An Interesting Summer’s Work by E. R. P.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Nov 2, 1911

An Interesting Summer’s Work

By E. R. P.

After an absence from our general office of over five months, while attending the general meetings and conferences in the European field, it is a great pleasure to be at home again and to come into closer touch with the details of the publishing work.

During the summer we had the pleasure of attending thirteen conferences and general meetings, and of visiting nearly all our institutions in the European field.

We especially enjoyed meeting the general agents and colporteurs. In Norway we met twenty-nine colporteurs who are selling our large books; in Sweden, thirty-five; in Finland, twenty-one; and in Denmark, thirty-nine.

For quite a number of years the subscription-book work has been developing upon a good, strong basis in the Scandinavian field. Both leaders and people are of good courage, and the work is steadily growing.

At Friedensau, just previous to the meeting of the biennial council of the General Conference, we held a bookmen’s convention with fifteen general agents and field agents of the East and West German union conferences. This was a most enjoyable occasion. Although we could not speak with one of these general agents, except through an interpreter, yet our hearts were in the same work, and somehow there was a chord of union and a fellowship in experiences that enabled us to understand each other’s thoughts and hearts. Good interpreters were provided, so that our meetings were successfully conducted.

Our brethren in the German union conferences have been conducting their publishing with great earnestness and devotion. The sale of our larger books is receiving attention, and doubtless there is a great future before the publishing work in the German field. We shall look for steady, strong development as the leaders in the work launch out upon the heavier and more substantial features of the colporteur work.

We also met the general agent and fourteen colporteurs at the camp-meeting in German-Switzerland. In the French-Latin field there are very few colporteurs. However, some advance steps are being taken. Brother Brown, from Mexico, has recently been appointed general agent in Spain, and Brother Erzberger, son of Elder Erzberger, of Switzerland, has been appointed field agent for the French-Swiss Conference. With these two devoted men as leaders, one in French-Switzerland and the other in Spain, we are hoping that the development may be so encouraging that it will lead to further advance steps being taken in behalf of France, Italy, and Portugal.

We attended five conferences in the British field, and had the pleasure of meeting Brother Samuel Joyce, the general agent, and a large number of colporteurs. The good work is being pushed in Great Britain, in the face of many discouragements and difficulties. A very large percentage of our people in those conferences are taking some part in the circulation of literature.

The publishing work has been upon a good, strong basis in Great Britain for quite a number of years. More literature is being sold in that union, in proportion to the membership, than in any other union conference in our organization. And yet the population of Great Britain is so great, in proportion to the membership, that the task of giving the truth to the people seems overwhelming. But all are of good courage, and the work is moving onward.

Seven and one-half cords of Missions Signs at Pacific Press wrapped and ready for mailing. On October 13, all these had been sent out in filling orders. It is evident that other editions will be necessary above the 500,000 copies originally ordered.

To the writer, the summer’s work has been most interesting and inspiring. As we look upon the great population in the European field, and the rapidly growing work of the third angel’s message, the conviction grows upon us that we are only in the beginning of the work which the printing-press is destined to do as a factor in this movement of carrying the light of precious truth to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people.

The reports which have reached us from month to month from the United States, and from other parts of the world, have also been a great encouragement. This is proving a good, successful year in the work of the Publishing Department, and from our hearts we thank God for his blessing.

E. R. P.