Report From Southern Publishing Association by R. Hook, Jr.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 12, 1911

Report From Southern Publishing Association

By R. Hook, Jr.

WE know that the readers of the REVIEW will be interested to learn of the success which is attending the work in the great Southland. We give God all the praise, knowing that the success attained is due to the fact that the Lord is on our side, and is adding his blessing to the efforts put forth.

Our publishing houses have been established for the definite purpose of giving the last warning message to the world. In “Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. IX, we read: “The most solemn truths ever entrusted to mortals have been given us to proclaim to the world. The proclamation of these truths is to be our work. The world is to be warned, and God’s people are to be true to the trusts committed to them.”

We who have accepted the truth have a duty to perform in proclaiming it to the world. Only a very small percentage of our people is actively engaged in the canvassing work. If we were following the instruction of the Lord which says, “Where there is now one, there should be one hundred in the field,” the message would be going with very much greater power, and the coming of the Lord would be hastened. Surely it is time for our people to awake and to do the work which the Lord has said is missionary work of the highest order. We in the publishing house realize that the Lord is indeed blessing the canvassers in our field.

During eight and one-half months this year we have shipped out one hundred thirty-six tons of our literature. Our Fort Worth Branch, in a recent letter, reports over five tons of books sent into the field in three days; and in a letter written September 6, Brother R. L. Pierce, our branch manager, writes as follows: “To-day was our banner day in shipping out books. We shipped 5,644 pounds, surpassing our previous highest record for one day by about 1,200 pounds. These books went to canvassers in Oklahoma, northeast Texas, and south Texas, as the deliveries in other conferences have not yet begun. Orders are literally pouring in, and our stock is rapidly diminishing. Rush orders with all possible speed. Work nights if necessary.”

As a result of this communication, our workers in the bindery and pressroom will begin night work at once. Our hearts rejoice when we receive such communications as the above; for when this work is advancing rapidly, we know that the message is being given, and that our brethren are indeed witnessing for the Master.

Now a word regarding the condition in our territory. The southwestern part of our field has been suffering from severe drought for the last three years, and yet our canvassers are selling more books than formerly, as they are also doing in our entire territory. The work is progressing in every union conference. Brother A. F. Harrison, general agent of the Southern Union Conference, reports that he expects to sell more books this year than ever before; and from the way orders are coming in from his canvassers, we really believe that this will be so. Brethren L. D. Randall, manager of our Atlanta Branch, and V. O. Cole, general agent of the Southeastern Union, are also sending in encouraging reports; a recent order called for over 5,000 pounds of our literature, and it is a common occurrence to receive large orders from that field. Our three general missionary agents are working hard all the time. When it comes to the matter of circulating our literature, they are most enthusiastic, and their enthusiasm is permeating the State agents and the workers in the field. Surely we have a noble band of men and women engaged in the canvassing work in our territory. A very large percentage of them is putting in full time, and deliveries all over the territory are unusually good, being in most cases one hundred per cent. We find that our book sales are steadily on the increase.

A word as to the work at our office and our season’s output: A business day begins with us at 6:30 A. M., and closes at 6 P. M., during an ordinary season, making a ten-and-three-quarter-hour day, with forty-five minutes for lunch; but during the rush season, we average from fourteen to sixteen hours a day, every business day beginning with fifteen or twenty minutes’ worship and prayer.

Up to September 1 of this year, we manufactured 44,600 subscription books and 26,845 juvenile books, making a total of 71,445. We have in process of manufacture 35,500 subscription books and 27,600 juvenile, or a total of 63,100, making a grand total manufactured and in process of manufacture of 134,545 volumes. August 1 we had actually sold 89,876 subscription and juvenile books, and 32,356 miscellaneous books, or a total of 122,232. During the first seven months of this year we sold 998,924 pages of the Family Bible Teacher. This large amount of work has been made possible by the untiring efforts of our canvassers. What would it mean to this work if all our people would awake to the importance of circulating our literature?

While the book work has prospered, the circulation of the Watchman is also increasing, and souls are accepting the truth as a result of reading our missionary monthly. We hear good words for the Watchman from all over the world. In fact, it is gaining in favor continually, and there will be many souls saved in the kingdom of heaven as the result of the efforts of faithful workers in selling or giving away this journal. There are many of the sisters who can not take up regular work with our books, but all can have a part in circulating our magazines. The Watchman offers opportunity for all such. Your tract society secretary will be glad to furnish full information as to terms, etc.; and all orders should be placed directly with your local secretary.

We feel to praise the Lord for the success which is attending our work. Without him we can do nothing, but we know that God is at the helm, and that when we rightly relate ourselves to him, he is more than willing to bless our efforts. We ask an interest in the prayers of God’s people that the work in the great Southland may continue to grow. Soon all will be finished, and if faithful, we shall be gathered home. The Lord is preparing to do a quick work in the earth, and to cut it short in righteousness. R. HOOK, JR.