The Bookmen’s Convention of the Southeastern Union Conference
By E. R. Palmer
The regular biennial session of the Southeastern Union Conference convened according to appointment at 8:30 A. M., Jan. 8, 1912, the president, Elder Charles Thompson, presiding. In his opening remarks, Elder Thompson said:— “This is the first meeting of this session of the Southeastern Union Conference, which has convened according to appointment. The roll of delegates will be called, the delegates will be seated, and the first item on the program will be the bookmen’s convention. “Note that this is not a bookmen’s convention simply. This is the Southeastern Union Conference. Down here we do not have a Southeastern Union Conference and a bookmen’s convention. We do not have a Southeastern Union Conference and something else; the union conference is the whole thing, and the bookmen’s convention is the first item on the program.” The arrangement as announced by Elder Thompson was carried out in spirit as well as in form. The delegates were seated, and the first item on the program, the bookmen’s convention, was turned over to Brother V. O. Cole, general agent of the Southeastern Union Conference, as temporary chairman. The presidents of conferences and other delegates were there, and they attended all the meetings, and took an active part in the program. Evidently, the publishing work has a large place in the hearts of the people in the South. Not only were the delegates present, but in the evening the seating capacity of the church was taxed to its utmost by a large attendance of brethren and sisters who live in the community, and by students from the Southern Training School. Most excellent preparations had been made for this meeting. The visiting delegates were pleasantly entertained at the Graysville Sanitarium, at the training school, and in the hospitable homes of our brethren, and all were made to feel very much at home. A series of important subjects had been carefully prepared several weeks before, and speakers had been assigned to their respective parts on the program. These early preparations for the meeting contributed much to the success of the convention, and the blessing of the Lord was manifest in all the meetings of this convention. R. Hook, Jr., manager of the Southern Publishing Association, A. F. Harrison, general agent of the Southern Union Conference, and the writer were present to assist in the meetings. In his biennial report Brother Cole presented statistics showing that the publishing work has steadily grown since the organization of the Southeastern Union, four years ago. The increase in the sales of literature is indicated by the following comparative figures for the past four years:— |
1908 |
$24,151 |
|---|
|
1909 |
27,000 |
|
1910 |
35,123 |
|
1911 |
43,527 |
This report was on subscription books only, and it did not include the sale of Bibles, trade books, tracts, or periodicals. One of the most interesting features of the convention was the hearing of reports from those who had sold at least one thousand dollars’ worth of books during the year. The union conference had offered a sort of premium to such, agreeing to pay the traveling expenses to the bookmen’s convention and the union conference, and also the expense of entertainment, of all who, during the year 1911, would actually deliver one thousand dollars’ worth of books, and pay in full for the same. The following are the names of those who won, together with the books sold, hours worked, and total sales:—22 |
BOOK |
HOURS |
VALUE |
|---|
| R. L. Underwood |
D. & R. |
1803 |
$1536.00 |
| W. H. George |
G. C. |
1276 |
1476.75 |
| J. P. Allran |
C. K. |
1568 |
1476.25 |
| J. W. Siler |
G. C. |
1329 |
1214.00 |
| L. D. Right |
P. P. & F. |
1140 |
1120.00 |
| M. J. Weber |
B. F. L. |
1450 |
1100.00 |
| Totals |
|
8866 |
$7923.00 |
The following resolutions pertaining to the publishing work, were adopted by the union conference:— “1. That colporteurs’ credentials be given by our local conferences to such colporteurs as have attained a satisfactory standard in all important features of their work, and that these credentials be granted by the conference in session on the recommendation of the committee on credentials and licenses. “2. That the following conditions enter into the basis of granting colporteurs’ credentials:— “a. The colporteur should be sound in the truth. “b. Proper influence, dress, and manners. “c. Faithful and industrious in the use of his time. “d. Must sell at least $500 worth of literature a year. “e. Must keep free from debt. “3. That all colporteurs be placed on trial when first enlisted, with the understanding that they will receive credentials when they have attained a satisfactory standing. “4. That all colporteurs who hold credentials be assisted to attend the annual conference, or some other important institute or convention, as may be arranged by the conference paying the colporteur’s entertainment at the meeting and his traveling expenses both ways. “5. That all territory for colporteurs be assigned under contract signed in triplicate, copies being furnished by the field agent to the colporteur and to the supply-house. “6. That all colporteurs who handle Bibles be required to secure them through our regular supply department. “7. That all Bibles be sold at prices not in excess of the regular catalogue prices of the publishers. “8. That the maximum profit on all Bibles be 10 per cent to the publishing house, 10 per cent to the tract society, and 25 per cent to the colporteurs, the same to be computed on our retail prices. “9. That in case certain Bibles are secured at a large discount, the retail prices be reduced so that the per cents for handling them shall conform to the above schedule. “10. That our publishing houses, field agents, and colporteurs be cautioned against handling Bibles in such a way as to divert them to any degree from their regular work, and that we recommend that no Bibles of shoddy or deceptive quality be handled. “11. That the conferences of this union pay the traveling expenses to the next biennial session of the union of all colporteurs who deliver $1,000 worth of our literature during the year 1913, and have paid in full for the same, and that such colporteurs be entertained at the conferences at the expense of the Southern Publishing Association. “12. That the financial policy recommended by the General Conference for the Publishing Department be followed. “Whereas, The General Conference in its recent council recommended that our magazine work be placed under the direction of our field missionary agents, to be organized and handled the same as our subscription book work; therefore,— “13. We recommend, That the plan be adopted as the policy of this union conference in the handling of the periodical business and that it be put into effect as early as possible. “14. That we ask the Atlanta Branch to mail Field Tidings to all regular colporteurs, the papers to be furnished by the local conferences in the usual way. “15. That the 15 per cent on scholarships be divided equally between the schools and the publishing interests.” It was a great privilege to attend this meeting. The cooperation between the conferences, the field agents, and the publishing house in the circulation of literature was most encouraging; and the splendid results attained even in a difficult field with a small constituency, show what the possibilities are when, under the blessing of God, all unite heartily in carrying forward the good work. Let us all pray that the work which is rapidly taking on strength in the South, may be greatly blessed during the present year.