COLLECTORS' BAGS.-COMMITTEE CARDS.-BIBLE SUBSCRIBERS' CARDS.

NO. III.-COLLECTORS' BAGS.

These Bags are made of strong Brown Holland, and are about six inches long, and five inches wide. Two Bags are appropriated to each district; both of which are stamped, or printed, with the number of the district; thus :

"DISTRICT

No. 2."

One of the two bags is delivered with the books, &c. to the Collectors of the district, and the duplicate bag is retained by the Cash Secretary. The use of these bags, and the mode of exchanging them at every Committee meeting, will be fully described in reference to the "Fair Minute Book," No. xI. of this division.

NO. IV. COMMITTEE cards.

1. Many Associations adopt the plan of giving, annually, to every collector and officer, a card, containing on one side a list of the committee-days for the ensuing twelve months; and on the other, a few" Suggestions," similar to those inserted in the first page of the Collecting-book. The author would, however, respectfully submit, whether these cards may not be altogether dispensed with, and the expense, as well as that of Committee notices, be saved to the Association, by adopting the plan already recommended. (See No. 11. First Specimen.) The importance of economy, as far as is consistent with a due attention to order and regularity, has been already adverted to; and those who are really interested in the cause will find the information contained in their Collecting-books a sufficient monition, to remind them of a duty and a privilege. If, however, a card be deemed requisite or desirable, it is only necessary to add, that the customary size is that denominated " half-large" by

the stationers.

11. Whether the plan here recommended, or that of cards be adopted, it will be evident no official notice of the regular committeemeetings will be necessary. Such notice should be confined to special committee-meetings; and the less frequently such meetings are called, the better. As, however, they may occasionally be necessary, the form of the summons is given. (See No. XIV.)

NÓ. V. BIBLE-SUBSCRIBERS' cards.

1. These cards are of the size called "half-large," and of a strong though cheap quality. As many as appear likely to be required are given to the collectors of each district, with their books, &c.; and should more be required, the collectors are supplied on application to the Bible Secretary.

II. The author acknowledges, with pleasure, his obligation to the zealous and indefatigable Ladies of the Liverpool Branch Committee,

Observations on the BIBLE-SUBSCRIBERS' CARDS.

for this recent improvement, which obviates many difficulties, and furnishes a constant check to the Collecting-books. When collectors exchanged districts (an evil that should be guarded against as much as possible, for the poor love old faces better than new ones), or a new collector was appointed, the respectful but shrewd remark, "You are not the good lady that calls on us," frequently saluted her ears, and the production of the Collecting-book did not always satisfy incredulity. But this little card removes every doubt, by confirming the answer which the Collecting-book enables the new collector to give to the second question,-"Pray, Ma'am, how much have I got to pay up?" The feeling of confidence is thus transferred to the new visitor, who gradually succeeds to that respectful attachment which her predecessor enjoyed. Nor are these the only advantages which are derived from this simple invention. The subscriber shews the card to his or her neighbours, and confidence extends with a knowledge of the object. If a collector omit calling regularly, the inattention is immediately detected, as the card is shewn to the collectors of a neighbouring district. And finally, it gratifies the poor-a consequence which, alone, is an ample repayment for the trifling expense incurred.

III. The sum paid by the subscriber, at every visit, should be immediately filled in; and no money should be received without asking the subscriber for the card, that it may be regularly entered. When the Bible or Testament is delivered, a memorandum similar to that in the specimen is made, and the card remains in the possession of the subscriber.

IV. On the back of the card, the name and address of one or more of the collectors of the district should be legibly written, before it is delivered to the subscriber.

v. It will easily be perceived, that this card answers for twelve months, whatever be the time of commencing the subscription. It is only necessary to enter the weekly payments opposite to the month and day on which they were received, and to add up the total of each column. Should a second card be required, the total amount should be carried forward from the first. But this is rarely the case the habit of saving a penny weekly, is one that gradually strengthens and extends; and the subscription is generally doubled, or even quadrupled, before many weeks have elapsed. Many a Bible in Great Britain is increasingly endeared to its possessor, by the recollection, that the first penny subscribed, in order to obtain it, laid the foundation of comparative independence and temporal comfort.

FF

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Specimen of BIBLE-SUBSCRIBERS' CARD.-TRANSFER TICKETS.

1. The importance of this part of the system will be evident to those who have considered the habits of the labouring classes of society, especially in large towns. Either from choice, or from necessity, their change of residence is frequent; and great inconvenience has consequently arisen in carrying the regulations of the Society into effect. After several years' experience of the advantages of this plan, it is recommended, as the most simple and effectual mode of preventing loss to the subscriber, and trouble to the collector.

II. The tickets are printed on stout paper; their size is that of the annexed specimens; and a few of both kinds are given to the respective collectors, with their books and papers. Should more be required, they are supplied on application to the Minute Secretary.

III. In both the cases to which the following Specimens refer, the subscribers removed into other districts of the same Association . consequently the mode of proceeding in reference to such instances will be first considered.

When a Free Contributor or Bible Subscriber removes into ano

First Specimen of the TRANSFER TICKET.

ther district of the same Association, it is unnecessary for the Secretaries to take any notice of such removal in the "List of Free Contributors," or " Bible Book." But when the party removes to a place within the compass of another Association, an entry of the fact should be made, opposite to the name, in the proper book.

IV. In reference to the FIRST SPECIMEN-The collectors of district No. 2, having ascertained that William Hatton had removed to Broad Street, which is not in their district, made the requisite entries in their Collecting-book, and filled up this Transfer-ticket; which was put into their bag, and presented, with their report and money, at the next Committee-meeting. On calling it over, in its turn, it appeared that No. 7, Broad Street, is in district No. 12; and the ticket was accordingly handed to the collectors of that district, who were thus prevented from calling on him before the termination of the quarter, and reminded of doing so at the proper time.

v. The mode of proceeding with regard to Bible Subscribers' Transfer-tickets is somewhat different, and is illustrated by the SECOND SPECIMEN. The collectors having been informed by Elizabeth Day, that she was about to remove to Long Lane, made the requisite entry in their book, and gave her this ticket, properly filled up and signed; informing her, that she would be regularly called on by other Ladies of the Committee, to whom she should give this ticket. A duplicate ticket having been put into the bag, and presented at the Committee, was handed to the collectors of District No. 6, which comprises Long Lane; and being entered in their Collecting Book as a new subscriber, who had paid 1s. 3d., she was called on, in course, on the following Monday.

From the preceding observations, it will be evident, that an Association will require double the number of BIBLE-Subscribers' Transfer-tickets.

FIRST SPECIMEN,

FREE CONTRIBUTORS' TRANSFER TICKET.

Charles,' Plymouth,

LADIES' BIBLE ASSOCIATION.

DISTRICT NO. 2.

William Hatton, a FREE Contributor of 1s. 6d. a Quarter, has removed from this District, and now resides at No. 7, Broad Street.

Caroline Thompson, Collector.

18th of Oct. 1819.

N. B. The last payment was made on the 4th of October.→

Second Specimen,—and further Observations on the Transfer Tickets.

SECOND SPECIMEN,

BIBLE SUBSCRIBERS' TRANSFER TICKET.

Charles', Plymouth,

LADIES' BIBLE ASSOCIATION.

DISTRICT NO. 2.

Elizabeth Day has removed from this District, and now

resides at No. 21, Long Lane.

a Testament.

25th of Oct. 1819.

Has paid 1s. 3d. towards

Jane Brown, Collector.

VI. The mode of proceeding, in all cases where the subscriber removes from one to another district of the same Association, is thus clear and simple. But as the place to which the individual has removed may belong to another Association, in connexion with the same Ladies' Branch Society, the mode pursued in such case should next be considered.

1. The FREE-CONTRIBUTORS' Transfer-ticket is presented by the collectors, as in the former case, to the Committee, and is given in charge to the CASH Secretary, who hands it over, at the next meeting of the Branch Committee, to the Cash Secretary of that Association into which the contributor has removed; and she delivers it, as mentioned in the Fourth Observation, to the proper collector.

2. The BIBLE-SUBSCRIBERS' Transfer-ticket is, as in the former case, delivered to the subscriber, and the duplicate presented to the Committee; but the latter is retained and filed by the BIBLE Secretary. The counterpart being received by the collectors of the district into which the subscriber has removed, is presented at their Committee, and retained and filed by the Bible Secretary of their Association. At the end of the year, a little bill is furnished by the latter Association to the former; which, after having been checked by means of the duplicate tickets, is discharged by a resolution of that Committee which had received the first part of the payment.* All money thus received, is reported by the Bible Secretary, and entered, at the end of the District Collections, in the Cash

• Or the claims on all sides may be cancelled, by a resolution of each Committee to that effect, if the amounts be inconsiderable. In Associations connected with the same Ladies' Branch, this is strongly recommended.