The Publishing Work by N. Z. Town

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park, Washington, D. C. · Jun 27, 1912

The Publishing Work

By N. Z. Town

Conducted by the Publishing Department of the General Conference

N. Z. TOWN - - - - - Secretary

Progress in the Publishing Work

BACK in the year 1882, when the subject of selling our books by subscription was just beginning to be agitated, Brother George A. King, the pioneer canvasser among Seventh-day Adventists, wrote in the REVIEW as follows:—

"Observation and experience both show that the time has fully come to stir the world with our literature."

In another number of the REVIEW that same year, we find these words from the pen of Elder George I. Butler, then president of the General Conference:—

"Here is a department which we greatly desire to see filled, and which will be filled. A great avenue of usefulness is here open. Devoted men and women will be found to fill it. Volunteers are wanted, the final reward for faithfulness being eternal life. Could we ask for more? May God help us in this important work."

Experience has fully demonstrated that these two veterans in the cause, who did so much to start the subscription book work, were not mistaken in their ideas in regard to its importance and the success that would be attained in it.

We give herewith some figures showing the growth of this branch of the work since its beginning:—

Sales From 1845 to 1902
1845—1862		$ 13,500
1863—1872		56,000
1873—1882		278,000
1883—1892		3,350,000
1893—1902		2,950,000
Total for 58 years		$6,647,500

Yearly Sales 1903-11
1903		$ 477,700
1904		436,600
1905		548,000
1906		824,000
1907		1,035,000
1908		1,290,000
1909		1,402,000
1910		1,560,000
1911		1,604,000
Total for 9 years		$ 9,147,300

Grand total . . . . . $15,794,800

The first line in this table of figures shows the total value of literature sales during the eighteen years from 1845, when the first Seventh-day Adventist literature was published, to 1863, when the General Conference was organized. Beginning with 1863, the figures are given by decades, as will be seen, until we reach the last period, when we give the yearly sales. The good showing during the third decade, beginning with 1883, reveals the result of good organization and leadership. During that period, earnest efforts were made throughout the United States to have competent leaders in charge of the sales of literature in every conference. The figures given reveal the result.

About the beginning of the next decade, the idea began to obtain with many that we could no longer sell our large subscription books, and that we should have to turn our attention to small books and pamphlets. General agents were dismissed, the work was disorganized, and as a consequence it went down.

Multimillionaires

I wish to call special attention to the work during the last decade. The total sales during the first nine years of this period average more than $1,000,000 a year. In other words, during the nine years ending with 1911, the total sales of literature were fifty per cent greater than the totals for the previous fifty-eight years. As we consider these figures, we can only say, "What hath God wrought!" We are glad that we are able to report an increase of more than $40,000 during 1911 over the previous year. If our totals for 1912 equal those of last year, we shall have sold during this present decade, $10,700,000 worth of literature.

I am sure that all who read this report will rejoice with us that the Publishing Department has been so signally blessed. As we review this report, we remember that before we can publish the next yearly summary, we shall have already entered upon another decade, and the question naturally arises, What shall its record be?

As we look out upon the field and see the able company of leaders in charge of this branch of the work in the home land; the earnest, enthusiastic band of generals who are organizing and developing the work in the foreign fields; the magazine work just getting well under way; and above all, the spirit of devotion and consecration of the nearly two thousand loyal men and women who are carrying the printed page from door to door throughout the world, we can not help but believe that we shall see our records continue to increase year by year. To this end let us pray and work.

N. Z. T.