p. 14 | Review and Herald, Vol. 82, No. 22. (6/1/1905)

The Work in Washington

By Ellen G. White

A Talk by Mrs. E. G. White, Friday, May 19, at 10 A. M.

We feel very grateful to our Heavenly Father because he has moved by his Holy Spirit upon the minds of his people to give so liberally for the establishment of his work here in Washington. Every dollar of the money that has been sent in is needed. If God’s people knew as I do the necessities of the cause in different parts of the great harvest-field, and if they felt as they should the urgency of the work, they would not permit of delay. I have seen workers on their knees, pleading with God to open the way for the truth to be proclaimed in places where souls, unwarned and unsaved, are perishing in their sins. There are houses of worship to be built, and in some places it is necessary that there be erected small sanitariums, that the higher classes may be reached.

There are those in the world upon whose hearts God is moving, and if they but knew the principles of present truth, they would heed the message for this time, and would go forth to give it to others.

The money that has been sent in for the work here is the Lord’s. The gold and the silver are mine, he declares, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. God bids us deny ourselves in the expenditure of means, and put into his treasury the money thus saved.

I thank the Lord for these gifts. Those who have sent them are in so doing fastening themselves to God’s work. As they give of their means, their interest in the progress of God’s cause is deepened, and the act of giving thus becomes a double blessing. I feel so grateful for what has been done, because, in figures and representations, I have seen the necessity of help in foreign fields, and also in the Southern field; and I know that the Lord will move upon hearts in the large cities that have not yet been worked. We must not leave these cities unworked; but the very first necessity is right here in Washington. The work in this important place must be established. A publishing house must be erected here. God directed that the publishing work should be transferred from Battle Creek to this place. He will place his approval on the efforts made to carry forward his work on the lines that he has marked out.

The establishment of the work here in Washington is creating a wide-spread interest in other places. Tracts and pamphlets have been widely circulated, and when we begin to work in other cities, we shall find those who have been studying this literature. We shall find that they are not utterly ignorant of our truth, but that they have been studying the facts regarding the establishment of our work here. As people read of what has been done, they say, “That means work, and we must learn more of what this people is doing.”

The work that has been done here would never have been accomplished had there not been a determined effort to press the battle to the gates.

I am thankful that the Lord has not left us in ignorance of how to gain his blessing. Read the eighth and ninth chapters of Second Corinthians, and you will find the whole matter outlined in a few words. Read how the believers came to the apostles, and laid their offerings at their feet, praying them with much entreaty that they would receive the gift. When God by his Spirit stirs the hearts of his people, leading them to see the necessities of his work, there will be a denying of self, and gifts will flow into the treasury for the proclamation of the truth for this time.

If there are those who think that they are making large sacrifices for the work, let them consider the sacrifice that Christ made in their behalf. The human race was under sentence of death, but the Son of God clothed his divinity with humanity, and came to this world to live and die in our behalf. He came to stand against the host of fallen angels. We must have a Defender, and when our Defender came, he was clothed with humanity; for he must be subject to all the temptations wherewith man is beset, that he might understand how to deliver the godly out of temptation. He took his stand at the head of the fallen race, that men and women might be enabled to stand on vantage-ground.

Christ did not come to this world with a legion of angels. Laying aside his royal robe and kingly crown, he stepped down from his high command, and for our sake became poor, that we through his poverty might be made rich. This was the plan laid in the heavenly courts. The Redeemer of mankind was to be born in poverty, and he was to be a worker with his hands. He labored with his father at the carpenter’s trade, and into all that he did he brought perfection. His companions sometimes found fault with him because he was so thorough. What is the use of being so particular? they said. But he would work until he had brought what he was doing as near to perfection as he could, and then he would look up with the light of heaven shining from his face, and those who had criticized him would turn away ashamed of themselves. Instead of retaliating when found fault with, he would begin to sing one of the psalms, and before those who had found fault with him realized it, they, too, were singing.

Never should botch work of any kind be allowed in our institutions. Every student should be taught that in order to attain to perfection in character building, he must be faithful in the smallest duties appointed him. “Ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building,” and your work is to be done as in the sight of a holy God. Do your best, and heavenly angels will help you to carry the work on to perfection.

Who was He who came to our world to redeem the fallen race? Isaiah tells us: “Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

Let us make it known that provision has been made for our redemption. Christ left the heavenly courts, and came to this world to make an atonement for us. All who come to him in living faith will be enabled to stand on vantage-ground.

As God’s servants proclaim these things, Satan steps up to some who have itching minds, and presents his scientific problems. Men will be tempted to place science above God. But who by searching can find out God? Men may put their own interpretation upon God, but no human mind can comprehend him. This problem has not been given us to solve. Let not finite man attempt to interpret Jehovah. Let none indulge in speculation regarding his nature. Here silence is eloquence. The omniscient One is above discussion.

Christ is one with the Father, but Christ and God are two distinct personages. Read the prayer of Christ in the seventeenth chapter of John, and you will find this point clearly brought out. How earnestly the Saviour prayed that his disciples might be one with him as he is one with the Father. But the unity that is to exist between Christ and his followers does not destroy the personality of either. They are to be one with him as he is one with the Father. By this unity they are to make it plain to the world that God sent his Son to save sinners. The oneness of Christ’s followers with him is to be the great, unmistakable proof that God did indeed send his Son into the world to save sinners. But a loose, lax religion leaves the world bewildered and confused.

My brethren and sisters, take your stand on an elevated platform, and work to the point to be one with Christ. The heart of the Saviour is set upon his followers’ fulfilling God’s purpose in all its height and depth. They are to be one with him, even though they are scattered the world over. But God can not make them one in Christ unless they are willing to give up their own way for his way.

In view of all that Christ has suffered for us, should we complain when we are called to endure self-denial and suffering? Would not this make God ashamed of us? Let us rejoice that it is our privilege to be partakers of Christ’s suffering; for thus only can we be fitted to be partakers of his glory.

I thank God in behalf of those who have sent in their offerings to the work in Washington. I thank him for the privilege and satisfaction of knowing that there are hearts which are alive to the needs of the work of God, and are influenced by the Holy Spirit to give of their means for the advancement of this work. I thank God with heart and soul and voice. The work in this place is to be carried forward solidly. In the buildings that are put up, there is to be no extravagance, but the representation is to be such that those in the world will see that we understand what propriety is.

Brethren and sisters, let us have characters so pure and holy that Christ can

with joy present us to the Father. Let us be filled with the living principles of the truth for this time. Let us live lives that will lead sinners to the Saviour. Christ carried his humanity with him into the heavenly courts, and all humanity can claim him as their representative. We may be made complete in him. How?—By becoming partakers of the divine nature. To be partakers of this nature means more than many of us realize. It means giving up one’s own way, and following the path that Christ has marked out. As we become partakers of the divine nature, we escape the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Twentieth Meeting

By H. W. Cottrell; William Ambrose Spicer

THE twentieth meeting was called at 3:30 P. M., the first hour being taken by Sister White, who read from manuscript messages that had come when she was in Australia, bearing specially on the medical missionary work.

In closing, she urged house-to-house work by all the people. The Lord desires us to do a hundredfold more than is being done. Satan is much busier than the children of light. The Lord promises to lift up a standard against the enemy, and he calls on us now to come up to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty.

The minutes were called for and read. The unfinished partial report of the committee on plans was taken up and adopted as follows:—

27. Resolved, That the course of study, requirements for entering the schools and for graduation, be referred to a standing committee on training-schools for nurses, and we recommend that this committee consist of the General Conference medical missionary secretary and the superintendents of organized nurses' training-schools.

28. Whereas, The work of nursing is an important part of the great work of introducing and carrying forward the gospel of Christ, therefore,—

We recommend, That our nurses' training-schools seek a closer co-operation with their respective conferences with a view of enlisting as fully as possible the services of nurses in missionary work; and further,—

29. We recommend, To our union or local conferences the establishment of nurses' agencies for the purpose of securing suitable employment for all our graduate nurses.

On the latter recommendation it was explained that these agencies might be a bureau of information, a means of keeping in touch with trained nurses.

On Finances

Further reports being called for, the committee on finance made a partial report, which was read by its secretary, C. P. Bollman.

The first recommendation, with a series of sections on tithes and offerings, was considered, but not adopted, as the time for adjournment came while it was under consideration, the last section having been read, but not discussed. The entire recommendation will be incorporated in the minutes when disposed of.

There was earnest discussion of the tithe question in the consideration of this report. It was felt that there was need for crying aloud among all believers in view of the evident fact that we are far from reaching a full tithe. A. G. Daniells presented carefully prepared estimates showing that a full tithe would add a vast sum to the treasury of this cause. Some of the foreign field averages were cited as showing that with the same faithfulness among the believers in this country, hundreds of thousands of dollars more would be received, available for advanced missionary effort. It was evident that, for the sake of those who are shutting away God's blessing by neglect in this matter, and for the sake of the work of God, a great effort must be made throughout the conferences to arouse all to the solemn importance of this sacred obligation. This is a duty the ministry, as the Lord's watchmen, owe to the people. Many feel diffident about taking up the financial side of gospel truth. It was not so in former days. We need a revival on this matter; conference officers and ministers must labor earnestly to bring the ranks into line with gospel finance in this time when the work is closing, and when men's souls are being weighed in the balance of the judgment.

The meeting adjourned, it being stated that E. H. Gates would report for Polynesia at the evening service. (The report appeared in the last issue.)

H. W. COTTRELL, Chairman,

W. A. SPICER, Secretary.

Twenty-First Meeting

By William C. White; William A. Spicer

The twenty-first meeting was called at 9:30 A. M., May 24, Elder J. N. Loughborough acting as chairman pro tem in the opening of the meeting.

Prayer was offered by M. C. Wilcox. It was then announced that the session would be devoted to the Publication Department, and W. C. White, chairman of the department, was given the chair. He called for the departmental secretary’s report, which was presented by H. H. Hall, as follows:—

Publication Committee’s Report for 1903-04

Through our publications every Seventh-day Adventist may assist in carrying the third angel’s message to the world in this generation. To emphasize this truth has been the one great aim of your publication committee. Among the efforts put forth to accomplish this aim have been the following:—

MISSIONARY CAMPAIGNS.— Three great missionary campaigns have been conducted during the past two years. At the beginning of 1903 four tracts were printed, and our people were encouraged to distribute them systematically. As the result, nearly a million copies were circulated. Near the close of that year the Capital and Labor number of The Signs of the Times was issued, and more than a half million were placed in the homes of the people. But the times demanded greater efforts, so when the campaign for the fall of 1904 was planned, the following clarion note was sounded:—

“We recommend that a mighty missionary campaign be inaugurated this fall which shall know no cessation until this gospel of the kingdom is carried to every nation, tongue, and people.”

During the first battle of this campaign nearly a half million copies of the Gospel Series of The Signs of the Times, 120,000 of the Southern Watchman, 116,000 of the foreign papers, and 200,000 special tracts were circulated, and a large work done with forty-per-cent books. One of the most encouraging features of this battle is the fact that with thousands of our people found that they could actually fight. Having scented the powder, and learned the need of soldiers, they have decided to remain on the fighting line until the close of the war.

MISSIONARY CONVENTIONS.— At these conventions various topics of missionary interest are discussed. These topics are announced one or two weeks before the meeting, and different individuals are asked to lead in their discussion, after which all are invited to make suggestions and relate experiences. Our observations lead us to believe that these gatherings have been very helpful in suggesting definite plans for local work.

MEETING OF THE PUBLICATION COMMITTEE.— The General Conference Publication Committee held a meeting at Omaha, Neb., March 2-8, 1904. Not only were important actions taken, but a spirit of unity was brought into our publishing work. One very important recommendation looking toward the encouragement of an army of home workers was passed. This recommendation sets apart the following small books for their use:—

Education, Mount of Blessing, Steps to Christ, Cobblestones, Vegetarian Cook-Book, Little Folks’ Bible Nature, Things Foretold, Power for Witnessing, Thoughts on Daniel (paper), Thoughts on Revelation (paper), Great Nations of To-day (paper).

A discount of fifty per cent is given on these books to those who canvass for them. If our home membership would make the most of this opportunity, the circulation of our books would soon be doubled.

REDUCTION IN BINDINGS.— A recommendation favoring a reduction in bindings of our large subscription books was enthusiastically passed, and is being carefully considered by our various publishing houses at the present time.

Actions favoring (1) a net price on all books and pamphlets intended primarily for our own people, (2) a net price on all forty-per-cent books, except to those who canvass for them, (3) a twenty-five-per-cent discount to our people on all regular subscription books, were also taken, and are coming into general operation. This will solve many perplexing problems concerning discounts.

BOOKMEN’S CONVENTION.— A bookmen’s convention was held at Mountain View, Cal., having for its primary purpose the upbuilding of the missionary work in the Pacific Union Conference. Practical suggestions were made concerning all lines of missionary work, and particular attention was given to our large subscription-book business. Brother E. R. Palmer gave a talk on “The State Agent and the Basic Principles of His Work,” W. B. Scott sounded the call for the return of old canvassers, Brother James Cochran read a paper on “How to Secure and Retain Agents,” Brother and Sister J. L. McGee, and W. R. Beatty told of their work in the cities with “Desire of Ages,” and A. D. Guthrie gave an inspiring account of his two years’ work in northern Utah and southern Idaho. Altogether, it was a meeting long to be remembered, and one that has given an impetus to the sale of large subscription books on the coast.

CIRCULATION OF FOREIGN LITERATURE IN THE UNITED STATES.—

Recognizing the need of stronger efforts to reach the foreign population of the United States, the International Publishing Association has been organized. During the past year it has printed more than a quarter of a million of new tracts in Swedish, Danish, and German. It has also printed 122,000 of the special papers in these languages. The Pacific Press Publishing Co. has taken the responsibility of supplying the foreign subscription books, and has already imported “Steps to Christ” in a number of languages, together with a large order of German “Daniel and the Revelation,” Swedish “Controversy,” and a full supply of Revised Bibles in German, Swedish, and Danish. Still greater efforts, however, should be put forth for the hundreds of thousands of foreign-speaking people who are coming to our shores.

SMALL LEAFLETS.— For years there has been a generally recognized need of a series of tracts condensed to the very last degree presenting the different phases of present truth. To this end The Family Bible Teacher has been published, and more than a million copies circulated. A series of sixteen leaflets in briefer form, under the general title of “Signs of the Times Leaflets” has been issued recently.

“POINTERS TO SUCCESS” is the title of a small booklet prepared by E. R. Palmer for the benefit of our agents. This is another step taken to assist people in finding that “specific place” in this message to which their talents entitle them.

“THE CHURCH LIBRARIAN.”—A committee of experienced missionary workers is just completing an instruction book for church librarians. This will be ready for distribution by camp-meeting time, and will be very helpful to that important missionary official.

The Removal of Our Publishing Houses to the Country

A mighty step forward has been taken during the past two years in the complete removal of the Pacific Press Publishing Company from Oakland, Cal., to the village of Mountain View, Cal., forty miles south of San Francisco. The Review and Herald is also about to take a similar step, while the Echo Publishing Company has purchased a country location, and will begin building at an early date.

Cash Policy

We note with intense interest the trend on the part of our people generally to pay as they go. May we not expect that this policy will soon be generally recognized in the handling of our publications?

Other Countries

AUSTRALIAN UNION.— This union leads the world in its book sales, which amounted to $136,968.75 for the past two years. Their missionary periodical, The Signs of the Times, is steadily increasing in circulation.

GERMAN UNION.— Many strange things are told us of the work with the printed page in this field. From our headquarters at Hamburg, more than one hundred and ten million people may be reached by mail at a cost of twelve and one-half cents for a package weighing ten pounds. In portions of this remarkable field, the deliveries are made through the post-office carriers, just as we send C. O. D. shipments by express in this country, with the exception that the money is turned over to the shipper when the package is sent. If the delivery fails, the book is returned, and the agent refunds its price. These deliveries are quite successful, but a deposit is usually secured on the order by the agent. Verily the American canvasser has not all the advantages in the conducting of his work, after all. The sales in this union conference amounted to $100,419.93.

BRITISH UNION.— Here we find a population of forty-two million people within a night’s ride from London, where the International Tract Society is located. Their periodical work has been remarkably successful, as is shown by the fact that the Good Health, their health journal, has a circulation of fifty thousand a month, which is more than that of all other British health journals combined. The average weekly circulation of their missionary paper, Present Truth, has been 18,359. They also show genuine progress in book work, having circulated $66,429.78 worth during the biennial period. They have issued a Zulu edition of “Christ Our Saviour” and five Welsh tracts as their part toward making it possible to carry this message to every nation, tongue, and people.

AFRICAN UNION.— Our friends in Africa publish three papers, South African Sentinel, which has a circulation of four thousand; Journal of Health, with a circulation of fifteen hundred; and the South African Missionary. They have fifteen agents, but did not report value of sales. They have a little printing plant valued at $1,350.

MEXICO.— This mission field also has a printing plant, valued at two thousand dollars, and employs two native printers. They print their own paper, as well as small tracts. The tracts recently issued are “Sabbath in the New Testament,” one cent; “The Second Advent,” two cents; “Is Man Immortal?” one and one-half cents; “The Virgin Mary,” one-half cent. They feel very anxious that immediate steps be taken toward publishing some other works in the Spanish language.

CHINA.— Something in the publishing line has been done in China, too, as will be seen from the following list of tracts published:—

Sinners Need of Christ ........1 cent. Sabbath ........................2 1/2 The True God ...................2 1/2 The First Seven Chapters of Genesis ...2 1/2

JAPAN.— Japan is not slow to realize the value of the printed page, as may be seen from the publication of a sixteen-page monthly paper entitled Gospel for the Last Days (truly an appropriate name), and the following tracts and pamphlets: “Steps to Christ,” “His Glorious Appearing,” “Marshaling of the Nations,” “Second Coming of Christ,” “Sabbath in the New Testament,” “Way of Salvation,” “True God and His Sabbath.”

INDIA MISSION FIELD.— A printing outfit consisting of a cylinder press, a job-press, a paper-cutter, a stitcher, and a fair amount of job and body type, together with sufficient Hindi and Bengali type to do a considerable amount of printing in these languages, is located at Karmatar. Elder Shaw says, “There has been no part of the work in which we have realized more of the blessing of God than in the canvassing work.” Their missionary periodical, the Oriental Watchman, has had a circulation of from three to four thousand copies monthly. In addition to a number of tracts published in the Bengali and Hindi languages, “Steps to Christ” has recently been printed in the Bengali. In closing his report, the superintendent of that great field says, “Multitudes, vast multitudes able to read, are waiting for the gospel message in their tongue, and in harmony with our faith we must with courage meet the problems which shall arise in this mighty undertaking.” To this sentiment we all say “Amen.”

ORIENTAL MISSION FIELD.— Brother Wakeham, of this field, says: “When I went to Egypt, I found almost nothing

in the Arabic language concerning the vital truths of the message. As soon as possible I took up this matter, and with the valuable assistance of Elder Awada, our native minister, as translator, I soon had printed five thousand each of three tracts on the Sabbath question. These were followed by five thousand each of two more—one on the coming of Christ, and the other an abbreviation of our English tract, ‘Fundamental Principles of Seventh-day Adventists.’ Shortly before I left, an edition of one thousand copies of ‘Sure Word of Prophecy’ was run off. I am now at work on a similar brief exposition of the book of Revelation, which I hope to put into print as soon as I return.”

Book Sales for 1903 in Full

AUSTRALASIAN UNION Sub’n books ........$115,789.12 Helps ............... 13,894.12 Trade and tracts .... 7,285.25 $136,968.75 GERMAN UNION ...... 100,419.93 BRITISH UNION ...... 66,429.78 LATIN UNION .......$ 8,857.16 SCANDINAVIAN UNION .. 68,657.16 NORTHERN AND LAKE UNIONS (estimated) ........ 69,561.94 PACIFIC UNION Sub’n books .......$ 43,778.86 Trade ............... 8,155.11 Tracts .............. 3,743.55 $ 55,677.52 CENTRAL AND S. W. UNION Sub’n books .......$ 90,005.65 Trade .............. 13,508.92 Tracts .............. 7,654.75 $111,169.32 ATLANTIC UNION Sub’n books .......$ 97,757.70 Trade ............... 4,808.85 Tracts .............. 5,836.56 $108,403.11 SOUTHERN UNION (estimated) .... 50,000.00 CANADIAN UNION Sub’n books .......$ 9,681.38 Trade and tracts ... 1,702.37 $ 11,383.75 Total sales reported $787,528.42

Some of the Results

Turning aside now from statistics and records, let us speak of what is being accomplished by all these visits of the printed minister. Men who are in a position to know assure us that there never was a time when the salvation of so many souls could be traced directly to the reading of a tract, paper, or book as to-day. Allow your secretary to relate a single instance. At the close of a meeting recently a lady stepped up to me and said, “I was a Catholic, bitterly prejudiced against Seventh-day Adventists. My work as a teacher led me to a rough frontier town, and compelled me to take a room over a saloon. While there, The Signs of the Times began coming to me through the kindness of a distant friend. Within three months I accepted the truth, and have been rejoicing in it ever since.” As I listened to that sister, saw the joy of a new life in her face, and pondered upon her experience, I became deeply impressed with the fact that she was a type of thousands of others who, through similar efforts on the part of some humble workers with our truth-filled publications, will finally hear the welcome words, “Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”

That all our people may have some part in bringing about such results is the prayer of your committee.

General Conf. Publication Committee, H. H. HALL, Sec.

As the report was read, Brethren M. C. Wilcox, W. W. Prescott, and W. D. Salisbury were called upon to speak briefly concerning the removal of the Pacific Press to the country, of the Review and Herald to a suburb of Washington, and of the Echo Publishing Company, of Melbourne, Australia, to a country location. All spoke of the assurance of divine guidance in these moves.

E. H. Gates spoke briefly of the printing plant in connection with the Avondale School which has brought out publications in Rarotongan, Fijian, Tongan, Maori, Tahitian, Samoan. In addition to this, the Avondale press prints the Union Conference Record and the Australasian Good Health. The students assist in this work, which is a strong missionary department of the school.

W. C. Sisley stated that the reason why about one thousand believers in Great Britain could put out so much literature was that all are united to do something toward the sale of our publications. They work at it the year round, the same in the summer as in the winter, old and young taking part in it, going from house to house with the messengers of truth, our books, tracts, and papers. Interesting experiences were related, showing how even people not in our churches have taken hold to help sell and distribute our literature.

A. J. Haysmer reported for the East Caribbean Conference, which is publishing seven thousand copies of the Caribbean Watchman monthly. These are sold by members of the churches. They have a small outfit of type, etc., hiring the printing done by outside offices.

The meeting adjourned.

W. C. WHITE, Chairman, W. A. SPICER, Secretary.

Twenty-Second Meeting

By William C. White; William A. Spicer

THE twenty-second meeting was called at 2:30 P. M., May 24; W. C. White, being chairman of the publication committee, in the chair.

Prayer by P. F. Bicknell.

The secretary's report of the publication committee was further considered, and representatives from Mexico, China, and India spoke of work with literature, and Brethren R. C. Porter and A. T. Robinson gave an account of the influence of work with literature in various individual cases coming within their observation.

E. W. Farnsworth spoke of the work of the minister in selling literature. The minister who gets the people to read most while listening to the truth from the pulpit, will establish most people in the truth. This will require effort. The speaker said he had found best success in selling books by taking one at a time for special mention in public. It is well to have a small assortment on a table in the meeting place. In visiting among the people the laborer may take a few small pamphlets and dispose of them. A good plan is to make up a package of tracts, and urge the people to take the package for personal study in their homes. No others have such advantage in getting people to read as has the minister. There is need of a revival of this selling of our literature in public effort.

Hearty responses were made to this plea for a revival of book selling in the ministry.

J. N. Loughborough stated that he was the first preacher among us to sell books in public effort. Then all our books or pamphlets could be sold for thirty-five cents. When at a public meeting in the midst of a busy harvest season, they sold fifty-three dollars' worth of these pamphlets, it greatly encouraged the brethren. Brother Loughborough told also of pioneer experiences in California, in later days, in which book selling was a prominent feature; and where people read themselves into the truth, as they listened to the preaching, the results were substantial Sabbath-keepers.

G. I. Butler recounted the methods in the old days, of spreading out the literature in a tent-meeting, and making it a point every day to get the people to buy reading-matter. He proposed to do the same thing this coming season, when he expects to hold a series of tent-meetings.

W. J. Boynton, of Alberta, testified to the success he had had in selling literature as he went from place to place, taking subscriptions for the various papers. The people want this literature. In traveling by carriage the long distances in the Canadian Northwest he takes a quantity of papers and tracts, made up just ready to hand out, tossing a packet into a passing wagon, or leaving a packet at each farmhouse.

Following a brief recess, the program of the publishing department was continued.

E. R. Palmer spoke of the practise in Australia of accompanying tent effort by selling literature day by day on the topic presented in the tent the night before.

The publishing work is not a department in the sense that the Sabbath-school or religious liberty work is a department of the work of the message. It is the message itself in all its departments, set in type and scattered among the people. It is the means by which all departments must work.

The importance of circulating the literature was shown by figures gathered by Brother A. J. Bourdeau, missionary secretary of Northern California. He heard from five hundred and thirty-nine persons who gave the manner in which they were led to accept the truth. The report, in part, is as follows:— Tent-meetings and lectures ........164 Reading publications only ........123 Bible or mission work ............87 Reading Bible only ...............26 By birth or home influence ......101

A few interesting cases:—

1. Reading the Signs of the Times at the bedside of his brother.

2. A sick lady in a Catholic hospital. A nurse loaned her a copy of “Great Controversy.” Result, a conversion to present truth, much to the dismay and

anger of the nurse who brought the book. The nurse was not aware of the nature of the work.

3. Inviting a Seventh-day Adventist to ride with him in his wagon fifteen miles. The Seventh-day Adventist talked the Sabbath all the way, and the man became a Seventh-day Adventist soon after.

4. A tract sent from Colorado to Canada. Result, a convert.

5. His wife's godly life—an experience of fifteen years—led him to accept the same belief.

6. A sick boy, overhearing, from his bed, a Bible reading being given to his parents by a Seventh-day Adventist minister.

7. The reading of one tract only—“Elihu on the Sabbath.”

A work which yields such large returns for so small an investment should be pushed with energy. The publishing work should be carried on so that every Seventh-day Adventist can be doing something. Better all doing something, men, women, and children, even though doing a little, than a few doing much. It will mean an active living church, and a wide-spread influence. There can be no strong work with literature in a conference except as the evangelical workers in the conference take the burden of encouraging its development.

The book work has prospered as greatly during times of adversity as in good times financially. It is only when the hard times get into the heart of the laborer that there is failure.

The story of the methods by which the book work was made strong some years ago was told. It was strong because every one worked to build it up; conference leaders and all labored to lead the people into the book work. It is to be done again. It is not to be left to a department or to a few men. Our publishing houses have unloaded from commercial work so that they may give all their energies to developing the literature of the third angel's message.

Lewis Johnson felt that the ministry of the message could never be separated from the work of preaching the truth by literature. It is one united work.

W. D. Salisbury, of the Echo Publishing Company, Australia: The Australasian Union Conference, according to the publication secretary's report, has sold the largest number of books of any union. The beginning of that success was in the times when the laborers in the ministry talked this work from place to place, and rallied the people to it. The fruitfulness of this work with literature in bringing people into the truth has been most encouraging in Australia.

A. T. Robinson told of good results following the effort to get Bible workers to handle books and literature as they labored among the people.

C. Santee told of large sales by workers during tent-meetings in southern California, as the workers made systematic efforts with literature.

W. C. White: The publishing houses have made strong efforts to get clear from commercial work. It is not primarily because of coming labor difficulties. It is to enable all their energies to be devoted to the work of the message. And this cutting off of commercial work brings a clearer atmosphere into our offices. The workers can feel that all their work is preaching the message by the literature they are working on. All this is a call to the people to use the literature, and to keep our presses busy printing the truth.

Further remarks were made as to the handling of the literature, the division of profits on the books so that canvassers and publishing house shall be able to derive a living income.

The order of the meeting changed, and the committee on nominations presented a further partial report, which was adopted, as follows:—

On Nominations

Members General Conference Committee: Frederick Griggs, W. A. George, G. B. Thompson, K. C. Russell.

Electoral Constituency of Emmanuel Missionary College (Berrien Springs): A. Moon, Wm. Covert, W. J. Stone, J. M. Rees, A. G. Haughey, H. H. Burkholder, E. K. Slade, L. H. Christian, S. E. Wight, R. R. Kennedy, W. A. Young, A. R. Sanborn, W. D. Curtis, W. D. Parkhurst, J. B. Blosser, F. F. Peterson, M. N. Campbell, Arthur Spaulding, A. T. Jones, J. G. Lamson, N. W. Lawrence, S. P. S. Edwards, R. T. Dowsett, J. O. Miller, N. P. Nielson, N. W. Kauble, J. H. Haughey, B. F. Machlan, Arthur Hallock, W. H. Edwards.

Adjourned.

W. C. WHITE, Chairman, pro tem, W. A. SPICER, Secretary.

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