THREE THOUSAND SUBSCRIBERS EACH FOR REVIEW AND HERALD AND GOOD HEALTH by S. N. Haskell

Seventh-Day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Thursday, January 8, 1880

FromThe Review and Herald, Vol. 55, No. 2

THREE THOUSAND SUBSCRIBERS EACH FOR REVIEW AND HERALD AND GOOD HEALTH.

By S. N. Haskell

BY ELD. S. N. HASKELL.

We have reached an important time in the history of this work. The enlargement of the REVIEW marks a new era in its history. I have before me one of the first numbers of volume one of Present Truth, what is now the ADVENT REVIEW AND SABBATH HERALD. It is an eight-page sheet, six by nine inches, with two columns on a page, and was published semi-monthly. The first number was sent out in July, 1849. The REVIEW is now issued weekly in its present enlarged size. The question we wish to propose is, Shall its circulation be increased during the first quarter by six thousand new subscribers? Every one we have heard speak concerning this matter since it has been decided to enlarge the REVIEW, has thought that it might be increased by more than that number. We firmly believe that it can and will be done.

HOW THIS CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED.

A co-operation on the part of our ministers and tract societies could easily do this, and also give us six thousand permanent subscribers for Good Health. The report of the General Conference shows that we have one hundred and forty-four ministers and five hundred and ninety-nine churches. This does not include unorganized companies. We also have over twenty regularly organized State tract societies, with about one hundred and twenty-five districts. Estimating that only one hundred of these ministers are laboring in the field, and that they secure but ten subscribers for each of these periodicals, this would amount to one thousand each for the REVIEW and Good Health. Should the librarians from each of the five hundred and ninety-nine churches send in five subscribers each, and the two hundred and fifty district officers each ten more, for each of these periodicals, we should, during this quarter, have increased the circulation of both the REVIEW and Good Health by six thousand and five hundred subscriptions.

Now, is it unreasonable to expect this much from these parties? We are making an effort to encourage canvassers in every part of the field, and will not our ministers and T. and M. officers pledge themselves to secure, either personally or through the T. and M. members, the number of subscribers we have suggested for both the REVIEW and Good Health? If a man with a worldly object in view can in a few days instruct and inspire five men out of twenty-five to be successful canvassers, should not the officers in our army of missionary workers be able to encourage conscientious men and women to work for God and the salvation of precious souls, by obtaining at least twenty subscribers for these periodicals in three months? In any worldly business, if a man could not accomplish as much as this he would not be employed forty-eight hours.

The time has come when we should look upon this matter in a different light from that in which we have heretofore regarded it. Is there a minister or T. and M. officer who will not labor to obtain subscribers himself, and to interest and instruct in the same work others among whom he is daily mingling? Shall we have the three thousand subscribers as above suggested? I know our brethren and sisters are willing to do what they can, and if our ministers and T. and M. officers will heartily respond to this call, as we believe they will, a larger number of subscribers than we have called for will be obtained before April 1, 1880.