The Publishing Association.
By C. H. Jones
WE know our friends will be anxious to learn how the work is prospering at this office, and what has been done with reference to the recommendation of our brethren and the vote of the Directors to purchase the adjoining property and prepare to enlarge our business during the coming year. First. In regard to our work, we would say that our experience since the annual meeting has demonstrated the fact that action in this matter was taken none too soon. Every department of the office is crowded to overflowing. Our presses are running night and day and are still far behind. We have never seen so much work in the office and so much ahead as at the present time. Through the efforts of our friends the SIGNS is fast increasing its circulation, and we trust that before the summer is ended we can report the circulation doubled. Very encouraging reports come to us almost every day, from different parts of the field, in regard to the good work that is being done by this paper, but the Judgment alone will reveal what has really been accomplished. The copy for “Great Controversy,” Vol. 4, is in the hands of the printers and rapidly approaching completion. We hope to have this book ready for most of the Eastern camp-meetings. We bespeak for it an extensive circulation. This volume will be handled by the Tract and Missionary Societies as a subscription book, and every family visited as far as possible. Already large orders have been received and placed on file, to be filled as soon as the book is completed. From what we have seen of the manuscript, we feel to say it is just what our people need at the present time. Its sale will not be confined to our people alone, as it contains articles of thrilling interest to all. The amount of job work done by this office is only limited by our capacity. We could get much more to do if we only had the facilities to handle it. As it is, we only choose the largest and best firms and turn away the rest. We are determined that our denominational work shall stand first. But in order to do our own work to advantage we need two more cylinder presses. We have been corresponding with parties in the East in regard to this, and find that two presses such as we need will cost, landed here, not less than five thousand dollars. Second. In regard to the property, we are happy to state that the lot on Twelfth Street has been bought and paid for. The one on Eleventh Street is only waiting until we can satisfy ourselves in regard to the title. This will be decided within a week, and then we are all ready to bore a well, and put up a tank-house and stable. That you may see about what the improvements contemplated will cost, we submit the following346statement, which is only approximate on the last two items:— | Lot on 12th street, 50x100 feet... |
$3,000 |
|---|
| Lot on 11th street, 50x100 feet... |
3,000 |
| Stable, tank-house, and well... |
3,000 |
| Two new cylinder presses ... |
5,000 |
| Total ... |
$14,000 |
There are two houses on these lots that must be moved off. They can be sold for from twelve to fifteen hundred dollars. Then we would be glad to sell a portion of the lot on Twelfth Street—say 30x75 feet front, to some of our brethren who would put up a lodging-house where those laboring in the office could find good lodging-rooms, at reasonable rates, close to the office and boarding-house—something which they are not able to do now. Rents are very high here in Oakland, and it is almost impossible to get rooms. Our present boarding-house is not large enough to accommodate one-half of the persons that board there, with rooms. This would be a good investment for some of our brethren, and a real help to the cause, as well. If we can sell a portion of this lot and the two houses above referred to, it will reduce the outlay to about ten thousand dollars. At the last annual meeting, the brethren in council over this matter decided that it was best to purchase this property and make these improvements. Now the question arises, How shall the money be raised to pay for them? We hope we shall not be obliged to go to persons who have no interest in our work for a loan. We prefer to keep it all within our own ranks. The call has been made and some have already responded. One brother places a thousand dollars here without interest, to be used in this work. Another has loaned us five thousand dollars at a low rate of interest. As we have to pay cash for the lots and presses, and shall not be able to sell the houses for some time, we still need from six to eight thousand dollars to carry forward the work. If any of our brethren or sisters have money at their command, we would be glad to correspond with them with reference to placing it here. Remember, we do not ask you to give it, unless you wish to take stock. Another way in which we might find considerable relief is for those who are in debt to the office to make a special effort to square up their accounts now. The last annual report showed that we had about eighteen thousand dollars in outlying bills. This is mostly among our own people, and we know it is sure to come sometime, but what a help it would be if we had it now. We are not branching out in this way simply to accommodate outside patronage, but to carry forward our own legitimate work—the spread of the Third Angel's Message. This is a missionary enterprise. God's hand is in it. He is leading us out to take broader views of the work, and thus be prepared for what is before us. If we are only faithful to the trust that God has committed to us, the work will increase rapidly from this time on. Our work will not be confined to the Pacific Coast alone, but other fields will demand our attention. Already the islands of the Pacific are calling for help, and a vast field is opened before us in Australia and New Zealand. The SIGNS office will be the great distributing point for all our printed matter for these new countries, and we hope that not only the truth will be printed and published here, but that workers will be raised up, qualified to enter these new fields and carry on the work. The time has come for earnest, energetic action. Let us show our faith by our works.
C. H. JONES.