The Southern Bookmen's Convention by R. Hook, Jr.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 23, 1911

The Southern Bookmen's Convention

By R. Hook, Jr.

As we look over the past year, and consider what has been accomplished in our work, we see much to cheer and encourage. It is, therefore, with heartfelt gratitude to God that we submit a report of the work of the Southern Publishing Association and of the bookmen's convention recently held in Nashville.

During the past year, 150,170 volumes of our books were manufactured, and 222,124 pages of the Family Bible Teacher printed.

CANVASSERS WHO EARNED THEIR ATTENDANCE AT THE NASHVILLE BOOK-MEN’S CONVENTION, HAVING SOLD $1,000 WORTH OF BOOKS OR PUT IN 40 HOURS A WEEK FOR 40 WEEKS

Of the Watchman, one 313,000 copies were printed; and of the Gospel Sentinel, 132,500 copies. To accomplish this we have worked an average of fifty-five hours a week. An outlay of over twenty thousand dollars for ink, leather, paper, and other materials has been required. As is well known, our office is engaged entirely in turning out our denominational work, with occasional job-work from the food factory, the sanitariums, and other of our institutions.

As we look over the year, we see many things to be thankful for. Under the blessing of God we were enabled to collect one hundred per cent of our deposit with the defunct City Bank and Trust Company, so that we have come out of this experience without the loss of a cent to the office. Surely there is cause for rejoicing in this, when we remember that the majority of the depositors have received only a ten-per-cent dividend.

Our branch offices have also had a splendid year. In midsummer we shipped two entire car-loads of books to the Fort Worth (Tex.) Branch. These books were speedily disposed of, the canvassers making prompt remittance to the branch office, which, in turn, remitted to the home office, thus greatly assisting in paying off heavy bills for material, which had accumulated as a result of the large volume of business. It is a common thing to receive large-case orders from both Atlanta, Ga., and New Orleans, La.

During the year we have erected a metal warehouse for the storage of signatures, etc. This has released needed room in the bindery. We have also made connections with the city water-supply, which has been a great assistance to us during the year, and has saved considerable expense in hauling water. We are also relieved of the danger of being without water in case of fire.

We are of good courage, and while we have had many perplexities, and decisions have had to be made that called for earnest prayer, the Lord has been with us; and we thank him with all our hearts for the success that has attended not only the work in the office but also the work in the field. The interests of the publisher and canvasser are one. There has been a splendid spirit of co-operation, and to this, in large measure, we attribute the success that has attended the work this year. Above all, we know that the Lord has not only sent his angels to deliver us from pestilence, sickness, and death, but he has also blessed the efforts of the workers. Thus the largest number of books ever sold by this office in a single year has been sold during 1910.

The book sales in our territory by union conferences are as follows: Southern Union Conference, 1909, $30,452.93; 1910, $32,022.60. Southeastern Union Conference, 1909, $29,483.57; 1910, $35,341.85. Southwestern Union Conference, 1909, $62,278.40; 1910, $72,782.34.

Truly there is a great work to be done. The fields are ripe to the harvest, but the laborers are few. There is a demand for more workers, for our literature is to be scattered as the leaves of autumn. There is opportunity for all to have a part in this work, and any tract society secretary or publishing-house officer will be glad to furnish all the information necessary regarding this important branch of the work.

Attending our bookmen's convention were thirteen canvassers from the Southern Union Conference, who had earned attendance at the convention by selling one thousand dollars' worth of books or by putting in sixteen hundred hours. We felt so pleased with these faithful workers that we had the picture taken which appears with this article. The total attendance at the convention averaged about seventy. These represented the general agents, field agents, and conference presidents of all the local conferences of the Southeastern, Southwestern,

and Southern union conferences.

The three union conference presidents were present, also a number of tract society secretaries. From the General Conference office Brother A. J. S. Bourdeau was present, and gave us much interesting and valuable instruction. Brother J. B. Blosser, of the Lake Union Conference, was also in attendance, and the instruction given by him was much appreciated.

Our workers left the convention feeling that it had been indeed good to be there. After returning home, one of the canvassers wrote: “While I am writing, I must say that all who did not attend the bookmen's convention in Nashville missed a feast. I am thankful that I had the privilege of attending.” We believe all our workers returned to their fields with new zeal, and that the close of 1911 will prove that the instruction given at this convention was of a practical nature, and that our book and periodical business will show a large increase over that of any previous year. The work is onward, and we are of good courage.

R. Hook, Jr., General Manager.