A Change in the Secretaryship of Our Publishing Department by Arthur Grosvenor Daniells

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 16, 1912

A Change in the Secretaryship of Our Publishing Department

By Arthur Grosvenor Daniells

At the recent annual meeting of the Review and Herald Publishing Association held in Pittsburgh, the board of trustees requested Brother E. R. Palmer to act as business manager of the publishing house. This was agreed to by Brother Palmer and the members of the General Conference Committee present. On being elected to that position, Brother Palmer presented to the General Conference Committee his resignation as secretary of the General Conference Publishing Department. The resignation was accepted, and Brother N. Z. Town was elected secretary of the department.

Brother Palmer was called from Australia ten years ago to take charge of what was then called our subscription-book work in North America. At that time the book work in the United States was greatly depressed. Many who had been in the canvassing work had abandoned it, and but very few were entering it. The book work received but little attention from conference officers, and scarcely any time or encouragement at camp-meetings and other prominent gatherings of our people. The sales reported for the whole denomination for 1900 were only $250,000. The demand on our publishing houses for our denominational literature was so small that they found it necessary to put forth great efforts to secure commercial work from the world.

But there were a few of the old agents who remained loyal and devoted to the book work. They were scattered over the country and formed bases of operation. They welcomed Brother Palmer, and gave him the most hearty and intelligent cooperation. It took a tremendous effort to start the wheels up the hill, but they began to move slowly, and they have been going in one direction all the time, and faster each year. In this connection I am pleased to mention the great assistance rendered by our venerable brother Elder Geo. I. Butler, who was then president of the Southern Union Conference and the Southern Publishing Association. He rallied his forces with great zeal and helped to start the wheels.

As Brother Palmer resigns the leadership of this great department of our work, he surely must do so with deep gratitude to the Lord and his associates in the work for the success that has come to that line of work. And those who have been most closely associated with him will ever cherish in their memories the experiences of the decade of struggles through which we have passed.

Brother Town, who has been selected to take charge of this great department of our world-wide movement, has had a long and varied experience in that branch of the work. During the last three years he has, as assistant secretary of the department, become well acquainted with all its interests. We are glad that we can call him to the secretaryship of the department with the fullest confidence that he will by the help of the Lord carry the work forward with success. We feel sure Brother Town will have the hearty cooperation of all his fellow workers.

A. G. DANIELLS.