Questions by John Norton Loughborough

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Jun 24, 1875

Questions.

By John Norton Loughborough

G. W. M., of Dist. No. 2, inquires: "Are business agents expected to collect on vol. 1 of SIGNS, or for vol. 2?". Ans.: On both. First, let business agents obtain all they can from those whose figures are less than the present date, 1-32, and if any wish to pay in advance it will be most thankfully received. It will take sixteen numbers more, however, to carry us to the end of this volume of forty-eight numbers, and $2.00 will carry the 1-1s to 2-1.

J. D. P., of Dist. No. 1, asks: "How does the SIGNS come when the T. and M. Society pays for it? Can it be sent the same as the Review at half price?" Reply: Every number of the SIGNS actually costs $2.00 per year. All papers taken by the T. and M. Society, whether back numbers to distribute or whether sent to names of individuals, are, in cases of subscribers, $2.00 a year or four cents for single papers.

The Review is furnished at half price on this wise, 4000 copies at $2.00 per year pays the expenses of those copies. After 4000 copies are printed at $2.00 each there is no expense on the next thousand for setting type. So the 5th, 6th, or 7th thousand will cost only $1000 dollars, or $1.00 per year for each copy. When the SIGNS' list has 4000 subscribers paying $2.00 per year, then we can furnish any amount above that at $1.00 per copy for a year and meet expenses. As it is, we say, Let those have the paper who wish to read it candidly. If they or their friends pay all or half towards it, all well. The balance of cost must be made up by donations from some source. Get what you can towards the paper, but stop none that are being read with interest and profit.

But in the matter of furnishing the paper by the T. and M. Society we must go according to our Constitution. 1. All money received by Librarians for memberships, book sales, and donations, is to be paid to the director, and passed over by him to the State T. and M. treasurer. In case papers are furnished by the T. and M. Society, it is considered by the board of directors at the State quarterly meeting. All such names should be reported upon to them. I enter the name you mention as one. If this course is pursued it will tend to save confusion in T. and M. accounts.

Art. V., Sec. 6, of our Constitution, as published in SIGNS, No. 8, reads: "General quarterly meetings shall be held under the direction of the board of directors, at which time they shall decide upon the cases of those who may be thought to have claims upon the widows and orphans' fund, or may be worthy of receiving the periodicals free ; and all other business of importance that relates to the Tract and Missionary Society." J. N. L.