Signs Office-Its Wants by Editor

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, Cal. · Aug 21, 1879

Signs Office—Its Wants.

By Editor

It is well understood that there has been great embarrassment with the publishing work at Oakland in consequence of a large indebtedness resting upon the Office here. This indebtedness was not brought on the Office by losses, but by increasing its facilities to establish a first-class publishing house for the purpose of publishing present truth, and to make the Office a self-sustaining institution. A second-rate establishment, with few facilities, would never be self-sustaining, but would require large donations yearly to keep it in operation, besides working to a great disadvantage.

For a complete printing house, furnishing its own type and other printing material, it is now second to none on the Pacific Coast. One publisher, who would not trust his printing to any house in San Francisco, but sent to New York and Philadelphia to get his printing done, after having been prevailed upon to give this Office one trial, became satisfied that no eastern city could excel this house in skillful execution, and therefore entered into a contract to have his work done here. But to bring about this condition of things has cost much labor and a large outlay of means. Its present condition can be briefly stated as follows: With the present patronage of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES by the Missionary Societies east of the Rocky Mountains, including the number of copies taken on this coast, the paper is self-sustaining.

The Job Department pays at the present time from $75 to $100 per week, besides its running expenses.

The Type Foundry is furnishing type to the Office and other parties, so that now it is about paying its way; and so with each department in the Office. The Office at the present time pays all its expenses within itself, and were there no indebtedness upon it, it would require no help outside of itself to do all the business it now does.

But the present difficulties arise from the indebtedness incurred in bringing the Office to its present condition. The Office now pays $150 a month interest. Besides this, there are large payments to be made yearly on the principal. This present month there has been made $4000 payment on the principal. But this money is largely borrowed, as our brethren were not able to meet their pledges which now are past due. So the interest is not stopped, and the borrowed money is to be replaced this fall.

The property here is not the property of any one person, but is owned by those taking shares. No one person is benefited by any profit accruing from its business. The institution, with all its proceeds, is devoted to the interests of the cause of God. The work is largely done by our brethren at a sacrifice that they may labor for the interests of the cause, working for much less wages than is paid in other houses for such work. Now we ask our friends to aid us in the following manner:—

1. Let those who have pledges made to the Association pay them on or before the time of the camp-meeting in September next.

2. Let those who have means for which they do not have immediate use, deposit here without interest. This will give the Association the benefit of the use of it till such times as the depositor may wish to call it out.

3. Let those having money which they can loan on this coast, loan it to the Association at a low rate of interest. The Association will give its note if desired. We consider all money deposited or loaned to this Institution safe; far more so than in banks, with the every-day failures which occur.

We do not say help if you can as well as not, although many can, and it is appreciated just the same here. But remember, it is helping God's cause, and God will regard those who will put themselves out to help bear the burdens which must necessarily be borne.

The Institution has been founded in God's providence, and is devoted to a specific work. About 7,000 copies of the SIGNS are taken by our Vigilant Societies, weekly, and remailed to as many families and individuals to every part of the world. The work in Italy and Egypt, and many other places, is the fruit of this kind of labor. Now, from what spot on earth does this light start to find its way to so many thousand families and through them to the islands of the sea, till there is no telling where these rays of light do not penetrate? We answer, from the SIGNS Office in Oakland, Cal. And who sends this truth from this point? Those who assist in sustaining the work at this place. The reward will not be to those alone who work in the Office or who remail the SIGNS, but who assist this institution by their means and their prayers.

The management of this institution is not controlled by any one person. We believe the angel of the Lord's hosts is at the head of this work. And those having charge of the Office, some of long experience in the cause, meet each day at 6 A. M. and spend an hour in prayer and consultation for divine guidance through the day. We, therefore, ask the hearty co-operation of all the friends of the cause on the Pacific Coast, from Southern California to the North Pacific. We ask none to distress themselves; but now, while the battle goes hard, we invite them to lift at the wheel with those at the Office; and we believe that God's blessing will rest upon all who do so. S. N. HASKELL.

We wish to add a few words to the remarks of Bro. Haskell. 1. Since our coming here last November, we have not attempted any new enterprises, but have labored hard to bring into efficiency those already commenced. And, considering the circumstances, the results have been highly satisfactory. We plainly saw, on our arrival here, that considerable outlay and much labor were necessary to place all departments of the Office on a substantial footing. As the means did not come in as we had been led to expect, we had to struggle harder than we even anticipated, and we owe it to the especial blessing of Heaven that the institution stands where it does to-day.

2. We have no reflections to cast upon any because they were not able to appreciate our efforts. They knew not the precarious condition of the Office, the instructions under which we were laboring; and many viewed almost every move we made, with distrust. But we are very happy to say that this state of things has passed away; and we believe there is to-day greater harmony between the several branches of the work in California than at any previous time in its history.

3. By the inability of those who had pledged, to pay their pledges, we were placed under more trying circumstances than we had anticipated; and it is only by the kind interest taken in our work by the Tract Societies that we are able to make the SIGNS sustain itself the present year. For this we feel very grateful, well knowing that it would be more convenient to the body of our missionary workers to have the paper printed east of the mountains; and that they are lifting with us here to enable us to establish a house on the Pacific Coast which will be able fully to sustain itself.

4. We have labored hard to effect this, looking forward to the time, not far off, when this help will be withdrawn by the establishing of a pioneer paper at some other point. And it has greatly cheered our hearts to have Bro. Haskell come to California, and to see him take so deep an interest in the prosperity of the work here. His counsel and assistance are of great value to us at the present time.

5. We think all these things strongly indicate that now is the time for the friends of the cause to lift with us; that those who have pledged should redeem these pledges as far as possible, and as soon as possible. We have felt considerable anxiety fearing that Bro. Haskell would be called away before certain things are accomplished which seem to be essential to the future prosperity of our work in this State.

6. When these things are accomplished, and our anxieties are relieved, and we are freed from some of the burdens which we have unexpectedly been called to bear, we hope to do our work in a still better manner than we have done it so far. The end is drawing nearer, the urgency of the work is increasing, and we hope that our efficiency may increase, and a new impetus be given to the cause at large by means of the truth which goes forth from Oakland. J. H. W.