Second Annual Meeting of the International Publishing Association
At the meeting of the International Publishing Association and the Foreign Department of the General Conference, held at College View September 5-7, the following were among those present: G. A. Irwin, E. T. Russell, I. H. Evans, R. A. Underwood, H. Shultz, Lewis Johnson, B. G. Wilkinson, C. M. Everest, H. S. Shaw, G. F. Haffner, C. A. Burman, L. F. Starr, S. F. Svensson, James Cochran, J. J. Graf, P. E. Berthelsen, A. T. Robinson, A. Swedberg, C. A. Thorp, J. F. Anderson, S. Mortensen, A. A. Meyer, T. Valentiner, Jacob Riffel, J. G. Hanhardt, R. M. Rockey, J. Staby, G. A. Grauer, R. C. Porter, Carl Svenson, J. H. Morrison, August Anderson, Valentine Leer, C. C. Lewis, D. R. Callahan, T. Berthelson, C. A. Beeson, and Brethren Reiswig and Ewert. Following the reading of the minutes of the last annual meeting, Elder Irwin, chairman of the Foreign Department of the General Conference, briefly addressed the meeting. He emphasized the importance of the present meeting at College View, and urged an earnest seeking of the Lord for guidance in all our deliberations. Elder Russell, chairman of the board of trustees, presented a memorial, in which he rehearsed the steps which had led to the formation of the International Publishing Association, and spoke briefly concerning the work of the institution during the past year. Most of the time of two meetings was occupied by Elder Irwin in reading Testimonies from Sister White, relating to the work of the International Publishing Association. These Testimonies had recently been written, and reached College View just in time to be received by Elder Irwin the day of the meeting. The reading of these Testimonies brought light into the counsels of the brethren assembled. Much of the instruction came directly across the ideas and plans of some who had been connected with the work of the institution during the past year. By special request two of these Testimonies were read the second time, and the way they were received by many was expressed in one testimony as follows: “By the reading of these Testimonies last night my mind was affected, but on hearing them read this morning my heart is affected. I fully accept this counsel as coming from heaven, and although it cuts across cherished plans and ideas, I purpose in the future to follow the light given.” After remarks by Elder R. A. Underwood, he presented the following resolution:— “I move that we express our gratitude20to God for the light and the counsel that has come to us by the spirit of prophecy, and that we accept this counsel, and seek to act unitedly in building up the work of the International Publishing Association, and extending its mission.” This motion was carried by a nearly unanimous rising vote. Among important recommendations presented by the committee on plans and finances were the following:— “1. Resolved, That we request all the Seventh-day Adventist publishing houses to recognize the International Publishing Association as a sister institution, and that it be granted publishers’ rates on all denominational literature. “2. That we request the Foreign Department of the General Conference and the International Publishing Association to jointly appoint a committee of five each, of the German, Swedish, and Danish-Norwegian languages, to supervise the bringing out of literature in these respective languages. “3. That we recommend and earnestly solicit that every State conference co-operate with the management of the International Publishing Association to greatly extend the circulation of the periodicals in their respective territories,— “(a) By soliciting yearly subscriptions in all parts of their territory where these respective languages are spoken. “(b) By our American brethren, as well as the respective nationalities, taking clubs of these periodicals for missionary distribution. “(c) By organized effort to sell these publications from house to house. “(d) That whenever we have special issues of our foreign periodicals, all ministers, workers, and churches do all they can to give these issues a wide circulation. “4. (a) That our conferences containing large populations of these various nationalities endeavor to place canvassers in the field who shall devote their time to the sale of literature in the German and Scandinavian languages. “(b) That the respective conferences supply these canvassers with tracts on present truth for free distribution. “(c) That we encourage all our ministers and workers to do all they can in distributing this literature by selling the same wherever possible and encouraging others to do likewise. “5. That we earnestly request the conferences having a large element of these various nationalities in their midst to plan at the earliest possible date for workers to enter their fields and take up work for these various nationalities. “Whereas, The General Conference Committee has seen fit to create what is known as the Foreign Department of the General Conference, and,— “Whereas, Said committee has appointed certain men to lead out in the work among the German and Scandinavian people in the United States and Canada, therefore,— “6. Resolved, That we request the men who have been selected to work upon this foreign committee, with the American brethren, to give their most earnest efforts to building up the third angel’s message among the people whom they represent. “Whereas, There are large numbers of various nationalities in the United States and Canada, outside the Germans and Scandinavians, among whom we have no worker proclaiming the third angel’s message, therefore,— “7. Resolved, That we recommend that earnest efforts be made to secure consecrated workers who have ability to acquire languages to take up the study of some of these languages with the view of qualifying themselves for work among these people. “8. Resolved, That we recommend our young people who belong to these various nationalities to qualify themselves to work for those of their respective native tongues, rather than enter the work for the English-speaking people. “9. Resolved, That we request Union College to strengthen its foreign departments, and in every possible way to give the respective nationalities every advantage to educate and qualify their children for work among their people. “Whereas, We have no place of safety in which to keep our many plates, books, and tracts, therefore,— “10. Resolved, That our board of trustees be instructed to provide a suitable vault in which to store these plates and other valuables. “Whereas, The General Conference a little more than a year ago endeavored to raise a donation for the assistance of the International Publishing Association, and,— “Whereas, There was realized from this donation only about half the amount which the General Conference had anticipated would be raised, therefore,— “11. Resolved, That we petition the General Conference Committee to assist the International Publishing Association in raising five thousand dollars to cover obligations already contracted in equipping the International Publishing Association. “12. That said International Publishing Association pledges itself to co-operate with the General Conference in every possible way to secure said fund.” The following-named persons were elected as Board of Trustees: E. T. Russell, A. T. Robinson, N. P. Nelson, J. J. Graf, August Anderson, G. A. Grauer, and R. M. Rockey. E. T. RUSSELL, President,
A. T. ROBINSON, Secretary.