Something of Our Own Work
Annual Meeting of the Pacific Press Publishing Association
THE eighth annual meeting of the Pacific Press Publishing Association, the reorganized company, was held according to appointment at the office of the association at Mountain View, California, Monday, January 22, 1912. This would have been the thirty-seventh annual meeting of the old company that was reorganized. The president, H. W. Cottrell, in his annual address, called attention to the marked care of our heavenly Father over the institution and its employees. Among other interesting things he said: That purpose for which this institution stands is the greatest thing in the world to-day. It stands for the world-wide proclamation of God’s Spirit-filled Gospel message in its final and thrilling setting as penned in Rev. 14:6-14. Financial prosperity has attended our work during the year. The total retail business for the year, including books, papers, tracts, etc., was approximately $400,000. With careful and economical management on the part of directors, and the continuation of the prosperity of the last two years, the near future will put the institution out of debt. And I hope under God that we may soon reach the time when the entire net gain of the plant may be invested in the publishing work for the extension of Gospel truth in those fields beyond, where the millions of people are groping their way in midnight heathen darkness; and to this end we labor on. The treasurer’s report showed that not only had faithful work been done to increase the volume of business, but earnest and continual efforts had been put forth to economize and reduce the cost of production. The volume of business in 1910 amounted to $388,000; the volume of business in 1911 amounting to over $397,000, a gain in the volume of business of over $9,000, and all, too, on denominational work exclusively. The interest-bearing debt14showed a marked reduction. At the present time the assets, including real estate, plant and equipment, and supplies at Mountain View, California; Kansas City, Missouri; Portland, Oregon; Calgary, Alberta, Canada, amount to $296,903.67. The liabilities amount to $155,426.40, leaving the present worth of the association January 1, 1912, $141,477.27. The association has recently purchased a lot and erected an office and storehouse in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and has also purchased a lot in Kansas City, Missouri, on which they have decided to erect a new office building. From the general manager's report the following is extracted: My report could be summed up in the brief statement that the past year has been not only one of the most prosperous, but the most prosperous year in the history of the institution, both as to volume of business and financial gain. Therefore we have every reason to be devoutly grateful to our heavenly Father for His prospering hand that has been with us, and we trust that this evidence of His love may lead us to renewed consecration to His service. Over fifty car-loads of paper, binding material, etc., were used in the printing and manufacture of books, tracts, and periodicals last year — averaging more than one car-load a week, and costing $68,764. This exceeds the amount purchased during 1910 by nearly $13,000. Ever since the fire in 1906, the book department has shown a steady gain in volume of business, and this year it amounts to $285,000, including the sales at our branch offices. We attribute this steady gain to more thorough organization, a better corps of trained workers, and a higher standard of attainment. The following new books have been published during the past year:
Acts of the Apostles,
Great Controversy (revised),
Last-Day Tokens (revised),
Steps to Christ, Spanish (revised and illustrated),
Questions and Answers. "SIGNS OF THE TIMES" WEEKLY
A total of 1,620,700 copies of the weekly SIGNS OF THE TIMES were printed and circulated during the year. MONTHLY "SIGNS OF THE TIMES MAGAZINE"
The total circulation of the Signs of the Times Magazine for the twelve months was 381,216, a gain of 42,133 over the preceding year. The circulation of Our Little Friend for the year was 694,795. We are aware of the fact that all satisfactory growth, prosperity, and success center in spiritual things, and we are glad to be able to report that nearly all connected with the office are earnest, devoted Christians. During the week of prayer special services were held in the various departments, and it was a season of great spiritual revival, every person expressing himself as desiring to renew his consecration to God or to give his heart to Him. We also feel thankful for the union and harmony that has prevailed throughout the various departments, and the hearty cooperation of all in trying to carry out the plans and purposes of the institution. And especially do we feel grateful to conference officers and our brethren and sisters throughout the field for the interest they have taken in the circulation of our literature, and also to our splendid corps of earnest, devoted canvassers, who have done so much to help bring about this satisfactory showing. May the coming year be one of still greater prosperity. Resolutions were adopted expressing gratitude to God; requesting the General Conference Committee to give the SIGNS OF THE TIMES consideration when selecting a medium for the next Harvest Ingathering campaign; approving the continuance of the plan of issuing the SIGNS OF THE TIMES in series of twenty-five; looking to an increased circulation of the Signs of the Times Magazine, also Our Little Friend; the use of one tenth of our net profits to assist in our publishing work in the great Orient; and concerning proper educational and moral standard for those who are accepted as employees in the office. The articles of incorporation and by-laws were amended to provide for a board of seven directors, with an additional advisory board of nine members, the personnel of which is as follows: H. W. Cottrell; C. H. Jones; H. G. Childs; M. C. Wilcox; H. H. Hall; A. O. Tait; B. M. Shull; G. A. Irwin, president Pacific Union Conference, S. D. A.; R. A. Underwood, president Northern Union Conference, S. D. A.; E. T. Russell, president Central Union Conference, S. D. A.; C. W. Flaiz, president North Pacific Union Conference, S. D. A.; H. S. Shaw, president Canadian Union Conference, S. D. A.; E. E. Andross, president Southern California Conference, S. D. A.; E. W. Farnsworth, president California Conference, S. D. A.; C. L. Taggart, president Northern California-Nevada Conference, S. D. A.; J. H. Behrens, president Central California Conference, S. D. A. The following organization was effected at the first meeting of the newly elected Board of Directors: president, H. W. Cottrell; vice-president and general manager, C. H. Jones; secretary and treasurer, H. G. Childs; auditor, J. J. Ireland; manager book department, H. H. Hall; manager periodical department, G. C. Hoskin; manager Kansas City Branch, James Cochran; manager Portland Branch, J. F. Beatty; manager Canadian Branch, W. V. Sample; editor SIGNS OF THE TIMES weekly, M. C. Wilcox; associate editors, A. O. Tait, L. A. Reed; editor Signs of the Times Magazine, L. A. Reed; associate editors, M. C. Wilcox, A. O. Tait; editor Our Little Friend, Miss K. B. Wilcox; associate editor, Mrs. Vesta J. Farnsworth; publishing committee, H. H. Hall, M. C. Wilcox, H. W. Cottrell, E. W. Farnsworth, A. O. Tait, L. A. Reed, C. H. Jones, J. O. Corliss, H. G. Childs, J. R. Ferren, F. H. Gage, G. C. Hoskin.