Southern Publishing Association by R. L. Pierce

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 21, 1916

Southern Publishing Association

By R. L. Pierce

The Southern Publishing Association was organized and incorporated in June, 1901. During the first few years of its existence, our people throughout North America contributed liberally to its establishment; and as there are many readers of the Review who had a part in this work at that time, a brief report of the progress that has been made may not be out of place.

The original location was on Jefferson Street, near the business portion of Nashville. On that site a four-story building was erected. About ten years ago, however, that building was sold, and the plant moved to a large and high plot of ground about one-half mile outside the city limits, and yet within easy access of mail and shipping facilities. This has proved to be a wise move in every way. It not only enabled our workers to escape much of the dirt, smoke, and noise of the city, but what is perhaps equally important, it provided plenty of room for the plant, so that all the manufacturing could be done on the ground floor. This in itself has proved a great saving in both time and labor.

SOUTHERN PUBLISHING ASSOCIATION, NASHVILLE, TENN.

The accompanying cut was made from a photograph, and shows the office building and a portion of the main factory building as they appear today. On the second story of the office building is a neat chapel, the employees' library and reading-room, the art department, and the Watchman editorial rooms. All the other departments of the plant, including the business offices, circulation, shipping, and manufacturing departments, are on the ground floor. This arrangement has materially facilitated the handling of the work, and has greatly increased the efficiency and production of the plant.

The size of the main factory building, shown in the picture, is 72 feet wide by 170 feet long. As the roof is of self-supporting design, there are no posts or other obstructions to interfere with the work. The plant is now equipped with up-to-date machinery. It is operated by electricity, with an individual motor for each machine. The large windows shown are of the Fenestra steel-frame style, fitted with rib and prism glass, thus giving ample light to all parts of the building. With the exception of the garage and one storeroom, all the buildings are brick. The amount of actual floor space, inside measurements, is nearly 25,000 square feet.

The Southern Publishing Association is the home of the Watchman, of which magazine Brother L. A. Smith is editor. For the past two or three years the Watchman has enjoyed a very satisfactory circulation, and from the many words of appreciation received and the interesting experiences reported, we feel constrained to believe that the magazine is accomplishing a vast amount of good.

The office is also publishing practically all our large subscription books, besides a considerable number of juvenile and smaller books, as well as pamphlets, tracts, etc. Although the little book, “The Other Side of Death,” by Carlyle B. Haynes, has been on the market but a short time, it is having a splendid sale. At the present time we have two more books by the same author in process of manufacture, entitled “The Christian Sabbath; Is It Saturday or Sunday?” and “The Return of Jesus.” A further announcement of these books will be made as soon as they are ready for circulation.

A few days ago a carload of books was shipped to our Fort Worth (Texas) Branch, which consisted of 109 cases, containing 11,025 volumes, and having a retail value of $26,576.50. These books weighed 33,200 pounds, or more than sixteen and one-half tons. In this connection it may be interesting to note that out of the $97,000 gain shown by the canvassing summary for the North American Division for the first six months of this year as compared with the same period last year, nearly one third of this amount has been reported by the three Southern Unions.

We are seeing many evidences of the protecting, prospering hand of God, and feel indeed thankful for the way in which he is blessing our work. As the end draws nearer, we believe it will become more and more apparent that, as recorded in “Testimonies for the Church,” Volume VII, “it was in accordance with God's purpose that the publishing work was started at Nashville.”

We believe that the time is not far distant when the facilities of the Southern Publishing Association, as well as those of our sister institutions, will be taxed to their utmost to supply the demand for literature containing the third angel's message. To this end we solicit the earnest prayers and continued co-operation of our people throughout the field.

R. L. PIERCE.