The Church Book Fund by Editor

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 13, 1856

The Church Book Fund.

By Editor

H. BINGHAM.—In answer to the brethren who have questioned you on the subject of the book fund, we reply, as was stated in No. 21, that there are now in this Office tracts belonging to the Church, to the amount of about two hundred dollars. If to this the Church shall add one thousand dollars, it will nearly cover all the books now in the hands of Bro. White, and then they will become the property of the Church: the money of course to be paid to him.

We do not know what they mean by “old books.” All the books in the Office are works on present truth and if they were not now on hand would have to be published immediately to meet the demands of the cause. Now if the Church see fit to have a fund in order to carry forward the publication of tracts as they shall be needed for the advancement of present truth, the proposition of Bro. W. presents a rare opportunity for them to do so; as at the rates at which he offers the books now in his possession, they can be had cheaper than they could now be published at this place.

But suppose the Church does not see fit to raise a fund and take the books of Bro. W.: as fast as they are sold he must use the proceeds to meet the expenses he has incurred in their publication; and when they are all sold, here will be a Church without books, and without a fund to publish any. A fund will then have to be raised, or some one be found who will be willing to involve himself in responsibility and debt to meet the wants of the cause, or the publication of books cease. All will therefore see that it will be an advantage to the Church to raise the fund now and invest it in the books already published. Then when these are sold, the proceeds will be in the hands of the Committee whom the Church may appoint, ready for the publication or re-publication of such works as are most needed.

It is thought by some that there has been a great oversight in the publication of books, and that there are now on hand large quantities of books of little or no value. This is a mistake. Perhaps Bro. W. has, considering his circumstances, published too large editions of some works, and involved himself; but at the rate at which books have sold for the past two or three years, there are not more than one year's stock on hand, with the exception of some few kinds worth in all perhaps about one hundred and fifty dollars: this however cannot be considered a loss, as most of these will eventually be sold: it is only means invested which does not return itself so soon as though put into other works. And probably within this year, several kinds will have to be re-published. The prospect for the sale of books is now very encouraging. About the best report we have from messengers who enter new fields is, We have sold our books and must have more.

R. F. COTTRELL:—It is thought advisable here, to have the Book Fund which the Church in New York State propose raising, united to the general Fund, and yet have a depositary in different States, as you suggest. In this case it will be necessary to raise about $1300 in all. If the two Funds are united, Bro. W. will make the same deduction on the books now in your State, that he does on the books here, provided the Church take them. It will then be necessary for the pledges of the N. Y. Fund which are not paid to be forwarded to this Office.

THERE are $316 pledged on the Book Fund, $295 from four churches in Michigan. But very few Circulars have yet been returned.