BRANCH OFFICE IN LONDON.
By C. H. Jones
AT a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Pacific Press Publishing Company held on Thursday, December 27, 1888, the following communication from the Trustees of the Review and Herald Publishing Association was presented for action:— "At a meeting of the Trustees of the S. D. A. Publishing Association, held November 20, 1888, at Battle Creek, all being present, the General Conference resolution No. 12 was fully discussed, and the following resolution was adopted:— "WHEREAS, The Review and Herald Office was requested by a vote of the General Conference to take immediate steps to establish a branch office in London, if in our judgment it seemed advisable; and, "WHEREAS, It is our opinion that the Pacific Press could establish a branch office there to better advantage, in some respects, than ourselves; therefore, "Resolved, That it is our preference that the Pacific Press establish and conduct said office, if their Trustees are willing and can see their way clear to do so, and we will waive our decision in the matter until we learn whether they will undertake that enterprise or not." By special invitation quite a number of our leading brethren and sisters were present at the meeting called to consider this proposal, and after due deliberation the following resolution was adopted: "Resolved, That, acting in harmony with the resolution passed at the last session of the General Conference, and at the request of the Board of Trustees of the Review and Herald Office, as indicated in the above communication, the Pacific Press Publishing Company proceed at once to establish a branch office in London, England, praying God to open the way." At the last annual meeting of the stockholders, held on Monday, April 22, 1889, the above action of the Board of Directors was ratified, and Brother Wm. Saunders named as the one to take charge of the enterprise. In harmony with this recommendation, Brother Saunders left Oakland Thursday, May 16, on his way to London, where he will at once enter upon the work of establishing a branch office in that city. This is one of the most important steps ever taken by the Pacific Press, and but few can realize its magnitude, or the bearing it will have upon our work at large. Already arrangements have been made for publishing several important works, and others are in course of preparation. It is expected that not only England, but most of the British Colonies as well, will be supplied with books from the office in London. Brother Saunders is eminently qualified to fill the position which has been assigned him as manager of this branch office, having been engaged nearly all his life in some branch of the printing business, and for the past few years has been connected with the main office here in Oakland. Beside this, the fact that he is a native-born Englishman will be to his advantage in that country. In 1883 Brother Saunders was elected a member of the Board of Trustees, and in 1888 was made vice-president of the association, which office he held till called to fill this more important position. We are sorry to have him go, but it is not like seeing him separated from the work. His sphere of usefulness has only been enlarged. Brother John I. Gibson, who has also been connected with our work here in the office for the past two years, goes to London with Brother Saunders to assist in the publishing, and they expect to sail from New York in company with several other workers, on or about June 9. Of necessity, the establishment of a branch office in London will call for quite an outlay of means, especially during the first year or two, but we are glad to know that the Lord is moving upon the hearts of individuals to help forward this enterprise. Already one sister has placed $500 in our hands to be used in this work. Others have expressed a desire to help, and to all who feel willing to loan or donate something to this branch of the work, we would say that a separate account will be opened with the London branch, and the money can be applied there if they so desire. May the blessing of God attend these brethren in their new field of labor, and means be provided to successfully carry forward the work.