FAMILY LIBRARIES by Dudley Marvin Canright; S. B. Whitney; G. G. Rupert

The Seventh-Day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · December 11, 1879

FromThe Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 54, No. 24

FAMILY LIBRARIES.

By Dudley Marvin Canright; S. B. Whitney; G. G. Rupert

The undersigned, having been appointed by the action of the General Tract Society as a committee to consider the matter of a more general circulation of our denominational works among our people, would submit the following thoughts and suggestions:—

1. The importance of the subject. We are all familiar with the ancient adage, “Knowledge is power.” But this is not all. Knowledge is one of the fundamental principles of Christian experience and character. In enumerating these principles, Peter places this the third in the list. “Add to your faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge.” 2 Pet. 1: 5. Now, as we understand faith to have a specific signification and to imply confidence in the present truth, so also we must consider knowledge as implying an understanding of the principles and doctrines of the present truth. Viewed in this light, the importance of this subject cannot be overestimated. Our work is the greatest, most solemn and important, ever given to the church; we have the highest, grandest destiny ever offered to mortals to work out, while the perils and dangers surrounding us are the most imminent and terrible to which human beings were ever exposed. The best safeguard against danger is a knowledge of its existence; the best guarantee of success is a thorough understanding of that which will secure it. And all this has been especially provided for in the production of our works. Prepared expressly to elucidate the peculiarities of our faith, written in a simple, clear, yet forcible style, and offered at a price to bring them within the reach of all, they unquestionably constitute the most efficient means, if rightly used, of making our people intelligent relative to present duties and dangers. It must therefore be the duty of all our people to provide themselves with this efficient means of improvement to the extent of their ability.

Parents should feel the responsibility resting upon them respecting their children in regard to this matter. We have met with young people whose parents were Sabbath-keepers from the time their children were small, who were almost as ignorant of the present truth as those who have never heard of our people. Such things should not be; they need not, would not be, if parents would provide themselves with our published works, and then do their duty in studying them themselves and faithfully instructing their children from them as they ought. But the matter does not stop here. We all have neighbors, friends, and relatives, that occasionally come to visit us, and all ought to have a good assortment of our publications to lend to such as may become interested to learn more fully our views. And here we would suggest, that, if we are interested in this matter and become more intelligent upon our faith, our conversation will be better calculated to create in the minds of our friends an interest in the truth.

2. The plan to be adopted. In the list of our publications the writings of Sister White stand first, and every family should have them complete; but as a special effort is being made to place these in every family among us, we would now call attention more particularly to our other works. As to a plan, we recommend the following:—

Let every family, so far as possible, get a complete set of our bound books; viz., History of the Sabbath, Thoughts on Daniel, Life of Wm. Miller, Thoughts on Revelation, Constitutional Amendment, Sanctuary and 2300 Days, Bible from Heaven, Nature and Destiny of Man, Life of Capt. Bates, Science and the Bible, U. S. in Prophecy, and Thoughts on Baptism.

These constitute a complete library of our faith, and could be put up in boxes in neat style and sold at such discount as the Publishing Association can afford. Those who have any of the above works can obtain the balance at a proportionate cost. We would urge our people everywhere to provide themselves with this full set, even at a sacrifice. The cost will probably be about ten dollars, including boxing; and there are few but that can save that amount in the course of the year for this purpose. But for those who really are not able to procure these we would recommend the following list of pamphlets; viz., Sanctuary and 2300 Days, Sermons on Sabbath and Law, Thoughts on Baptism, State of the Dead and Destiny of the Wicked, Faith and Hope, U. S. in Prophecy, Modern Spiritualism, Ministration of Angels, Atonement, Three Messages, Spirit of God, Two Laws, Seven Trumpets, Matthew Twenty-four, and Truth Found.

The above selection presents the prominent features of our faith, and will be found a valuable one. The cost will be only about three dollars.

Again would we urge upon our brethren everywhere to procure these books. We cannot afford to go without the instruction they contain. Let those who are able get both sets; but by all means let every family procure one or the other, not to ornament the shelves of your bookcase simply, but that you may become more intelligent upon the great truths of this time, and thus be better prepared to get the light before others.

D. M. CANRIGHT, S. B. WHITNEY, G. G. RUPERT, } Committee.

The libraries named above will be put up in heavy cardboard boxes, and will be ready for sale in a few weeks. The price of the books named in the first list is $10.15. Each book will have pasted on the inside of the first cover, a printed slip with blanks in which the purchaser can write the date of purchase, the library number, and the name and address of the owner; and a note to the reader to return the book to the owner as soon as read. These slips and the box will cost 35 cents, bringing the total value to $10.50.

The price of the smaller library, including the box, is $3.00.

We shall ship these in quantities to State T. and M. societies, from whom they can be ordered through the librarians. We recommend that those buying complete libraries be allowed 20 per cent discount on the large library and 10 per cent on the small one.

This reduces the expense of the large library to $8.40 net, and the small one to $2.70. Who cannot afford a library? Of course, these discounts cannot be given to those taking only a part of the library, and thus breaking the set. PUBLISHERS.