Instructions by John Norton Loughborough

California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists · Oakland, Cal. · Feb 11, 1875

Instructions.

By John Norton Loughborough

WE have entered upon the work of making a thorough canvass, if possible to increase our subscription list to the SIGNS one thousand copies before our next State quarterly meeting. In order to do this, with our present number of missionary workers the ratio of subscribers for each member will be about three. Almost any one with an earnest effort can get three persons somewhere to either pay for the paper six months or a year, or to consent to read it three months on trial, and advance the postage. All will not interest themselves or succeed in getting three subscribers each, so some will have to do more than that.

One brother, in district No. 3, made up his mind a few weeks since that he would get ten subscribers. He has already sent us seven paid ones, and thinks when he gets his ten made up, he shall strike for ten more. Who will do likewise? One brother has sent us sixteen new subscribers, part of them full pay, in the last six weeks.

We have SIGNS, prepared with supplements, to aid you in soliciting subscribers in parts of your district away from your churches. District No. 3, the only one we have heard from, has, by its director, ordered 500 copies of these papers to be used in that district. The director writes that he has 50 names himself to whom he can send trial copies. Wake up, brethren and sisters, now is the time to strike. Can we not be moved to action in this matter, when we see so many becoming interested by simply reading one copy of the SIGNS? There is not a week passes but we receive letters from parties, subscribing for the SIGNS, who, some of them, had got hold of only one copy of the paper.

Think up the names of your friends and acquaintances, mail them a copy of these supplement papers. It will cost you only one cent each. We are responsible how we use our talent of influence with friends and acquaintances we may have formed in the past.

I hope each district will be active in all these matters. I am informed by the State secretary that there are two districts that have not as yet even furnished her a list of their paid members. When are they going to get started in the work? Some are taking hold zealously and their efforts are crowned with success. It might be so with all. Who will try? J. N. L.