Publishing Department Notes
By E. R. Palmer
THE general agent of the Australasian Union Conference writes that he considers the biggest end of the publishing work is in the field, therefore he stays in the field with his men most of the time. The summary for December is not so large as it was for November, but it is quite as good as might naturally be expected in view of the fact that nearly all the agents were engaged during a large part of the month in making their Christmas deliveries. It is gratifying to see such excellent, complete reports from the Atlantic and Southern Union Conferences. These are undoubtedly the two hardest territories to work, and yet they seem to be taking the lead. This evidently results from a thorough organization of the field work. Good news comes to us from the bookmen's convention, held in Kansas City, beginning January 13. A large number of able leaders in the canvassing work were present. We understand that these men enthusiastically adopted plans for publishing our large books in three bindings, full information concerning which will be given by publishers in their respective parts of the field. We feel sure that much good will come from the decision of our leading bookmen in the western part of the United States to concentrate their efforts for the season upon one or two large books, instead of scattering their efforts over a large number at one time. By this move the State agents and canvassers can work together to a definite end, and do a much better work. The book upon which special effort will be made this season is “Great Controversy.” A thoroughly maintained reporting system is one of the vital means by which leaders in the publishing work can know the situation in their territory, and thus be able to put forth efforts intelligently. It is stated on good authority that the chief advantage of the Japanese in their recent war with Russia was due to their perfect means of communication with every detail of their widely scattered forces. They maintained such a perfect telephone system that the generals were in constant touch with every factor in the great campaign. This is the season at the very beginning of the year for training workers for the spring, summer, and fall campaigns; this is the time for holding canvassers' institutes, for coming into intimate touch with the faculties of all our schools and the students under them; this is the time for holding on to every agent if possible so as to carry him successfully over from the last year's work to this year. The summary indicates that a large number of agents were held steadily at their work during the cold December weather. Can we not hold on steadily through the next two months, and then recruit a large number of additional workers from our schools, and conventions, and private enlistings among the churches? E. R. PALMER,
Sec. Gen. Conf. Publishing Dept.