Signs of the Times, Vol. 32, No. 30. (8/8/1906)

Signs of the Times

Aug 8, 1906

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Aug 8, 1906

"Praise the Lord"

By Ellen G. White

MRS. E. G. WHITE.

"LET everything that hath breath praise the Lord." Have any of us duly considered how much we have to be thankful for? Do we remember that the mercies of the Lord are new every morning, and that His faithfulness faileth not? Do we acknowledge our dependence upon Him, and express gratitude for all His favors? On the contrary, we too often forget that "every good and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights."

How often those who are in health forget the wonderful mercies that are continued to them day by day, year after year. They render no tribute of praise to God for all His benefits. But when sickness comes, God is remembered. The strong desire for recovery leads to earnest prayer; and this is right. God is our refuge in sickness as in health. But many do not leave their cases with Him; they encourage weakness and disease by worrying about themselves. If they would cease repining, and rise above depression and gloom, their recovery would be more sure. They should remember with gratitude how long they enjoyed the blessing of health; and should this precious boon be restored to them, they should not forget that they are under renewed obligations to their Creator. When the ten lepers were healed, only one returned to find Jesus and give Him glory. Let us not be like the unthinking nine, whose hearts were untouched by the mercy of God.

God is love. He has a care for the creatures He has formed. "Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him." "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God." What a gracious privilege is this, that we may be sons and daughters of the Most High, heirs of God and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ. Then let us not mourn and grieve because in this life we are not free from disappointments and afflictions. If in the providence of God we are called upon to endure trials, let us accept the cross and drink the bitter cup, remembering that it is a Father's hand that holds it to our lips. Let us trust Him in the darkness as well as in the day. Can we not believe that He will give us everything that is for our good? "He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" Even in the night of affliction, how can we refuse to lift heart and voice in grateful praise, when we remember the love to us expressed by the cross of Calvary?

What a theme for meditation is the sacrifice that Jesus made for lost sinners! "He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and with His stripes we are healed." How shall we estimate the blessings thus brought within our reach? Could Jesus have suffered more? Could He have purchased for us richer blessings? Should it not melt the hardest heart when we remember that for our sakes He left the happiness and glory of Heaven, and suffered poverty and shame, cruel affliction and terrible death? Had He not, by His death and resurrection, opened for us the door of hope, we should have known nothing but the horrors of darkness and the miseries of despair. In our present state, favored and blessed as we are, we can not realize from what depths we have been rescued. We can not measure how much deeper our afflictions would have been, how much greater our woes, had not Jesus encircled us with His human arm of sympathy and love, and lifted us up.

We may rejoice in hope. Our Advocate is in the heavenly sanctuary, pleading in our behalf. Through His merits we have pardon and peace. He died that He might wash away our sins, clothe us with His righteousness, and fit us for the society of Heaven, where we may dwell in light forever.

Pray, pray earnestly and without ceasing, but do not forget to praise. It becomes every child of God to vindicate His character. You can magnify the Lord; you can show the power of sustaining grace. There are multitudes who do not appreciate the great love of God nor the divine compassion of Jesus. Thousands even regard with disdain the matchless grace shown in the plan of redemption. All who are partakers of this great salvation are not clear in this matter. They do not cultivate grateful hearts. But the theme of redemption is one that the angels desire to look into; it will be the science and the song of the ransomed throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity. Is it not worthy of careful thought and study now? Should we not praise God with heart and soul and voice for His "wonderful works to the children of men"?

Praise the Lord in the congregation of His people. When the word of the Lord was spoken to the Hebrews anciently, the command was, "And let all the people say, Amen." When the ark of the covenant was brought into the City of David, and the psalm of joy and triumph was chanted, all the people said, "Amen," and praised the Lord. This fervent response was an evidence that they understood the word spoken, and joined in the worship of God.

Our God, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, declares, "Whoso offereth praise glorifieth Me." All Heaven unite in praising God. Let us learn the song of the angels now, that we may sing it when we join their shining ranks. Let us say with the psalmist, "While I live, will I praise the Lord; I will sing praises unto God while I have any being." "Let the people praise Thee, O God; let all the people praise Thee."

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"BEHOLD, NOW IS THE ACCEPTED TIME."

By Edna A. Crabbe

As down the many years apace, We backward turn our thoughts and trace Events gone by—perhaps a deed— Or plans we planned and failed to heed; See how unworthy we have been Of Jesus, who for us was slain; Who by the cross and pain did buy A home for all, beyond the sky. The resurrection morn shall come, And loved ones all He'll gather home— Forever more to live.

Our God to us His Son did give, That all who died in Him might live; Live in the mansions He prepares, Away from sorrow, sin and cares. O, turn to God without delay! For Christ our Lord has cleared the way: Trust not unto a last prayer given, To save our souls and gain us heaven. For close, so close, we walk with death How know we when shall cease our breath And we die unforgiven?

Think of the many ones who give Their youth—the best that in them is— To Satan's snares, and day by day Are led by reckless pleasure's sway; Who think that when they come to die God then will hear unburden'd cry. O, sinners, who are tempting fate, Turn to Jehovah ere too late! Then cease, oh cease, to wait!

God's love for us is never late; 'Tis ours, whose laggard footsteps wait. God's angel now a message sings O'er all the Nations wide it rings; A warning that will be the last; Probation's closing, closing fast. Then let us be among the throng Who for the end doth work and long; Who deem God's love of greater worth Than all the riches of the earth, Or worldly pleasures wrong.

When worldly lusts and passions cleave, O, Soul! the Spirit thou dost grieve— Then, O, so gladly take the cross; Count gain, for carnal pleasure's loss; For Christ hath better things for all Who heed His tender loving call, O, sinner, sinner, do not wait. A death-bed prayer, a death-bed fate! Think not there's time before ye die; End not this life with anguished cry— Too late! Too late! Too late!

Edna A. Crabbe.

The Story of Our Loss.

By Editor

OUR BEAUTIFUL HOUSE . . . IS BURNED WITH FIRE.

JUST as passed the midnight hour, July 21, fire broke out in the printing plant of the Pacific Press Publishing Company, Mountain View, Cal. No one saw its beginning so far as we knew, unless it was some miscreant who kindled it. When it was first seen it had eaten through the roof in the northeast corner, in the photo-engraving room. From there in hungry greed it ate its way through a covered passage to the engine-room and tankhouse on the east, and through the main building to the south and west. It spread with inconceivable rapidity. Its red tongues flickered and danced and darted in demoniac glee, as on it sped from department to department, ravenously hungry and insatiate. In two hours the entire roof was in and the whole thing a blazing mass.

The plant was the completest and best equipped west of the Rockies. The building was 125 feet on the front, 175 feet on the back, by the railway, and 175 feet deep. The front part, 125x40 feet, two stories high, contained the business offices and salesroom on the first floor; the chapel, the reading-room, and editorial offices, on the second floor.

The arrangement was nearly ideal. The work moved from type-room to electrotype foundry and photo-engraving room, to press-room, to folding-room, to bindery, to stock-room, all on the same floor, and connected in the order named. The machinery was good, every machine in running order, and the office more than full of work. Now it is a desolate waste of ruins. Our big SIGNS machine, a rotary perfecting Cottrell press, printing from a continuous roll, the price of which was about $15,000, lies a broken wreck on its side. Steam pipes are twisted and distorted in grotesque knots and tangles. The fireproof vault collapsed. The big safe stands on edge in a mass of debris. Great piles of charred and steaming paper, two carloads or more, form a black mountain range on one side, and the burned manufactured stock a mountain on the other. A little portion of the front wall survives the shocks of earthquake and the searching, piercing, disintegrating power of fire.

The loss on the building, stock and equipment will range from $250,000 to $300,000. The insurance is only $100,000. It is not yet adjusted. We feel it keenly, coming, as it did, just after the great earthquake.

Books and Engravings.

Of our own books the loss is great. All our stock in hand is burned. One book, "Heralds of the Morning," was on the press, and an edition of 25,000 nearly completed, with some cases made in the bindery. All are lost, sheets, plates, cases. It may have to be photo-engraved, page by page, at Kansas City or Chicago. "Great Controversy" will go to Washington to be printed.

In the field are many book agents who will have to postpone their delivery from one to two months; but this they will do heartily, tho it will be a great disappointment to many.

One of our great losses is valuable cuts. Some of these can not be reproduced, and many belonged to our customers.

Our Periodicals.

A tremendous loss which will grow with the years is connected with the SIGNS OF THE TIMES and OUR LITTLE FRIEND. All our manuscripts are in ashes. This included manuscripts for several months' issues and for two books, at least, and perhaps four, which can not be replaced. Hundreds of drawings, the accumulations of fifteen years, are burned. This beside the magnificent drawings of "Desire of Ages," "Story of the Redemption," and "Mount of Blessing." Thousands of engravings, line and halftone, have gone up in smoke, or are in melted and twisted plates in the mass of debris. Thousands of photographs, gathered from all parts of the world, which the editor had been collecting for fifteen years, were licked up by the red tongues of the demon. The completest files of Advent literature to be found in the denomination, complete and partial duplicate files of the SIGNS and LITTLE FRIEND and Review and Herald from the first, are in ashes even to the last issue.

Our library, while not large, had many choice books, a number of which can not be duplicated, and which we have no funds to replace. With these were many of the editor's best books. Beside this are many facts, clippings, statistics, the gathering of a lifetime, treasures given by friends, which no money can replace. Our human heart aches and cries as we tell the story in part, and every day will reveal more and more the vacant places. There are two kinds of knowledge that an editor especially needs: that which he has stored in the archives of his own brain, which is a part of himself, and that which he knows where to find but which he cannot remember nor afford the time to memorize. For the latter he depends on his library, which if well selected is a constant friend. We feel that we have lost a friend.

But the editors have left them the great storehouse of all that is of worth in the moral field—the Bible—and the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, which is pre-eminently a Bible paper, will still be issued as before.

Little did we think when we placed as an illustrative motto on our Fire and Earthquake Number, "And after the earthquake a fire," that it would prove a prophecy of our own beloved plant; that we should ever see till its work was finished the lurid flames licking up its life blood. The eternal hopefulness of the human always puts the trouble on the other fellow and exempts himself. Now, as Job's friends told him, the affliction, the trouble, has come to us. Thank God, there has come with it warm expressions of sympathy from our brethren and friends, of which the following will testify.

Editorial from Palo Alto Citizen:

The sympathy of the printing and publishing profession everywhere, and especially that of The Citizen, is extended at this time to the Pacific Press Publishing Company, whose immense plant at Mountain View now lies in ashes. The company lost very heavily in the earthquake of April 18 and had just begun to get in good running order, when along came the fire fiend and destroyed everything but the institution's good name. All California must regret this unfortunate happening.

From the Schmidt Lithograph Company, Oakland, Calif.:

Oakland, Cal., July 21, 1906. Pacific Press Publishing Co., Mountain View, Calif. Gentlemen: We are just in receipt of your telegram in which you notify us that your plant was destroyed by fire. It is needless to say we sympathize with you and can appreciate your position, after the experience we had in losing our plant and all it contained, which was the result of a quarter of a century's hard work. We also hope that it will not take you very long to recover from this misfortune and that it will be only a short time before you are again established in a new plant, better equipped (if such a thing is possible) than the one which was just destroyed. Your consideration of our interests in your hour of distress is commendable and will enable us to look around elsewhere for some one else to do the work which you had in hand at the time of the fire. The opportunity may arise when we can be of assistance to you and would be pleased to have you call. Very truly yours, SCHMIDT LITHOGRAPH CO., (Signed) M. Schmidt.

From C. C. Morse & Co., Seed Growers, San Francisco, Calif.:

San Francisco, Calif., July 21, 1906. Pacific Press Publishing Co., Mountain View, Calif. Gentlemen: We have just learned the sad news of the loss of your plant by fire and wish to assure you of our sincere sympathy. Trust you will soon be able to erect another plant and continue your good business. Respectfully yours, C. C. MORSE & CO., Per Lester L. Morse, Pres. and Mgr.

From the Baptist Church of Mountain View:

Mountain View, Calif., July 22, 1906. Mr. M. C. Wilcox, Pastor Adventist Church. Dear Sir and Brother: The members of "The Memorial Baptist Church" wish to sympathize with you in your recent loss by fire, and tender the use of the church for holding services until such time as you have a house of worship. By order of the church. BARNEY JOB, Church Clerk.

From A. G. Daniells, President of the General Conference, and Prof. W. W. Prescott, Editor of the Review and Herald:

"Washington, D. C., July 21. "Wilcox and Jones: Terribly grieved over disaster. Services at your command. Difficult to go West after council. Wire if considered really necessary. "DANIELLS AND PRESCOTT."

From Elder G. I. Butler, Editor of Southern Watchman, and I. A. Ford, Business Manager of the Southern Publishing Association:

Nashville, Tenn., July 23. C. H. Jones: We are terribly shocked at news of your fire. You have our sympathy and prayers. BUTLER AND FORD.

From J. H. Kellogg, of the Battle Creek Sanitarium:

Battle Creek, Mich., July 21. C. H. Jones, Mountain View, Calif. Be assured of our most sincere sympathy in your great misfortune. Call on me for anything I can do to help you. J. H. KELLOGG.

From Sanitarium and Food Company, Sanitarium, Calif.:

St. Helena Sanitarium, July 22, 1906. To Pacific Press Pub. Co., Mountain View, Cal. Accept our heartfelt sympathy in your hour of deep affliction.

From the Review and Herald, Takoma Park, D. C.

Takoma Park, D. C., July 22. Pacific Press Pub. Co., Mountain View, Cal. Our workers unite in expressing sympathy. Can we do more? REVIEW AND HERALD.

From Mrs. M. E. Abbott, Clerk of Santa Cruz Church:

Santa Cruz, Cal., July 22, 1906. M. C. Wilcox, Mountain View, Calif. Dear Brother: I know not what to think or say, only that the "Lord's will be done." He who sees the end from the beginning knows what is for the best. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God." Dare we to doubt His promises? Nay, verily. Then, my brother, what words of sympathy can we offer? Your views of the great lessons of the earthquake calamity are surely good and wise. And if the fire was needed too, to humble us as a people, and stir us to action, especially to waken our sympathy for foreign fields, then let us praise the Lord for the fire. When I knew about the third edition of the SIGNS I felt to praise God for the earthquake; and doubtless time will reveal the reason why we should praise God for the fire, too. May the Lord be your guide, counselor and comfort, in this great trial, is our prayer for you all. Your sister in Christ, M. E. ABBOTT.

From F. M. Wilcox, of the Boulder Sanitarium:

Boulder, Colo., July 22. M. C. Wilcox, Mountain View. Calif. Deepest sympathy Boulder church and sanitarium. Courage. Joshua nine one. F. M. WILCOX.

From Geo. McC. Price, Editor The Modern Heretic.

Los Angeles, Calif., July 22, 1906. Elder M. C. Wilcox, Mountain View, Calif. Dear Brother: Language would be weak to express the sadness we all feel down here at the dreadful news of the burning of the Press. We trust that the way will open up for the continued publication of the SIGNS without much loss of time, and that ere very long the books, pamphlets, and tracts will again be issuing from the Mountain View office as heretofore. The money will come to rebuild, but I suppose a thousand things have perished which money can not replace. GEO. McC. PRICE.

From A. Winegar-Simpson, M. D., of the Glendale Sanitarium:

Glendale, Calif., July 22, 1906. Elder M. C. Wilcox. Dear Brother: We are sorry indeed to hear of the destruction of the Pacific Press, and while we can not understand just why these things come, yet we know that through it all God designs to teach us precious lessons of His great love for us. Praying that the Lord may guide you at this important time, I am Your sister in the work, A. WINEGAR-SIMPSON.

From G. W. Pettit:

Portland, Ore. Greatly sympathize in your loss. G. W. PETTIT.

M. W. Hodkins Co., manufacturers of gloves and mittens, West Oakland, write:

"We read of your disaster in Saturday's Enquirer with a sincere feeling of grief. We hope that it was not as bad as the newspaper reports make out. Extending you our sympathy in your loss."

The Union Lithograph Company, Oakland, through their president, B. S. Hubbard, write:

"We are sorry indeed to learn through the press that your magnificent plant has been destroyed by fire. Since we have gone through two experiences of this kind within four months, we are in a position to sympathize with you. If we can do anything for you, do not hesitate to call on us as we fully appreciate the service you rendered us a short time ago."

Blake, Moffatt & Towne, Oakland:

"We are sorry to learn through the papers of the entire loss of your plant at Mountain View by fire, and having only recently gone through the same experience we deeply sympathize with you. No doubt you will take steps to replace the plant immediately, and meanwhile we shall be pleased to accommodate you in any way that we possibly can with the limited means at our command at the present time."

A. Zellerbach & Sons, San Francisco:

"If there is any way that we can be of service to you, do not hesitate to call upon us, as we stand ready and willing to aid you in any manner possible."

Through Mr. James J. Taylor, the Everett Pulp and Paper Company, of Oakland, writes:

"Through the newspapers we have been informed of the very unfortunate catastrophe which has overcome you, and we beg to confirm our telephone message advising you of our willingness to do anything within our power that would in any wise assist you under the very unfortunate conditions at present existing. Allow us to assure you that our plant is at your service and that everything within reason that we can do for you will be most willingly performed."

The Pacific Rural Press, through the business manager, Mr. Edgar Rickard, writes:

"We desire to express our heartfelt sympathy in the loss of your plant. If there is any way we can assist you, pray command us."

California Ink Co., per Mr. H. P. Roach:

"It is with sincere regret that we learn through the daily newspapers of the complete destruction by fire of your beautiful plant at Mountain View. We can fully sympathize with you in the loss you have sustained, and take this occasion to inquire if there is anything that we can do to assist you in any way. We trust that you will not hesitate a moment in calling on us if you find that we can help you in the least."

From Mr. L. B. Woodruff, Mayfield, Cal.:

"Deepest sympathy in your affliction. My plant at your service."

Mr. Ev. E. Carreras, printers' utilities, San Francisco, writes:

"It is with profound regret and sorrow that I have read in this afternoon's paper the account of the destruction by fire of your very, very complete plant, truly the best on the Coast. Too bad; wish there was something I could do for you."

Eaton & Company, San Jose: "Expressing our sympathy for your loss, we are respectfully yours, "A. C. Eaton & Co., "R. F. Telfer."

Mr. Thomas H. Doane, Secretary Pacific Coast Paper Company, Oakland, writes: "We sincerely trust that the account of your loss as we heard it has been exaggerated. If we can be of any service to you in any possible manner do not hesitate to command us. Your misfortune is not only a loss to yourselves, but to the community in general at this time. Mercantile enterprises in San Francisco are under obligations to you for the assistance you rendered them in the last three months in getting their printing out when all other resources were exhausted. . . . We are sure you will arise like a phoenix from the ashes and will make stepping stones out of all obstacles in your path. Wishing you every success."

Melvin, Hillis & Black, of San Jose, write:

"Pacific Press Publishing Company, Mountain View, Cal.—Gentlemen: We were extremely sorry to hear of the great disaster which you suffered Friday night, and we assure you that you have our sympathy. Coming at this time so soon after the San Francisco disaster, we realize the difficulty you will have in getting new material immediately. If we can be of any assistance in helping you fill your orders we will be glad to render what we can. We, with the aid of two or three platen feeders, could probably handle all your platen work, as we operate five jobbers day and night. We could give one or two feeders employment with our own work. Again expressing our sympathy, and trusting that you will be able to obtain new machinery and material with the least possible delay, we are very truly yours, "Melvin, Hillis & Black, "Per Howell D. Melvin, Manager."

E. J. Shattuck Company, printing and lithographing, Oakland and Alameda, write through their secretary, Mr. L. S. Allstrum: "Dear Mr. Gage: I just learned this morning of the misfortune which befell your fine printing plant at Mountain View. This has been an unfortunate year for printers. We extend to you and the firm you represent our sympathy, having come through a similar experience ourselves. Can we serve you in any matter, will be only too glad to do it."

FROM THE TOWN OF MOUNTAIN VIEW.

Mountain View, Cal., July 25, 1906. To the Pacific Press Publishing Company, Mountain View—Gentlemen: Having been duly appointed by a citizens' meeting and delegated for the purpose, we have the honor to very respectfully tender to you the heartfelt sympathy and good will of the people of Mountain View and community, by reason of your great loss caused by the destruction of your publishing plant by fire on the 21st inst. The community feels that it was a public calamity as well as a great loss to those personally in interest, and the people, through this medium, desire to convey to you expressions of sympathy, and to assure you of their good will in the premises, as expressed by a series of resolutions, a copy of which we are pleased to present to you, as expressions of public sentiment, in behalf of yourselves and the great institution, the printing and publishing plant, destroyed. With appreciation and esteem, we have the honor to be very respectfully, etc., J. Weilheimer, B. E. Burns, William P. Wright, Walter A. Clark, A. B. Rogers, Committee.

Preamble and Resolutions.

Whereas, The destruction of the plant of the Pacific Press Publishing Company on the 21st inst. by the ravages of fire, is deemed and felt by the people of Mountain View and the community to be a sad loss to the management and to all persons in interest therein, and also a serious loss to the industry and commerce of our community; and desiring to tender expressions of sympathy and good will to those who have suffered direct personal loss; therefore, be it Resolved, That the people of Mountain View assembled do hereby deplore the great loss and extend our deep-felt sympathy to those who have suffered personally by the calamity, and we do hereby pledge our active co-operation in any matters possible that may be required by the Pacific Press Publishing Company in rehabilitating the destroyed institution; also be it Resolved, That a select committee of five citizens, of which the Chair shall be one, be appointed to communicate these sentiments to the management of said Publishing Company, with fullest assurance of our desire to lend any aid or assistance within our power in the premises. The above is a copy of a resolution unanimously adopted at a citizens' meeting held in Town Hall, Mountain View, on July 24, 1906. (Signed) William P. Wright, President J. Weilheimer, Secretary.

From Duehrsen-Wehr Co., San Francisco:

"Telegram just received. Please accept our heartfelt sympathy for your loss. Our limited facilities at your disposal."

Mr. E. M. Drake telephones from Santa Barbara: "The Donahoe Printing Company offer their plant at your disposal."

Mr. De Pew, publisher of Sunnyvale Standard, called and expressed his sympathies and offered the use of his facilities.

Many others, among these many business firms, have sent representatives to express their sympathy and to proffer offers of help. Among these are the Sunset Magazine, the Sunnyvale Standard, Mr. Nace of Santa Clara, the Mountain View Leader, Pacific Manifolding Book Company of Oakland, Out West Printing and Engraving Company of Los Angeles, Bank of Mountain View, American Type Founders' Company, C. B. Collett & Sons, and many others. For all these we are deeply grateful.

EARTHQUAKE NUMBERS.

By Editor

We shall put forth every endeavor to pick up Earthquake Numbers, so as to supply the orders that are coming in; but in all probability some of these will have to be unsupplied. Every number in the office was burned.

A Word from the President.

By H. W. Cottrell

THE Pacific Press building lies in utter ruins caused by a fire on the night of the 20th, the details of which are given in another article of this paper. The cause of the fire is not known.

In the days of Elijah there was a wind, an earthquake, a fire, but the Lord was not in any of them. And after those "a still small voice." That was the voice of God to Elijah: "What doest thou here, Elijah?" We have had quite recently both an earthquake and a fire, but the Lord was not in them. "An enemy hath done this." Our kind heavenly Father turned the results of the disastrous earthquake into a great blessing and we know He will also turn this to His glory in the end.

Our loss is over two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. We will probably receive our insurance, which is one hundred thousand dollars. At least there is no reason why we should not receive it.

The trustees have taken counsel with several of the leading brethren and have decided to rebuild, provided the town will give us the proper encouragement, and that the Lord does not indicate otherwise.

Our house was the largest and best equipped publishing house on the Pacific Coast, and it was doing a great work for God. Our work must not be stopped, nor even hindered. We must rise up, rebuild, and go forward. Buildings may be destroyed by earthquake, or by fire; men may die, renounce, yea, denounce the truths of the Third Angel's Message, but the truth of God can never be destroyed. It will survive the destruction of all perishable things and triumph most gloriously in the near future. Neither we nor any of our employees are discouraged. We press forward with strong faith and greater courage than ever before.

The still small voice is speaking in this our day. It is speaking to us. We humble our souls before God, and wait to know why He has permitted this disaster to come; yea, more, to know His entire will concerning us individually.

We need financial help to rebuild our plant. Money will be of little worth a few days hence. We received from the Oakland camp-meeting people cash and pledges to the amount of $8,065.05, which amount was obtained in one effort. This amount will no doubt be greatly increased by the people on the coast.

Reader, what does the voice of God say to you in this our time of need? "Quench not the Spirit."

H. W. COTTRELL.

OUR LITTLE FRIEND.

By Editor

Please notice the request made for the SIGNS OF THE TIMES volumes and special copies. We make the same request for the bound volumes of the LITTLE FRIEND that we do for the SIGNS OF THE TIMES. If there are those who can spare them, with the files of this year up to date, we would be very grateful. Kindly inform us before sending.

Cast Down But Not Discouraged.

By C. H. Jones

A Test of Faith.

Just as we were recovering from the effects of the recent earthquake the most terrible calamity in the history of the Pacific Press has overtaken us. Last Friday night, July 20, at about 12 o'clock, fire was discovered in our photo-engraving department, and in less than two hours the factory with its splendid equipment was in ashes.

The loss will amount to between two and three hundred thousand dollars.

At first we were stunned, and even now it seems as though we would awake and find it all a dream.

It came at a time when we were having the greatest prosperity, and special attention was being given to our denominational work. We also had in our employ the most faithful and devoted set of workers we have ever seen brought together, and this affliction is hard to understand, but in talking with Sister White she referred us to the case of Job. God permitted affliction to come to his servant to test his faith, and so it is with us: We are cast down but not discouraged, for we know that God lives and reigns, that He loves His children, and that He is able to turn this great calamity into a blessing.

The buildings are destroyed, but the institution still lives in the hearts of His people, and will come forth again brighter and stronger than ever. We firmly believe that within the next two years the Pacific Press will be able to do more in helping to spread a knowledge of this truth than it would if this calamity had not befallen us.

Many telegrams and letters of sympathy and offers of assistance have been received, all of which are a source of great comfort and encouragement to us.

Our first thoughts were for our faithful and devoted employees. If the work is to go, and it surely is, we must keep our force organized. We have talked with each individual and made temporary arrangements satisfactory to all. Some will get work in nearby offices, and some will take up canvassing and other work; but all with the understanding that they are subject to call and will return when wanted.

Our next thought was for our workers in the field—our faithful canvassers. Fortunately we had just made large shipments of books for immediate delivery, but large deliveries will be called for in the near future. The larger number of our canvassers are working for "Heralds of the Morning" and "Great Controversy." We have already sent a man to Kansas City to arrange for printing and binding "Heralds of the Morning," and we think we will be able to ship books within four weeks. We shall ask the Review and Herald to supply "Great Controversy," and will send them printers and binders if necessary, so our canvassers will be taken care of.

Orders have already been placed for machinery, so within two weeks we will be operating a small plant in temporary buildings.

Arrangements have already been made for printing the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Our Little Friend, etc., until we get our own plant in running order.

With reference to finances would say that if we can collect our insurance we are still solvent. Briefly stated, our buildings are insured for one hundred thousand dollars, all in good companies. Our property in Oakland, still unsold and unincumbered, is worth sixty thousand dollars. Books, etc., on deposit at our branch offices in Kansas City and Portland will amount to about thirty thousand dollars. Then we have real estate here in Mountain View valued at about ten thousand dollars. Bills receivable amount to between twenty and thirty thousand dollars. So if our property not in use can be sold, and money due us collected, we will still have over two hundred thousand dollars, which will more than cover our indebtedness. But where is the money coming from with which to rebuild?

We know that the printed page is one of the most effective agencies in getting the truth before the people, and we believe that the Pacific Press still has a work to do; therefore, we feel sure that our people will respond in this our time of need, and help us to rebuild. We have no doubt that this destruction is the work of Satan, but, of course, for some reason, God permitted it. We want to learn the lesson.

We recall the case of Elijah when the Lord said, "Go forth and stand upon the mount before the Lord; and behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: and after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still, small voice." 1 Kings, 19:11, 12.

We are listening for the still small voice, and believe we will be guided by it to right conclusions.

Eight thousand dollars have already been donated, and we have received offers from quite a number to loan us money without interest. Also, many have offered to donate several weeks' labor, so the outlook is encouraging.

We have much to be thankful for in the fact that during the progress of the fire no one was killed or seriously injured, although there were some very narrow escapes.

We are passing through deep waters, but we are all of good courage, trusting in the Lord, believing His promise when He says that "All things work together for good to those that love Him." C. H. JONES, General Manager.

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