Dedicating a New Printing Plant in the Philippines
By L. V. Finster
L. V. FINSTER
OCTOBER 30, 1915, will long be remembered by our brethren in Manila. It was a happy day at our new mission headquarters. The occasion was the dedication of our printing house to the Lord. About two hundred were present.
Less than two years ago, our printing work was started by Robert Stewart. But our native literature work has increased so rapidly during these two years, that we could not possibly meet the demands with our meager facilities, which consisted of one job press, a hand paper cutter, and a stapler, operated in a barn. Our bindery, with no equipment, was conducted in the basement of the mission house.
Some of our native boys used to say, "The press must be getting very tired, having to work day and night."
When some of the general workers visited our field in 1915, and saw our great needs, they at once sent an earnest request to the Mission Board for help, that we might have a suitable place in which to carry on our work. Our hearts were very glad to receive word, by return mail, that the request had been granted. The news seemed almost too good to be true.
The hearts of our native brethren were greatly touched when we told them of the liberality of the brethren in America, and their deep interest in seeing the work advance here. One of the native evangelists arose, and said he wished to speak a few words before the meeting closed. With much feeling, he stated that our Filipino brethren were deeply affected by this generous offering to help them in the work here, and that he thought we ought to extend our heartfelt thanks to the brethren in America for these tokens of their interest in us, and request our superintendent to convey these expressions to them. He then asked for a rising vote of thanks. The whole congregation arose.
