p. 6 | J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH by John Norton Loughborough

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 30, 1911

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH

By John Norton Loughborough

Books

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH

“Of making many books there is no end.” Eccl. 12: 12. In the time when these words were written by Solomon, books were rolls of parchment, produced by the slow process of copying each letter with pen and ink, not multiplied by the printing-press, many thousands per hour, as at the present day. If one desired to possess the copy of a book, he must either write it himself or employ a scribe to make a copy for him. Doubtless Solomon had in mind, among others, those who were slowly making copies of his own proverbs and other writings.

Of his wise sayings we read: “He spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five. And he spake of trees, from the cedar that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall: he spake also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes. And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom.” 1 Kings 4: 32-34. See also Matt. 12: 42. It is no stretch of fancy that on such occasions Solomon saw copyists “making books” — carefully writing down his words of great wisdom.

If Solomon could say in his time that there was “no end” to book-making, what can be said now, when the thousands of printing-presses are multiplying books by the millions, and that upon every conceivable subject? Even the volumes of book catalogues in national libraries and in the British Museum are enough to fill the shelves of quite a library. Many of the books referred to in the catalogues are of great value, but, alas! what a large number are mere romance, fiction, or imagination, with an effort to make the stories appear real. As a sample, I call to mind a circumstance occurring on my passage from Africa to England. Two men were talking about a book from the ship library — fiction — entitled “Why I Was Not Hung.” One had read the book, and was asking the other to read it. He said, “It is a thrilling book. It seems too wonderful to be true; but then the writer gives names or persons, places, and dates, so it must be true.” Yes, that is just the way they have of making fiction appear like reality. As one man said of these novel writers, “They give to airy nothing a local habitation and a name.” As one index to the present demand for such reading, I find in the Literary Digest of October 7, fifteen new novels and books of fiction advertised. These are not ten- and twenty-five-cent pamphlets, but books, the most of them $1.25 each, with postage added. The authors prepare and advertise these books, knowing the kind of reading the masses desire.

Seventh-day Adventists have reason for devout gratitude to God that he has moved upon his servants to prepare so many useful and instructive books. Not only do these deal with the great controversy from the first appearance of evil till its final overthrow, and the establishment of truth and righteousness in the eternal kingdom of God, but they also give counsel adapted to every phase and condition of the present life. And while the mass of mankind are perplexed by the unrest and confusion that prevail more and more upon the earth, these publications show, and that on the authority of the Scriptures, what these things mean, and that they are sure omens that the consummation of all things is right at hand. When we read of the success attending the faithful canvassers in placing these valuable works in the hands of the people, it does not look as if we had yet reached the “end” of “making books” to supply the increasing demand.

Elder James White used to say, “What we want in the reading line is, first, tracts, short and pointed, to create an interest; then, pamphlets for the interested ones; and finally large books for those who wish to make a thorough study.” The literature already prepared by our publishers seems to be on these lines.

Lodi, Cal.