THIS meeting was held in the Tabernacle at Battle Creek, Mich., in connection with the meeting of the Lake Union Conference.
The first meeting was held April 20, at 10 A. M. After song by the congregation, Scripture reading by Elder I. H. Evans, and prayer by Elder G. B. Thompson, the meeting proceeded to organize for the transaction of business. It was found that fifty-three of the members of the constituency were present, more than double the number required as a quorum for the transaction of business. The reading of the minutes of the last annual session was waived. After some preliminary remarks by the chairman, a report of the work of the association for the last year was presented by the general manager, E. R. Palmer. This report, with several slight omissions, follows:—
Manager's Report
"We greatly appreciate the privilege of coming here to Battle Creek again to present our annual report in this city, where for nearly fifty years the Review and Herald Office did its work as the publishing center of this movement, and where many of the old friends of the institution are still living. Our chief regret on this occasion is that we have with us so few of our employees, whose earnest work and cooperation during the past year have contributed substantially to the prosperity of our work.
"Historical Sketch
"Our publishing work, which in due time grew into the organized work of this association, began sixty-nine years ago, in Paris, Maine, with the publication of two hundred and fifty copies of a leaflet by Ellen G. Harmon. The expense of this first tract was shared equally by H. S. Gurney and James White, the name of the latter appearing as the publisher.
"THE FIRST PERIODICAL.—Sixty-five years ago, July, 1849, the first periodical, Present Truth, was published by James White, at Middletown, Conn. A few months later this paper was merged into the REVIEW AND HERALD, which has been published without interruption since that time as the church paper.
"As has many times been told, Elder White carried the first edition of Present Truth in a knapsack on his back from Middletown to Rocky Hill and back, a distance of eight miles each way,—eight miles from the factory to the mailing department, and eight miles from the mailing department to the post office. Now our publications are carried to the post office and to the freight station in an auto truck, and the average weight is about two tons a day. This is probably less than one fourth of the daily output from our denominational printing offices, which doubtless amounts to not less than ten tons a day.
"THE FIRST HYMN BOOK.—This same year, 1849, the first Seventh-day Adventist hymn book was published.
"FIRST LITERATURE SOLD.—Sixty years ago, in 1854, no attempt had been made, so far as is known, to sell our denominational literature. It was paid for from contributions and was given away, no one supposing that people who were prejudiced against the Adventist doctrine would purchase the literature advocating it. The first attempt to sell our literature, we believe, was made that year by Elder J. N. Loughborough, when holding a series of meetings in Rochester, Mich. He put together parcels made up of one of each of our tracts and pamphlets, and sold fifty dollars' worth on three consecutive Sunday evenings. The retail value of one copy of each of all our publications at that time was 35 cents. At the present time, counting all our books, pamphlets, tracts, and periodicals, we have about two thousand in number, containing 200,000 pages, with a retail value of about $600.
"THE MOVE TO BATTLE CREEK.—The following year, 1855, the office was moved from Rochester, N. Y., to Battle Creek, Mich., and the publishing work, which had previously been carried on principally by Elder White, was taken over by the denomination, and placed upon an organized basis as the central publishing house of the movement.
"ORGANIZATION OF SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST PUBLISHING ASSOCIATION.—Fifty-three years ago next month, May, 1861, the Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association was organized. This was two years before the organization of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.
"THE FIRST SUBSCRIPTION BOOK.—Thirty-three years ago, in 1881, twenty years after the organization of this association, action was taken at the General Conference looking toward the publication of the first subscription book. In response to an appeal from Brother George R. King, the publishing house, with many misgivings, published an edition of five hundred copies of 'Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation,' on receiving from Brother King a guaranty that he would sell the entire edition. It was made up from the pages of the old trade edition, the page being enlarged seven eighths of an inch each way by brass rule lines. The pages were made up by George Amadon, who told me a short time before his death that the edition was printed in sixteen-page forms because there was only enough brass rule in the office for sixteen pages.
"LOSS BY FIRE.—Eleven years ago last December the main building of the Review and Herald Office was destroyed14by fire. The accumulated earnings of nearly fifty years were so completely destroyed that only about $42,000 worth of property remained to be turned over to the new association, which was soon afterward formed. In greatly crowded rooms, and with limited improvised facilities, the denominational work was continued in the west building.
"In August, 1903, the periodicals were moved to Washington, D. C., where that portion of the work was handled at great disadvantage in the basement of a private tenement. In this way the work was scattered, a part of it still in Battle Creek and a part in Washington."
"THE MOVE TO THE PRESENT LOCATION.—We were dependent upon outside printers for a considerable portion of our work, and struggled under great disadvantages until in June, 1906, only eight years ago, when these scattered fragments were brought together into their new home in Takoma Park, where the work is now being carried on.
"The Lord's Blessing and Guidance
"In all these experiences, the hand of the Lord has been over the institution, and his signal blessing has attended the work. The volume of work is steadily increasing. Additions have been made from time to time to the building and its facilities, but still the institution is taxed to its utmost to supply the increasing demands. While the location and environment of the office have changed, it is the same old Review and Herald Office, doing the same good work, and enjoying the confidence and cooperation of our people, who have established it.
"The destructive fire eleven years ago was, from a human viewpoint, a great calamity. It, however, may have been a blessing in disguise; for without such an overturning it might have been difficult for the association to set aside its extensive commercial work. The institution seems now to have become well established in maintaining its policy to do denominational work only. For a number of years no commercial work of any kind whatever has been accepted.
"Literature Sales for 1913
"The year 1913 was a banner year for the association in the sale of literature, the total at retail value amounting to $493,399.77. Of this amount $261,413.20 was received on book sales, $73,207.55 on magazine sales, and $158,779.02 on periodical sales. It is interesting to note that our sales, which amounted to about one fourth of the total sales of denominational literature last year, were over $50,000 above the total sales by the denomination nine years ago; two and one-half times greater than fifteen years ago; and $30,000 more than the total sales during the first forty years, from 1845 to 1884.
"Book Department
"The book department, under the direction of Brother I. A. Ford, assisted by Brethren Mace and Graham in the branch offices, has steadily developed in the strength of its organization and in the volume of output, until it is doing its work more efficiently and satisfactorily than at any previous time in the history of the institution. The field is strongly manned under the direction of experienced general agents and field agents, and practically all the retail business is cared for by our conference tract societies.
"Periodical Department
"The same is also true of the periodical and magazine departments. Brother D. W. Reavis, our veteran circulation manager, whose hair has grown white in that line of work, has had the most active, strenuous, and successful year of his experience. He has had charge of the promotion and circulation of the REVIEW, the Instructor, the Sabbath School Worker, and Christian Education, as regular lines of work; and in addition has handled the Harvest Ingathering REVIEW campaign, the General Conference Bulletin, the Temperance Instructor, and the Memory Verse Cards; and near the close of the year the Church Officers' Gazette and the Thirteenth Sabbath Envelopes were added to his list.
"Magazine Department
"The magazine department, under the direction of Brother A. J. S. Bourdeau, has in some respects enjoyed its most successful year, though the sale of magazines did not equal the record of the previous year. This was a sort of dead-center year. In reorganizing the field work, the old unorganized method of selling magazines by agents who went wherever they chose from city to city, had been largely eliminated, while the new plan of handling the magazine work as a part of the regular colporteur work under the direction of the field agents, was only partially established. However, the economy and thrift in handling the department was such that there was considerable reduction in the cost of magazines; and there were no losses, as in previous years, from magazines being left on hand. Therefore, financially, this has been our best year for the magazines, and we trust a good foundation is being laid for future prosperity. The indications during the first three months of 1914 are full of promise for the success of this department.
"A Year of Exceptional Opportunities
"The year brought to us exceptional opportunities to increase the volume of business and profits. In addition to the usual lines of work, all of which prospered, the General Conference session, held in Takoma Park, brought to us the General Conference Bulletin and the General Conference book tent. We also had the Harvest Ingathering REVIEW, thirty-two pages, the size of the regular REVIEW, with a two-color cover, of which 606,000 copies were circulated.
"Net Earnings
"The treasurer's report will show that the net earnings of the institution for the year amounted to $35,461.03. About $16,000 of this amount represents the net gain on the manufacture and sale of books, pamphlets, and tracts. In the factory there was a manufacturing profit on books and tracts of about two and one-half per cent of the retail value of the output.
"In the book department of the home office five per cent of the retail value of subscription books, and ten per cent of the value of trade books, are set aside to cover promoting and shipping expenses. The actual expense of that department was about three and three-fourths per cent of the volume of business, leaving a net gain of one and one-fourth per cent.
"In the branch offices ten per cent is set aside to cover the cost of promoting and handling. In the New York Branch, where expenses are naturally heavy, the actual cost has been eight per cent of the volume of business, leaving a net gain of two per cent. In the Western Branch the cost has been four and one-half per cent, leaving a gain of five and one-half per cent. Each of these gains, earned out of the commission allowed for the expense of handling, has been the result of hard work, thrift, and economy. These several gains give us the total gain of the book department referred to, which is about six per cent gain on the volume of business handled.
"Careful study has been given to the cost of each publication, and adjustments in prices and discounts have been made from time to time until there are few that are being manufactured at an actual loss, the losses being confined largely to the ten-cent magazines, and to morocco and half-morocco subscription books, which seem to constitute a stubborn problem that is always with us.
"There is a net gain of about $10,000 on the manufacture and distribution of magazines and periodicals, or four per cent gain on the volume of business handled.
"These earnings of our departments are net gains, after distributing to each its proper share of the overhead or general expense of the institution, including four per cent interest on the capital invested in each department.
"The volume of business has been one and one-half times the capital invested; therefore, after adding miscellaneous profits, the total investment of over $330,000 in the institution shows a net gain for the year of about ten and one-half per cent. While this is a larger gain than we had dared hope for, it is not larger than is really necessary to enable the association to keep its equipment up to a proper standard of efficiency, bring out such new publications as are needed, and pay off the interest-bearing debt at a reasonable rate.
"Reserve Funds
"A prosperous year presents a favorable opportunity to set aside two important reserve funds,—one on unexpired subscriptions, and the other on books in stock in our book department and in the branch offices. On the subscription lists of our seven periodicals we have set aside twenty-five per cent of the full retail value of the lists, and on book stock ten per cent, thus transferring over $15,000 from net earnings to these reserve funds.
"General Financial Standing
"The report of the treasurer will also show that bills and accounts payable total about $130,000, or an amount equal to forty per cent of our assets. The present worth of the institution has steadily increased until it now covers real estate, equipment, plates, signatures, and work in progress; while the amount we owe is covered by cash, accounts receivable, bound books, and factory stock. In other words, if we were to close business, and collect our accounts and sell our stock of books and printing materials, we could pay our present obligations, and have the institution and its equipment, including book plates, unbound signatures, and work in progress, free from debt.
"Investments
"The constituency will be interested to know what disposition has been made15of the net earnings of the institution the past year. Not taking into account the increase in stock made necessary by the increase of business, the following are the principal investments:—
New books .................................... $23,949.70
A one-ton Wilcox truck ........................ 2,031.00
New machinery and other equipment for the factory .......................................... 5,355.75
An additional investment in the Takoma Park church ............................................ 2,358.22
New building for garage, box factory, and lumber shed .............................................. 2,132.91
Improvements in basement storage room ....... 578.66
Paid on notes and accounts payable ............ 18,730.38
Total ......................................... $55,136.62
"The principal item of the investment in new books, which is extraordinarily large, is the expense involved in the revision of 'Bible Readings for the Home Circle,' a large portion of which will be distributed among the publishers who purchase plates during the present year. Another important item is the purchase price of plates, drawings, and publisher's rights for 'Past, Present, and Future,' 'Coming King,' 'Best Stories,' 'Gospel Primer,' 'Gospel Primer No. 2,' and 'New Testament Primer;' also the purchase of the permanent royalty rights on these books in the Review and Herald territory. This purchase places the Review and Herald in position of original publisher of these books.
"Other important items of expense in bringing out new books are as follows:—
"'Bible Footlights.' One set of plates purchased from the Southern Publishing Association, $495.85.
'Friends and Foes in Field and Forest,' by Mrs. Vesta J. Farnsworth. A new illustrated book of 248 pages, $1,481.
'Good Form,' by Mrs. Fannie D. Chase. 317 pages, $1,137.91.
'The Hand of God in History,' by W. A. Spicer. 248 pages, $653.67.
'Religious Liberty in America,' by C. M. Snow, 436 pages, $1,281.18.
'Stories Worth Rereading,' 319 pages, $471.51.
'Facts for the Times,' revised edition. Work in progress, $269.20.
'Past, Present, and Future,' revised edition. Work in progress, $451.04.
Total, $6,241.36.
"Cash Discounts
"All bills and accounts have been paid promptly during the year, and advantage has been taken of every possible cash discount, the profit from this source amounting to $1,249.09.
"A Tithe to the General Conference
"In harmony with a section of our by-laws adopted one year ago, and with our custom for a number of years, we have paid a tithe of our net gain to the General Conference. While it may be that institutions are not under moral obligation to pay tithe, and while this may not be generally customary, yet we believe that the moral influence upon our employees and upon the general work is good.
"The Sustentation Fund
"In response to a recommendation of the General Conference Committee at its last autumn council, we are turning over to the General Conference an amount equal to two per cent of our pay roll, as a contribution to the Sustentation Fund, which has been extended so as to include publishing house employees and colporteurs. We also set aside one per cent of our pay roll, in addition to this two per cent, as a local accident and emergency fund.
"The Cost System
"Liberal credit should be given to the practical working of the Denham Cost System, installed about eighteen months ago, for the increased profits of the past year. This system, which provides for the automatic distribution of all general expenses over the hours of productive labor, has enabled us to locate definitely our losses and gains. We find it greatly to our advantage to be able to apply the remedy precisely where the difficulty exists. The fact that there is a definite accounting not only with departments and classes of work, but with each employee on every job, has been an encouragement to those who have developed efficiency, and a stimulant to the inefficient. The result has been a healthy effort on the part of each department to improve in all respects.
"Financial Policy
"Steps have been taken to put into practical working order the financial policy recommended to us by the General Conference Publishing Department. This policy provides that we extend credit to organizations and institutions for only thirty days. Announcement of this policy has been made to tract societies, publishing houses, and mission fields, and there seems to be a loyal spirit of cooperation in this important matter. If we are successful in applying this policy universally, it will assist us greatly in collecting our accounts, and will reduce our accounts receivable by many thousands of dollars.
"The friends of the Review and Herald have been gratified to learn that Brother R. Hook, former manager of the Southern Publishing Association, has connected with the Review and Herald Office as treasurer. When Brother A. H. Mason was called to the Pacific Coast, our board made a list of possible treasurers for this association, and at the head of the list was Brother Hook. There was really little prospect that we should be able to secure him, because of the important position he was holding; but we are greatly pleased that the negotiations were successful, and that Brother Hook is now with us.
"Reduction of Interest-Bearing Debt
"It is a source of much satisfaction to the board that notwithstanding the strenuous year, which called for many investments and an increase of stock and equipment, we were able to reduce bills and accounts payable over $18,000. We trust that the prosperity of the institution may be such as to enable the board to continue this policy. The present season gives promise of being a banner year in this respect. It seems probable that no large investment will be necessary. By a vigorous collecting of accounts, we hope to be able to pay off a large percentage of interest-bearing notes. As they become due month by month, we are encouraging note holders to transfer their money, loaned to us at four per cent, to the Southern Publishing Association and to other institutions, which are paying a higher rate.
"The ambition to pay off our interest-bearing notes should not, however, lead to that kind of supposed economy which would admit of our equipment being allowed to fall below a true standard of thrift and efficiency. We should ever keep in mind that the first object of the management should be to do the work which the institution has been established by this people to do. We should not hold back from making investments in publications, machines, or other equipment necessary to the success of the work.
"During the present year approximately $5,000 should be invested in new machines, and in the rebuilding of old ones. In the near future it will doubtless be necessary to make much heavier investments in replacing expensive equipment, such as linotypes, presses, and folding machines, which have been put through a very heavy grind for a term of years, and must soon be replaced with new up-to-date machines.
"A Higher Standard
"The board is persevering in its policy to eliminate from the institution unprofitable help, and especially those who do not have the strength of character, intelligence, adaptability, or ambition to become positive rather than negative factors in our work; and also to improve conditions under which our employees labor, as rapidly as circumstances will permit.
"Wage-Schedule Audit
"As provided by one of our by-laws, adopted at the previous meeting of the constituency, our wage schedule is audited by the General Conference Auditing Committee. This audit establishes a limit within which the board adjusts wages.
"Eight-Hour Law
"Congress has recently passed an eight-hour law prohibiting factories and other commercial institutions from employing women more than eight hours in any one day, or more than forty-eight hours a week. It was unnecessary for us to make any important adjustments to conform to the law, for that was practically our schedule.
"Overtime
"The law, of course, prohibits employing women overtime. We believe this to be a good general rule for all employees. Notwithstanding the pressure of work during the past year, we have worked very little overtime, and it is our purpose to continue distributing our work and improving our facilities so that it will be unnecessary to work overtime except in cases of emergency.
"Night School
"Arrangements have been made with the church school of Takoma Park to conduct a night school, which gives to our employees better opportunities than they have previously had in the night school conducted in the Review and Herald chapel. Classes under the instruction of able teachers of mature experience are being conducted in Bible, grammar, arithmetic, rhetoric, and stenography. We have confidence that the night school will prove a great blessing to our employees and to the community.
"Literature for Free Distribution
"Some progress has been made in establishing a line of cheap literature for free distribution, as recommended at our previous annual meeting. We have now completed eleven numbers of the Berean Library, which embraces the following books:—
NO.
"This set of books is now furnished to our people for missionary work at a net price of $1.86. We expect soon to add other numbers to this series, bringing the total up to fifteen, which we shall sell in a complete set for about $2.50.
"We are planning also to publish a popular series of four-page tracts for free distribution, at about one dollar a thousand, or forty pages for one cent. It is also our intention to begin publishing at an early date a four-page document, to be issued at regular intervals, for free distribution. We are feeling our way slowly on this proposition, but are making some progress. The heavy rush of work the past year has delayed some of these important items. We hope to have the full list of cheap literature ready for the autumn and winter work of the present year."
"The Outlook
"The prospects were never brighter than at the present time for the prosperity of our work. At no time during the past few years have all departments of the office been under a heavier pressure of work than during the past three months. The heavy sale of the Protestant Magazine, the encouraging success of the Temperance Instructor, the prospect of a large edition of the Harvest Ingathering REVIEW, the fact that the lists of our eight periodicals are steadily growing, and that the sale of books and tracts is increasing each year, all give promise of a prosperous and most encouraging year's work. We have found it necessary to arrange for a double shift in our pressroom, and it is probable that this must be continued at least until October.
"Our field organization is strong, and the workers are of good courage. In Ohio there are now fifty colporteurs in the field, and about sixty students in Mount Vernon College who are preparing for the work the coming summer. Over $24,000 worth of literature was sold in that conference last year, and the workers have set $50,000 as the mark for the present year. Already, before the close of the Mount Vernon school, they have reached the mark for which they have been working,—$1,000 sales a week. There is a spirit of earnestness and courage in all parts of the field."
"The home missionary work, which is being especially promoted by the Home Missionary Department of the General Conference, is stirring our people greatly, and gives promise of yielding large returns in the sale of tracts, periodicals, and home workers' books.
"The burden of our interest and prayers at the Review and Herald Office is that we may keep in such close touch with the Lord, and with the workers in the field, that we may be able to supply promptly and efficiently the literature needed in this closing work."
By vote of the meeting, the chairman was authorized to appoint a committee on nominations and a committee on plans and resolutions. These were named as follows:—
Committee on nominations: O. A. Olsen, I. H. Evans, E. K. Slade, W. H. Thurston, William Guthrie.
Committee on plans and resolutions: E. R. Palmer, W. W. Eastman, G. B. Thompson, F. I. Richardson, I. A. Ford, J. B. Blosser, D. W. Reavis, A. J. S. Bourdeau, R. Hook, Jr., L. W. Graham, J. W. Mace, O. J. Graf, E. L. Richmond.
Adjournment was then taken.
The second and third meetings of the association were occupied largely with the presentation of reports from the heads of departments. E. L. Richmond reported for the manufacturing department. D. W. Reavis reported for the periodical department, A. J. S. Bourdeau for the magazine department, I. A. Ford for the book department, L. W. Graham for the Eastern Branch, and J. W. Mace for the Western Branch. We regret that space will not permit the publication of these excellent and encouraging reports at this time. The main features, however, were covered in the manager's report, given above. The treasurer, Brother R. Hook, Jr., presented the report of that department for the year 1913, prepared by the accountant, Brother C. L. Ashley.
Accompanying this report, the following statement from the auditor, Brother R. T. Dowsett, was read:—
Auditor's Report
"MARCH 4, 1914.
"Review and Herald Publishing Association,
"Takoma Park, Washington, D. C.
"DEAR BRETHREN: I have been privileged to make a thorough study and examination of the business and accounts of the Review and Herald Publishing Association for the year ending Dec. 31, 1913.
"The money on deposit in the Riggs National Bank, Washington, D. C., and the Battle Creek Bank, as acknowledged by statements from these banks, is in exact accord with the balances demanded by your treasurer's books. The cash in the till on the date of audit was also in perfect balance.
"Upon checking the incoming cash and disbursements, I find all remittances and receipts properly credited, and satisfactory vouchers cover each disbursement. The ledgers are also in balance.
"I have given careful study to the various items which make up the financial statement, and I am pleased to certify that the detailed statement herewith attached harmonizes with your treasury department books, and the same is a true showing of the accounts of the Review and Herald Publishing Association on Dec. 31, 1913.
"The Lord has certainly blessed the faithfulness, whether in the office, the factory, or the field, of those associated in labor for the association, and a splendid financial showing is the result. May 1914 witness even greater results financially, as well as souls garnered for the kingdom of God.
"Sincerely your brother,
"[Signed] R. T. DOWSETT, Auditor."
After some interesting questions and discussion regarding the various items in the report, the treasurer's and the auditor's reports were unanimously adopted.
The committee on plans presented the following recommendations:—
"1. That in harmony with the spirit of the action of the General Conference at the autumn council of 1913, the board be authorized to add to its tithe to the General Conference for the year 1914 an appropriation sufficient to meet the interest on the indebtedness of the Washington Missionary College.
"2. That the board be authorized to pay into the General Conference Sustentation Fund weekly a sum equal to two per cent of its pay roll.
"3. That we approve of the efforts already put forth to enlarge the Berean Library so as to include our leading books.
"4. That we encourage the board to bring out at the lowest possible cost, for free distribution,—
"a. A series of four-page tracts.
"b. A missionary campaign document to be issued periodically.
"5. That we approve the financial policy outlined in the leaflet entitled 'Our Financial Relationship.'
"6. That during these times of prosperity, the interest-bearing debt of the association be liquidated as rapidly as consistent with the demands thrown upon the association for new literature and for proper equipment.
"7. That we encourage the board to establish as rapidly as possible a denominational bureau for library of illustrations, and that these illustrations be catalogued in convenient form for reference.
"8. That the association provide two fifty-dollar ministerial scholarships in each of the following union conferences: Atlantic, Columbia, East Canadian, and Lake, on the following conditions:—
"a. The beneficiaries be recommended by their conference officials.
"b. The students to attend their union conference training school, those from the Eastern Canadian Union, however, to be left free to attend the union conference training schools in the other three unions mentioned, as they may elect.
"c. Each beneficiary must have completed twelve grades of school work, and have previously earned and enjoyed the benefits of at least two scholarships through the sale of literature.
"9. That in Article IV, Section 1, of the by-laws, after the words 'General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists,' the following be added: 'The executive committee of the North American Division Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.'
"10. That Sections 1 and 2 of Article V of the by-laws be amended as follows:—
"Section 1, first sentence to read as follows: 'The affairs of this corporation shall be directed by a board of eleven trustees elected,' etc.
"Section 2 to read as follows: 'At the annual meeting of this corporation each even year commencing 1914, six persons shall be chosen to act as trustees for a term of two years. At the annual meeting of this corporation held each odd year commencing with 1915, five persons shall be chosen to act as trustees for a term of two years.'"
After some interesting discussion, this report was unanimously adopted.
The committee on nominations submitted its report, as follows:—
For members of the board of trustees to fill expiring vacancies and to provide for the increase of membership of the board: E. R. Palmer, F. M. Wilcox, I. A. Ford, R. Hook, Jr., W. W. Prescott, E. L. Richmond, W. D. Salisbury. The question was called on each name, and the report was adopted without change.
This annual meeting was one of the most encouraging sessions ever held by the association. Many expressions of gratitude were heard from the brethren and sisters present for the prosperity which had attended the work of the association during the past year. It was felt that in this prosperity and in the general prosperity of the cause of truth throughout the earth there are rich evidences of God's guiding hand and of the power which is attending this movement to the ends of the earth.