Notes of Progress by E. R. Palmer

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 31, 1907

Notes of Progress

By E. R. Palmer

This month we are able again to present a large summary, and with all our hearts we thank the Lord for his blessings upon the field. Never before in the history of our publishing work have there been more omens of strong advancement, and we start out with good cheer and confidence in the work of 1907.

Prosperity in All Lands

Nineteen hundred six has been a good year for the circulation of our literature in all lands. In some countries there has been a serious depression, and the workers have had hard struggles, but the progress is most encouraging. Those who have read the statistics published in the Proceedings of the Publishers' Convention will call to mind that the work during 1905 also compared favorably with the preceding year.

The sales from all our publishing houses during 1905 amounted to $548,067.03, an increase of $111,456.35 over 1904. It will be several weeks yet before reports are in from the publishing houses, which will tell us how large the increase has been during 1906 over 1905. At the time of writing only one report has come to hand, and if this one is an indication of the others, we shall have a good report to render.

The book sales of the Pacific Press at Mountain View have been about $82,000. Last year they were $52,000, showing a gain of $30,000 for the year. This is a great encouragement to the Pacific Press at a time when it was really needed.

Cheered by these many evidences of the Lord's blessing, let us go on and make 1907 the best year our publishing work has ever enjoyed.

Germany

We are glad to have such a good report from Germany. Notice the large number of workers and the number of hours they worked. What a fine force that is to have working from house to house in Germany! Elder Conradi assures us that we shall have monthly reports from them hereafter.

Iowa

Special mention is due the excellent, solid work being done in Iowa,—the good old State which has probably contributed more strong laborers and more means to the cause of God than any other State in the Union, with the possible exception of Michigan and California. For a long time the book work has dragged heavily in Iowa, but evidently some patient, hard work is being done to build up this department in a solid, permanent way. This month Iowa stands at the head of the States.

More is indicated by this showing than simply the total work done during 1906. The work began small, and has been small for several years, but little by little workers have been added and trained until Iowa stands well in the lead. The following paragraph, taken from the Workers' Bulletin, shows how strong

and steady the development has been:—

“An encouraging feature of the book work in Iowa is that throughout the year just about to close the sales have been constantly increasing, as will be seen by the following report of the work done each month:—

AGTS.	HRS.	ORDERS	VALUE
January	10	711	127
March	11	911	911
April	14	1,967	306
May	21	1,610	347
June	22	1,517	594
July	15	916	326
August	22	1,131	315
September	19	1,032	312
October	15	834	430
November	18	1,986	870

“No report is given for February, because nearly all the canvassers were attending the Stuart institute, which was held during that month. The sales for the present month will run to about eight hundred dollars. The sales for December are never very large, owing to the canvassers' spending the most of their time delivering, and to the nearness of the holidays.”

Central New England

This little conference in the heart of the conservative East is also making a strong effort with good results. There is an effort back of these figures which is worthy of special notice.

Elder Ketring, the president of the conference, who a few years ago was a canvasser himself, and who is still an enthusiastic supporter of that branch of work, in a private letter a few days ago informs us that he and the field agent, Brother Wilcox, have put their heads and hearts together in a united effort to build up the book work in Central New England.

They now have twelve permanent, well-instructed agents, and have resolved that they will have twenty-five before the South Lancaster school closes. Then they will draft some good recruits from the school.

Mexico

The work is onward in old Mexico. Their paper El Mensajero de la Verdad has increased its circulation very encouragingly during 1906. Our missionaries there are putting forth strenuous efforts to get the paper into the hands of the people in Mexico, and the colporteurs have done very well in taking orders. One colporteur took over eighty annual subscriptions in one week. Can we not do something here in the United States to help in the circulation of our Spanish paper? In this country there are many persons who speak and read Spanish. This paper is not expensive. Many of us might take a club, and thus help the Spanish missionary work.

The following statement, received from Brother Brown, the superintendent of the Mexican Mission, gives the prices for subscriptions and for clubs, and also the address of the paper. Let all who can, do something to help our brethren build up their Spanish work.

“El Mensajero de la Verdad”

PRICE LIST FOR 1907, U. S. MONEY Single subscription, one year.......50c Single subscription, six months.....25c Single numbers, each.................5c

Colporteurs, canvassers, and other missionary workers who will send in a list of five or more names as their first order will be given a discount of forty per cent. Regular agents for the paper will be given a discount of fifty per cent.

When mailed to one address— 2- 4 copies, one year...............35c 5-19 copies, one year...............30c 20-49 copies, one year..............25c 50 or more copies, one year........20c

Clubs may be ordered for three months or more at these rates.

Single numbers in quantities will be at the wholesale rate of $2.50 a hundred, if twenty-five or more are ordered at one time.

Tract societies and publishing houses will be given an additional discount of ten per cent from the rates quoted above.

Address El Mensajero de la Verdad, 1420 Twentieth Ave., Tacubaya, D. F., Mexico. E. R. PALMER, Sec. Gen. Conf. Publishing Dept.