 80 |
| Maine |
251 76 |
60 35 |
241 97 |
132 92 |
| Missouri |
490 78 |
276 80 |
…… |
…… |
| Illinois |
622 13 |
146 55 |
559 78 |
25 77 |
| Iowa |
227 27 |
365 79 |
242 40 |
20 12 |
| Michigan |
290 67 |
980 00 |
…… |
…… |
| Indiana |
218 03 |
61 12 |
116 72 |
…… |
| Nebraska |
383 33 |
135 00 |
262 67 |
12 68 |
| Ohio |
147 82 |
128 00 |
774 94 |
…… |
| Wisconsin |
769 51 |
…… |
315 96 |
…… |
| Texas |
897 77 |
29 45 |
…… |
…… |
| Quebec |
35 75 |
…… |
…… |
…… |
| Kentucky |
371 04 |
35 98 |
…… |
…… |
| Dakota |
23 26 |
…… |
96 50 |
6 95 |
| Alabama |
16 24 |
…… |
…… |
…… |
| Virginia |
…… |
…… |
…… |
9 56 |
| Wyoming |
67 40 |
14 80 |
…… |
…… |
| Colorado |
4 89 |
…… |
…… |
…… |
| Kansas |
827 84 |
295 98 |
425 46 |
87 00 |
| Minnesota |
832 88 |
457 94 |
481 91 |
13 24 |
| North Pacific |
145 37 |
170 17 |
250 00 |
315 00 |
| California |
3 92 |
…… |
…… |
350 00 |
| Nevada |
…… |
58 00 |
…… |
…… |
|
$8354 67 |
$3359 08 |
$5983 64 |
1168 54 |
We give above a table of figures showing, as nearly as we are able, the present financial standing of the tract societies. As will be seen, the total indebtedness, including the year's subscription on the clubs of Signs being taken, is $11,713.75. The indebtedness of these societies, in May, 1878, at the REVIEW AND HERALD Office, was $12,143.17; at the Signs Office, $3,996.20, making a total indebtedness of $16,139.37. This also included the year's subscription on the Signs taken in clubs, the number being about the same as this year. Notwithstanding several new societies have been formed, these figures show an advancement of $4,425.62 in the finances of the tract societies. New York will illustrate the progress that has been made in some of these societies. In May, 1878, this tract society was owing $2,822.15 at the REVIEW AND HERALD Office, and $905.87 at the Signs Office. Its present indebtedness at the REVIEW AND HERALD Office, including Pennsylvania which has been set off from the New York Society during the year, is but $533.15. At the Signs Office the secretaries of these societies inform us that payment has been made for all that has been ordered, which, according to the installment plan, would be several hundred dollars more than what is really due. To quite an extent this is true concerning Iowa, Wisconsin, and Michigan, the largest of our tract societies. New England has established a depository of about two thousand dollars' worth of publications, within one year, to supply the six New England States; whereas it formerly carried only about seven hundred dollars' worth, for its own use. Texas, Ohio, and some other States have also largely increased their stock of books. Thus it will be seen that the actual advancement is more than is shown by the figures. Unpaid pledges, of which each society has more or less, are not shown in the table. The feat to be accomplished is but fairly commenced. If the tract societies stop here, in a short time they will be as badly off as ever. We speak for a freedom from debt. This is but justice to the Publishing Associations, and to secure it should be the ambition of each of the tract societies. The condition of Minnesota will largely explain the indebtedness of many of the other tract societies. When I went to this State last winter they were owing the Associations about $1,200. The indebtedness of the districts to the State society was about $1,000. The value of publications on hand in the State depository was about $200. Thus the Associations were carrying the indebtedness of the districts, as well as the publications in the State depository. It can be readily seen that this was not as it should be. The facts here illustrated will apply to a greater or less extent to many of the tract societies. If the money raised by donations, in the different districts, to liquidate the indebtedness of the State societies, is credited to the districts, and they continue to draw publications in return for the donations thus made, there will be no permanent remedy for this evil. At the meeting at Hutchinson, Minn., at which the State was well represented, the brethren adopted a course by which, if carried out at their spring camp-meeting, this perplexing difficulty will be removed. Other Conferences are also adopting the same. First, they decided to find, if possible, fifteen men who were able to pay one hundred dollars each toward a reserve tract fund to be used in keeping a supply of tracts on hand,—the money paid to this fund not to be credited to the districts by the State secretary, but to the individuals who pay it. This would guard against its being used up in the general distribution of reading matter. Secondly, each district was to pay its indebtedness by the time of their camp-meeting, and afterward to make a full payment of their indebtedness at the close of each quarter. This will give them a sufficient capital with which to do a cash business with the Signs Office, and at the same time, to give their districts the benefit of the monthly installment plan; also to keep a supply of all our publications constantly on hand, so they can supply the retail trade in their own Conference. The benefit derived from the retail trade will more than pay the freight on these publications. The brethren meant business when they recommended this move. Four men pledged and paid one hundred dollars each at the meeting, and within two weeks ten had pledged, of which six hundred was paid. While I was with Eld. Grant, he did not ask a man to give a hundred dollars who did not consider it a privilege to do so. All our brethren need, is to have the matter properly set before them. There are brethren in every Conference who would most willingly do the same. We look forward to our camp-meetings for this movement to be perfected in each of our Conferences. Smaller Conferences, like Indiana and Illinois, can get along with a reserve fund of one thousand dollars; but such Conferences as New York, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota should have from two to three thousand dollars. None can feel the importance of this move as those who know the benefit it would be to our Offices of publication to have this indebtedness paid. When this is once accomplished, our tract societies will have financial strength that will enable them to do what they please in the missionary work. As our missionary army enters upon the autumn campaign of 1879, we confidently expect they will not only be able to wipe out all present indebtedness, but have a capital sufficient to advance all that is necessary in using ten thousand copies of the Signs of the Times in the missionary work, and supplying themselves with publications as needed in their various societies.