The Bookmen’s Convention in the South by E. R. PALMER

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 4, 1909

The Bookmen’s Convention in the South

By E. R. PALMER

THE bookmen’s convention for the territory of the Southern Publishing Association, consisting of the Southern, Southwestern, and Southeastern union conferences, was held, according to appointment, December 30 to January 6. There was a full attendance of union and State conference bookmen. As a meeting of the constituency of the publishing house was to be held immediately following this convention, the leading officers of the three union conferences, and several conference presidents, came early and attended the convention.

It was uplifting to our bookmen to have with them in the studies, workers of long experience in this cause, such as Elders A. O. Burrill, Clarence Santee, and L. W. Terry, who were present at nearly every meeting of the convention, and many other leading brethren who were present a large portion of the time.

Elder W. W. Eastman conducted a series of studies on the subject-matter and selling points of “Great Controversy;” V. O. Cole on “Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation;” A. F. Harrison in selling points and practical drill; and the writer conducted a series of health book studies. These book studies and drills were made intensely practical, and were designed to assist the field agents in a more thorough preparation for training their agents in the selling of these large books.

The writer, assisted by Elder N. Z. Town, conducted a series of round-table councils on the practical features of the book work, and Brother D. W. Reavis led out in the study of the periodical work, and church tract and missionary work.

The work of this convention was strong, clear-cut, and right to the point. There were present nine men who had been engaged in the subscription book work for more than twenty years. This came the nearest to being a reunion of the old veterans of any bookmen’s convention we have yet held.

All the features of the publishing work are advancing on a good, sound basis in the Southern field. The Lord has blessed those three unions with the help of sturdy, hard-working leaders. As we worked day after day with those smiling, broad-shouldered, weather-beaten men, we were impressed, with what is undoubtedly the fact, that they depend for their success chiefly upon genuine hard work with their men in the field, rather than upon office niceties and theories.

We enjoyed the meeting very much indeed, and confidently expect that, under the blessing of God, it will be found that this convention has set the pace for a good year for the publishing interests in the South. E. R. PALMER.