THE opening of the office of the Pacific Press Publishing Association in Mountain View, Cal., calls to mind the early experiences in the publishing work of this people. The work was very small in its first inception, but has steadily grown until it has reached large proportions, as is apparent in this fully-equipped plant, now located in this beautiful valley, and a score of other printing plants of like character, owned and operated by this denomination, located in various parts of the world.
The opening of the printing work for this people was on this wise: In the month of July, 1849, James White issued our first paper—a little sheet of eight pages—at Middletown, Conn. It was entitled The Present Truth.
The few believers of that date were of the very poor of this world, hence were unable to furnish the necessary means with which to begin an enterprise of this kind. The printing of even such a little sheet had been carefully and prayerfully considered for six months before the means was obtained for this purpose. In the month of June, 1849, Brother James White found an opportunity to cut, with a hand-scythe, forty acres of timothy grass, at seventy-five cents per acre. With money thus obtained, he secured the printing of 1,000 copies of the little paper. To make even this small beginning, he found it necessary to walk six times over the eight miles of road between his residence and the printing-office, the last time carrying upon his shoulders the 1,000 printed sheets. During the year following, eleven numbers of the paper were printed, and the expense for this was fully met by contributions from interested readers.
At that time there were only three persons publicly proclaiming the views held by this people, and not over one hundred adherents to the cause. These, however, had unbounded faith that the message they were heralding, with the divine blessing, would be spread to the remotest corners of the earth. Looking at their situation and anticipations, one might be led to inquire, like those in the days of the prophet Amos, "By whom shall Jacob arise? for he is small." Amos 7:2.
This is by no means the only instance in which a work of large proportions has developed from small beginnings. In a history of the introduction of Methodism in the Western states, in a book entitled "The Footprints of an Itinerant," when speaking of their first public place of worship in Cincinnati, Ohio, which was a log meeting-house, the writer said, "Every great work of God in the earth, has had a small beginning." The same principle is set forth by D'Aubigne, in his "History of the Reformation," in these words, "God, who prepares His work through ages, accomplishes it by the smallest instruments when His time has come. To effect great results by the smallest means, such is the law of God. This law, which prevails everywhere in nature, is found also in history." Book II, Chap. 1. Par. 1.
From July, 1849, to April, 1852, the only printing done by the denomination was the issuing of a semi-monthly paper, first entitled The Present Truth, and afterward the Advent Review and Sabbath Herald. The mechanical labor on these papers was secured from offices where they were printed, namely, Middletown, Conn., Oswego, N. Y., Paris, Maine, and Saratoga Springs, N. Y. These periodicals were sent gratis to all who chose to read them, the expense of publishing being met by contributions from believers.
In the month of April, 1852, a Washington hand-press (a cut of which is here given) and an outfit of type was obtained at a cost of about $700, and the work of printing was begun at No. 124 Mount Hope Avenue, Rochester, N. Y., in a building occupied by James White, in a rented room 12 x 14 feet in size. After a few months—in the fall of that year—an office was rented, about 14 x 24 feet in size, in Stone's Block, South St. Paul Street, in the same city. There the work of printing the Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, and a few tracts and pamphlets, was accomplished. The office remained in this building for nearly three years, until the fall of 1855, when four brethren in the state of Michigan gave each $300 to secure a lot in Battle Creek and erect a two-story wooden building, into which the printing business was removed. For six years the publishing work was carried on in this, free of the expense of rent, until the year 1861, when the "Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association" was organized.
First Press Used in Publishing the Truths Held by this People.
The writer well remembers the publication of the first 80-page pamphlet, upon the subject of the Bible sanctuary and the 2,300 days of Dan. 8:13, 14, printed on this hand-press, in Rochester, N. Y., in the fall of 1854. After the sheets had been printed a few members of the Rochester company assembled to fold, stitch, cover, and trim the books. For lack of machinery, we had to utilize such material as was accessible. After the folding and gathering of the signatures, the writer stabbed them with a shoemaker's pegging-awl; and when the sisters had pasted on the paper covers, and pressed them as best they could between small blocks, Uriah Smith trimmed them with his pocket-knife by a straight edge. It was a pleasant occasion, and a happy company, for we were actually producing our first book in our own office.
And what the result has been from the small beginning of our publishing work, is a proper question. The answer is this: The Gospel truth, as held by this denomination, is now proclaimed and printed in forty of the leading languages of the world. Instead of there being three ministers only, there are, counting ordained and licentiates, over 600, besides hundreds of others devoting their entire time to the work, such as physicians, Bible workers, teachers, and medical missionaries. The printed literature of the denomination is represented in over half a hundred different weekly and monthly periodicals, which are printed in a score of publishing houses located in Europe, Asia, Africa, North and South America, Australia, and the islands of the Pacific. In these offices there are published over 1,100 different books, pamphlets, and tracts, to obtain a copy of each, with all the periodicals for one year, requires about $340.00; and instead of there being only 100 adherents, there are over 75,000 who are rejoicing in this truth. In view of these results from the "small" beginning, we may well inquire, "Who hath despised the day of small things?" Zech. 4:10.
These figures and facts respecting the present status of the publishing work of the denomination, are not presented in a boastful spirit, but with gratitude of heart for the providence of God that has favored the movement. His blessing has been on every advance move, and had the message been pushed with the zeal, and earnestness, and spirit of sacrifice of the earliest workers, still greater results would be apparent.
The New Publishing Plant of the Pacific Press, Office of this Journal, at Mountain View, Cal.
