DEDICATION SERVICE by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · May 10, 1905

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 19.

DEDICATION SERVICE.

By Editor

ON the afternoon of April 16, the new buildings of the Pacific Press Publishing Company, at Mountain View, were formally dedicated by appropriate services.

On the day previous a solemn appeal had been made to the employees to consecrate themselves to God, preliminary to the dedication, and the most important part of it. At the chapel exercise the next morning there was hearty response to this call, all the employees, with few exceptions, dedicating themselves to the service of God.

At the beginning of the dedicatory exercises, M. C. Wilcox, president of the board of directors, named J. N. Loughborough, a pioneer in this field, and the first president of the incorporation, as chairman of the meeting.

The occasion was within one day of being also the first anniversary of the signing of the contract for the erection of the buildings. There was a large audience in attendance, comprising our own people and prominent residents of the village not of our faith.

After singing by the congregation, a scripture reading by W. T. Knox, and invocation by W. N. Glenn, a brief report was made by C. H. Jones, manager, and chairman of the building committee.

In addition to various reasons for seeking a location in the country, and especially for locating at Mountain View, it was stated that the cost of the new buildings was about forty thousand dollars, and all paid for. The entire investment is about two hundred thousand dollars. The company yet owns the property formerly occupied in Oakland, which is also unencumbered. We find the present location well adapted to the work, with excellent railroad, express, and other requisite facilities. There is also a good prospect for business, with about one hundred hands now employed.

The Great Perfecting Press Now Printing the "Signs of the Times."

After another song by the congregation, an appropriate address was delivered by Editor M. C. Wilcox, of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES. He dwelt upon the principles for which the institution stands, especially that of absolute freedom of conscience for all men—of whatever state or persuasion, religious or political. He also expressed an earnest solicitude for the welfare of the people at Mountain View.

Following the address, the dedicatory prayer was offered by J. O. Corliss, in which the entire institution was solemnly set apart to the service of Him whose Gospel it is to publish. Then the following dedication song, written by C. M. Snow, assistant editor of the SIGNS, was sung by a double male quartet:

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, we will praise Him to-day, On His altar of labor our off'rings we lay. In this temple of service our worship we bring, While we sing of His goodness, our Saviour and King. All the riches of heaven For our life He has giv'n— Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, praise ye the Lord.

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord; He has opened His hand; He is sounding His message o'er ocean and land. In the isles of the sea they are heeding to-day, While the idols of self on His altar they lay. In the glad harvest home From the isles they will come— Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, praise ye the Lord.

Tarry not, tarry not, let thy courage be strong, For thy Captain is near, tho thy foes be a throng. He will valiantly lead thee where'er thou must go; And thy hope is in Him who has conquered thy foe. Tho thou fall in the strife, He will crown thee with life— Tarry not, tarry not, tarry not now.

To the work, to the work, for the harvest is white; Over valley and hill falls the soft evening light. God is bidding you haste to the harvest to-day; While His spirit still strives, He is pointing the way. From the broad ways of sin Haste to gather them in— To the work, to the work—God bids thee go.

This was followed by remarks by J. N. Loughborough, who was one of the original incorporators of the publishing company. He spoke of the small beginning of this cause on the Pacific Coast in 1868, and compared it with what, under the guiding hand of the Lord, we see to-day. This publishing work was started in Oakland thirty-one years ago, with a plant that cost about seven hundred dollars. Other remarks concerning the growth of the publishing work will be found embodied in an article by Brother Loughborough in this department.

J. O. Corliss followed with a few remarks in the same vein, having had experience in starting the publishing work in Australia, which has also grown in like proportions.

Another selection was then sung by the congregation, and the benediction was pronounced by Brother Loughborough. Then the employees retired to their various departments, and engaged in work while the visitors were escorted through the building to witness operations.

While the employees were getting to their places, remarks were made by Judge B. E. Burns and others, expressing appreciation of the improvements that the publishing company had made in the community, and for the moral principles upon which the work was based.

Altogether the occasion was a pleasant and, we trust, a profitable one.