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WATCH TOWER
BIBLE
AND TRACT
SOCIETY
Classes and Auxiliary to Date 294,244 Books
333,988 Booklets
JUNE
FIRST
NINETEEN
TWENTY-NINE
Colporteurs to Date 5SGt68S Books 401,066 Booklet*
IB S A Week Report, May 19 to 26
|
Number of worker* reporting |
Average number of hours per worker |
Total book* sold |
Total 10^ booklet* sold |
Total S$ booklet* ■old |
Total literature ■old |
Total purchaser* |
Average number salon per worker | |
|
Class e* |
7,041 |
8.93 |
46,824 |
77,301 |
30,909 |
155,076 |
77,329 |
10.98 |
|
Aux. Colp** |
470 |
19.00 |
8,391 |
10,358 |
3,096 |
21,845 |
9,279 |
19.74 |
|
TOTAL |
7,511 |
9.54 |
55,215 |
87,659 |
34,005 |
176,921 |
86,608 |
11.53 |
|
Rejj, Colp’* |
1,037 |
32.89 |
41,465 |
34,012 |
10,150 |
85,627 |
32,745 |
31.58 |
|
GRAND TOTAL |
8,548 |
96,680 |
121,671 |
44,155 |
262,548 |
119,353 |
What the Classes Did
7,511 Woi’kers in the Field
9.54 Hours
Big Sale on Bound Books
I USA Week lias come and gone. We are glad to tell you tliat the results have heeti beyond our expectation. The table shown above Indicates that we have just tormina led the greatest distribution of the Kingdom message that the United .^States has ever witnessed in So short a period of time. Thore hail been a greater number of workers in the field in the past, but never at any time had the number of hours been put in the service in so short a period as were put in during IB SA Week.
The total average time for uux-ilhiry colporteurs and class workers was 9.54 hours. Ill this. 7.oil workers participated, making a total of 71,651 hours, or nearly 9.H0i) dsli.1-bour days. During this period ,8fi.7<i8 dill'erenl. parlies purchased one or more books or booklets, in these purchases there were 55,215 hound books. This is more bound books than were sold during any four-wcok month this year. The same excellent results are evidenced in the sale of ten-cenl booklets. There were ■86.708 sold, which is more than were sold during any one month this year, with the exception of April, during which month 200 more booklets were sold titan during IBSA Week. Surely this is u marvelous record, indicating that the Lord's blessing was upon those who used their facilities to glorify His Name.
A comparison with last year’s May IBSA Week figures also is interesting. During the slime period last year there were 45.8.1.4 bound books sold, or 9.-101 less than were sold in JBSA Week Illis year. During IBS A Week this year we had 440 less workers in the field in the class service. Nevertheless, because of added zeal and m’l.ivity. the Lord blessed tlieir efforts in a larger distribution of the bonnd books. The sale of ten-cent booklets last: year was 00.885, against 87,659 this year, or 3.226 more than this year. Tim I wus doubtless duo Io the fmt tliat efforts were concentrated on the distribution el' Ilie live-book condnmi-tirni. There were 7.600 loss of Hit' five-cent booklets sold this year, making a total of about 10,500 Iwjoklels (Continued on page 2, column 3)
Auxiliary Results
Average 19 Hours Work Placed 21,845 Books and
Booklets
'file auxiliary colporteur division of the Lord’s anny tmmbarded the enemy with 8,391 books. 10,358 10c booklets, am! 3,096 r>c booklets. The tot.nl ammunition poured out was 21,84,j pieces of literature. When the call lo battle was sounded. 470 responded, mid these have reported as being on the battle-front for an average of 19 hours during the week. There were 143 ‘casualties', by which we mean that this number of those on the list have not yet reporter!. We hope tlml these will rush in their reports so that wo shall Know tliat they have not been lost hi "no man’s land”. Some of the literature was left with each of 9,279 prisoners in the enemy's camps.
Like tin- regular colporteurs, flic auxiliaries have been stirred with a burning zeal to “turn the battle to 1he gate” and have put forth a special effort in canvassing for the live-book coinbiiiatioiis, selling 927 of these, as compared w 11 ti 306 two-book combinations, the next; highest:.
A Quarter Million for IBSA Week
Biggest Sale of Bound Books Ever Made
’There were 262.506, vr over a quarter of a million, books am! booklets placed in the hands of the people during IBSA Week! That Is the result of the combined efforis of all the class workers and colporteurs. When you consider that ibis represents books placed during :i total of 105,762 hours in the actual canvassing by a total of 8,548 workers, you have n lit Ue idea of Hie extent. of the witness that has been given in this country during this eight-day period. If the Lord, had appointed 1ml. one person to do this work-, it would have taken him 57 years, 1:1 months mid 10 days, working 5 hours a day mid 7 days a week. In his wisdom he has poured out his spirit on all llesli so tlmt all of the anointed might have the privilege of giving the witness.
A lot.nl of 90,1180 bound books were sold, 121.671 10(i booklets and 44,155 5f booklets. As 119,353 people purchased the literature, flint
Bethel Family Report
47 Books and Booklets Per Worker
Had a Splendid Time
We feet that you would be interested in the report of the Bethel Family also during IBSA Week, Therefore we are glad to say that 184 members of the family were out in the service during the last, three days of that week anti wei-e able to place 2,239 bound books, and 4,960 ten-cent bookie Is and 1.365 five-cent booklets, or a total of 8.564 books and booklets. This menus an average of -17 books and booklets per worker. The family much appreciated this season of fellowship with the field-workers everywhere, The occasion was one of much blessing to them, as evidenced by the expressions of the different brethren at the conclusion of the three days Of field service.
Even though there were 143 who tor from three to four days out of did not report., the final results j the eight, this army of 1,037 plowed show a marked improvement over through muddy roads and weathered that which was done at tliia time the storms for an actual average of last year. Not having tabulated the'.32,89 hours. This is short of the full eight-day period for 1928, but: 140-tiour goal that was hoped for.
(Continued on page 2, column 3)
!would mean that probably at least | half a million riiJTerent people will now have the message in their home. Surely it is encouraging io see how the Lord Ims blessed “bis sons and his daughters” as they have carried out their divine commission.
We are particularly impressed with these figures in that. I hey demons! rale turn’ those who are. of the remnant are appreciating more find more their privileges of service. 'There Ims been more lime spent in tin1 field by the workers than ever
before. The regular mid auxiliary eofporteins have made records that will be difficult Ie equal, and the class workers have put in almost as much time as is customary for the auxiliaries. The result shows, therefore, that In hours spent per worker, Uris wn.s the greatest of all IBSA weeks. Tn 1927 there wore about 1.000 more workers in the field, with Hie result that the total of booklets sold was about 68,000 in excess; but 1:lie cloth-bound books sold were some 25,000 less than this year.
Pioneers Make Record
Average 32.89 Hours During the Week
There were 85,627 books and booklets sold by the regular colporteurs during IBSA Week. Of this number, 41,465 were books, 34,012 10c booklets, uni] 10,150 5c booklets. The largest number of colporteurs in the history of the church participated in tins great drive. Reports have been received from 1,037 so tar, and it is apparent that there are still n few more to be heard from, since we have 1,217 enrolled. If you are one of the 180 who haven’t reported, please hurry in your curd so that our records may be completed.
How these 1.037 did work! In
appears, country
prevailed
throughout the
spite of the rain which, it but we really arc elated with this figure, in view of the prevailing eon-ditions. it hut demons I rates again that those who really love the Lord will not allow anything to dlseour-age them from singing forth the honor of His name. Il was a beautiful song tlml: was sung, and 32,745 appreciated it enough to purchase some of 1.1 io lilernturc. Of 1he combinations sold, the five-book seemed to be the most popular; for tlie total number was 4,529. as compared with the 2,297 of the two-book combinations, the next best.
Now we should like to give you an accurate comparison of this year’s work with that of lust Maj’; but since the figures compiled for 1928 were for only seven days instead of eight, we m e unable to do so. However, when you realize tliat during seven out of the eight days of May IBSA. Week of 1928, 580 colporteurs instead of 1.037 participated and only 11.088 cloth-bound book-s instead of 41,465 were sold, we feel tliat: yon too will have much cruise for rejoicing. The IBSA Week ending September 1, 1928, was better than the one tn May, 1.929, but at that only 749 reported selling 25,451 cloth-hound books.
(Continued on page 2, column 4)
Rural Work, the Summer Campaign
Every Home to Get the Witness
cessity of buying more than one map for each county.
Another advantage derived from tins map is that in allotting a section to any ear or number of cars care can be taken to sec that there are sufficient homes on each road to keep the workers busy during the time allotted for the work. It should be made an objective for each driver to sec that the section of territory assigned to the car is completed in the time allotted. Of course, where weather conditions upset your plans this can not be followed out to the letter; but generally speaking, this method can be used to advantage. This colporteur says relative to this method of working rural territory; “We have been using the rural route map system as suggested in the Winter Colporteur Bulletin, and also the two-car and flag arrangement [described on page 11 of the same]. We all like it very much and have been doing thorough country canvassing in a systematic way.”
Another feature of planning your rural work is to carefully ascertain whnt the different districts produce, On account of the wide range of products and the great difference in climatic conditions. It is impossible l.o state in a general article like this just whnt would be the best season for working each rural section. But each director should make n careful study of his territory to see just what time of the year the farmers are most likely to have the money with which to oblain the books, In a general way, sections which are devoted to dairying and truck funning should be good to work in the spring and early summer, when the grass is green; for then the cows are giving plenty of milk and there is also a good market for early vegetables. Sections that raise wheat, oats and other grains should be good to work when the farmers receive money for their crops. In most sections grain is harvested in July and August. Corn, apples, potatoes, cotton, etc., are the full crops; and tobacco, which is cored after it is cut, is usually not marketed until November or December.
Of course many of the farms produce several different, crops; but if a study is made of the territory to ascertain when the farmer is most likely to have the money with which to buy, and he is called on then, It will be possible to place more literature; and this will also serve as an encouragement to the workers. The same principle applies to local industries also. If all conditions are taken into consideration and the workers are placed in the sections when the people are likely to have the money a thorough canvass should be made of the entire assignment at the best seasons of the year. Class workers can assist the director in securing tin's information by filling out the complete information on their workers’ slips.
It will be found that if consideration is given to these various points it will materially help in the distribution of the message in these sections; and the friends’ being able tn get better results from the efforts put forth will be a source of encouragement to them.
Order Blanks on Hand
We recently shipped to the different classes a three-month supply of order blanks Io be used for ordering literature. Some of the classes have already used most of these blanks. Where any more are required, an order may be sent to this office and we shall he glad to furnish more.
Maps Aid in Planning Work
The favorable summer weather has come at last and the ideal time for working the rural territory is here. However, many of the advantages available when working rural territory arc often lost, due to lack of careful ijla'nning and systematic study’ of the territory conditions. Therefore, in making your plans for this year, arrange to get cither a rural route map, as suggested in Special Colporteur Bulletin (Winter Edition), or a county map subdivided into townships, which can be had at the office of the county highway engineer (generally in the court house building of the county seat), or at some printing office for ten oi' fifteen cents. Sometimes these are handed out free as a means of local advertising. However, the post office maps are the best; for the others do not always show the highways and the homes. If the post office rural route maps can not be obtained, these latter will give you an outline of the different townships and their relationship to one another, which will be an advantage in planning your work.
Where the post office rural route maps are obtainable the service committee should take this map and carefully study the different roads, count the houses on the road and make arrangements for a sufficient number of cars and workers to work the different sections intelligently without duplicating or waste of time,
YOUR VIRGIN TERRITORY
The facts have demonstrated that each year a number of roads arc ignored because they are rough and generally hard to travel, but on which from twenty to fifty farmers are found to live. These are the best possible prospects for our literature. They are hardly ever canvassed by any of the firms who usually send their men out, due to the fact that they are so far from the main highway. Some colporteurs have been known to sell from one to five books in every home iu these “backwoods” places. Therefore, in planning for your rural work this year, give special attention to the people who live away back from the main highways, and see that they are worked during June, July and August, while the roads are in pretty good condition and before harvest work sets in.
THE MAP
A very good way to use these rural maps is suggested by a colporteur. "A driver’s guide” is made covering the portion of the territory that the driver is going to. work on any particular day or drive. This guide is made by pinning a piece of typewriter tissue paper to the county rural route map just over the route you want to take and then tracing off a map covering Hie section of territory to be worked. Put directions on it, with the regular dots representing the homes, school-houses and churches. Draw in all the cross-roads, in fact everything that appears on the original map. When this section is to be worked, give it to the driver, with detailed instructions showing him how to get to the part where he is going to begin work. If you have two Or more cars in that section of the territory, carbon copies of the section can be made for each driver, with instructions where to start and where to finish, so that one driver will not bo working the territory of another driver. This plan eliminates the ne
Special Colporteur Instructions
Colporteur Not to Serve as Stockkeeper
Our reports indicate that in some classes the stockkeeper appointed Is also an auxiliary or pioneer colporteur and in many eases the class and colporteur stocks get so mixed that it is next to impossible to know what belongs to the class ami what to the eoiporteur. This has worked a hardship to the colporteur and to the class. We request therefore that arrangements be made that the stockkeeper be some one other than a colporteur.
Who Is Entitled to Class Rates on Books?
When interpreting the January Bulletin regarding the number of hours necessary to get books at class rates some of the directors have gone to the extreme of insisting that the workers sign a card or a slip of some sort before they can receive the literature at class rates. It was not the intention of the Society that this should be done. It is up to each individual to determine whether he is spending on an average of three hours a week in the service or not. It is entirely between himself and the Lord. If any misrepresent the facts for the purpose of gelling the books al class rates without: complying with the time requirements, they are answerable to Ilie Lord, and not to any human Iteirig. Therefore, any brothers or sisters going to the stoekkeeper and requesting books nt class rates indicate that they arc putting in the necessary time to entitle them to such rates.
(Continued from page 1, column 1) less than hist year. But this is more than offset in the 9.401) bound books that were sold over last year’s figures. for each bound book contains approximately six times as much Information us the ten-cent booklet, and constitutes a more permanent witness. The report is encouraging also from the standpoint of the sale of bound-book combinations. There were 8,022 bound-book combinations of all sorts sold, against 20,797 single bound books. Practically half of the bound-book sales were eomliiiiatlons of two or more books. Therefore, from whatever standpoint this IBSA Week’s activity is viewed, it only emphasizes Ihe thought that the Lord’s hlessing was with his people.
Much could be said in favor of every feature of the work, but space forbids us to go into much detail In this Bulletin, There was only one disappointing feature in evidence, and that was that 91 classes did not report at all. 11 would seem that classes that are not sufficiently interested in the Lord's work to either report their activity or send in some explanation of why they were unable to cooperate with the rest of the church throughout, the earth during this special week are not sufficiently interested or active to be retained in the list of organized classes. However, we do not wont to cast ii shadow’ over Hie excellent results of IBSA Week by dwelling upon this feature; but: in fairness to the classes that did report we want to say that even the excellent results that were obtained might have been still bel l er if all classes Imd fully reported.
(Continued from page 1, column Hl only the seven, we can not make an accurate comparison. Nevertheless, w’e believe that you will rejoice to know liow much better you have done. During ihe seven days of
Remittances and Orders
Colporteurs have probably noticed that a new [dan tins been adopled recently of acknowledging with a letter all remittances received to be credited to their colporteur accounts. We are doing this so that you will not Imve to wait for your monthly statement to know whether or not they have reached this of-iic-e safely. In order to know where to address those acknowledgments, we ask that you be sure to give, at. the top of your letter, your full name, street or box number, city and state to which you desire the acknowledgment sent. Otherwise it is likely to be misdirected and never received by you.
ORDER BLANKS
Iu this connection, we would again remind the colporteur to be sure to use order blanks in making orders for books. It greatly simplifies matters here and aids in the proper filling of the orders. Also please remember to put your complete address at the top of the order. When you do not do this, shipments are likely to be sent: addressed to (General Delivery. The freight agent then sends the arrival notice io the same address, while you may bn looking for il to tie delivered to your residence or post office box. When you finally call at the depot, you find Hie books there with an additional storage charge to pay, if you cultivate the habit of putting your name and full address at the top of nil correspondence, il will prove to your own advantage ami will aid ns materially in giving you better service.
Some colporteurs wonder why they do noi receive report curds, when they jusl slate on their last-card that they are in need of more, ft is because they do not follow instructions and order on the special “order supply” slips which arc provided for that purpose and their request is never received by the order desk. In order to assure your receiving supplies which are needed, please always use one of the “order supply" slips.
(Contitined from page 1, column 4)
Some have worked very hard dining this week, hoping to be aide to report a lot of book's sold. Whether you actually sold many or only a few, we want you to know that Ilie effort which you have put forth in this great work is equally appreciated. After all, that which really counts is your love for the fiord which has prompted you to make this special effort. It makes ns very happy when we sec such a spirit manifested, and we feel that the sister who wrote us, “I’ve just com pletcd the most wonderful week I’ve had in my life,” expresses the consensus of opinion ; for it was, indeed, a wonderful week.
May, 1928, IBSA Week, 302 auxiliary colporteurs reported, as compared with 470 for the eight days of this year. These sold a total of 4,199, as compared with 8,391 for 1929. The com purl son with the sec-ond IBSA Week in 1928 is more nearly Hie same ; for the 4'52 reported having placed 7.595 books during the seven days. But there is still an increase over the peak of last year, which gives the auxiliaries their greatest ibsa Week.
The zeal with which you have entered into Hits special drive, giving almost i lo u I tie the amount of rime of your weekly requirement, is a real inspiration to us, and we are sure that the week has boon n happy one for yon.
