Close of the Volume by Editor

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Dec 18, 1879

Close of the Volume.

By Editor

THIS number closes the Fifth Volume of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES. We have little to say of the past, except this, that the mercy of God has followed us throughout the year. Our cares and perplexities have not been few; but often, when the way seemed hedged up on every hand, the Lord has opened it before us, and His ear has never been closed against the united petitions of those laboring here.

We were sent by the General Conference to take local charge of the SIGNS for one year. Our readers are aware that we have somewhat exceeded our time, holding our position till the end of the volume, that arrangements may be better made for the benefit of the volume to come. By the kind interest as well as forbearance of friends this has been a prosperous year for this paper. We are thankful that its present standing is what it is. When we consider the difficulties under which we have labored much of the time, and the many failures we have made, (for we have not been able, under our circumstances, to bring the paper up to that standard which we had marked for it), we feel that we have great reason to be thankful for the patience and forbearance so continuously manifested by our patrons. But whatever our failures may have been we know that none have been intentional. We have this consciousness that we have endeavored to serve the cause untiringly to the best of our ability since we came to the Pacific coast.

We are happy to say that the outlook for the paper is much brighter than it was a year ago. The prospect for the future is every way cheering. We have been able to make such arrangements that the mechanical execution of the SIGNS will be even better than it has been in the past. Much of the type will be entirely new, and of superior finish; and some young people have been in training under our own supervision to do the type setting on the paper. We think we may safely promise that the work will be first class in every respect.

But this is only a small part of the improvement which we are warranted to promise for the coming volume. It has been a matter of deep regret that the arduous labors of Sister White, during the Camp-meeting season, prevented the uninterrupted continuance of her valuable articles. We do not expect that her labors in such important meetings will be less; but the General Conference, at its late session took steps to furnish her with the requisite assistance of writers, so that there may be no interruption of her writings in the year to come. This will be a feature of the coming volume which all its readers will appreciate. To those who have had the privilege and pleasure of reading her writings not a word need be said as a recommendation of them. The conviction which they carry to every reader, of their excellence and value, is better than any recommendation which others can give them.

By reason of circumstances, beyond human control so far as we know, Brother White was prevented carrying out his intention to furnish a series of articles for volume five. But while attending the Camp-meetings the past season he was maturing his views on important Scripture subjects, which he now proposes to give through the SIGNS in an "all-year series" of articles. These articles will be a leading feature of the paper for the next volume. In making these announcements we feel doubly relieved,—not only of burdens of responsibility for the contents of the paper, but our feelings are those of deep satisfaction that the paper will be constantly supplied with the most acceptable matter.

Altogether we most heartily congratulate the patrons of the SIGNS on the bright prospect before both the paper and its readers.