VIGILANT MISSIONARY SOCIETIES.
The meetings of the Society are opened with singing and prayer, followed by the reading of the report of the preceding meeting, after which 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 him 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 the 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 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 V. M. 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 if there were no Vigilant Society. Then the Vigilant Society report will show what proportion of the work reported by the District Secretary was done by the 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. POSTAGE ON PAPERS AND TRACTS.
Great care should be taken in wrapping neatly and securely, directing distinctly, and stamping sufficiently, all matter that is sent by mail; otherwise, much labor and means will be lost. If deficient in any of these respects, packages of papers and books find their way into some waste-basket or rag-bag, where there is little prospect of their accomplishing any good. Letters are frequently lost, delayed, or sent to the Dead-Letter Office for the same reasons. Librarians and individuals sending out large quantities of reading matter by mail would find it greatly to their advantage to have a medium size of letter scales. The present law requiring one cent for every two ounces or fraction thereof, of strictly printed matter, on our publications amounts to the following:— Our ordinary tracts and pamphlets, with light wrapping, require one cent for each 72 pages or fraction thereof. Signs and REVIEWS require one cent for a single copy, and one cent additional for each additional two copies. Count ½ cent for the wrapper, and ½ cent for each copy of the paper. Two copies will not go for one cent, because with the wrapper they weigh over two ounces. Good Health requires one cent for each copy, with ordinary wrapping. The Instructor, Stimme Der Wahrheit, Harolden, and Tidende require a trifle less than the Signs on large packages. One number of either the Instructor or College Record can be sent with one number of the Signs for one cent. The postage on letters from the United States to Great Britain and Ireland, Greece, Greenland, Holland, Italy, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Turkey, is five cents per half ounce. On books or papers, it is two cents for two ounces or fraction thereof. Postal cards can be sent to these countries by annexing a one-cent postage stamp. Postage between Canada and the United States is the same as to any part of the United States. Any writing on pamphlets, tracts, or bound books will subject the same to letter postage.