Survey of The work that is to be Activities accomplished through The

Golden Age, we believe, is making very good progress. There is no other magazine that has a record such as The Golden Age, so far as subscriptions and circulation are concerned. The subscription list is now over the 50,000 mark, with approximately 1,200 new subscriptions being received each day. We believe that a subscription to The Golden Age is more effective in the dissemination of the , message of truth in many instances than the placing of a set of books, the latter in the majority of cases being placed on a shelf, seldom, if ever, to be looked into, while The Golden Age, coming regularly every two weeks, is certain to be read more.

The statements at the Cedar Point convention as to the large subscription list expected seems to have left the impression that all that would be necessary would be to approach the people and find them waiting to hand out their money. We still anticipate that our hopes as to the list will be fulfilled; but as yet the people in general know very little of it. A worldly organization - -usually introduces a new publication through most extensive advertising, and to place it properly before the people may expend several hundred thousand dollars in newspaper and magazine advertising. Since the Lord has not provided the money to be used in this manner, ,we assume that whatever advertising is undertaken he wishes to be by the sacrifices of his 'saints: namely, their going from door to door announcing the message and introducing The Golden-Age to the people by word of mouth, ,'ofad in time it^tfill be mentioned to their neigh-^efR'apd f^lked^ibout in the community, gradu-• ajtjy-eiiueing a. dei^-nd for The Golden Age. i-- This^iSt-,v^wfc'«^»ti<odjicing the magazine Is • sometimes/t&Mfais; ^?tryiag^ paid not as inviting to some of the' trteijdS as ’galng from house to house ' and receiving" subscriptions. ; However, results are being obtained ’and in numerous dnStaiipes^pebpie, not being-ai»le to locate the canvasser who left the sample hay# written this office, sending in their subscriptions. The following are excerpts from some of the letters:

“Gentlemen: I have been favored with a copy of your new and splendid publication—the first copy— and so that 1 may not miss any of the great messages they carry, see that my subscription begins with the second Issue.”                C. C. F----, D. C., N. Y.

“Enclosed find check for $1.50 for Ths Golden Acs, one year. I happened to see a copy this week and believe, and have for years, what you say.”

B. S. D——, M. D„ Va.

“Am much Interested in your publication which I have happened to run across. Enclosed find 75c for a six months subscription. I enjoyed the article o» “World Has Ended”, and would like to have the subscription start with Nov. 12 issue If you can.”

E. A. S., Md.

“Enclosed please find $1.50 money order for which please send Golden Age for one year, beginning with No. 2 issue. I have No. 1 and I want to try and get all of them if possible. I am greatly Interested in your magazine and the truth you are trying to spread.”                                 J. W. P., Pa.

“I received the first copy of The Golden Aos yesterday and was so much pleased with it that at once I determined to be a subscriber. So you will please find enclosed one dollar and fifty cents for one year’s subscription.”                 F. L. D„ Va.

"Please find enclosed $1.50 subscription price of your magazine, Golden Age. Send same to my address. Saw ad in Wheatland World."

L. C., Wpo.

“Please find enclosed Post Office Order for one dollar and fifty cents for which send me The Golden Age. I received a sample copy and like it very much.                               E. E. J„ Va.

“Enclosed find money order for one dollar and fifty cents, to cover cost of subscription for The Golden Age."                          J. A. A., N. V,

, It is surprising to this office to note the numerous complaints of the public regarding many so called “leading” magazines at present being published. Large weekly magazines that attempt to discuss current events are not as well received as one might conclude from, the size of their subscription list. Furthermore, many of these “leading” magazines have ,a comparatively small circulation notwithstanding they have been in the field far t&hfwenty and thirty years. '                                               ’

Our subscription list should eventually mount up into millions, and we believe thht the distribution the samples, as outlined in the

Know Your     When canvassing for The

Territory        Golden Age thoroughly study

your territory. Note the various reasons given for not subscribing and what particular item seemed to be of sufficient interest to clinch the subscription. By cooperation in this way with the Director you cun assist Hie work in your community. The workers in one class have cards printed, on which are listed the various reasons why people did not subscribe, a check being made after the proper item each time a subscription is refused. At the end of the day the worker knows just how to improve the canvass for the future.

In one particular town it developed that out of 106 calls. 49 did not subscribe because they were Socialists; 9 because they had too many other magazines; and 23 because they were not interested. When people give as a reason for not subscribing the fact that they have too many magazines, attempt to assist them over their difficulty by showing them how different this one is. They merely conclude that they’ have too many, and never stop to reason just why they do not find anything of interest in the magazines they have. If they were interested they would read. Put the question to them, Why do you not read the magazines you have now-subscribed to? Did you ever stop to determine the reason? I believe it is because the ordinary magazine tells you what you already know, or else tries to force you to accept some things that you know are not true. You would read the magazine if it really gave you some assistance on your present-day problems.

Another objection might be that It seems to have too religious a trend. For example, one colporteur writes us: “An insurance agent, thinking I represented some church teaching, said it was the church teaching that brought the trouble upon the world. He was a believer in Darwinism and became quite excited as he talked about the way the priests and preachers ₄had fooled the people.” This man really was in trouble and needed some assistance, and going to those he thought qualified to aid , him, he received a stone instead of bread.- Can he be blamed for concluding that The'Golden Age is merely another magazine along the same line? Certainly not.

The people are realizing now more than ever before that Pastor Russell was a reformer along religious lines. For this reason it is to be expected that they would desire more Information on the subjects about .which he taught. As was stated in the. last Bulletin, we recommend to colporteurs that they make use of this publicity.

In fact, tell them that you are canvassing for Pastor Russell’s Studies In The Scriptures, or that the magazine enlarges and assists those desiring to read and understand Pastor Russell’s books. A colporteur writes us from New York: “Jinny people ask when I tell them about the magazine, ‘Is it Pastor Russell's teaching? ’ And It is only rarely now that I find people prejudiced. Yesterday 1 found a young man who was interested. He was a Catholic, but did not believe their teachings. He heard of the Studies lx The Scriptures and ordered them, and has been reading and enjoying them very much. Several of the subscriptions I have taken are from Catholics.”

Along the same line,, the preachers are making capital of the brethren having been in prison, endeavoring to mislead the people and have them • believe that they were placed there because they were guilty. We learn of one incident where, after a sister left the sample copy, the people went to their preacher, who, of course, identified it as ‘Russelllsm’ and prejudiced them with the story about the brethren being in prison. When the sister called again the people told her that they did not care for the magazine. Our thought is that if, when introducing the magazine, the sister had said that it was edited by these men, she would have had the advantage of having told her side of the story first, and forestalled inquiry from the preacher. In this connection, a sister writes us from California: “These last two names refused to subscribe at all until I told them the publishers were the men imprisoned for loyalty to the truth as brought out In The Finished Mystery.” If the truth of the matter were known, the people would see that the reason other ministers were not imprisoned is because they do not teach the Bible.

The statement in the canvass about not taking up a collection immediately identifies the canvasser to the majority of people. One colporteur writes us: “Regarding the clause about the collection: I have found it very advantageous. I felt a little doubtful about it at first; but I find that when it is mentioned to the people they are either amused or a look of disgust 1 isses over their faces, whereupon some begin to tell us about the churches cpllectlng ten percent of their income, or other similar things.” A brother writes us from Virginia: “When the truth is given to the people, showing how they have been bamboozled by churchi^nlty regarding money, they certainly appreciate it. One woman remarked that she had given her last penny; that she had previously thought she had to give it or be roasted hereafter.” The clause in the canvass about the collection, to our minds, is a very effective one, and the people should be left under no misapprehension as to your position in this inattei*.

One source from which we can gain some knowledge ns to how the battle is progressing is by observing the activities of Babylon. As stated

in the Third Volume: “It will probably be in an effort at self preservation on the part of Babylon (Christendom), when she sees her power in polities, priestcraft and superstition waning, that the work of truthspreading will be stopped as detrimental to her system.” Consequently, if we see indications along this line we may know that the spread of the truth is gaining momentum. Wo quote part of a letter received from Ohio:

“The Presbyterians and other churches have been conducting a regular campaign against us. They have had a Hebrew Bible teacher (?) here for a week, ami the evening before he left he preached against the I. B. S. A., saying that everything we teach is lies ; that there is a place of eternal torment. I then tried to advertise The Golden Age in our home paper, and they refused to take anything from us whatsoever, even turning down the paid advertisement, because it would advertise ‘Kussellism,’ of which they (the Presbyterians) did not approve. However, the opposition Is not keeping us from taking subscriptions, for out of ten calls I nave taken five subscriptions.”

A sister in Pennsylvania had quite an experience. While she was canvassing for The Golden Age men and women congregated in the street, taunting and jeering her, one woman going in advance of the canvasser and warning the people as to what she was representing, telling them to have nothing to do with it. However, two persons subscribed forthwith.

Only when an organization is hard pressed will it resort to such tactics, and it is not surprising to us when we see those who pose as being very* ardent Christians and believers

. in the teachings of the Lord resort to the methods of the Adversary to gain their ends, i even as indicated in the Scriptures. Though this opposition Is very rife in some places, yet we believe that here too there is an advantage in approaching the people and letting them know what you are canvassing for. If you tell thhm that you are canvassing for Pastor Russell’s Studies In The Scbiptukes and they bring up some words of protest, then, knowing wherein they oppose, you can overcome their opposition. These Instances are in localities where the people have not progressed to the point of true Americanism, to think for themselves, but are - letting the clergy element think for them and practically tell them what to do; they are^-closing their eyes and opening their mouths and swallowing whatever the clergy put therein.

Colporteurs in some localities are meeting with excellent success. A brother canvassing in Virginia writes: “I went to work Thursday, took a subscription in the first house, and have averaged one

every three houses, fine man Scenario, but did not trust to

getting the journal. The next morning he sent word to me with his boy to come back and get the subscription. I found he neighbors in and read aloud half in one evening.” The Director classes in California writes: a year. Whereas The Golden a year. A brother writes us “That makes just thirty-six three hours’ work.”

This office has thus far

Duplicate of sub blanks should be Assistant Director.

Orders for supplies should be kept from subs.

Kame and date of paper missing.

Items not reported on.

Is not accorded Colporteur rates.

Entered on regular sub pads instead of listing

Name and address of complaint not given. Samples should be mailed locally.

Remittance received, subscription missing. Remittance short.

Check not enclosed. Check not indorsed. Subscription missing. Name and address illegible. Address incomplete Post Office omitted.

No such Post Office in State. Mail evidently addressed care of another Post Office.

Is not name of town and Post Office different? No such town on map.

No- address given.

Do not accept subscriptions dating from the first issue. Such requests can no longer be granted. Complaints of non-receipt should lie made to the Assistant Director, and not to this office. He, in turn, will write this office.

Only about one-third of the classes organized for the work are reporting weekly, as requested. In our previous activities it has been demonstrated that this fault lies more directly with the workers not supplying the Director with the proper information. We ask you especially io cooperate in this regard, as it is essential chat we have this information in order to properly direct the work. Dor instance, we are desirous of knowing how many workers are actually engaged in the field, which cannot be done if there is neglect in this matter of reports. Before writing this office for instructions or information, consult with the Director. Your questions may be covered in Instructions mailed to him.

Men being out of employment due to the coal situation and steel strike takes such out of the market ft>r The Golden Age. However, a sample copy of The Golden Age should be left with such, and possibly they would be willing to pay 10c each for a copy every other week, or, if the intejest is ripe, and they do not have the money $b for The Golden Age, you can arrange tto teave.% sample with them every other week.

Weekly report not received, erder for sample eepiee -Us* isfinils.

TJbring thoughts .into captivity, that the people ^might glorify out heavenly Father