A Good Word From the South by W. A. Spicer

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 5, 1914

A Good Word From the South

By W. A. Spicer

It is characteristic of the enlarging work that items of interest that a few years ago would have secured the attention of all the denomination are frequently passing by with scarcely a paragraph calling general attention to them. The work has grown beyond the measure of an itemized record of progress. For instance, we have seen nowhere any general statement of the annual report of the Southern Publishing Association, presented in connection with the union conference meeting at Nashville. Reporting book sales from the Southern office during 1913 of $204,395, the manager’s statement gives us this paragraph, putting the publishing house figures in an interesting way:—

During the year we have sold 190,485 volumes of all classes, while we roll up the splendid total sales of 5,559,920 pages of tracts and pamphlets. Our retail sales have averaged $17,032.94 a month, or $3,930.68 a week, or $786.13 a day, which means we have handled 1,246 pounds of literature every working day of the year. To handle this volume of business has required 1,440 packing cases. Our total tonnage for 1913 has been 167 tons, making 13½ carloads of our literature which has been shipped out and distributed to the homes of the people.

Another encouraging feature of the report is that in doing this volume of missionary work the house itself made a financial gain of over $6,000.

This is but one side of the encouraging changes that have taken place in the Southern field during the last few years. The conferences are pushing forward their evangelistic work, increasing the constituency, and planning for yet stronger service in giving the message. In commercial and industrial development the whole Southern belt has won the title of “the new South” during recent years, and as we watch the developing strength and increasing activity among our conferences in that region, we realize that in our own work it is a new South that is forging steadily ahead in these times. W. A. S.