p. 19 | Notes of Progress by E. R. Palmer

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 13, 1906

Notes of Progress

By E. R. Palmer

The Summary

Our summary for June is somewhat late. The only apology necessary is the statement that our reports, which had been received quite promptly from the union conferences, together with periodicals from which we collected reports, were burned in the Pacific Press fire. Thanks to the quick responses from all parts of the field, we have been able to gather these reports very satisfactorily.

Are you studying these summaries and making careful comparisons month by month? It is worth while to do this and make note of how the good work is developing. Some of our union conference agents are really jubilant over their reports for June. In fact, when we saw the summary for May, our hearts were made glad; for the total was more than thirteen thousand dollars above the April report, and was more than six thousand dollars higher than any other report we have published for years. And now as we look over the splendid summary for June, with nearly ten thousand dollars better showing than for May, we thank God and take courage, feeling assured that what we have so earnestly worked for is now beginning to be realized.

The following are the totals of our summaries as they have appeared in the Review during the past six months of this year:— January ................$21,398.47 February ............... 15,285.74 March .................. 17,995.43 April .................. 23,699.79 May .................... 36,791.90 June ................... 46,298.38

Judging from the few reports already received for July, the next summary will pass the fifty-thousand-dollar mark. What a blessed thing it is to feel that God is working with us and giving to his servants good success. It looks as if a great many agents had been reading the first chapter of Joshua, and had been experiencing the fulfilment of the promises there recorded.

In response to a request from one of our leading men in the field, we have this month added a feature to the summary. After the total values, we have given the conference membership and the sale of books per capita. It will surely be interesting to many to make comparisons and see how their work shows up with others. It should be remembered, however, that the standing of the work can not be judged at all accurately from this point of view only, for there are many conditions which have a bearing quite as strongly upon the success of the work as this one.

Pacific Press Fire

While we grieve over the great loss that has been sustained by the Pacific Press Publishing Association, let us bear in mind that only the building and its contents have been burned,—precisely the class of material that will be burned up in all our institutions when the end of all things shall come. The publishing work is not destroyed by any means; in fact, we expect that work to grow stronger in the Pacific Press territory than before the fire. What a blessed satisfaction it is to know that God's work lives in the hearts of his people, and that it would prosper and go with

power if every dollar of capital and every item of machinery were swept away.

It is also encouraging to observe that just at the time of this great financial loss the field work in the territory of the Pacific Press has been going up by leaps and bounds. For example, compare the summaries during the past three months which have been published from the Central, Northern, and Pacific Union Conferences. From this we know that the Lord is still with us, and that his work will grow and prosper regardless of this calamity. In fact, all features of the work of God in the past have prospered best under trial, tribulation, persecution, and affliction. Paul had observed this until he “gloried in tribulation,” and in his glorying he recounted the blessed experiences and achievements that follow.

Not long ago one of our most successful field workers, in a private letter wrote this statement, “I find that the big end of our publishing work is in the field.” This is true, and how glad we ought to be that it is so. The “big end” is where it can not be burned nor overthrown while God's children are faithful to their trust. We greatly rejoice that this “big end” is growing so rapidly of late. Is not this an opportune time, when God is working with us and for us as he is, to urge upon our people everywhere the importance of taking their stand fairly, squarely, and enthusiastically upon God's side of this question? While by his inscrutable providence he is permitting our facilities to be greatly reduced, at the same time the field work is developing greatly under his blessing. Let us strike together with all our power to build up the retail facilities and work, and God will help us to devise economical and efficient means for manufacturing supplies.

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