On this page we present two cuts, one a woodcut of both of the Review and Herald buildings, and the other a half-tone of the ruins after the fire. The loss was greater than at first reported. It will probably aggregate $400,000; insurance $100,000.
The cause of the holocaust of December 30 is unknown. The fire chief of the city and the electrician of the institution made a thorough inspection of the building the day of the fire, and pronounced everything satisfactory. But in a few hours the great printing plant was in ashes, some of those working in the building barely escaping with their lives.
The Review of January 6 came promptly to hand, the type being set at the offices of the Moon, the Journal and the Enquirer of that city; the press work was done at the Pilgrim office. All of the copy of the Youth’s Instructor for two numbers was burned, and therefore two numbers will be omitted; the S. S. lessons will be printed for those weeks in the Review. We are sure that the subscribers will willingly make this sacrifice.
Some Interesting Facts of History.
The first copy of the Advent Review and Sabbath Herald was issued in November, 1850, at Paris, Me. It was published monthly, more or less regularly, till April, 1857, when it was then issued as a semi-monthly. Aug. 5, 1851, Vol. II., No. 1, was printed at Saratoga Springs, N. Y. Under date of May 6, No. 1 of Vol. III. of the paper was printed at Rochester, N. Y. The same year in August the first number of the Youth’s Instructor appeared.
In 1855 the office was moved to Battle Creek, Mich., and established in a two-story wooden building. The first issue of the Review and Herald in Battle Creek bore date Dec. 4, 1855. It was first printed on a power steam press July 30, 1857. The Publishing Association was organized Oct. 1, 1860, and legally incorporated May 3, 1861. Since that it has been enlarged from time to time, and, its charter expiring, it was reincorporated in 1891 with a capital stock of $250,000.
The Review and Herald Office after the Fire.
Review and Herald Office before the fire. The large building on the left was burned. The composite building on the right remains.
At the time of the fire it was printing the following periodicals: Review and Herald (leading church-paper of the denomination); The Youth’s Instructor; Christlicher Hausfreund (German); Der Deutsche Arbeiter; Evangeliets Sendebud og Sandhedens Tidende (Danish-Norwegian); Sion’s Vaktare och Sanningens Harold (Swedish); besides many other publications, serial and otherwise.
What They Say.
From the Review of January 6, we take the following paragraphs, which give our readers an idea not only of the loss, but of the spirit actuating those upon whom the loss falls so heavily:—
A meeting of the employees was called the next morning at nine o’clock, at which the situation was considered, with particular reference to the effect of the calamity upon those who were dependent on their weekly wages for support. The assurance was given by the management that no one of the employees would be permitted to suffer for the necessaries of life, and plans were suggested by which it was believed employment could be furnished to all. Some will go out to scatter our publications, and some will be employed by the Sanitarium, and some may connect with our publishing houses elsewhere.
All face the situation calmly, courageously, hopefully, confident that victory will yet come out of seeming defeat, and the scripture will again be proved true, that “all things work together for good to them that love God.”
Other publishing houses of the city kindly offered assistance through the use of their facilities, and many telegrams of sympathy were received from firms with which the office has sustained business relations. It is too early at this date to attempt any statements with reference to the question of rebuilding.
The next day after the fire the directors of the Review and Herald Publishing Co. authorized the manager to order at once such an outfit of machinery and material as would make it possible to print the Review and the Youth’s Instructor. The large room in the West Building formerly occupied as a chapel will now be turned into a printing office, and this new machinery will be set up as soon as possible. We hope to print our own papers again in a short time.
The president of the General Conference, Pastor A. G. Daniells, who is also one of the directors of the Review and Herald Publishing Association, after recounting some of his thoughts of the great fire and its consequent losses, and his joy that the good old Review still lives, makes this plea, which we heartily second:—
It certainly seems that under the present conditions, the Review would become a dearer and more cherished friend to us all than it has ever been. This ought to be the case. In the present hour of difficulty the Board of Directors wish to make at least one earnest appeal to our people, and that is that they will rally around the Review and Herald. They feel that the loss of our building and machinery will not prove to be such a terrible thing if our brethren and sisters will become faithful readers of the Review. We do not see how they can read this paper from week to week without being inspired with new life and enthused with new courage. If this is done, the message for this time will hold its place in our hearts.
The directors desire to make an earnest appeal at this time to every lover of this truth to take the Review. Will not our union and State conferences, also our ministers and church officers, take this matter up, and see that every family in the country is supplied with the paper? Now is the time to rally around this old friend, and this is the way to show practical sympathy in the disaster that has come to us. Printing establishments and business firms have telegraphed us their sympathy, and have offered anything and everything at their command for our service. We appreciate this; but it can do us little good. The greatest help that can be rendered at this time can be given by all our people rallying around the Review.
There is much more which we would like to quote, but space and time forbid. May God especially bless those upon whom the burdens fall so heavily.
