Meeting of the General Conference Publication Committee by W. C. White; H. H. Hall

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Mar 31, 1904

Meeting of the General Conference Publication Committee

By W. C. White; H. H. Hall

At the last General Conference provision was made for the selection of an advisory committee for the purpose of strengthening and unifying the production and circulation of denominational literature in North America. This committee, which has come to be known as the General Conference Publication Committee, was to be made up as follows: One member from the General Conference Committee, one from each union conference, one from each publishing house, and one from each branch office. Its first session was called March 2, 1904, at Omaha, Neb., and continued one week, fifteen meetings in all being held.

The General Conference was represented by W. C. White; the Review and Herald, Washington, by S. N. Curtiss; the Atlantic Union Conference by F. E. Painter; Review and Herald, Battle Creek, by I. H. Evans; the Lake Union Conference by J. B. Blosser; the Southern Union Conference by J. E. White; the Southern Publishing Association by I. A. Ford; the Southwestern Union Conference by C. N. Woodward; the Central Union Conference by A. T. Robinson; the Kansas City Branch, Pacific Press, by James Cochran; the International Publishing Association by T. G. Johnson; the Northern Union Conference by C. M. Everest; the Pacific Union Conference and Pacific Press, Oakland, Cal., by H. H. Hall.

C. H. Jones, of the Oakland Office of the Pacific Press; Geo. W. Pettit, of the Portland, Ore., Branch of said company; and E. R. Palmer, the secretary of the committee, were not present.

As this session was held in connection with the Central Union Conference, and all our meetings were open, we had the counsel of a large number of experienced book men and conference officers. Among these were Elder W. W. Prescott, president of the Review and Herald Publishing Association of Washington, D. C.; C. H. Hardesty, agent of the Central Union Conference; P. T. Magan, of Emmanuel Missionary College; Elder A. G. Haughey, president of the Western Michigan Conference; D. W. Reavis, manager of the Circulating Department of the Review and Herald, Battle Creek, Mich., who acted as our secretary, pro tem; Frank Jencks, Kansas State agent; Brother Fairchild, Missouri State agent; G. Phillips, Colorado State agent; and Brother Hahn, Nebraska State agent.

Object of the Meeting

The one great theme that seemed uppermost in the minds of all was, “How can we assist in carrying this last warning message to the world in this generation?” Although much time was given to the discussion of details connected with methods and organization, yet the thoughtful observer saw in it all a determination to join heart and hand in carrying out this great aim.

Problems Considered

It was expected that men coming from every portion of the United States—men who had been on the “firing line,” so to speak—would have many problems to consider, and so they did. Here are some of them: How can we give our canvassers a better training for their work? How can we organize and train an army of resident canvassers? How can we assist in circulating literature in other languages? What should be the relation of such books as “Christ’s Object Lessons” to the general book business? What should be our attitude toward private publishers? Should there be a reduction in the styles of bindings of our large subscription books? What should be the basis of prices and discounts? Does tract society control of the book business yield the best results?

As we studied over these and other questions hour after hour and day after day, earnest prayers ascended that we might be led to right conclusions, and that we might adopt such methods as would be acceptable to our brethren and sisters in the field. In fact, we decided at our very first meeting that all problems would be considered from the standpoint of the people in their homes rather than that of the factory. As we did so, we came closer and closer together, cherished plans were modified, and nearly every action taken was unanimous.

Other Features

A gathering of this kind would not be complete without the relation of incidents showing the influence and the results of the circulation of literature, and we wish each reader of the REVIEW might have listened to the accounts of how wonderfully God has used the printed page in carrying salvation to men. These experiences served not only to encourage us, but to keep ever before us the real object of our council.

Much enthusiasm was manifested in the general plans laid for a great missionary campaign this fall, but of this we will speak later. We believe this meeting will result in a greater unity of effort, a wider circulation of the truth, and a great harvest of souls.

W. C. WHITE, Chairman; H. H. HALL, Secretary.