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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 14, 1906

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 83, No. 24.

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Our Publishing Work

The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it. Psalm 68:11.
THE following paragraphs are extracts from a few of the very interesting papers read at the Lake Union Conference Bookmen’s Convention, held at Berrien Springs, Mich., May 5-8:—
“God has an important truth which he wishes man to know, and that he may impart this knowledge speedily and accurately, he has enabled his people to produce literature which is admirably adapted for this purpose. The marvelous facilities now in use by men have been given to us by the Lord, that we may be enabled to perform concisely and well, the vast work which has been given us to do.”
“Probably none of us have yet fully understood the importance of our publications. Indeed, their value is beyond computation. The truth is taught in a clearer and stronger way in our books than it can be found in any other form, because writers can make stronger work with pen than can speakers make with the spoken word. Thus the pen and the press have become the most potent agencies that we can wield.”
“As an illustration of what can be done with one book, let us refer to the record that has been made through the publication and circulation of that excellent work, ‘Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation.’ Exact statistics are not in hand at this moment, but probably two hundred thousand copies of this book have been sold. It contains matter amounting to not less than one hundred most excellent sermons. It is safe to count that as many as five persons on an average study each copy put into circulation. Figuring upon the basis herein set forth, one million persons have read this one book, and each one of these has had the benefit of one hundred sermons on important gospel truth. Therefore, the aggregate amount of work done through the agency of this one publication is equal to presenting one sermon to one hundred million people. Had the writer of this book preached for a period of twenty-five years, averaging two hundred sermons each year, he would have delivered during such a period five thousand sermons. We will suppose that his congregations averaged fifty persons during this entire period. In this way he has presented one sermon to two hundred and fifty thousand persons. According to this ratio of comparative labor, he would have to preach for a period of eight hundred years in order to equal the amount of work done through his book. But the book still lives and works, though the dear brother who wrote it sleeps in Jesus. Is it not therefore true, that though he is dead, he is yet speaking?”
“A far greater effort should be made to extend the circulation of our publications in all parts of the world. The warning must be given in all lands and to all peoples. Our books are to be translated and published in many different languages. We should multiply publications on our faith in English, German, French, Danish-Norwegian, Swedish, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and many other tongues; and people of all nationalities should be enlightened and educated; that they too, may join in the work.”
“Never in my life have I enjoyed more of the presence of God and had more of that perfect peace than I have had since I entered the book work, and all my needs have been supplied according to promise, and we have the assurance that ‘he that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.’ When the prophet Isaiah had that wonderful vision of the Lord’s glory, his heart sank within him, and he exclaimed, ‘I am a man of unclean lips.’ Then flew one of the seraphim and touched his lips with a live coal from off the altar, and his iniquity was taken away, and the Lord said, ‘Whom shall I send?’ and the prophet answered, ‘Here am I; send me.’ May the Lord touch our lips with a live coal from off the altar, and prepare us for this closing work.”
“It is God’s plan that every member of the great body—the church—should become enlisted in the aggressive work of the message. As the Word says, ‘To every man his work,’ so we are taught by the spirit of prophecy, that even the children of this people are now to be prepared to give the message to the world when those of more experience and older in years are forbidden by governments to do so. So that while we are classifying our schools into church-schools, intermediate schools, and training-schools, we must ever remember that all are God’s means for training workers for finishing the work of the third angel’s message.”
“We learn to do by doing, and as the perils of the last days thicken about us, the children will be found doing what they have been educated to do. In general, we busy ourselves in that line of work about which we know most, and that with which our previous experience has made us familiar. It was because Daniel had been trained to worship the true God and to pray daily that the advancing years of his life found him faithful to that God. The life that Elisha lived as a farmer is not so foreign to his preparation for his life work as a prophet. Surely he who can keep his eye on a mark ahead and plow a straight furrow, has solved, in principle, the secret of the Christian’s life—‘looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith.’ He who could turn the sod to a line could, under God, make straight paths for the wandering feet of the children of Israel. The child who actually does the thing in his school life that he is expected to do when he leaves the schoolroom, is receiving the only training that will insure a deep love for his work in life.”
“As ordained ministers of the gospel, as taught by Christ and his disciples, and as being in the place of leaders in the denomination, we are set apart as overseers. In order for us to be capable of overseeing we must have a knowledge of the work we are to oversee. The only way to gain a knowledge of how to sell books is to sell books. Hence no man should be ordained to the gospel ministry until he has had a practical experience in selling books. If the principles, reasoning, and logic thus given are correct (and I believe they are) then ‘How Ministers Can Help Build Up the Book Work’ is made clear. They are to be true leaders in that department of their work as ministers, that is, they must be bookmen.”