Notes by A. J. S. B.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 20, 1911

Notes

By A. J. S. B.

IT will be noted that during the first three months of 1911 nearly 500,000 of our magazines were sold.

DURING March our agents sold 200,518 magazines, as compared with 68,830 during February,—a gain of 131,688.

THE following testimonial in behalf of Life and Health was recently received from the president of the American Humane

Association: “I trust you will not think me impolite in saying that the great majority of health journals have all struck me as being the product of cranks and ill-balanced faddists. Your magazine is a remarkable exception to this, as it is so mentally sane and sensible.”

WE are glad to hear that the office of the Christian Record, our paper for the blind, is sending out nearly two thousand copies of that magazine monthly, besides tracts and pamphlets. And numbers who can not see the scenes of the world about them are seeing in their souls the light of this advent message and are rejoicing in it.

AN attorney who has read Liberty for some time writes: “I am with you heart and soul in the good work. I happen to be in a place and position just now to know how much Liberty is needed. I can not give you particulars just now, but will, no doubt, be in a position to do so later. With my very best wishes for the success of your good work, I am, yours truly.”

THE International Publishing Association has just published the most beautiful number of our German ten-cent magazine, Zeichen der Zeit (Signs of the Times) yet issued. Its cover design is in two colors, showing a fine picture of Baron von Steuben, the famous German-American champion of liberty. It is in every respect equal to the best of our English ten-cent magazines, and ought to have a wide circulation.

“I BEGAN work with the Signs about twenty-eight years ago,” writes an agent. “I do not write to tell of any great number sold in one day, but I keep right on with the work that God has given me to do, whether I make much or not. I am very thankful that God has given us such good material to work with.” It is such a spirit of consecration as this that makes our denominational publishing work a success.

“THERE is a gentleman in France,” writes a missionary worker, “who watches the obituary column in the morning papers, and sends to the bereaved ones little tracts adapted to their situation.” It might also be well for our workers to watch the correspondence columns in the various papers and magazines, letters from “shut-ins” and others, for addresses of those to whom our tracts and periodicals and magazines would be welcome visitors.

“OUR missionary society is having some blessed experiences,” writes a member of one of our New York City churches. “The fourth week in each month is set apart for exercises, and is certainly very instructive to the members. The arrangement of this program gives the young and old a part in the meeting. Reading about the work and the results accomplished by systematic tract circulation, has inspired our members to take hold and push the work. Each week the members will circulate some tracts and get reports on the same. The young people’s society is now held in conjunction with the missionary society once a month. The meetings are very instructive and interesting.” The missionary spirit seems to be rising in all parts of the field.

DR. A. C. SELMON, editor of Shi Djao Yueh Bao, our Chinese Signs of the Times magazine, reports excellent progress in its circulation. During 1909 the total sales were 47,800 copies, an average of 3,900 copies a month. During 1910 138,400 copies were sold, the average monthly sales during the last eight months of the year amounting to 12,840 copies, or treble the monthly sales of 1909. “The year 1911,” says he, “starts out with a promise of greatly exceeding the record of 1910. The second issue of our paper this present year was a New-year’s special. We have just completed this issue, for which we had orders for over 60,000.” God is truly opening the way for the circulation of the printed page of truth among the many millions in China, India, Japan, Korea, and other neglected lands perishing for the gospel.

As recently noted in these columns, our brethren in Australasia are calling their health magazine Life and Health, instead of the Australasian Health Magazine. In a recent letter, Brother A. G. Miller, missionary secretary of the Australasian Union Conference, says: “I am sure you will be interested to learn that Life and Health is meeting with an excellent reception throughout the Commonwealth and New Zealand. Several of the leading newspapers have given the magazine excellent reviews, and our workers on the journal are having good success. We printed 12,500 copies of the first issue, and although this number was salable till the end of March, our supply at the publishing-house was exhausted by the ninth of February. We are planning to print 18,500 copies of the second number, which is now on the press.” This magazine is issued every other month, and sells for twelve cents.

THE following interesting letter from a director of a national bank in Georgia speaks for itself: “I hasten to enclose my check for four dollars, to be applied as follows: One dollar to renew my subscription to the Watchman for another year; three dollars for a copy of ‘Great Controversy.’ The magazines and the books which I have at different times secured from you are absolutely beyond monetary value to me. I do not hesitate to state that they have done more for my spiritual uplift and enlightenment than any other agency—primarily, because in the privacy of my home, undisturbed, and with ample opportunity to reason and study, I see things which heretofore have been darkness to me. Your great work has my unqualified indorsement and praise, and I earnestly pray for God’s continued blessing upon your efforts.” We little realize the extent to which our ten-cent magazines are molding public opinion among those of influence as well as among the common people. Every magazine agent, therefore, should feel impressed with the dignity of, and great possibilities in, his work; for, in the words of Abraham Lincoln, “He who molds public sentiment goes deeper than he who enacts statutes or pronounces decisions.”

A. J. S. B.