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CIRCULATE THE "SIGNS."

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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Feb 8, 1892

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 18, No. 14.

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CIRCULATE THE "SIGNS."

By Elder Dan T. Jones

BY ELDER DAN T. JONES.

So far as we have been able to learn, through correspondence and from visiting churches, the SIGNS OF THE TIMES in its present form is giving excellent satisfaction. It is filled from week to week with a variety of choice, fresh matter covering all points of the present truth. The SIGNS was designed, from the time it was established, to be the pioneer missionary paper of the denomination. The design of the General Conference Committee, which now has the editorial management of the paper, is to have it fill that place.
The next important point is to give it the circulation that a pioneer paper should have, for unless it is placed in the hands of the people, all the labor and expense of preparing and publishing it will be lost. The pioneer missionary work should not be left to the few, but should be done by the many. By this we do not wish to be understood as advocating that those who can do much should curtail their work, for this they should not do; but what we wish to say is that every individual connected with our churches or Tract Societies should act a part in this work. The work is suited to the circumstances of all. The paper is at a price so low that none are so poor but that they can pay for one or more copies, and the work of wrapping, addressing, and mailing is quickly and easily done.
In order that all may get the benefit of the club rates and have a part in the work of sending the SIGNS, we would recommend the following plan, which we know is working well where it has been tried:—
1. Let all the papers going to a church or company be ordered in one club and to one address.
2. In making up this club, ascertain how many papers each individual member will pay for, paying quarterly in advance.
3. Let the librarian, or the one selected for that purpose, take a list of the names, with the number of papers that each becomes responsible for, and collect the money and remit to the publishers or to the treasurer of his State Tract Society, each quarter.
4. An effort should be made each quarter to increase the club by adding new names and by getting those who are already taking papers to take more if they are able to do so, and if any of those who have been taking papers cannot continue to pay for them, their papers should be dropped from the club.
5. Where it is practicable, weekly missionary meetings should be held, and the program laid down in the Home Missionary, or some other better suited to the particular local circumstances, should be carried out. At this meeting the papers should be made ready for the mails. It will often be found advisable for the one who receives the club through the mails to wrap the papers, using stamped newspaper wrappers, and taking care that the work is neatly done. This will leave only the addressing to be done at the meeting, which will save time and generally secure neater work.
6. Where the individuals do not take a separate copy of the paper for their own reading, they should reserve one copy from the club till they read it carefully. All should know what they are sending out; this will help us in praying for the success of our work.
7. A list of the names to whom the papers are sent should be kept on file, so that duplicates may not be sent.
8. It is very desirable, though not absolutely necessary, that missionary letters should be written to those to whom papers are sent. A postal may answer to notify the individual that you have sent the paper, so that he will not think it a mere advertising sample from the office of publication. But afterward a letter should follow, calculated to learn, in an indirect manner, the reader's interest in the contents of the paper.
9. Where parties to whom papers are sent are not corresponded with by those who send the papers, the names and addresses should be forwarded to the State secretary of your Tract and Missionary Society.
10. The expense of postage can properly be taken out of the fourth Sabbath collections for missionary work.
Other points will suggest themselves to those who engage in this work. If this plan or a similar one is carried out and our people all over the land engage in it heartily, we shall confidently expect to see great good accomplished. Here is a chance for all to do something. Should we not prove our willingness to do missionary work?