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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 19, 1912

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 89, No. 51.

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Press Bureau Work

By Walter L. Burgan

MANY encouraging letters have been received by the Press Bureau during the past few weeks, in which the writers tell of their success in having reports concerning the work of Seventh-day Adventists published in their home newspapers. The tone of these epistles is an excellent indication that the authors believe in the power of the press as a means for the spread of the gospel, and intend to use it as a part of their commission to preach the gospel to every nation, kindred, and tongue.
In order for the readers to appreciate the importance of the following letter, it will be necessary to make an explanation. A few weeks ago the statistical secretary of the General Conference sent to the various conference presidents in North America copies of the printed report dealing with the work conducted by our denomination in non-Christian and non-Protestant countries, and with each package he also sent several copies of a report on this subject prepared in newspaper style, with the request that the presidents invite brethren in different parts of each conference to hand in these reports to their home newspapers. That the work done by our people in these lands has been given such wide publicity through this effort that it can not be measured, is quite certain.
The following letter was sent from the president of one of the conferences in the Northwest:—
“The statistical letter that you sent out some time ago to the various conferences relative to the growth of our work, etc., was received in due time. I gave the copies out to our various workers, asking them to endeavor to get the reports in the newspapers, each in his locality. Brother — has forwarded me one paper from —, in which the report was published apparently in full.
“One of our leading advertising brethren here stated that if I should give him a copy he would see that a copy was furnished every paper in the State. I did so, and I am sure he will do his utmost to place this report in the hands of the editors.”
A brother in one of the conferences in New England writes:—
“I have just sent over [to the newspaper office] an article regarding the development of our work among the people in heathen lands. Every time I get any news worth reporting, I am right after it. I wrote up quite an article recently on the purchase of the 2,200 acres of the Ladysmith battle-field for our mission school in South Africa. I have reported nearly every sermon I have preached since camp-meeting, and during all this time have had but one left out, and the editor told me that it was because of a shower of news reports from the shore resorts.”
Clippings of the reports on the progress we are making in non-Christian and non-Protestant countries have thus far been returned to the Press Bureau from points in California, Indiana, Oklahoma, Delaware, and Rhode Island, while the Washington Post also gave an interesting account of the work. We feel that the work has been even more extensively advertised, though the brethren in other places have not notified us as yet.
Extensive publicity has been given our denomination in connection with the war now going on in Turkey. Not only have copies of a set report dealing with the war in the light of prophecy been sent broadcast to our brethren, with the request that they endeavor to have these copies published, but brethren are preaching on the subject and having extracts of their sermons published. Clippings of a report dealing with the Turkish situation have been returned to the Press Bureau from points in Indiana, Rhode Island, Michigan, Ohio, New Jersey, Mississippi, Illinois, South Carolina, Nebraska, and Ontario. The two morning papers of Washington published very excellent accounts of another report dealing with the Turkish trouble which has also been circulated throughout the United States. Brethren in different places, including Grand Rapids, Mich., and Portland, Oregon, have had large reports published of their sermons dealing with the Eastern question.
So well did the editor of the North Pacific Union Gleaner think of the report published in the Portland Oregonian on this subject, that he republished it in full, which ought to encourage other brethren, especially those in that union, to use this powerful medium for the spreading of our message.
Items about Seventh-day Adventists are looked upon with as much importance, if the prominence of the headlines means anything, as are national events. One editor in California was so well pleased with a report about our denomination recently handed to him that he placed a heading on it two columns wide and three inches deep.
We can secure more recognition from newspaper editors and consequently attract more attention from the people by our frequency in submitting items of interest to the editors for publication. Our denomination is alive with news, and the editors are eager to print it; but the brethren must write it. The Lord wants his servants to take advantage of every opportunity now before them to spread the glorious message of his second coming through this powerful agency. WALTER L. BURGAN.