An Appeal by James White

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 28, 1864

An Appeal

By James White

IN BEHALF OF THE YOUTH'S INSTRUCTOR.

Christian parents and guardians, we appeal to you in behalf of the Youth's Instructor. This little paper has continued its straight-forward course, doing its work of love, for more than eleven years. Its object has been the instruction of the youth in true knowledge, to warn them against the dangers to which they are exposed, and to lead them to the paths of virtue and holiness.

This precious sheet has not descended to baby-talk, cat and dog stories, and the like, but, while it has been adapted to the capacity of youth and children, it has possessed an elevated, moral, and religious tone. Such a sheet is certainly worthy the patronage of all believers. Those who have not welcomed the Instructor to their homes have sustained a loss.

We plead for a wider circulation of this sheet; first, because of the good it is destined to do; and, second, the present circulation of the paper is not sufficient to support it, at twenty-five cents a year. With 3,000 paying subscribers expenses would be met. The present circulation of the paper is some less than 2,500. We sincerely hope that this paper will be sustained without raising the price. We therefore appeal to the readers of the Review to care for this little paper. This you can do in several ways.

1. Subscribe for at least one copy without delay.

2. If you have a family of several children subscribe for two or three copies. Then, when your children have read them, give all but one copy to your neighbor's children.

3. See that one copy, at least, is put into every poor Sabbath-keeping family.

4. Send a copy to that nephew, that niece, that cousin, and to all those boys and girls of your acquaintance who would love to read it.

5. And, finally, we would say to delinquents, Don't be guilty of owing twenty-five cents a year for the Youth's Instructor any longer, these times. Those who cannot and those who will not pay up now, may God pity. The first need pity for their poverty, the latter for lack of interest, care, and moral honesty.

God bless you friends, let the lambs be fed with heavenly manna. Let the lists of the Instructor be filled with good, honest, paying subscribers, and let all those apt to teach, contribute short, sweet instructive articles to its columns. Where are the Lord's ministers, whose work it is to feed the lambs as well as the sheep? Where are all those school teachers among our people? They teach the sciences to children with acceptance. God help them to adapt themselves to the work of pointing the youth to Jesus, and to Heaven. Where are the many Sabbath-school teachers among us? Sister Patten will be happy to hear from all of you.

Now, remember, the Instructor is a small sheet. It has no room for articles with long introductions, prosy style, and tedious terminations. First be sure you have something to say; second, come right at the subject, and clearly express your ideas in as few words as possible, and third, stop when you are done. Don't be wordy, while ideas stand in your article like mile-posts. God bless the Instructor. J. W.