PASS-BOOKS AND REPORTING by S. N. Haskell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Thursday, May 13, 1880

FromAdvent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 55, No. 20

PASS-BOOKS AND REPORTING.

By S. N. Haskell

BY ELD. S. N. HASKELL.

OUR tract and missionary system requires every member of the society to fill out a blank report at the close of each quarter, showing the amount of labor performed during this time. From these individual reports a summary is made, which is read by the librarian of each local society at the quarterly meeting, and thus the labor of the society is shown. This is absolutely necessary to the prosperity of any tract society. If there is no labor reported, no experience related, it will be impossible to give proper instruction. In fact, the mentioning of commendable acts that result in good is following the example of Christ and the apostles. We should have had at least one book less in the New Testament had not the “Acts of the Apostles” been written. The New Testament would lose much of its beauty were its writings to consist only of doctrinal instruction. No individual is exalted by thus magnifying the work of God, but God is honored inasmuch as others are provoked to love and good works. By letting our light so shine, others, seeing our good works, are led to glorify our Father which is in Heaven.

In order to make out full and correct reports, each individual should have a pass-book, in which to make a record of the labor he performs during the quarter, and from which, at the proper time, he can very easily fill out his quarterly blank.

HOW SHALL THE PASS-BOOK BE KEPT?

In keeping the pass-book two features should ever be borne in mind by missionary workers. First, it should show every transaction with the librarian; and secondly, it should contain a memoranda of the member’s work. We would therefore suggest that in the latter part of the book, on the right-hand side of the page, the heading “Publications Drawn” be entered. Under this can be given the number of pages and retail price of tracts received from the librarian, with the date of drawing. This should correspond with the librarian’s record of “Publications Drawn.”

On the opposite or left-hand page, the individual should write the heading, “Money Paid to the Librarian,” under which should be entered only tract-society money; viz., membership fees, donations to the tract society including the “one-third,” and book sales, with dates of payment.

In the first part of the book under the heading, “Memoranda of Missionary Work,” a record should be kept of visits made, letters written, subscribers obtained for periodicals, papers sent out, etc., etc., with any interesting particulars connected with the same. The dates should always be given. These three records are all that is necessary, unless the individual buys books or subscribes for periodicals for which he is to pay at some future time. In this case a regular account should be opened with the society. Write the name of the society on both pages, with “Dr.” on the left, and “Cr.” on the right. Enter whatever you are to pay the society for on the credit side, and the cash, when paid to the librarian, on the debtor side.