Notes of Progress by E. R. Palmer

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Oct 4, 1906

Notes of Progress

By E. R. Palmer

Our joy and courage are rising higher every month as the reports come in from the field showing the splendid progress of the work of our canvassers. Take another glance at the summaries for the present year, and note what excellent advancement has been made. They are as follows:— January .......... $21,398.47 February .......... 15,285.74 March ............ 17,995.43 April ............ 23,699.79 May .............. 36,791.90 June ............. 46,298.38 July ............. 52,009.89

As we look over the reports of our canvassers from all parts of the world, we feel sure that there has never been a time in the history of our work when our agents have put in such full time and sold so many books each week. In many letters received recently we have found expressions similar to this: “There seems to be an apprehension on the part of the people that the end of all things is near, and when we present our books to them and mention the signs of the times, they seem more impressed than they did years ago, and more readily buy the books.”

There is another most interesting reason why we are selling many books this season. There has been a decided movement in all our schools. Many students have gone into the field to work for scholarships, and they have indeed worked with a will. The reports from these students indicate that nearly all have been successful in securing scholarships. We trust that this success will lay the foundation for a great work among our young people. We naturally look to them for stalwart, earnest work from house to house. God can do great things through the strength of youth if that strength is consecrated to him.

In the strenuous days of the great Reformation of the sixteenth century, young men from the schools of Europe acted an important part in carrying the message from house to house. Near the close of one school year Luther and Melanchthon trained a company of forty young men to go to Switzerland and distribute tracts and books from house to house. Zwingle was so pleased with their work that he wrote enthusiastically to Luther concerning it, and said: “O, if we only had a hundred instead of forty such young men, we could set Switzerland on fire!”

Not long ago the Review and Herald Office was burned to the ground. Now the Pacific Press factory lies in ashes. But from the ashes of the Review and Herald has sprung up another smaller office, devoted wholly to the work of the third angel’s message, which is a more efficient factor than the other for spreading this truth. During the past few days a large council has been held in Mountain View to consider plans for the future of the Pacific Press. These plans indicate that from the ashes of these ruins will soon spring up another

office, smaller indeed, and with less facilities, but devoted wholly to the message. We are confident that this new office will also be a more powerful factor in publishing the truth than the one that was burned.

At the Pacific Press council the Lord spoke to the stockholders through his servant, Sister White, in no uncertain terms concerning the work of our publishing houses. Among many earnest words were the following: “From the light given me the commercial work has been a curse to our printing-offices from the time it was first introduced.” “All commercialism should be swept out of our institutions. And the workers should strip for the race, and prepare for the battle.” This is a glorious message, and so much in harmony with God’s providences during the past few years that we greatly rejoice in the prosperity of a publishing work in the near future, free from all commercialism, perfect in its unity, and beautiful and strong in the oneness of its work.

What an encouragement it is, at the very time when our printing facilities have been so greatly reduced, that the field work is marching on with steadily increasing strength and success. “The big end of our work is in the field.” Our printing facilities may be reduced, but they are only a small part of our publishing work. If the field work prospers, we may look with bright hopes to the future.

A general publishers’ convention has been appointed at Takoma Park, Washington, D. C., from October 3 to 10. This promises to be the largest and most important meeting ever held of representatives of our publishing interests. We trust that our people, and especially our agents, will earnestly pray that the work may be unified and greatly advanced by this meeting.

E. R. PALMER, Sec. Gen. Conf. Publishing Dept.