Annual Meeting of the Southern Publishing Association by Arthur G. Daniells

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 20, 1913

Annual Meeting of the Southern Publishing Association

By Arthur G. Daniells

It was my privilege, while returning from the General Conference Council in California, to attend the annual meeting of the Southern Publishing Association, which was held this year in Keene, Tex., Feb. 3, 4, 1913. The constituency of this association embraces the South-eastern, Southern, and Southwestern Union Conferences. Its territory extends from the Atlantic coast to the western boundary of New Mexico. In this territory are located the Southern States as far west as Arizona.

As I looked over the representatives gathered at this meeting and heard the reports for the previous year, I could not but praise God for what he has wrought in this field and for the publishing house in Nashville during the last twelve years. My heart was cheered and my courage renewed as I reviewed the steady growth and development of the work of this institution.

When I attended the first meeting of this association, in the autumn of 1901, the outlook was not very cheering. The constituency was the Southern Union Conference, which had just been organized. Its membership was very small, and there were but few ministers and general canvassing men in the field to organize and build up the publishing work.

During its first years, this enterprise made a very sorry showing. For three years in succession the balance-sheets showed a loss of about one thousand dollars a month. This was very discouraging; and as is generally the case in such experiences, it was felt and talked that a great mistake had been made in starting such an enterprise, that it never could succeed, and that it would be better to close it up. It surely looked that way. But all the way and all the time in these dark hours of perplexity there came to us through the spirit of prophecy the counsel that the Lord would have a publishing house in the city of Nashville, and that from this center a great work must be carried on throughout the whole Southern field. It was due to this counsel more than to and anything else that all concerned stood by the enterprise. Finally, by persevering efforts and many prayers, conditions were changed. The annual losses ceased, then small gains were made, which have steadily increased until they have reached about one thousand dollars a month. The gain for the year ending Dec. 31, 1912, was $9,623.17. The year before there was a gain of $15,769.10. We are glad to say that now the total gains of the institution have exceeded its losses. But in addition to this, the institution itself has been greatly enlarged. Its equipment and efficiency have been greatly improved, and its business has grown to large proportions. It now has a larger territory, a stronger constituency, and a large staff of well-trained, successful workers in its factory, its branch offices, and its field.

Who can estimate the value of this publishing house to our cause in the Southern States? The institution itself at Nashville, its branches in Atlanta and Fort Worth, its monthly magazine, its splendid staff of periodical and book workers, all contribute wonderfully to the rapid strides our whole cause is making in the South. We no longer hear the plea for the “great, poor, weak Southland” that is talked about. This change has surely come, and the work done by the Southern Publishing Association has helped to bring it about.

At the last annual meeting the former members of the board and its officers were nearly all reelected for another year. When the members of the board came together to organize, they personally and earnestly reconsecrated themselves to the Lord for better service during the coming year. The Holy Spirit came very near on this occasion, and blessed us all with a larger measure of brotherly love and with new hope and courage. Let us remember this institution and all its interests in our prayers.

A. G. DANIELLS.