The New Paper in England.
By George I. Butler
It is well known to our people that it was voted at the last General Conference that a paper should be printed in England. One of the principal objects of my coming to Europe was to bring about this result. Accordingly, soon after our arrival, the workers in England, Elder John, Brother Drew, and Sister Thayer, met at Great Grimsby for consultation with Elder Whitney and our party from America. We spent several days in prayerful consideration of this subject, and in planning for the location of the laborers recently arrived from America. After careful consideration, it was decided to issue a sixteen-page monthly paper, about the size of the Signs of the Times, to commence the first of April if possible. The name chosen for this journal was The Present Truth. This was selected after examining the list of the names of the papers in Great Britain. There were so many "Heralds" and "Reviews," and one called the Signs of our Times with a large circulation, that we thought best to take a name peculiar to our work and expressive of its nature. For the present the management of this paper, as far as its publication is concerned, is placed in the hands of a committee of three: Eld. M. C. Wilcox, Eld. A. A. John, and Miss Jennie Thayer; managing editor, Eld. M. C. Wilcox; corresponding editors, Eld. J. H. Waggoner, Eld. Uriah Smith, and Eld. B. L. Whitney. The question as to where the paper should be published was one of some perplexity. Our depository and the headquarters of our work had been in Southampton ever since the mission started. Our English Supplements to the Signs of the Times have been printed there. It would involve some250difficulties to move it, and change the address of the depository, etc. But there seemed to be important reasons why a change should be made. We found that the cost of printing in Grimsby would be much less than in Southampton. Its location is more central. More interest in the truth is kindling in the vicinity of the former than in that of the latter. When we looked around for a suitable place to rent in which to carry on the work, we found a new building with very suitable rooms, and at a moderate rent. We could not have secured a place more suitable for our present wants. The way seemed to open before us in an exceedingly favorable manner, far more so than any of us had expected. We all felt that the finger of the Lord was in it, preparing the way before us. Great Grimsby has about 40,000 inhabitants, and is quite a pleasant place. Rent and expenses will be less here than in larger places, and there will be some friends of the cause here to manifest an interest in the work. We could see no light in striking out into a new place where we were wholly unacquainted. All in the council felt very clear that for the present, at least, the paper should be printed in Great Grimsby. We also secured excellent terms for press-work and other work we could not do ourselves. Eld. John and family will move into this building, and Sister Thayer will have rooms in it for the depository connected with the mission, and will render important assistance on the paper. Eld. Wilcox will spend a portion of his time in editing the paper, and will labor in the field what he can besides. The price of the paper, single subscription, per year will be two shillings and sixpence, or about sixty cents; in clubs of five and upwards, two shillings, or forty-eight cents; in clubs of twenty-five and upwards, one shilling and sixpence, or about thirty-six cents. Most of the papers circulated in England are not subscribed for by the year as with us, but are sold from the news stands, because they can be obtained cheaper that way by saving postage. These news stands are in almost every depot. These terms are made favorable to those taking large clubs, hoping to encourage missionary effort, and a large circulation. The rates are low; but after long consideration of the many perplexing questions connected with fixing the price of the paper, we all came to the above conclusions. At the close of our consultation a small meeting was held to see how many copies would be paid for the first year by those present. Only fourteen persons were in attendance, and half of these were our ministers and workers present from America. The matter was set before the company, and all were invited to participate; in a short time over 1,000 copies were subscribed for, one brother residing in Grimsby taking over 500. Since that we have visited Southampton, and one or two hundred were taken by those living there. We felt that this was very encouraging from such a small beginning. We all feel to thank God that our new enterprise of starting the paper in England is moving off so well. Material is being purchased, and the paper will soon be brought out, and one more Seventh-day Adventist journal will be heralding the notes of warning to the world. So the work continues to move forward all along the line. It was thought best that Eld. J. H. Durland should locate for a time at Southampton in the house already rented for the depository, which will not now be used for that purpose. This arrangement may not be permanent. And now we give our friends in America a cordial invitation to help circulate the new paper printed in England, The Present Truth. We should be glad to have their personal subscriptions for their own reading, and we should be glad to have them pay for clubs to be used in the missionary work. Bro. Drew says he shall want at least 1,200 per month to use in the ship work in Liverpool alone. We expect to have an excellent paper, and we want it to go by thousands of copies to all this great empire. We are greatly behind in our work in this country, but we expect to see a great advance in the near future. May God greatly bless the mission in England.—G. I. B., in Review and Herald.