Vigilant Missionary Societies—Why Needed.
By S. N. Haskell
THE question is frequently asked, "Why do we need a vigilant missionary society where there is a church tract society organized?" We answer: First, It is not usually practicable for the officers and leading members of our church societies, who are mostly brethren, to devote the attention and labor required to carry out our present plan of distributing reading matter, especially the SIGNS OF THE TIMES; and no others feel any special responsibility in the matter, unless it is made incumbent upon them. Second, It opens to the sisters a field of labor for which many of them are well qualified, independent of the general management of the tract society. Third, It gives system and order to this part of the work, which is indispensable if anything is really accomplished. OLD METHOD OBJECTIONABLE.
The old plan of gathering up names and having periodicals sent to individuals directly from the Office, without first learning whether those to whom they were sent would be interested or not, has serious objections. 1. There is a law forbidding publishers sending out printed matter at publishers' rates of postage to any who are not regular subscribers. 2. Many to whom the papers were sent were not interested, and never would become so; and a year's subscription was lost. 3. Two or three copies were sometimes sent to the same individual by different tract workers. 4. The individual simply paid his money, and had no further care or responsibility in the matter, and no burden of labor. By the present plan, the society or an individual subscribes for a club of from four to four hundred copies of our paper, and remails them to such individuals as he thinks would be willing to read. Three numbers are sent to one address, and then a letter is written. If the answer indicates that the person is interested, more papers or tracts are sent. But if no response is made, the name is dropped, and others tried. This plan has advantages over the old method in the following particulars: 1. It educates people to labor for others. 2. It lays upon each person a weekly responsibility which cannot be properly discharged without thought, planning, and much prayer. 3. It calls into exercise talent which would otherwise be useless to the cause of God. 4. The systematic workings of a vigilant missionary society prevent any of the copies of the SIGNS being left over in families, because they cannot find interested readers. 5. By this method, at least ten families will be visited by the SIGNS, where, by the old method, only one family would receive it. 6. It brings into the church a good moral atmosphere. The first questions that arise are, How many copies of the SIGNS can this church take? and how can we pay for them? A paper is drawn up, as follows: "We, the undersigned, do hereby agree to pay monthly the sum set opposite our names, for the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, to be sent to this church at club rates for one year, these papers to be used in the tract and missionary work. The amount pledged will show how many copies of the SIGNS can be taken by the church. One dollar a month will pay for eight copies. Where the members are few and so scattered that a regular attendance of five or six cannot be secured every week at some appointed time and place, a vigilant committee of one, two, or three is appointed to attend to the distribution of these papers. It is the duty of this committee to obtain a sufficient number of addresses, so that each copy can be used weekly. In such cases the SIGNS should be sent to one of the members of the committee, who should furnish copies to those who have pledged, if they are so situated as to use them. The vigilant missionary society is an arrangement entered into by members of the church, usually sisters in small churches, though all are invited to join. These persons meet weekly, and take the responsibility of seeing that all the copies of the SIGNS not otherwise appropriated are used weekly for the purposes designed. This organization can be effected in churches where six or more sisters can meet weekly at some stated time, to confer together and transact such business as pertains to their work. In organizing a vigilant missionary society, at least two officers are necessary, a president, and a secretary who shall act as treasurer. A vice-president, assistant secretaries, and corresponding agents may be added when circumstances render these officers necessary. For the benefit of those who are able to effect an organization, we present the following by-laws, which in substance are adopted by regularly organized vigilant societies east and west. ARTICLE I. This society shall be called the S. D. A. Vigilant Missionary Society of the ——church. ART. II. The object of this society shall be to secure the world-wide circulation of our periodicals and other publications, and to awaken and increase an interest in pure and undefiled religion wherever, and in whatever manner, practicable. ART. III. The officers of this society shall consist of a president, and a secretary who shall act as treasurer. These shall be elected semi annually. Corresponding agents may be appointed as the work demands. ART. IV. Any one who keeps the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus may become a member by a two-thirds vote of the members present at any regular meeting, and by the payment of fifty cents. ART. V. The duties of the president and secretary shall be the same as are common to such officers. The duties of the corresponding agents shall be to circulate tracts and periodicals; also to render aid by securing names and addresses of those who they think would be benefited by receiving reading matter or letters from the society. ART. VI. These by-laws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members present at any regular meeting. The meetings of the society are opened with singing and prayer, followed by the reading of the report of the preceding meeting; then any business pertaining to the interests of the society is in order. Addresses of individuals to whom the SIGNS may be sent can be handed in, cases of need can be brought up, those not taking our periodicals may be looked after, and letters which have been received during the previous week may be read. Then the SIGNS should be distributed among the members present, and the meeting closed with a season of prayer for special cases which may have come before the society. When the name of any person is reported to the society, according to Art. V., the president should appoint a member to furnish reading matter to, and correspond with such person. And it is expected of all members who may be designated to write or visit, that they should first seek the blessing of God upon the effort. All members of the society are expected to state any convictions that they may have concerning writing to, or visiting any particular individual. But nothing in the by-laws shall prevent any visits being made where the way may open, though appointments have not been made. It is also expected that all absent members, wherever they may be, will unite with the society in seeking the special blessing of God upon it and its efforts at the stated hour of meeting. During the week, the SIGNS distributed among the members of the society are to be sent out. After sending a paper for three successive weeks to the same individual, a letter should be written. If no response is made, cease sending the paper, and try others. Some might be interested by continuing the paper, but the probabilities are that they would not be; and as the world is full of people who have not heard the truth, it is better to give others an opportunity to investigate than to continue to send papers to those who make no response. Brethren and sisters living alone, or in company with others, but who are so situated that they can do nothing with the SIGNS themselves, should link their interests with some society that is in active operation. They should not feel that they can do nothing simply because they live alone. Many living alone can use five or more copies of the SIGNS themselves. Some sisters individually use fifty copies. WORK FOR THE SOCIETY OR COMMITTEE.
The work of these societies or committees, should be: 1. To find interested readers for the SIGNS and other periodicals, by correspondence and otherwise. 2. To correspond with all who they may have reason to believe will be benefited thereby, especially lonely Sabbath keepers. 3. To visit, converse, and pray with such families as we might suppose our Saviour would visit were he upon earth. 4. To become acquainted with each family in the church, and see that our periodicals are taken by them. 5. To see that those who are sick or destitute in the church where they belong, do not suffer for want of attention; and if not able to give relief themselves, to call the attention of others to the matter. In short, they should be vigilant committees indeed, to watch the inroads of Satan and make war upon him by getting the truth into his ranks by every possible means which is lawful in the sight of heaven. The following questions are frequently asked:— 1. "How can addresses be obtained?" Ans. From friends; from periodicals of all kinds; from corresponding agents. A successful method with some has been to correspond with individuals, stating that they were interested in a missionary work, and wished to send out religious reading matter, and then asking these persons to send them names and addresses. Some have written to post-masters for names. Addresses may be secured by every lawful means. 2. "Should the brethren join the vigilant society?" Ans. All are invited to join. 3. "Does money paid to the vigilant society constitute one a member of the tract society?" 4. "Is it necessary for every member of the vigilant missionary society to join the tract society?" 5. "Must members of the vigilant society individually report to the tract society, if they are members of that society?" Ans. Yes; just the same as though there was no vigilant society. Then the vigilant society report will show what proportion of the work reported by the district secretary was done by members of the vigilant society. 6. "Should the secretary be required to wrap all the papers, write all the letters, and perform all the general labor of the society?" Ans. No; this work should be divided among the members present at the meetings of the society. 7. "How shall the postage be paid?" Ans. Each individual should pay on the papers which he sends out, or it may be paid by donations. S. N. HASKELL,
President General T. and M. Society.