“Bible Readings for the Home Circle,” Revised
By E. R. PALMER.
AFTER nearly five years of earnest, painstaking effort in revising, “Bible Readings for the Home Circle,” it is a great encouragement to see the splendid reception of this book by our people, and especially by colporteurs. Two editions of ten thousand copies each have been printed by this office, and a third edition of twenty thousand will soon be on the press. Duplicate sets of plates have been made and shipped to the Pacific Press Publishing Association, the Southern Publishing Association, and the International Tract Society of England. These houses are supplying their respective territories. The revision of this standard book is a matter of no little interest and importance to this people. It seems fitting, therefore, that a statement be made concerning the extent and character of this revision. “Bible Readings” is a book in which our people have been deeply interested since it was first issued, about twenty-five years ago. Like our other literature, it is a product of the movement known as the third angel’s message. The story of its authorship and production, its plan of teaching Bible truth, and its wide range of subjects, impress the fact that in a special sense “Bible Readings” is a product of denominational thought and enterprise. Many of our people will readily recall the interesting experiences of ministers and Bible workers when the plan of teaching the truth by the use of Bible readings was being generally adopted as a denominational method of work. Laborers were appointed to visit schools, camp meetings, and the larger churches, to give instruction in this method of labor. Probably no other method has been more fruitful of good results than the giving of Bible readings from house to house. “Bible Readings” had its origin in that department of gospel ministry. Thirty years ago, when the writer was living in the family of one of our ministers, a call was sent out from the General Conference for every laborer in the field to contribute at least two Bible readings to a collection which was then being made for public use. I shall never forget the days of careful study by that minister in the production of his two Bible readings. Doubtless there are many who still have a copy of the old “Bible Reading Gazette,” which was issued previous to the larger subscription book, and which served as a sort of textbook in the Bible-reading work. Over twenty-five years ago, after the success of selling books by subscription had been partially demonstrated by the sale of “Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation,” “The Marvel of Nations,” and “The Great Controversy,” the managers of the Review and Herald Office, at Battle Creek, developed the plan of issuing an illustrated volume of “Bible Readings,” covering practically the full scope of the threefold message, to be sold by agents as a subscription book. A large number of readings had been collected, many of which had previously been published in other forms. Other readings were gathered in from many sources. The Review and Herald Board, through its managers, took immediate charge of this enterprise from its very beginning, planning and superintending the shaping up of both the subject matter and the illustrations. Elder George I. Butler, president of the Review and Herald Board, took a deep interest in the plan and promotion of this far-reaching enterprise. Elder J. O. Corliss was employed as editor. The work that was done at that time stood the test of many years. We believe that few religious books, the Bible excepted, have had so large a sale as “Bible Readings,” about 1,250,000 copies having been sold. During recent years, while the colporteur work was being revived and was developing rapidly in other countries, there sprang up in all parts of the field an urgent demand that this book be thoroughly revised and brought up to date. On the recommendation of the General Conference Committee and the Publishing Department, the Review and Herald Publishing Association entered upon this revision. As in the case of the production of the original edition, all features of this work have been directly in the hands of the Review and Herald Office. A strong representative committee on revision was appointed, whose work extended over a period of nearly five years. Elder W. A. Colcord, who at that time was book editor in the employ of the General Conference, was engaged as editor. The committee on revision did thorough work. Each member was supplied with a copy of the manuscript, and gave it private study. The committee met from time to time to compare notes and make suggestions, and for weeks at a time was in session from two to four hours daily. As secretary of the committee, Elder Colcord, with the utmost care and faithfulness, incorporated into the manuscript the results of the criticisms and the suggestions of this committee. The work of revision was so extensive and thorough that it amounted practically to the making of a new book. About two hundred pages, including a large number of new subjects, were added. The entire range of denominational literature and research was drawn upon to make this book as complete and representative as possible. Valuable contributions to the readings were made by experienced laborers and Bible students. The unique reading found on page 725, entitled “One Hundred Bible Stories and Where to Find Them,” was prepared by Mrs. Anna L. Colcord, of Washington, D. C., who some years ago read the Bible through for the purpose of making a list of stories in it to read to her children. Nearly all the illustrations are new. There are two hundred and ninety halftone engravings, eighty of which are full page. All these illustrations are either original or are copies of the world’s most famous Bible pictures, redrawn and improved by Charles Mente, of New York. A plain, unillustrated edition, which contains five hundred and seventy-six pages, has been published. It is printed on thin paper, especially for the convenience of field workers and other Bible students. It is with great joy and hope that we have placed this revised edition of “Bible Readings” in the hands of our colporteurs. This line of work is rapidly growing, and extending to the ends of the earth. Everything possible should be done to place a high class of literature in the hands of this army of workers. We have confidence that “Bible Readings,” in its revised form, will fill a most important place in the colporteur work. Those who have had a part in this important enterprise will follow the future of this book with the utmost interest, and will remember at the throne of grace the colporteurs who labor in all lands for its circulation. E. R. PALMER.