Bulletin, February 1920

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Concerning the letter of January 13 regarding tlie book, Talking with the Dead, tlie procedure of canvassing has been outlined in tlie Workers’ Bulletin. It is the intention of this office to check the number of Ixioks ordered at 10 cents each by Directors with the number of subscriptions reported on the weekly report blank of subscriptions as taken witli Talking with the Dead book. Tlie cost of the book requires that the amount invested be returned in n subscription. It is" our hope that the new premium booklet will Induce many people to subscribe and thus make up, in the large number of subscriptions received, the amount invested in Talking with the Dead.

This book is to be supplied to the workers at 10 cents each. In accepting a book at 10 cents the - 'orker agrees that It shall be given as a premium witli a subscription, and not sold separately at that price nor given to a friend. For each copy sold separately or given away the worker agrees to pay the Director an extra 15 cents. Sold separately the book is to be retailed at 50 cents, if with a six months’ subscription, the two for $1.00: if with a four months’ subscription and Talking with the Dead, at 75 cents.

Regarding suggestions in the Wobkebs’ Bulletin about giving a copy of Pastor Russell’s Sermons as a premium with a year’s subscription together with a copy of Talking with the Dead, at $2.00; we are willing to make a special price to classes organized for The Golden Age work on the Pastor Russell’s Sermons until our stock of 15,000 is exhausted; namely, 35 cents per volume, carrier’s charges collect.

A thorough trial should be given the method of distributing samples first and soliciting subscriptions later. This best accomplishes the primary purpose of the work—the personal experience that each worker gets In connection with bringing the truth to the attention of others. In bringing the magazine to the attention of others, they should be granted the opportunity, not only of a hearing that there is such a magazine as The Golden Age, but of rending its various articles.

Tn this regard The Golden Age accomplishes ~nirr.. than the Bible Students Monthly. If thirty-five per cent of the copies of the Bible Students Monthlys distributed were read, or even looked over, It was an excellent percentage. But from what we are able to ascertain from reports that have reached this office, practically 85 per cent of the copies of The Golden Age distributed are being read. Practically all with whom a sample is left at least sketch it over. Our efforts are primarily to acquaint the people wirh The Golden Age as the instrument the Lord is using to announce the incoming kingdom.

Another item is the insertion of letters etc., in sample copies of The Golden Age when distributing them. We ask the Directors to see that not only the letter, but the spirit of the following rule Is followed. This includes all circulars, whether excerpts from The Golden Age or otherwise, all letters, canvasses, excerpts from the Salutatory, subscription blanks, cards, advertisements, notices of meetings, etc., unless authorization is received from this office.

Under no circumstances will this office sanction the insertion of local advertisements, leaflets, or other printed matter, in sample copies of The Golden Age for distribution. In the past the cause we love has suffered because of tlie indiscretion of some in this direction, and we urge all that there be no deviation from this policy. If an emergency arises that seems to call for a variation please take the matter up with us first.

Directors are neglecting even at this writing to see that the reports come in to this office, whether they have anything to report or not. Were we to press this Item of the work in accordance with its Importance, we would devote this entire Bulletin to It; but we trust that all will make prompt reporting, whether they appreciate its necessity or not.

Each of the blank spaces culling for a report on the report card should be tilled in. We Imv reduced the items to essentials; each one should be reported on weekly, especially the number of workers and the number of days each has devoted to the work during the week. These, with the number of subscriptions and samples distributed, are the most important features. To this office all tlie items are of vital importance.

Below we submit a report card projterly filled out:

Class Brooklyn, N. T. Report for Week Ending 1-31-

Class .Members Brethren....I7J............ Sisters....22o-------IN the Scbiptches, Scenario, Manna, booklets.

Workers Brethren......63.............. Sisters....I09 ....and Talking with the Dead that are sold as a

Canvassing

Days per Week

Territory

Being Canvassed

Kings County

Finished During Week Greenpoint

Report for Present Assignment

Total as per last

Report

Total this Week,

Total to

Date

Samples Distributed

Subscriptions with premium

Subscription without premium

IJfO

Studies in the Scriptures

Scenarios and Manna

Booklets

ZA

De

jUX

Cloth

Pa

Manna

a

Hell

Talking with Dead

Lord’s

Return

Sermons

J

11)

(i

Largest Number of Subs taken in 1 day by 1 worker......13. ...

Largest Number of Samples distributed in 1 day by 1 worker ............... SO ..........................................

Order for Samples

Standing

Orders

Additional Samples Needed

Decrease

Order

Total Samples Required

4«eo

Reports without the name of the class, or lacking the date of the report are useless to us. In the space numbered 1 to 6, after “Number of Workers devoting”, indicate the number of workers devoting 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 days of their time to the work. The report card should give the total number of copies of The Golden Age that have been distributed in the territory compiled from the workers’ last report; also rhe total number distributed during the week; and additionally the total number distributed up to the time of mailing the report, which would, of course, be the total to date of rhe samples distributed as listed on the last previous report and the samples distributed during the week. The same applies to subscriptions. On each report mailed, enter a new column for subscriptions taken with the Talking with the Head book, ns shown in the form. ' Enter also the number of each Volume of Studies result of canvassing for The Golden Age.

In the column headed “Standing Orders”, indicate how many samples you ordered of an issue for distribution. In the next column show the additional samples required this time; this

is affected by new workers entering the field, or other causes. If some have left the work, ami yon desire to reduce your standing order, indicate this In the column headed “Decrease Order’’, and show the total amount of decrease. Under the heading “Total Samples Required", indicate the total number of samples that yon desire of the next issue after making adjustments.

For us to adjust your order for sample copies it will be necessary that the notice for reducing

or increasing the order must reach* us by the dates listed below for the various issues:

Issue noted

February 4_____

February IS.. March 3.........

March 17........

March 31________

April 14... .....

April 28__________

liar 12.....

May 26...........

•Tune 9..........

June 23..........

July 7............

July 21...........

August 4.........

August IS.......

September 1...

September 15.

September 29.

October 13......

October 27......

November 10.

November 24.

December 8....

December 22...

Change, of Order to be made fry

—.......January 26

........ -February 9

--------February

----------------March 8

--------------March

.... . .........April 5

................April

-..............May

--- ............May

................Jun.-

................June

................July

........... July

---------------August 9

--------August 23

---------September 6

-------September 20

--------------October 4

---.......October 18

—.....November 1

-.......November 15

-------November 29

---------December 13

’W’'

“The Golden Age” on news-stands:—the last Bclletin recommended that a commission l>e granted tiie news-dealers of three cents on each copy sold, or 33 per cent on a paid subscription. It was overlooked that a commission of two cents on each one sold be allowed the worker distributing the samples. Hence, newsstand remittances should be made to this office on the basis of five cents a copy. Directors will have the responsibility of making the collection. If the worker desires to forfeit his commission and grant the news-dealer a commission of 50 ]>er cent on each copy, that is entirely his business. On magazines that sell for ten cents, news deniers are ordinarily allowed a commission of 30 per cent: and if one magazine grants a commission of 50 per cent, they push that magazine above others, because it nets a higher profit.

In the larger cities, where magazines are sold by newsboys, the Director should get in touch with these boys and arrange to have the I magazine sold through them. A commission of 50 per cent may be granted, and this would I effect the advertising of The Golden Age on the principle street corners, the same as other magazines now sold. If the newsboys get five cents for each copy they will give The Golden Age preference over other publications.

Directors who have not taken any steps

toward gettinb The Golden Age on news-stands will give this some special attention for the time being, and if they do not intend to handle it, kindly write this office so that we can take care of it. There is quite a large field to be

reached namely:

News-stands

Subway stations

Interurban waiting rooms

Newsboys

Grocery stores

Confectionery stores

News-stands in office buildings

Book stores

Music stores Hotels Elevated stations Railroad stations Stationery stores Drug stores B’lve-and-ten-cent stores Department stores Restaurants

As the following letter would indicate, one sister lias been successful in getting The Golden Age in practically every store in a town of 52.000 population:

“I called on all in the city that sell magazines, except two depots and a few drug stores on the outskirts of the city, which 1 intend doing tomorrow, I had the privilege of placing Tire Golden Auk in the largest hotels, interurban depot, drug stores, book stores, flve-and-ten-cent store, with the promise from the manager of the other Sve-and-ten-cent store that he would bring the matter to the attention of the general manager of the district. I just failed placing them in one drug store, and this man was willing to hai >e them, but he had an agent appointed for that wo . anti desired to take the matter up through his gent.”

I ‘egardless of when the magazines reach the nev s-dealer. or when they reach the Director, the f are not released for sale or distribution uni 11 the Tuesday before the date of the issue. By this we mean that if your shipment of The Goi den Age arrives Saturday, or Monday, the cop ms are not to become available to any one unt if the next Tuesday.

1 promptness is necessary especially in collecting the unsold sample copies of each issue. As soon as you are aware that new copies have be< 'n sent to the news-dealer, see that the stand or store is visited and the old copies collected am I used for distribution in the city. Suggest Io tiie friends that they buy a copy now and the di from various • news-dealers to encourage the‘>n to keep the magazine on the stand. When col lecting samples, see that the magazine has pr< >per display, and is not hidden among a lot of other magazines, thus keeping the people fr< >in seeing that the news-dealer handles it.

The Assistant Director’s card file of subscriptions, indicating the date of expiration of ea.-h subscription, should be watched closely. At 'out a month before a subscription expires the w irker should be directed to recanvass the sub-s ,-iber. On all renewal subscriptions a cornmis-s >n of 25 cents for a year’s renewal, 12 cents f • six months, 8 cents for four months, and G ( its for a three months’ renewal will be granted e ch worker. The subscription pads should be at,.justed to read: “Renew my subscription for one year to The Golden Age.” Additionally, the w> >rker should write across the face of the subscription blank the word Renewal, so that these m ight be properly charged to the class. In fact, D irectors, when handing out subscription blanks, should see to it. that about eight or ten blanks in the back of the pad are so marked, and ti ie worker’s attention called to these and their m-ie explained.

As heretofore stated, a premium is not to be given with a renewal.

In addition to your efforts, this office «ill mail a notice to each subscriber, advising them of the expiration of their subscription afid enclosing a card which they may mail to tins office and their subscription be entered and cjiarged to tiie class account. The card thus received will be forwarded to the class so that tliey can arrange to make collection. On all

BULLETIN

■

Golden Aye Sales Department

subscriptions so collected the worker will 1 * allowed the commission granted on a renewal < those he obtains ; but if the remittance is mailfl to this office with the renewal card, then, < course, there will be no commission due to tl e class, but we will, in turn, notify the Directo "> so that he may correct his card tile according!;

, I

The Pilgrim Brethren have reported >.* number of classes that have sample copies left

Unices for subscriptions, do not list the subscriptions that the remittance covers, but merely remit for the total number of yearly, six-months, or four-months subscriptions sent in during the week.

on hand which are being stored. Old sampld'8 copies of The Golden Age are useless. Peopie desire only up-to-date reading matter. Ords1' only the amount that you can distribute. SlioulM any copies be left on hand, dispose of theiR1 before the next issue reaches you, so that th’-'3

workers may use up-to-date material. Do nq-neglect then to reduce your standing order fcjr samples so as to lie supplied with only what car1 be used in two weeks’ time. .

The subscription list should jump forward by giving Talking with the Dead as a premium. The subject of spiritism is commanding worldwide interest for a reason which is obvious to us: that the spirits are no longer held in restraint, but, having reached the day of judgment, are released for their judgment. Consequently each worker, as the Lord’s ambassador, should attempt to place tlie truth on the subject in the hands of as many as possible, so that people may not lay their minds open to the seductive influences of these evil and malicious spirits. Millions are interested in the subject, and many will see the bargain of a year’s subscription and tins book for $1.50.

See that your name and address appeals on every communication, together with the nam“ of the class or News Bureau for which you are writing. It is evident that the contents of th® Bulletin are not thoroughly noted. Any itei1 of sufficient importance to be inserted in th® Bulletin should have careful attention, as the Bulletin anticipates questions. Many inquiries received here are answered by underscoring 1 paragraph in a Bullet.n and sending it to th£,.( inquirer.

We are unable to ascertain to what clas^1’ or News Bureau the subscription below shoul> ° be charged: z</

Mrs. Chloe F. Dearinger, Camp, Arkansas. ’f‘

Subscriptions have been received from th3 following towns, with no indication on the suf scription blank of the classes that mailed them! we do not know to whom to charge them. Pleas3

Some localities are ‘not responding to the sample distribution . Particularly is this so in the New England States. But as a whole, this method is preferable to canvassing outright, for the reason stated in the Workers’ Bulletin, and a thorough trial should be given before

reporting to this seem to> require procedure.

Alabama ..I

Arizona

Arkansas ..'

California ...

•jffice that the deviation

Colorado . . ..... .. ..813

Connecticut ...... .979

advise us:

Canaan, N. H.

Htkhart, Kansas Hobart, Okla.

Taunton, Mass. Watonga, Okla.

Gypson, Kansas Hanover, Pa. Ipswich, S. Dak. Watervliet, N. Y. Noble, Okla.

Delaware

r>. c. .

Florida

Georgia .......... .

Idaho

Illinois ....

Indiana ....

Iowa ...........................

Kansas :

Kentucky ____________ .

Louisiana

Maine J.

Maryland.......

Massachusetts

lo.cal conditions from' the general

Nebraska ........

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey................1451

New Mexico

New York .

North Carolina .........778

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma ______________.. .1322

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

The Directors are responsible for this, as the rules are that they have all subscription blanks stamped with the name of the New* Bureau, and with the number of the workers before they are given to the worker, and not tf depend upon the worker to fill in this informa’ tion. If the blanks you have given out have no: been so marked, arrange to supply the worker? with new subscription blanks, and recall to*' proper marking and stamping the ones now if the hands of the workers. When making remit

Michigan______________

Minnesota ...

Mississippi ..................297

Missouri .

Montana ............ ..301

Vermont .....

Virginia

Washington ..............1355

West Virginia

Wisconsin ............. ....772

Wyoming ________

Canada ...........

Foreign

May the Lord continue to guide and direct you, as you seek to serve the interests of his cause. By his grace, we are

Yours in his service,