The Situation

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 21, 1901

Seeing the crying need of just such work as is outlined above, certain of the officers of the Southern Missionary Society, in December, purchased property, and made a beginning.

At the recent General Conference, that portion of the field heretofore known as District 2, was organized as the Southern Union Conference. The Nashville publishing plant was also recognized as the regular publishing house for this field, the same as the Review and Herald and the Pacific Press are in their fields.

The Review and Herald branch house at Atlanta is being turned over to the Nashville house, and will be removed to this place as soon as proper room for it can be provided.

The Gospel Herald was also accepted as the pioneer paper for this field, and it will be made a weekly as soon as conditions will warrant.

But already every inch of available space in the present building is occupied, and so crowded that work is being done at great disadvantage. A large cylinder press has been secured for the work, but it cannot be shipped to us until room is provided. Hence a new building must be added at once, the lower part of which will be occupied by the printing work, and the upper part as a home for the workers. Such a building will cost not less than three thousand dollars.

In a recent letter of instruction we are told regarding this very work, “You must move by faith, work by faith, and plan by faith.” And again, “In no case run into debt. Do your work on a sure basis.”

On the strength of such instruction, some of the workers have personally advanced six hundred dollars to begin the work. Lumber will be bought and the frame started at once, believing that our people will rally to meet the needs of the work, as they have many times in the past. But the work will go no faster nor further than we have the money to pay. We shall work to our instructions closely. But we believe that you will aid now, so that there will be no delay in this work.

This publishing work is now being incorporated, as our other houses have been, under the name of the “Southern Publishing Association.”

This publishing house is the enterprise in greatest need of immediate assistance. It should be at once placed on a solid working basis. Will you join us in this effort? If so, fill out the following coupons, cut them out, and forward them with your contribution to the Southern Publishing Association, 1025 Jefferson St., Nashville, Tenn.