A Bar to Our Literature

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 1, 1907

A Bar to Our Literature

FREQUENTLY we hear the statement that now is the time to circulate our literature. We have heard it so often that some have come to regard it as a stock phrase, and pass lightly over it. But recently there has come to our attention a movement that emphasizes the importance of our giving heed to the statement that now is the time to circulate our literature. That movement is a movement to boycott all literature which does not bear the union label. Recently a number of one of our journals was returned to the Office by some one into whose hands it had been placed, and four large red labels were pasted upon it in different places. That label, in addition to carrying the union label of the allied printing trades, bore the following: “Returned because of absence of union label. Demand this label [the union label] on all your printed matter. It represents good workmanship, good wages, and good conditions.” We do not refer to this matter to discuss whether the union represents all that it claims to represent. Our object is to show that a time is coming when it will be very difficult to place our literature in the hands of the people. With many who are approached to buy or to read a book or paper the first query raised will be, “Does it bear the union label?” If the answer is No, they will have nothing to do with it. The great consideration for us is not that we lose a sale, but that such an individual has closed the door of his mind to the messenger of light and saving truth. The slower we are, and the longer we delay, the more we shall see of these conditions. A time will come when a member of a union who permits a publication in his house which does not bear the union label will be disciplined and fined by his union. Through that kind of disciplinary education the people will learn the expediency of obeying their leaders and having nothing to do with the literature of the third angel's message. There will never be a more favorable time than now to publish and disseminate the message committed to us. Let us be up and doing.