Looking Backward by H. H. Hall

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Aug 21, 1907

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 33, No. 34.

Looking Backward.

By H. H. Hall

ONE year ago the Pacific Press Publishing Company's property—its $50,000 worth of manufactured books, its $50,000 worth of paper stock, its machinery, its building, and nearly all of its furniture, was consumed by fire. This came right in the midst of our season's work, and thousands upon thousands of books were just being finished up for our agents who had deliveries already promised. Only those who have gone thru this experience, or one similar to it, can appreciate the situation and the difficulties to be faced during the next few months.

Arrangements were first made for books to be manufactured by outside concerns. Agents were asked to postpone deliveries. The books in our branch offices were sent by express to those whose deliveries were the most pressing, and no legitimate expense or effort was spared to make the loss to our men in the field as light as possible.

When our workers in the field learned that their base of supplies had been destroyed, their first inclination was to cease work and take up something else. Generally speaking, however, they overcame this temptation and went right forward with their soliciting even tho the securing of books was uncertain. All honor is due this devoted class of men and women, and especially those who were working for scholarships in our schools, for their courage in facing this crisis. Many of these workers were young men and women who had never solicited for our books before, and yet they felt they were in a good work, and remained at their posts. It is true that many of them were seriously disappointed in making their deliveries, and yet as a whole they were quite successful.

In the meantime, two or three sheds were erected and a limited amount of machinery secured, and every facility at our disposal was employed day and night. Books were shipped from far distant points by express, and in some cases by mail at enormous expense, so that deliveries might be made as nearly on time as possible. Our office rooms were in the various bedrooms of our boarding-house. The only way of keeping them heated was by oil-stoves, which at best are very unsatisfactory. Those of our employees who could be used were set to work on the cleaning up of the debris and in erecting our new building. The writer never saw more willing workers than those who put up the factory which we are now occupying.

As this factory was planned altogether from the standpoint of manufacturing our own publications rather than from the standpoint of doing the world's work, most strenuous efforts have been put forth to join with our book-men in the field in greatly increasing the output of our own publications. Nearly all the schools and colleges in the territory supplied by this Company have been visited by its representatives. Canvassing institutes have been held, strong book-men have been secured by the various union and state conferences, and increased attention has been given to preparing students for field service. In some of our schools where these institutes were held more than half the enrolment attended the canvassing classes.

But this increased interest in the circulation of our truth-filled books is not simply a students' interest, for scores of mature men and women are entering it for a life-work. Indeed, in some conferences those in charge say they will have a strong force in the field right thru the winter season. In all conferences there is a determination on the part of those in charge not to allow this work to languish after the students have returned to their desks.

The success attending these workers is phenomenal. Various portions of the field have gotten the name in one way and in another of being worked out, but it would seem that these very districts are anxious to repudiate such a reputation by granting our canvassers more than ordinary success. For example, here is a report for one week from the Western Oregon Conference:—

REPORT OF BOOK WORK FOR WEST. OREGON, WEEK ENDING JULY 26, 1907.

Name	Book	Hrs.	Orders	Value
Ray O. Deihl	Heralds	49	66	$132.75
B. O. Lockwood	"	45	37	132.25
Glenn Coffin	"	35	25	61.00
Luther Alexander	"	36	22	47.00
Madge Moore	"	12	10	17.50
Ellen Fox	"	40	31	59.25
Grace Davidson	H. & H.	23	8	26.25
Fred Larsen	Great Cont.	39	21	67.50
Wm. Heinrich	" "	37	6	33.25
Totals	10 Agents	361	254	$643.10

Average time per agent, 36 hours. Average sales per hour, $1.78. Average sales per agent per week, $64.31.

Bear in mind that this report is for all the canvassers in the conference and is not a selection of phenomenal reports from a few agents in different conferences.

Is all this the effect of a man-made campaign in behalf of the circulation of our books? Is it the result of a widespread sympathy in behalf of the Pacific Press Publishing Company because of its terrible loss? Is it because students are learning that they can more quickly secure a scholarship by selling books than by any other method?

Those who have watched its rise the most closely, who have been the most intimately connected with every feature of it, will reply with an emphatic No. The reason for all this is that the third angel's message which these publications contain is due to the world just now. The spirit of Him whose work it all is is going out before our solicitors and turning the hearts of the people in them and the message they carry. That same spirit is going from conference to conference, from school to school, from church to church, and from heart to heart, inspiring those who believe this message to carry it to those who do not. And this is why we say without hesitation that what we have seen this year is but the beginning of a universal activity on the part of this people in behalf of the publications containing the third angel's message. H. H. HALL, Manager, Book. Dept. Pacific Press Pub. Co.