Dedication of the Fiji Printing Plant by C. H. Parker

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 28, 1908

Dedication of the Fiji Printing Plant

By C. H. Parker

BURESALA.—From the commencement of the work of the third angel's message in Fiji, our literature has occupied a prominent place. Our first tract, written by Elder J. E. Fulton, was Siga-ni-Vukacecegu (“The Rest Day”). It was printed by the Pacific Press about 1898. This was followed by another, by the same writer, on the “Second Coming” Na Nona Lako Tale Mai Na Turaga. Early in 1898, through the kindness of Elder J. M. Cole and some of our brethren on the Pacific Coast, a small hand-press and a supply of type were given to the mission here.

Since that time a paper, called Karama (“Light,” or “Torch”), has been printed in the native language. It was not much larger than the size of our largest English tract, and contained only four pages. Only a few hundred copies were issued at first. Since then, under the blessing and help of the Lord, this paper has been enlarged to about an eight-by-ten-inch page. It still contains only four pages, but has a circulation of two thousand, and we could use a great many more copies. A number of small tracts have been printed, and a number more are being prepared for printing at the present time.

At a recent council, of the Australian Union Conference, it was decided that we build a wooden building sixteen by twenty-four feet at Buresala, to be the future home of our printing work for Fiji. They also gave us a large double-demy cylinder press, a large size paper-cutter, and a good supply of new type. The form and size of our paper will soon be changed, to a sheet about the size of Life and Health, and will contain eight pages.

March 27, we dedicated the building and new machinery to the work of the Master. It was an evening of great rejoicing to one and all. The pulpit was the first press; the texts, Num. 23:23; 1 Sam. 7:12. As we compared the past with the present, and the little press with the large cylinder press, the present building with the leaky, dark, native buildings which we have had to use in the past, we were all led to exclaim, “What hath God wrought!” Many good testimonies were borne, and one and all reconsecrated themselves anew to the service of God. This building and contents we have named Ebenezer (the stone of help); for hitherto hath the Lord helped us. And our prayer is, as David prayed of old, “That thine eyes may be open toward this house night and day, even toward the place of which thou hast said, My name shall be there.”

C. H. PARKER.