Superintendent’s Report
By I. A. Ford
The superintendent, Brother E. L. Richmond, reported the following interesting items:— “The Review and Herald factory is one of the places where the seed is prepared for the world-wide sowing; or, to use a figure more in harmony with present world conditions, it is the place where the ammunition is prepared for the last great battles of the Lord in this world of sin. “During the past year we have not been crowded so heavily with work as during 1914, and our employees, therefore, have been relieved to some extent from the overstrain of the running of two or three shifts. The increased book sales in 1914, added to the large editions of the Harvest Ingathering Review, the War and Eastern Question Extras, and the Temperance Instructor, made it necessary to carry a larger force in the factory than usual. The additional help made it possible for us to stock up our bins with a good supply of books with which to meet the heavy business of the past season without working much overtime. “In the type room, in addition to the regular work on our periodicals, we have completed ‘The Shadow of the Bottle’ and the revised edition of ‘Gospel Workers,’ and of Bell’s Complete Grammar. ‘Songs of Zion’ was set by a music firm in Philadelphia. We have also completed one half the series of twenty-four numbers of the Review Extras, or Present Truth Series. The composition of these would make about four hundred pages if put in ordinary book form. Of these twelve numbers of the Extras we have printed 2,228,000 copies, besides 199,000 copies of extra editions of the Eastern Question Extra, and 344,355 copies of the Protestant Extra. “During the year we purchased nineteen carloads of paper; and this, together with some smaller shipments, made a total of over four hundred tons of book paper taken into our basement stock rooms. We constantly have on hand more paper than is carried by many firms selling paper exclusively.” The manager of the book department, I. A. Ford, then reported, and from his report we take the following:— “The year 1915 has been a very eventful one, both in the world and also in our own work. While America has enjoyed a year of peace, yet it has felt the effects of this terrible European war to some extent. Some industries suffered greatly, especially during the first of the year. Many of the largest organizations, such as trunk lines of railway, found it necessary to retrench, and thousands of men were laid off from work part of the time. There was a general feeling of unrest and uncertainty. “Nearly all kinds of farm crops have been plentiful, yet in some sections whole districts were quarantined on account of the foot-and-mouth disease, so that they could not be worked by our colporteurs. However, as Paul said of certain conditions in his day, these things ‘have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel.’ Instead of these conditions discouraging our people and causing them to do less than before, they were rather the signal for renewed effort, and for17greater zeal, earnestness, and faithfulness in the giving of the message. A somewhat larger number of regular and student colporteurs were in the field, and their efforts were blessed with success. The result of this has been seen in a large increase in the circulation of our literature. “While the work of the year has been somewhat strenuous, it has been a most enjoyable one. Nothing does us more good than to see our literature, filled with the special message for this time, have such an increased circulation. Certainly we have reached the time of the loud cry of this message, and we may expect to see the Lord accomplish great things through those who are willing to attempt great things for him. We confidently expect the year 1916 will see many more of our books, pamphlets, and tracts placed in the homes of the people than were placed there during the year just past.” The book department showed a total sales for the year of $338,634.06 as against $234,293.67 for the year 1914, a gain of $104,240.39, or 44 4-10 per cent. This is doubtless the largest gain ever shown by the book department of this association in any one year. Among the new books put out during the year were “Gospel Workers,” “Songs of Zion,” and “Bible Readings for the Home Circle,” India paper edition. The following is a summary of the report given by Brother L. W. Graham, manager of our Eastern Branch:— The report of the New York Branch showed the best year’s business in the history of that office, the sales being $91,649.33, an increase of $35,182.80, or sixty-two per cent, over 1914. This office has set $120,000 worth of literature as its goal for the year 1916. The books having the largest circulation in the territory of this office were, “The World’s Crisis,” 45,318; “The Shadow of the Bottle,” 15,305; “Bible Readings,” 8,289. We quote from the branch manager’s report as follows:— “Our colporteurs have had good success. This is not because times have been better, or conditions for selling our literature more favorable, but because of greater consecration and faithfulness in their work. In reports this has shown in an increase in the average hours a week per agent. With the increased time have come increased sales, and the increased income is a great factor in helping the colporteur stay in the field, and in keeping his account at the tract society office in good condition. “Many South Lancaster students were in the field this summer, and not a few were successful in earning scholarships, and are now enjoying the fruit of their toil. “Financially, 1915 has been our best year. The net gain of the branch office was $2,773.34. This is better by over $1,500 than any previous year. One thing for which we are thankful is that we have no slow accounts, all tract societies being prompt in making remittances.” The manager of the Western Branch, Brother J. W. Mace, South Bend, Ind., made a very encouraging report of the work of that office for the year. Speaking of the student colporteurs, he said:— “The enthusiasm in our schools and colleges is especially gratifying to us, and is truly phenomenal as compared with the experience of past years. In our college at Berrien Springs there is a canvassers’ band of one hundred strong, which is holding regular meetings throughout the school year. The work of this band was opened up with inspiring experience meetings, in which returned successful canvassers took active part. Their work is fostered by the unqualified help and cooperation of the whole faculty. Similar favorable conditions exist to a great extent at our academy at Mount Vernon, Ohio, and at other points in the territory. “Our student canvassers earned fifty scholarships during the vacation period. This fact is a strong argument with which to appeal to the prospective student canvasser. Some of our inexperienced young people have made record sales, as high as $1,200 worth of books in a few weeks of the summer vacation.” The territory supplied by this office had a larger number of regular colporteurs in the field than in previous years, and the success of their work is seen in the fact that the total sales of subscription books in the territory amounted to $121,111.49, a gain of $31,792.98 over 1914. The outlook for the year to come seems most encouraging from the standpoint of these reports. Brother D. W. Reavis gave the following report of his department:— “The year 1915 having been a year of wars and rumors of wars, our church periodicals and such magazines as Life and Health, Protestant, Liberty, and the Temperance Instructor, not relating directly to the war, have experienced a hard struggle, and several of them have not attained to their usual prosperity. These conditions have made the periodical department a strenuous year, filled with anxiety and earnest effort. “The general public have been swayed by the spirit of the times, and for the present seem to express little interest in the plain themes of Christian living; but at the same time they purchase with eagerness all papers, magazines, and books which deal with information pertaining to the war, or which explain the prophecies and the signs of the times, telling what these things mean. The sale of magazines published by the Review and Herald office has, therefore, materially decreased during the year. We are glad, however, that during this same time the Watchman and the Signs of the Times—which deal directly with current events—have increased their circulation, so that the magazine work of the denomination is still going forward. “The Review and Herald has the largest circulation at the present time that it has had for more than ten years. The paper has now about 16,000 subscribers. The Instructor has an average list of about 15,000. The Sabbath School Worker has gradually increased in circulation since 1909, and today stands at 10,707, the highest mark attained in its history. The Christian Educator is also slowly gaining, though it has not yet had the patronage which it deserves. The Church Officers’ Gazette has grown from 2,911 subscriptions in 1914 to 4,252, and the list is still growing. The Present Truth Series had the splendid circulation of 2,090,000 copies during the first year of its history. This little one-topic messenger, easily within the reach of all in price, and most effective in giving the message, has been accorded a hearty reception. “As the editor of the Protestant Magazine has been called by the General Conference Committee to take the position of field secretary, which will make it necessary for him to spend a large part of his time in the field, it has been thought best to suspend for the present the publication of the Protestant Magazine.” The treasurer’s report, by Brother R. Hook, Jr., was the most interesting one ever presented to this association. It revealed the fact that during the year the bills payable account had been reduced by the payment of notes amounting to $54,626.53, leaving the present indebtedness of the association as represented by bills payable, only $44,884.79. It is the expectation of the officers of the association that this amount will be very materially reduced during the present year, besides making substantial gifts to needy enterprises, and the purchase of such new equipment as may be needed. The net gain for the year, which was added to the capital account, was $28,926.76, making the total present worth $233,422.26. The committee on nominations reported the following names to succeed themselves as members of the board of directors: Francis M. Wilcox, Edwin R. Palmer, Irving A. Ford, Richard Hook, Jr., Ellsworth L. Richmond, William W. Prescott. These nominees were unanimously elected. The following resolutions were adopted by the constituency:— Whereas, The signal blessing of the Lord has rested upon the work of this institution during the past year, enabling the management to pay off more than half of its bills payable, and in view of the urgent calls for help from small, struggling printing plants in foreign fields and from the leading training schools in our territory; therefore,— We recommend, That we do not delay coming to the assistance of these needy fields and enterprises until our own debts are entirely paid, but that a portion of our net earnings be appropriated to meet these needs, and that the balance be applied as far as consistent on the interest-bearing debts of the association. That in harmony with Article VI, Section 1, of our By-Laws (as amended at this meeting), $10,000 of the net earnings of the association for the year 1915, together with a tithe of the net earnings, be set apart as a reserve, to be appropriated, from time to time, to such needy fields and enterprises as may be recommended by the General Conference Committee, the North American Division Committee, and the Review and Herald Board, sitting in joint session. “That “His Glorious Appearing,” “Our Paradise Home,” revised edition of “Helps to Bible Study,” and a new book entitled “Armageddon” be issued in similar form and at same prices and18discounts as “The World’s Crisis.” That the Berean Library be made up of the following books, and that the wholesale price to our workers for a set in a box be $1.50:—
NO. PRICE- Steps to Christ .......................... $ .25
- Thoughts on Daniel ........................ .30
- Thoughts on Revelation .................... .35
- Religious Liberty in America .............. .35
- Sabbath in the Scriptures .................. .25
- Sabbath in History ........................ .50
- Capital and Labor .......................... .25
- Here and Hereafter ........................ .30
That the revised edition of “Facts for the Times,” copy for which is now being prepared, be issued as soon as possible in similar form to “Gospel Workers.” Whereas, The Present Truth Series is being received with general favor and satisfaction by our people, and is evidently filling an important place in publishing the third angel’s message; and,— Whereas, It can be handled with less expense and upon a more stable and satisfactory basis as an independent publication than as Extras to the Review; therefore,— We recommend, That beginning with Jan. 1, 1917, the Present Truth Series of Review and Herald Extras be issued as a monthly periodical, on the following general plan:— (a) That it be entitled “The Present Truth.”
(b) That it be published in its present form as a four-page, illustrated monthly periodical.
(c) That each number be devoted to a single subject, or feature, of the third angel’s message.
(d) That it be issued as a series of twenty-four numbers.
(e) That the subscription price for single copies and for clubs cover the full series, running monthly for two years.
(f) That a facsimile reprint of the first number of the Present Truth, published by Elder James White in Middletown, Conn., in 1845, be furnished as a souvenir premium with each subscription to the Present Truth Series.
(g) That we encourage the rank and file of our people to improve the present favorable opportunity to distribute such timely books as “The World’s Crisis,” “The Shadow of the Bottle,” “His Glorious Appearing,” “Our Paradise Home,” and other books of this nature. The meeting adjourned sine die. The newly elected board of trustees met in joint session with the officers of the General Conference and the North American Division Conference, in Takoma Park, D. C., January 19, and the board was organized by the election of the following officers: President, F. M. Wilcox; vice president, W. T. Knox; secretary, I. A. Ford; treasurer, R. Hook, Jr.; general manager, E. R. Palmer; assistant manager and superintendent, E. L. Richmond. The following editors were chosen:—
REVIEW AND HERALD: Editor, F. M. Wilcox.
Associate Editors: W. A. Spicer, G. B. Thompson, L. L. Caviness.
Special Contributors: A. G. Daniels, I. H. Evans, L. R. Conradi, R. C. Porter, W. T. Knox, W. W. Prescott, C. M. Snow.
Home Department: Editor, Mrs. I. H. Evans. Assistant Editor, Miss Lora Clement.
YOUTH’S INSTRUCTOR: Editor, Mrs. Fannie D. Chase.
Associate Editor, Mrs. Adelaide B. Evans.
LIFE AND HEALTH: Editor, Dr. G. H. Heald.
LIBERTY: Editor, C. S. Longacre.
Managing Editor, C. P. Bollman.
Associate Editors: L. L. Caviness, C. E. Holmes.
Special Contributors: K. C. Russell, J. O. Corliss, W. F. Martin, S. B. Horton, C. B. Haynes.
SABBATH SCHOOL WORKER: Editor, Mrs. L. Flora Plummer.
Associate Editor, Rosamond D. Ginther.
CHRISTIAN EDUCATOR: Editor, Frederick Griggs.
Managing Editor, W. E. Howell.
Special Contributors: J. L. Shaw, O. J. Graf, C. W. Irwin, H. A. Morrison, E. C. Kellogg, B. F. Machlan.
CHURCH OFFICERS’ GAZETTE: Editors, Edith M. Graham, Matilda Erickson.
PRESENT TRUTH: Editor, E. R. Palmer.