Fifth Annual Meeting of the Review and Herald Publishing Association.
By D. W. Reavis
The fifth annual meeting of the Review and Herald Publishing Association was held March 23, in connection with the biennial session of the Lake Union Conference, in Chicago. The president of the association being prevented from attending the meeting, the vice-president, Elder I. H. Evans, was elected chairman by the thirty-nine members of the constituency present, and D. W. Reavis was appointed secretary. Elder Evans read the report the president had sent to the meeting, in which was included the rehearsal of the circumstances clustering about the removal of the plant from Battle Creek, to Washington, D. C. It seemed fitting to present these facts at this meeting, inasmuch as at this time the first full year’s report of the officers of the association would be made since the work has been carried on in the new plant, and seeing these reports would demonstrate the wisdom of following the advice given through the spirit of prophecy in all matters pertaining to the interests of our institution, even in the face of man’s conception of prosperity. A review of the events was given, beginning Dec. 30, 1902, when the Review and Herald printing plant at Battle Creek was consumed by fire. In the following April, at the annual meeting of the stockholders of the Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association, it was voted to discontinue the printing work at Battle Creek, and dispose of the property to another association. In carrying out this plan, the affairs of the old association were placed in the hands of a receiver, who sold at public auction all the assets of the said association to a new corporation, the Review and Herald Publishing Association, Washington, D. C. This association began its first work in the city of Washington in August, 1903, in a rented building, where it continued to publish its various publications until a permanent location could be provided. Plans for a new building were approved by the constituency at the annual meeting held in Washington in connection with the General Conference in May, 1905, and during the following year the work of construction was completed. The building was first occupied in May, 1906, although it was midsummer before everything was in settled condition. The work of the association was carried forward at a decided disadvantage during the time while an office was maintained at Battle Creek, where the book printing was done, and another office in Washington, where the periodicals were printed, and the removal of the printing outfit from Battle Creek to Washington was done with large expense. This removal of the work from Battle Creek to Washington was not made simply on the judgment of the individuals who had direction of the work, but was in pursuance of explicit instruction given through the spirit of prophecy. There was strong opposition against this action, and there were those who prophesied dire results. Regarded from a human standpoint, it would seem that there was some ground for their prediction. The old Review and Herald had been established in Battle Creek for nearly fifty years. It was well known in the commercial world, had a splendid credit, and a large run of commercial work. To abandon all this, to remove to a new place, and to start all over again without any certainty of being able to secure the same run of commercial work, seemed almost suicidal from a business point of view, but those who had this work in charge had sufficient confidence in the spirit of prophecy to follow the instruction given through this agency, notwithstanding the fear and foreboding of many. In view of the considerable increase in the cost of paper and other stock, and the necessary advance in wages, owing to the increased cost of living in Washington, and the entire absence of commercial work from the Office, the substantial balance of $25,002.21, found on the right side of the treasurer’s report, was regarded as a complete justification of the counsel given concerning the establishment of our printing work in Washington. While $6,958.20 of this amount was donations, there still remains a net gain of $18,044.01, which the association has earned during the past year. It was also regarded as a marked evidence of prosperity when the report of the Department of Circulation revealed the fact that the association had printed, during the year 1907, 67,000 copies of denominational books more than it printed during the two years just previous to the fire in Michigan, besides the increase in tracts and pamphlets and the circulation of periodicals that was reported. The developments in our denominational history during the recent years, and the turn of affairs at the nation’s capital have made it clear to all that the removal of the General Conference headquarters to Washington was made none too soon to meet the demands of the situation, and it seemed evident to all that a clear demonstration had been made of the wisdom of that counsel which directed that the publishing work should be located in the same place. The manager made a full report of the detailed workings of the present plant since its removal to Washington, in which he paid a high compliment to the faithfulness of the employees in the Office; explained the methods followed in discontinuing all commercial work; gave a list of the new machinery added to the plant, the improvements and additions made in the building, the new publications recently issued, and many interesting facts about the establishing of, and the work pertaining to, the New York Branch, together with a report of the work being done at the Battle Creek Branch. Both of these branches submitted, in addition to the manager’s report, detailed records of their work. Each showed decided gains, and plausible reasons for increase in business during the coming year. The report of the treasurer for 1907 showed a substantial gain in almost every earning factor of the business. The donations received during the year amounted to $6,958.20. Of this amount, $6,533.20 came from the $150,000 fund. The association is to be the beneficiary from this fund to the extent of $10,000 when the total amount is cleared. The total gain for the year, as stated above, was $25,002.21. All the affairs of the Review and Herald Publishing Association seem to be in a prosperous condition, and the prospects for the future were very encouraging, for which there were marked evidences of gratefulness. Resolutions and Nominations
The following resolutions were unanimously adopted after having been thoroughly and enthusiastically discussed:— “1. We, the constituency of the Review and Herald Publishing Association in our fifth annual meeting, in reviewing its work during the past year of its history, recognize the providential dealings of our Heavenly Father in our behalf; his guiding hand in the location of our work at the national capital; in providing us with suitable facilities for the production of our literature; in moving upon the hearts of the people to co-operate in the distribution of the printed pages of truth, and in prospering the institution even amid the recent financial depression. We, therefore, desire to express in this feeble manner our thanks, and to show our appreciation of these tokens of heaven’s blessings by more faithfully consecrating our lives to his service in publishing abroad the glad tidings of a soon-coming Saviour. “Whereas, The cost of producing our large subscription books has increased since the prices were originally established, from twenty-five to thirty per cent on both labor and material items, and,— “Whereas, The financial condition of our publishing houses demands increased profits in order to meet their large liabilities; therefore, we recommend,— “2. That the price on ‘Great Controversy,’ ‘Daniel and the Revelation,’ ‘Patriarchs and Prophets,’ and ‘Bible Readings’ be increased to the following uniform schedule:—
Marbled .......... $2.75
Library (sheep) .... 3.75
Morocco ............ 4.75 “3. That the Board carefully investigate the cost and wholesale prices on the other books published by this association, and in consultation with the19other publishing houses, raise the prices on our publications wherever necessary, in order that all of them may be put on a satisfactory paying basis. “4. That our conference officers and workers constantly stimulate the circulation of the Review among our people as a means of keeping the churches in close touch with the rapid progress of the message in all parts of the world, and as a source of constant encouragement and spiritual development. “5. That the Youth’s Instructor be generously supplied in every church Sabbath-school, that our young people may be constantly urged to read it, and to solicit subscriptions among the young people of the world, it being a strong factor in educating and encouraging our youth in a higher conception of life, strengthening the understanding, and supplying the mind with proper information. “6. That our people in the Lake Union Conference be thoroughly informed upon the value and importance of Liberty and Life and Health, the evident good being accomplished through their circulation, the prepared condition of the public mind for the reception of their teachings, the inducements these journals offer the workers for a liberal support while soliciting for them, and, under the favorable circumstances, of their personal obligation in connection with their circulation.” The committee appointed to nominate four directors for the Review and Herald Publishing Association for the coming two years, to take the places of those whose present terms are expiring, submitted the following names, and these persons were unanimously elected: W. W. Prescott, S. N. Curtiss, D. W. Reavis, and Morris Lukens. All the members of the constituency, together with all the friends of the Review and Herald Publishing Association present, expressed great appreciation of the prosperity that has attended the removal of the plant from Battle Creek to Washington, and pledged their renewed interests with the association. Many expressed the firm belief that the prospering hand of God would be seen more decidedly during the coming year than during the past year in the development of the printing work in Washington, D. C. D. W. REAVIS.