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Streams of Light That Encircle the World

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 15, 1911

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 88, No. 24.

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Streams of Light That Encircle the World

By N. Z. T.

As we review the growth of our publishing work, it seems very appropriate to recall the following prediction concerning this branch of the work, made in November, 1848:—
“I have a message for you. You must begin to print a little paper, and send it out to the people. Let it be small at first; and as the people read, they will send you means with which to print, and it will be a success from the first. From this small beginning, it was shown to me it would be like streams of light that went clear around the world.”
This message was given to Sister White while she and a few others were making the publishing of the message a special subject of prayer. Notwithstanding that at that time the workers were penniless, and had no constituency upon which to depend, their faith was strong in the truth and in the assurance of success. In July, 1849, they started the “little paper.”
Following on from that small beginning, it is interesting and inspiring to see how the prediction made in 1848 has been fulfilled. The following table shows the value, by decades, of literature circulated:—

Sales From 1845-1904

Year Sales
1845-1854 $ 2,500
1855-1864 17,500
1865-1874 73,000
1875-1884 371,000
1885-1894 3,969,000
1895-1904 3,144,000
Total for sixty years . . . .$7,577,000
The reports thus far during the present decade, show a steady advance as will be seen by the following figures:—

Yearly Sales 1905-1910

Year Sales
1905 $ 548,000
1906 824,000
1907 1,035,000
1908 1,290,000
1909 1,402,000
1910 1,555,000
Total for six years . . . . . .$6,654,000
Grand total . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$14,231,000
The growth during this decade is also illustrated in the accompanying cut.
The literature represented by these figures is issued in sixty-seven different languages, and consists of 336 books, 292 pamphlets, 1108 tracts, and 126 periodicals. To obtain a copy of each, with the periodicals, for one year, would require over $500.
This literature is printed in twenty-seven denominational publishing-houses, located in twenty-one countries and islands of the world.
As we consider these figures, and the fields and languages which they represent, we thank God for the progress made. But the end is not yet. The Testimonies say that “in a large degree, through our publishing-houses, is to be accomplished the work of that other angel, who comes down from heaven with great power, and who lightens the earth with his glory.” We confidently expect to see this work increase from year to year until the Master shall say, “It is finished.” N. Z. T.