Notes of Progress by E. R. Palmer

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 20, 1908

Notes of Progress

By E. R. Palmer

THIS summary is not large, but it is good, considering the time of year, and the many general meetings and conventions which are being held.

In this summary, Scandinavia appears for the first time. We hope soon to be able to furnish reports from many foreign fields; for during 1908 we shall send out blanks for reports from all the foreign conferences and missions.

A successful canvassers' institute has recently been held in the Central New England Conference. Brother R. J. Bryant, the general agent, reports having trained twenty-five canvassers in this institute, twelve of whom are to work for “Great Controversy.”

It appears that a conference president may be very successful as State agent pro tem. A call comes from West Virginia for a State agent to take charge of thirty prospective canvassers in that conference. The president, Elder J. M. Rees, in harmony with his usual custom, has been working up a lively interest in the sale of our publications, with this good result.

Last year at Union College there were sixty-nine students in the canvassers’ band. When we heard of the great interest there, we thanked God and took courage. A letter from Prof. M. E. Kern, who has recently visited Union College, states that there are now two hundred members in the canvassers’ band. We thank God again, and take fresh courage.

A letter from South Lancaster Academy states that sixty-five students there have joined the canvassers’ band.

Brother Carl Weeks, general agent of the North Pacific Union Conference, writes that interest in the scholarship plan, and in the sale of books, is at white heat in all the schools of the North Pacific Union.

We are informed that the Watchman has doubled its circulation during the past year.

We note from the address of the manager of the Pacific Press before the stockholders, at their recent meeting, the following interesting facts concerning the circulation of the Signs of the Times: Two years ago the subscription list stood at 14,000 copies a week. During 1907 the circulation stood from 34,000 to 50,000 copies a week, besides a sale of nearly 200,000 copies of the World’s Missions Number.

Life and Health and Liberty have greatly increased their circulation since the size and price were increased. Thirty-five thousand copies of the January number of Life and Health were printed, and they were sold before the fifteenth day of the month. Forty thousand copies were printed of the February number, and they were all sold before the first day of February; and another edition of 10,000 copies was printed to supply the demand. There are between twenty and thirty agents working for these journals, and they are selling from one thousand to three thousand copies each, a month, at ten cents a copy.

What do these things mean? Is the work of God disintegrating and falling to pieces, as some of its enemies seem to suppose? This is a mere handful

of items among hundreds of encouraging reports which give the truth of the triumph and onward march of the message.

Let those who have a tendency toward mental and spiritual dyspepsia, who are groaning because of the alleged weakness of the work and organization of the third angel’s message, be admonished, and cheered, and blessed by the great array of encouraging facts, instead of moping under the pains of their own soul’s sickness.

Let the men and women, and the boys and girls, who have been circulating the literature so actively during 1907, take fresh courage and join the rapidly increasing ranks.

E. R. PALMER. Sec. Gen. Conf. Publishing Dept.