The Summary by N. Z. TOWN

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 6, 1915

The Summary

By N. Z. TOWN

It is very encouraging to see that notwithstanding the great European war and the serious effect which it is having not only upon the countries involved, but upon the financial conditions of many neutral countries as well, the summary of our book sales for March is only about $2,500 less than for the corresponding month last year, while our periodical sales both at home and abroad show a very marked increase. All the Eastern unions in this country show a gain in book sales, while in the West there is a loss in each union except the North Pacific and the Western Canadian. But there is a reason for these losses. The missionary and publishing convention in the Pacific Press territory was held during March, and this took the leaders from their respective fields during about two thirds of the month. Australasia, Scandinavia, Cuba, and Brazil show splendid gains over the corresponding month in 1914.

The outlook for the colporteur work for 1915 is most encouraging. During the first three months of the year the Pacific Press Publishing Association sold $25,000 worth of subscription books, wholesale, as against $11,000 worth during the previous year. The Review and Herald also made a very substantial gain. In the South our brethren are still feeling the effects of the depression in the cotton trade; but now that there is a greater movement in cotton and prices are reasonably good, business is looking better. During the first three months of the year the Southern Union has made a gain in book sales. The manager of the New York Branch of the Review and Herald reports a gain during March of 198 per cent in subscription book sales from that branch to the Atlantic Union over the corresponding month last year. The leaders in the field are sounding a note of courage, and are looking for 1915 to be the banner year in this branch of the work. N. Z. TOWN.