The publishing work of the S. D. Adventists has grown to strength and great efficiency from a small and humble commencement. The first volume of the Review was printed upon an ordinary hand-press, at Paris, Maine, in the year 1850. Patrons were then so few that no subscription price was given, the paper being supported by donations from the friends of the cause, who were generally poor. The most rigid economy was necessary that it might maintain an existence.
The second volume was printed at Saratoga Springs, N. Y. The growth of the cause was348slow. That which was gained in numbers was accomplished by great sacrifices and incessant toil. The accession of two or three preachers, and writers, and a corresponding increase of patrons, improved the condition of things; but up to this time the terms for the Review were gratis, the paper still being supported by donations.
May 6, 1852, the first number of volume three was printed at Rochester, N. Y., with material donated by our people. The cost of hand-press and types was seven hundred dollars. The present terms of the Review, two dollars per year in advance, were first made in June, 1855. By this time the paper was self-sustaining. The office remained at Rochester until October, 1855, when it was moved to its present location, Battle Creek, Michigan.
From this point the especial blessing of God attended the work, and as men were raised up in all parts of the field to proclaim the message of present truth, there was a more rapid increase of supporters; and it was soon seen that the hand-press was insufficient to supply the demand for our publications.
In 1857 a very encouraging change took place in the publishing department of our work. Twenty-five men were found in our feeble ranks, who cheerfully donated one hundred dollars each, for the purchase of a power-press and engine, which were put in successful operation in our wooden building, erected in 1855, the limited dimensions of which were 22 by 30 feet. This printing machine was then regarded the best for fine work. The excellent service it has done the past twenty-three years has contributed much to the reputation which the Review Office has earned of turning out the best printing done in the State.
Printing by steam was an important event in the history of our publishing work. The circulation of the Review and Youth’s Instructor increased rapidly, new works were published, and new editions of those in print were issued. The building then occupied, which at first, before the introduction of the steam-press, seemed extravagantly large, soon proving to be too small for the work, an adjoining building was rented as a store-room of our publications and printers’ stock. The pressing need of more room, and the inconveniences of the rooms then occupied, led to the conception of the plan, and the erection of the first brick building, two stories high, in the form of a Greek cross, the main portion 26 x 66, the transverse section 26 x 44, as here represented. This building was located on the site of the first, at the south-east corner of Washington and West Main Streets. The plan of the building was not copied from any other. It was originated for the work to which it is so admirably adapted, the light pouring in through its ample windows on all sides of editors, compositors, pressmen, folders, and binders.
CITY EXPRESS OFFICE
Up to this time we had been the legal proprietor of the publishing house, and sole manager of the work. We enjoyed the confidence of the active friends in the cause, who trusted to our care the means which they donated from time to time, as the growing cause demanded, to build up the publishing enterprise. And although the statement was frequently repeated through the Review, that the publishing house was virtually the property of the church, yet as we were the only legal manager, our enemies took advantage of the situation, and, under the cry of speculation, did all in their power to injure us, and to retard the progress of the cause. Under these circumstances we introduced the matter of organization, which resulted in the incorporation of the S. D. Adventist Publishing Association, according to the laws of Michigan, in the spring of 1861.
But there were those among us who did not take in the situation, and realize the embarrassing circumstances under which we were placed. Neither did they see the importance of order and organization in the church of God. And in their mistaken zeal, fearing that the S. D. Adventists were joining their hands with the world in forming a legally incorporated association, they gave their influence against the efforts which we were making to shift the financial responsibilities of the publishing house from our weary shoulders into the hands of an organized body. For a time this had its influence; but our good people soon saw the necessity and importance of an association to manage the rapidly increasing publishing work. And they came promptly and nobly to the rescue with their means, and immediately took stock to the amount of nearly $30,000.
While the discussion of the subject of organization was going on, the faithful friends of the cause, who gave us their confidence and sympathy, urged money into our hands in advance, to be invested in the stock of the Association, when it should be incorporated. This money we deposited with two brokers at Battle Creek, who were then paying ten per cent interest on deposits. In the advancement of the cause of the last message, God’s providential care for the means consecrated to his cause by his trusting people has been manifested all the way. We give one marked case, with which we were connected.
While on a western tour in the autumn of 1860, we stopped at the house of Brother H. Patch, of Markesan, Wis., for the night. And while at family prayer we had a presentiment that our babe, then six weeks old, was sick. He appeared lying in his mother’s lap, with head and face terribly swollen and inflamed. We immediately wrote to Mrs. W. that all was not well with the child. When she received the letter, three days later, and read it with the apparently healthy child on her lap, she stated to those around her, that if husband were there he would not have faith in his presentiment. But that night the bed was dressed with damp sheets, and the next morning the child was sick with erysipelas, affecting first the head and face.
Now we will go back in this narrative to the house of Brother Patch of Wisconsin. That night we dreamed that the brokers with whom we had deposited the money for the Office, were selling shop-worn shoes in an inferior store. And as we saw them we exclaimed, They have come down! These words awoke us, and for a moment we felt a little concerned for the Lord’s money which was in their hands. But soon352both the dream and the presentiment passed from our mind.
We had an appointment for a two-days’ meeting at Monroe, Wis., and one the following week at Clyde, Ill. We filled the appointment at Monroe the next week, and then passed on to Clyde, and put up at the house of Brother Wicks. As we entered the house, Brother R. F. Andrews, who has since entered the ministry, handed us a telegram from Mrs. W. stating that the child was at the point of death, and requesting us to return home immediately. We then stated to those present that we were prepared to receive the news, that God had shown us the sickness of the child while at the house of Brother Patch. We were so confident in this matter that we told Sister Wicks that she would hear from us that the child’s disease was in its head and face.
When we returned home we found the child lying in its mother’s arms, in the same posture and condition in which it passed before our mind while bowed before the Lord at the house of Brother Patch at Markesan, Wis. The child lived four weeks. The funeral was in the forenoon. In the afternoon we went to the Review Office, and as we stepped over the threshold, the presentiment and the dream flashed before our mind. We immediately called those with whom we were associated in the publishing work, and related to them the dream and the presentiment, and stated that God had shown us in a figure that the money in the hands of the brokers was not safe, and that we should immediately draw it, which we did to purchase stone, brick, and lumber for the new building.
The first of July we made a tour east, stopping at Roosevelt and Buck’s Bridge, N. Y. The day before we left we drew what remained of353the principal and interest. When we reached the place of our second appointment we put up at the house of Elder Byington, where we received a note from his son, a printer in the Review Office, that the day after we left Battle Creek, these brokers both made an assignment. At that time not less than fifty thousand dollars from the citizens of Battle Creek and vicinity was in their hands on deposit, and no dividend whatever has been paid them.
Many at Battle Creek knew that we had deposited with these men, and they supposed that we had lost as others had done. And on our return from the east the question was frequently asked us, “How much did you lose by these men?” We had the pleasure of responding, “Not one dollar.” “Well, you were lucky,” was the frequent remark. The providence of God had cared for this investment that had been solemnly dedicated to the cause. And as we often related the foregoing facts, we felt justified in making the statement, that God sent his angel to warn us in season to secure the means which had been devoted to his work.
In 1871 a second building of the same size and form as illustrated on page 349, was erected to meet the wants of the increasing business.
And in 1873 a third building of the same kind was built for the same reason. These all stand, side by side, opposite the public square and the tabernacle, on the corners of Washington and West Main Streets.
In 1878 the first and third buildings were united by a four-story building, as shown on the following page. In the last-named building is located the bindery, furnished with modern machinery to do all branches of book-binding. In these buildings we have an aggregate354of twenty-seven thousand square feet of floor space, which is occupied in the various branches of editing, printing, folding, book-binding, electrotyping, stereotyping, mailing, and shipping. Including all departments, it is the best equipped printing office in the State of Michigan.
The different periodicals issued by the Association, the titles of which are given below, have an aggregate monthly circulation of 83,534 copies.
REVIEW AND HERALD
(weekly),
6,104
YOUTH’S INSTRUCTOR,
“
8,704
“
“ (monthly)
1,575
GOOD HEALTH,
“
5,000
COLLEGE RECORD,
“
3,929
German paper,
“
2,000
Swedish
“
1,000
Danish
“ (semi-monthly)
1,265
The S. D. A. Publishing Association issues one hundred and fifty religious publications in English. These vary in size, from a four-page tract up to a volume of 528 pages. Of the smaller works, the Association publishes fourteen in French, twenty-one in German, thirty-nine in Danish, and twenty-three in Swedish. The Association also prints for GOOD HEALTH, twenty-nine health publications.
Most of these works have been written during the last twenty years by different authors. And it could hardly be expected that these writers, working to no general plan, would produce a line of publications which would cover the whole ground of our faith and duty, without some repetitions. It is now evident that we have too many books, some of which will go out of print, others will be revised and reduced in size, and some new ones will be written.
The great importance of our publications demands that we should give this branch of the work more attention for time to come than we have been able to do in the past. In consequence of arduous labor at camp-meetings and other general gatherings, we have lost time and strength to do this work, for which we have had an especial burden from the very commencement of our publishing work. This is a mistake on our part, which we number with the many of the past, and hope to have wisdom and grace for the future, to humbly and wisely pursue the work God has given us to do.
There has been a disposition on the part of some to bring all the pressure possible to bear on the prices of our publications. Yielding to this pressure, prices have been put so low as to seriously cripple our publishing houses. A favorable change, however, took place in December, 1879, since which time there have been greatly increased sales at better prices. The lower the prices, the less sales, has been the experience of the past. Against this ruinous policy of low prices we have pleaded, and have yielded the point for the last time. As a sample of our pleadings on this subject for the past ten years, we clip the following from the Review:—
“For several years past, our people have felt the importance of giving our publications a wide circulation. And the managers of our houses of publication have seconded the efforts of the people, in publishing largely, and in putting our publications down to very low prices. These efforts on the part of the publishers are praiseworthy, if not carried too far. But the present embarrassed condition of these houses shows that one of the mistakes which has resulted in this embarrassment is the ruinous prices at which our publications have been sold.”
Sketches of the rise and progress of our publishing work contain liberal statements of our labor in connection with it, which give us more credit than we deserve. It is true that we have labored incessantly, ardently, and unselfishly. This being well understood by the writers of these sketches, has led them to attribute to us the great success of this important branch of the work, which should be shared by able and devoted co-laborers. With pleasure we here mention the names of Elders Andrews, Smith, and Waggoner, whose writings composed a large share of the matter of our earliest books and periodicals. And the glory of all the successes of our united labors should be given to the Guiding Hand which has been with us in all our consecrated efforts.
Has the writer had strength to labor and to endure? God has given it. Have we had wisdom to organize and to devise new and broader plans for the better prosecution of the work? It came from the Source of wisdom. Our course, especially when moving in our own wisdom and strength, has been marked all the way with imperfections and mistakes. It is the hand of God that has been with us in this great work. He has given it success, and this has given us the confidence of our people. In some degree, we realize our past mistakes, and God’s merciful dealings with us; and that should we accept in our heart the statements now in print that give glory to us, which should be given to God alone, we would commit the greatest mistake of our life, and sin against God.
CHAPTER XII.
THE TRACT SOCIETIES.
The press has been regarded by S. D. Adventists as the right arm of our strength. Our field of labor is the world. And as the number of our efficient preachers is small, a large portion of the work of giving the last message must of necessity be accomplished by our publications.
While on a tour through Northern Michigan by carriage, in the year 1868, our company, composed of several carriage-loads, was enjoying the second meal of the day in the shade of a pasture-oak, when kind friends from the nearest house gave us a call. Mrs. W. suggested giving them tracts. These they received with apparent gratitude. We were soon at the home of Sister Jeffrey, at Ithaca. To this faithful woman, who now sleeps, Mrs. W. related the circumstance of giving tracts to kind strangers, and remarked that the Lord had shown her that a great work is to be accomplished in the circulation of such reading matter, and that a book fund should be raised for this purpose. The statement touched the heart of this mother in Israel, and she left the room. Soon after, she returned with five dollars for the book fund, and as she handed it to Mrs. W., the donor wiped the tears that were rapidly falling.
At our first camp-meeting, held at Wright, Mich., Sept. 1-7, 1868, the sum of $1,400 was actually paid into the book fund, and pledges were taken on the ground sufficient to swell the sum to $2,400. The publication and circulation of tracts received especial attention, and during359the three years that followed not less than $35,000 was paid into this fund for the circulation of our religious and health tracts. The work rapidly increased, and became so extensive that organization of the forces engaged in the tract work seemed necessary in order to economize labor and means.
The first State tract society was organized in the New England Conference, November, 1870. In this country there are now twenty-two State and Territorial organizations, embracing Maine, New England, Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Dakota, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Kansas, Texas, California, Oregon, and Colorado. Local societies were organized in Switzerland, Norway, and Denmark in the years 1878 and 1879. The general tract society was organized August 15, 1874.
The tract societies, in carrying forward their work during the past ten years, have employed not less than $150,000. Thousands of volumes of bound books have been placed in public libraries and on vessels. The number of pages of tracts and pamphlets which have been distributed by the societies, as near as can be gathered from printed reports, is 33,676,077. The number of periodicals distributed is 1,016,346. And let it be borne in mind that only thirty-seven per cent of the members of the societies have reported, and this is only eighteen per cent of the membership of the denomination. Had the full amount of all the work of the societies been reported, the number of pages would probably reach 50,000,000. Add to this the reading matter distributed before the organization of the societies, and by those outside of these societies, and the entire amount would probably reach360100,000,000 pages, besides periodicals and health annuals. The entire sum of the pages of books, pamphlets, and tracts published by S. D. Adventists on all their presses is not less than 250,000,000.
Those only who have a lively interest in the tract work, and have taken part in it, have a just idea of its magnitude and extent.
Through the agency of the tract societies, periodicals and publications have been sent to all the States and Territories of our country, to the Canadas, Nova Scotia, England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Holland, France, Italy, Switzerland, Russia, Egypt, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Portugal, East and West Indias, Australia, Japan, China, Central and South America, Vancouver’s Island, Madeira Island, Cape of Good Hope, Finland, and to different points on the Mediterranean, Baltic, Red, and Black Seas.
The great and good work which the Lord has accomplished through Elder S. N. Haskell and his fellow-laborers in the tract cause will not be fully seen and appreciated in this life. Time can never reveal the importance of this work; eternity alone will unfold it. Those whom the Lord led out in the organization of our Conferences, the several associations and societies, and in the equitable plan adopted by our people to raise funds for the support of the cause, had but a faint idea of the great and important work they were then doing. Neither can the friends of the cause now comprehend a tithe of the results of the Tract Institutes being held in the several Conferences. These schools are educating the members of the tract societies to do their work wisely and well. And this will create a demand for our publications such as the most sanguine have had but a faint idea of, and will constitute our presses indeed a power in the land.
The men of this world understand the power of the printing-press. The politician seizes this lever to lift himself into office. Political campaigns are run principally through the press. Advertisements of this, that, and the other, posted and scattered everywhere, are evidences that the man of business understands the influence of the press.
This is a reading age. Active minds must be employed. The people will read. The masses prefer fiction to fact. The writers, publishers, and sellers of fictitious works fully comprehend the situation, and for gain flood the world with light literature. Thus the devil seizes the press to turn the minds of the people from the real facts and duties of this life, and a preparation for the life to come. The minds of the young are fevered with fiction to that degree that they lose relish for solid reading. They are so completely filled with trash that there is but little room in their minds and hearts for that which is real and substantial.
“Ye are the light of the world,” said Christ in his memorable sermon on the mount. “A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.” Matt. 5:14–16.
Christians should be as wise in their generation as the men of this world. They should seize upon every means, and every opportunity, to let their light shine. They should let it shine from the hill-top. They should do all in their power to dissipate the darkness of error by the light of divine truth. The press, which in the362hands of the children of darkness is a power for evil, may, in the hands of the children of light, be a mighty power for good. Mrs. W., in an article headed “Our Publications,” in Testimony to the Church, No. 29, speaks of our publications, their prices, their circulation, and the importance of training men for the work of canvassing, in these stirring words:—
“Many of our publications have been thrown into the market at so low a figure that the profits are not sufficient to sustain our Offices and keep good a fund for continual use. And those of our people who have no special burden of the various branches of the work at Battle Creek, and at Oakland, do not become informed in regard to the wants of the cause, and the capital required to keep the business moving. They do not understand the liability to losses, and the expense every day occurring to such institutions. They seem to think that everything moves off without much care or outlay of means, and therefore they will urge the necessity of the lowest figures on our publications, thus leaving scarcely any margin. And after the prices have been reduced to almost ruinous figures, they manifest but a feeble interest in increasing the sales of the very books on which they have asked such low prices. This object gained, their burden ceases, when they ought to have an earnest interest and a real care to press the sale of the publications, thereby sowing the seeds of truth, and bringing means into the Offices to invest in other publications.”
There has been, on the part of ministers, a very great neglect of duty in not interesting the churches in the localities where they labor, in regard to this matter. When once the prices of books are reduced, it is a very difficult matter to get them again upon a paying basis, as men363of narrow minds will cry speculation, not discerning that no one man is benefited, and that God’s instrumentalities must not be crippled for want of capital. Books that ought to be widely circulated are lying useless in our Offices of publication, because there is not interest enough manifested to get them circulated.
“The press is a power; but if its products fall dead for want of men who will execute plans to widely circulate them, its power is lost. While there has been a quick foresight to discern the necessity of laying out means in facilities to multiply books and tracts, plans to bring back the means invested, so as to reproduce our publications, have been neglected. The power of the press with all its advantages is in the hands of our people, and they can use it to the very best account, or they can be half asleep, and through inaction, lose the advantages which they might gain. They can extend the light, by judicious calculation, in the sale of books and pamphlets. They can send them into thousands of families who now sit in the darkness of error.”
“With other publishers, there are regular systems of introducing into the market books of no vital interest. ‘The children of this world are wiser in their generation than the children of light.’ Golden opportunities occur almost daily where the silent messengers of truth might be introduced into families and to individuals; but no advantage is taken of these opportunities by the indolent, thoughtless ones. Living preachers are few. There is only one where there should be a hundred. Many are making a great mistake in not putting their talents to use, in seeking to save the souls of their fellow-men. Hundreds of men should be engaged in carrying the364light all through our cities, villages, and towns. The public mind must be agitated.
“Missionaries are wanted everywhere. In all parts of the field canvassers should be selected, not from the floating element in society, not from men and women who are good for nothing else, and have made a success of nothing; but they should be persons of good address, of tact, keen foresight and ability. Such are needed to make a success as colporteurs, canvassers, and agents. Men suited to this work undertake it; but some injudicious minister will flatter them that their gift should be employed in the desk instead of simply working as colporteurs. Thus the work of the colporteur is belittled. They are influenced to get a license to preach, and the very ones who might have been trained to make good missionaries to visit families at their homes, and talk and pray with them, are caught up to make poor ministers, and the field where so much labor is needed and where so much good might be accomplished for the cause, is neglected.”
“If there is one work more important than another, it is that of getting before the public such publications as will lead men to search the Scriptures. Missionary work—introducing our papers and books into families, conversing, and praying with and for them—is a good work, and one which will educate men and women to do pastoral labor.
Every one is not fitted for this work. Those of the best talent and ability, who will take hold of the work understandingly and systematically, and carry it forward with persevering energy, are the ones who should be selected. There should be a most thoroughly organized plan; and this should be faithfully carried out. Churches365in every place should feel the deepest interest in the tract and missionary work.
“We now have great facilities for spreading the truth, but our people are not coming up to the privileges given them. They do not see and sense the necessity in every church of using their abilities in saving souls. They do not realize their duty to obtain subscribers for our periodicals, including our health journal, and to introduce our books and pamphlets. Men should be at work who are willing to be taught as to the best way of approaching individuals and families. Their dress should be neat, but not foppish, and their manners such as not to disgust the people. There is a great want of true politeness among us as a people. This should be cultivated by all those who take hold of the missionary work.
“Our publishing houses should show marked prosperity. Our people can sustain them if they will show a decided interest to work our publications into the market. But, should as little interest be manifested in the year to come as has been shown in the year past, there will be but small margin to work upon.
“The wider the circulation of our publications, the greater will be the demand for books that make plain the Scriptures of truth. Many are becoming disgusted with the inconsistencies, errors, and apostasy of the churches, and with the festivals, fairs, lotteries, and numerous inventions to extort money for church purposes. There are many who are seeking for light in the darkness. If our papers, tracts, and books, expressing the truth in plain Bible language, could be widely circulated, many would find that they are just what they want.”
Since the foregoing extract appeared in print, favorable changes have taken place in book matters. More books have been shipped from this Office during the past six months than were shipped during the previous eighteen months. New works are in the press, and still others, of very great importance, are being prepared. Here is a good field of usefulness for young men who contemplate entering the ministry at some future time. The canvasser, in coming in contact with a great variety of minds, has a good opportunity to study human nature. He learns to come near the people, and adapt himself to changing circumstances, and hold on till he has accomplished his object. This is the self-training he needs to qualify him for the work of the last message, illustrated by the last urgent call in the parable of the great supper of Luke 14:16–24, “Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in.”
