Annual Meeting of the Pacific Press Publishing Association
By C. H. Jones
The seventh annual meeting of the members of the Pacific Press Publishing Association was held at the office of the company in Mountain View, Cal., Monday, Jan. 23, 1911, at 10 A. M. There was a large attendance, and everything passed off pleasantly and harmoniously, several stating that this was one of the best and most interesting meetings of the kind they ever attended. The report from the treasurer showed the past fiscal year to have been one of the most prosperous in the history of the institution, the volume of business amounting to over $388,000, and the net gain of the association to $21,967.62. During the past year the indebtedness of the institution has been reduced about fifteen thousand dollars, and at the same time the assets have been increased over ten thousand dollars. At the present time the assets amount to $263,255.40, the net worth being $116,556.95. This association operates three branch offices,—one at Kansas City, Mo.; one at Portland, Ore.; and one at Calgary, Alberta, Canada. All these are in a prosperous condition. The following-named persons were elected to act as a board of directors for the ensuing year: H. W. Cottrell, C. H. Jones, H. G. Childs, M. C. Wilcox, H. H. Hall, G. A. Irwin, R. A. Underwood, E. T. Russell, C. W. Flaiz, E. E. Andross, J. O. Corliss, A. O. Tait, B. M. Shull. At a meeting of the newly elected board of directors, they organized as follows: H. W. Cottrell, president; C. H. Jones, vice-president and general manager; H. G. Childs, secretary and treasurer; J. J. Ireland, auditor. Other appointments were made as follows: H. H. Hall, manager book department; James Cochran, manager Kansas City Branch; J. F. Beatty, manager Portland Branch; W. V. Sample, manager Canadian Branch; M. C. Wilcox, editor Signs of the Times weekly; L. A. Reed, associate editor; L. A. Reed, editor Signs of the Times Monthly; M. C. Wilcox, associate editor; Kathrina B. Wilcox, editor Our Little Friend; M. C. Wilcox, associate editor. The following resolutions were adopted:— “1. Resolved, That we deem it eminently fitting that we as a body publicly express our gratitude to the Father of all mercies for the spiritual blessing and light he has bestowed upon us during the last year; for the preservation of the health and strength of the workers in the Pacific Press; and for the abundant blessings he has given in the sale of our publications, not alone in the home field, but also in the hitherto almost untried Spanish field; and that we hereby consecrate ourselves anew to him and his cause for better service in the year to come. “Whereas, There is such a great demand for the extension of gospel truth in the Oriental fields; and whereas, we are anxious to do all we can to extend to them a knowledge of the divine Redeemer; therefore,— “2. Resolved, That we purchase with one tenth of our net profits a suitable printing-press, or some other machinery equivalent in value, to be decided by the incoming board, for use in that densely populated country. “3. Resolved, That Article 10, Section 1, paragraph 2 of the by-laws be amended so as to include the Western Canadian Union Conference immediately after the North Pacific Union Conference. “Whereas, The present make-up of our pioneer paper, the Signs of the Times, with its variety of message-filled articles, and the covering of the message in a limited series, especially adapts it to missionary work with our neighbors as well as for a teacher in the home: and,— “Whereas, There is greater need than ever that we endeavor to reach our neighbors and humanity in general ‘while it is called to-day;’ therefore,— “4. Resolved, That we earnestly ask our State tract societies and churches to extend the circulation of this paper, as far as consistent, (a) By clubs taken by churches and individuals; (b) by placing it in free public libraries and reading-rooms wherever such opportunity offers; and (c) by encouraging individuals to send it to their neighbors and friends during the time of a series or longer. “5. Resolved, That we ask our State tract societies to aid us in increasing the individual subscription list of the Signs of the Times by the use of the premium book ‘Questions and Answers,’ at the price of two dollars a year for the book and the paper. “6. Resolved, That we hereby express to the General Conference Committee and the brethren assembled in the late council at Washington, D. C., our appreciation of their action in selecting the Signs of the Times as the medium to be used in the next Harvest Ingathering campaign, and that we promise the committee our hearty co-operation. “Whereas, It is now incumbent upon us as a people to reach those in the highways and hedges who know not the truth, to say to those who stand at the turning of the way the words of wisdom that shall compel them to come in; and,— “Whereas, The Signs of the Times Monthly, with its message-filled pages, offers special means of reaching many of those who otherwise will not receive the truth, at the same time giving opportunity to our people to do self-supporting work, and work that will water their own souls; therefore,— “7. Resolved, That we urgently request our conference tract societies to continue their earnest endeavors to secure agents for the monthly Signs; and that our people everywhere be invited to19engage in the work of selling this periodical. “Whereas, Our message-filled tracts have been conveniently arranged in assorted one-dollar and five-dollar packages for the use of our workers at reduced prices; and,— “Whereas, A booklet has been prepared giving our entire list of tracts as well as convenient topical lists, with clear and helpful instruction as to their practical use; therefore,— “8. Resolved, That we urge their wider circulation, that they may be indeed scattered like the leaves of autumn in soul-saving work. “9. Resolved, That we approve of the action taken by the board of directors in the removal of our Canadian Branch office from Regina, Saskatchewan, to Calgary, Alberta, Canada, the purchase of a lot, and the erection of a warehouse. “11. Resolved, That the board of directors give careful consideration to the question of purchasing a lot and erecting a warehouse both in Kansas City, Mo., and in Portland, Ore.; and that they be authorized to purchase and build in one or both of the above-named places, if they deem it advisable to do so. “12. Resolved, That we approve of the recommendations adopted by the General Conference Committee at its last session, concerning the publishing work, the payment of royalty, etc.”