Publishing Department

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 3, 1909

Publishing Department

Sixth Meeting, May 20, 8 A. M.

THE interest and attendance are increasing each day as the work of the publishing department progresses. Thorough, prayerful attention is being given to many of the most vital interests of the home tract and missionary and publishing work.

The two questions under consideration at this meeting were: What provision shall be made in our plans of organization for handling efficiently the home tract and missionary work? and, What provision shall be made for the revision and improvement of our standard denominational literature? Both questions were enthusiastically discussed.

In considering the first, the importance of the home tract and missionary work was repeatedly emphasized. Many speakers affirmed that it was their belief that the home work in the churches and by isolated members forms the foundation upon which all the publishing work rests, and that thorough organization should be established for handling it efficiently.

It was felt that this home work should be managed by the Publishing Department of the General Conference, and that the name of the department should be so changed as to refer directly to the home missionary work as well as the publishing work.

Plans were also laid for the revision and improvement of our literature.

Eighth Meeting, May 23, 8 A. M.

The headquarters room was crowded this morning, many being unable to secure seats. The topics for discussion were as follows:—

1. Permanent Canvassers:—

(a) How may the canvassing work be made prosperous twelve months in the year?

(b) Can winter canvassing become a success in cold, snowy climates?

(d) Permanently located resident canvassers.

(e) What kind of field missionary or agents may we expect to build up a permanent work?

2. Comparative Merits of the Several Methods Employed in Training Agents:—

(a) Individual training,—privately, and from house to house.

(b) Small institutes in private houses or local churches, wherever and whenever opportunity offers.

(c) Large, well-organized institutes at seasonable times, such as: (1) During Christmas holidays, or early in new year; (2) in colleges, academies, and intermediate schools; and (3) immediately after camp-meetings.

The discussion, which was enthusiastic, developed the following points:—

1. That thorough training makes permanent agents.

2. That pressure should be brought to bear upon the strong, able men in our churches by those who are leaders, urging upon them the times in which we live, and the need for strong, active work by every believer in the third angel's message.

3. That the most vital question before our canvassing work is how to select and train agents so as to make them permanent.

4. That men and women of mature age and experience usually become the most permanent workers.

5. That the institute method of training, without house-to-house training, develops transient workers.

6. That the house-to-house method of training agents should be the standard permanent method, and that the institute method should be the supplementary method for handling an overflow of agents.

7. That agents trained in institutes should be considered as only partially trained, it being necessary to follow up such training with house-to-house work.

8. That house-to-house training should be conducted personally by the field agent with his canvasser in each house except as the alternating method of work from house to house is resorted to as a test of the agent's ability.

9. That the canvasser can be successful at all seasons of the year.

10. That we should encourage more and more the establishing of resident canvassers in permanent territory.

11. That the general missionary agents should spend from three days to a week at least once a year, and oftener if possible, with each of his field missionary agents in house-to-house canvassing.

12. That small institutes with four to six canvassers may be conducted frequently and profitably in private houses and churches.

13. That well-organized institutes may be conducted profitably near the close of our large schools, immediately following a large camp-meeting, or in mid-winter.

14. That the best method of convincing people that work can be done at all seasons of the year is by actual demonstration.

15. That we should urge the fact that we are engaged in a high calling, second only to that of the ministry, if, indeed, it is secondary to that.

16. That it is sometimes necessary to help agents in a financial crisis, for which purpose it may be wise to create a special fund.

17. That success in this work means a close, living connection with the Lord.