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Progress of the Publishing Work in the South

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 2, 1915

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 92, No. 43.

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Progress of the Publishing Work in the South

By R. L. PIERCE

The publishing work in the territory of the Southern Publishing Association is onward, notwithstanding the heavy depression in the cotton market caused by the war. When this depression was first felt, it affected our work to a considerable extent, but since then our workers have been adapting themselves to the situation, and the Lord has blessed their efforts accordingly.
A CARLOAD OF BOOKS Shipped by the Southern Publishing Association, Nashville, Tenn., to its Western Branch, at Fort Worth, Tex.
A CARLOAD OF BOOKS Shipped by the Southern Publishing Association, Nashville, Tenn., to its Western Branch, at Fort Worth, Tex.
Last year the home office of the Southern Publishing Association shipped two carloads of books from its factory in Nashville, Tenn., to its Western Branch at Fort Worth, Tex., for distribution throughout the Southwestern Union Conference. However, on account of the poor deliveries last fall caused by the tremendous drop in cotton, quite a large number of these books were carried over. Therefore, it is expected that only one car will be called for this year, of which the accompanying illustration is a photograph. This was taken at Nashville, August 6, and shows the car as it was being loaded. It also shows the publishing house truck, upon which at the time there were three tons of books.
In the car there were 105 cases, or boxes, containing 7,422 volumes, and weighing 30,000 pounds, with a value of something over $25,000. Perhaps, however, the most encouraging feature of this large shipment is that practically the entire carload consisted of large books, which is evidence that the sale of our health- and message-filled books is not so dependent upon good crops, high prices, and favorable financial conditions as upon the consecration and devotion of the individual colporteur.
During the past year the circulation of the Watchman has greatly increased. The June issue of last year had a circulation of only 20,000, while the sales of the June number this year were 50,000. The sales for July were 57,289, and the August number has had a sale to date of approximately 70,000, of which 15,000 have gone to the Atlantic Union Conference. During this time the regular mailing list has increased from 6,000 to over 14,000.
The readers of the REVIEW will doubtless be interested also in a new book which has just been issued by the Southern Publishing Association, entitled “The Vatican and the War.” To many, and particularly to those who have been reading his articles in the Watchman, the only recommendation necessary is to state that the author is Dr. Percy T. Magan. It is gratifying to us as publishers to report that the orders have been coming in for this book in a most encouraging manner. In fact, before the first form was ready for the press, we had orders for more than 10,000 copies, and before the first edition of 25,000 was completed, it was found necessary to order a second edition of the same number.
In size, prices, and discounts, “The Vatican and the War,” is similar to “The World’s Crisis.” However, the matter it contains is entirely different, and offers our people an exceptional opportunity for giving the warning against the beast and his image in a way that will appeal to the better classes. The book is all the more timely and valuable in view of the universal interest in the war.
Some of the tract societies are ordering as many as 2,000 copies at one time, and we look for the book to have a very large sale. It is so written as to appeal to Catholics as well as to Protestants, and as a result it is hoped that it may be the means of bringing the message to a large number whom it might otherwise be difficult to reach.
The outlook before our work was never brighter. A great work is being accomplished with our literature in the South as well as in other places. The workers in this field are of good courage, and determined to press onward in giving the message until the Master says, “It is enough.”
SOUTHERN PUBLISHING ASSOCIATION, R. L. PIERCE, Manager.