How Conference Officers and Committees May Cooperate With Leaders of the Publishing Work
By Charles Thompson
[The following excellent paper by Elder Charles Thompson, was read in one of the Publishing Department meetings during the General Conference. We present it here by the urgent request of those who heard it. We are glad to pass it on, as we know the helpful suggestions which it contains are not mere theories, but have been worked out in actual experiences by Elder Thompson.—N. Z. T.] ‘How can conference committees cooperate with leaders of the publishing work? The work of publishing-house leaders is to dispose of the products of the publishing house, not from mercenary motives, but because of the message these various products contain; for it is from the standpoint of the circulation of truth—present truth—that all our work must be viewed. And as the publishing work stands equal in importance to any other work devised for the spread of the gospel, the conference committee should have full sympathy in devising, fostering, and supporting plans and efforts for the circulation of the printed page. One of the most important gatherings in our local conferences is the annual camp-meeting. More of the believers are assembled at this time than at any other during the year. The conference committee, when planning for this meeting, should arrange for some publishing-house leader to be present. He should have a place on the committee on plans, and the daily program should be so arranged that a special meeting can be held in the interest of his work each day. This is especially helpful spiritually, as it brings together for prayer and social worship those of like experiences, and affords an opportunity of impressing others with the importance of circulating our gospel-ladened literature. At these general meetings the committee should see that the book tent is prominently located, attractively equipped, and competently manned. Frequent public announcements should be made, calling the attention of the people to the books. In the evenings such subjects should be presented as will impress the audience with the special truths for this time, and at the close of these services such literature as will further develop the seed sown in the heart should be offered from the platform. Many dollars’ worth of our books can thus be placed in the hands and homes of the people. The conference committee should cooperate with the publishing house in dealing with the department of circulation on a broad and liberal financial basis. There is a fund accruing to the local conferences from the sale of the literature, and I believe this fund should be safeguarded and expended by the committee in the encouragement and development of the department that created it, to the extent of its legitimate needs. Conventions and institutes should be held frequently for the training of recruits for the field. The committee should be constantly watching for and selecting suitable persons to attend such conventions, and should plan to meet their full expense in so doing. The conference president or some other member of the committee should attend these institutes, giving daily Bible studies and otherwise aiding in its work. His studies should be prepared in such a way as to be in harmony with the spirit of the meeting, showing the importance and sacredness of the work, and the source of power, help, and success, and the future reward of the worker. Do not think it money wasted if some attend who do not engage actively in the field, for seed has been sown that may be transferred to another heart that will make a brilliant future in active service. The conference committee should also cooperate with the leaders of the publishing work in supplying workers for needy fields, both at home and abroad, willingly releasing the very best to go abroad to establish the work in other lands. Unselfish cooperation in this way by a conference committee will do more to build up the work in their local field than anything else they can do, for it is a divine principle that in scattering we increase, and in giving it shall be given again, good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over. As truly as “eternal vigilance is the price of liberty” so in the work of the Publishing Department eternal vigilance and cooperation by all are the price of its full development and fruitage. The conference committee should constantly carry it upon their hearts, and wherever they go in their ministration, they should call attention to its importance. Every excuse for not engaging in some way in the circulation of our literature has been answered by some other person in similar conditions who has done successfully what appears in the other mind an objection. A young licentiate minister once asked an aged pioneer the secret of success as a speaker. The old man said, “Fill up your tank, young man, fill up your tank.” So we believe each member of a conference committee should familiarize himself with our books, magazines, papers, and tracts, and with interesting experiences concerning their sale and distribution. He should know the difference between subscription and trade books, the price of all our papers and magazines, and be informed on all the new tracts and pamphlets issued, and when visiting the churches speak of them and the importance of their circulation. If all the workers will do this, there is no danger that the field agent and the tract society secretary will not be kept busy. Conference committees should be constant readers and diligent students of our denominational literature. There is nothing that so inspires a person with the importance of placing it in the hands of others as familiarity with what it contains, and without this inspiration but little cooperation can be expected. With such inspiration, cooperation will not have to be urged. Therefore in closing this paper, I wish to say that any point not touched upon is briefly comprehended in this statement: Familiarize yourself with the preciousness of the message contained in the products of our publishing houses, and the fullest cooperation will come as a natural result.