General Conference Bulletin, vol. 4

OUR PUBLISHING WORK IN THE EUROPEAN LANGUAGES

The first publications issued by the Review and Herald in the European languages were some tracts and pamphlets issued between the years 1860 and 1870 in the French and German. Later some small tracts were brought out in the Scandinavian languages, and small monthly journals were published in the Danish and Swedish tongues. GCB April 2, 1901, page 6.1

The circumstances attending the bringing out of these publications in the various languages were much the same. Some minister laboring among European people in the United States and bringing a goodly number to the knowledge of the truth, felt the necessity of tracts, pamphlets, and other literature to use in connection with his labors. He would then write or translate that which he felt was needed most, and send or carry it to Battle Creek, and besiege the managers of the publishing house earnestly and persistently to make provision for bringing out a work which he felt was so much needed. GCB April 2, 1901, page 6.2

When these tracts were printed, there were few persons to take an interest in their circulation, and often the greater part of the editions printed would lie idle upon the shelves until the managers of the publishing house were weary of having anything to do with translated books. GCB April 2, 1901, page 6.3

The energy and wisdom with which Elder J. G. Matteson set about the work of translating, editing, and circulating our Scandinavian journals marked a new era in the work; and his talented authorship of popular publications while he was in Europe and after his return, put the Scandinavian publishing work on quite a successful footing. But little was done in the publication of bound books and large pamphlets until the years 1882 and onward, when the European work in all its phases was receiving the best attention of the General Conference. GCB April 2, 1901, page 6.4

By this time Elder O. A. Olsen had been given the general supervision of the Scandinavian work in the Northwest. Elders Haskell and Butler visited Europe, and preparations were being made for the establishment of printing houses in Basel and Christiana, and Elder Conradi was entering upon his energetic and successful labors among the Germans of Dakota and Kansas. GCB April 2, 1901, page 6.5

I well remember the earnestness and anxiety manifested by Elder O. A. Olsen in the autumn and winter of 1882 in bringing to the attention of the General Conference Committee and the managers of the Review and Herald Publishing Company the great need of literature among the Scandinavian people in the United States. He presented in a concise and convincing manner facts regarding the important part which the English literature sustained to our general work, the power for good which was wrought by the circulation of the Danish and Swedish journals, the large number of Scandinavians in America, and the rapidly increasing numbers in Europe whose education in the truth and future usefulness as missionary workers was dependent largely upon the literature which we placed in their hands. He presented estimates as to the number which could be sold of certain books which he desired to see translated and printed, and asked that the Publishing Association and the General Conference take immediate steps for the bringing out of those books. If they hesitated because of the old-time objection that books in the European languages did not sell, he was prepared to guarantee the sale of a sufficient number to insure the printing house against loss. GCB April 2, 1901, page 6.6

These matters were discussed during the meeting of the General Conference at Rome, N. Y., and the Publishing Association was requested to bring out in the Danish-Norwegian language a book containing selections from the writings of Sister White. This was done with fair success from the standpoint of the publishers, and with such good results in the field that at the next General Conference broader plans were laid, and the Association was asked to enter upon this work on a broader scale. The General Conference resolutions relating to this were as follows:— GCB April 2, 1901, page 6.7

“7. Whereas, The progress of the cause indicates that our leading denominational books will soon be needed in the languages of the countries where we have successful missions; therefore,— GCB April 2, 1901, page 6.8

“Resolved, That we prepare for the more rapid advancement of the message in the nations by having these works immediately translated, that they may be published as soon as called for. GCB April 2, 1901, page 6.9

“Whereas, The book lately published in the Danish-Norwegian language, containing a sketch of the life of Sister White, and various extracts from her writings, is being received among the Scandinavian people, and is meeting a want long felt; and,— GCB April 2, 1901, page 6.10

“Whereas, That people call for other of Sister White’s writings in their language; therefore,— GCB April 2, 1901, page 6.11

“Resolved, That we recommend that the request above referred to be granted, and that immediate steps be taken to publish Sister White’s ‘Life of Christ’ in the Danish-Norwegian language. GCB April 2, 1901, page 6.12

“9. Resolved, That we recommend that such works of Sister White as are alluded to in the foregoing resolution, be published also in the French, German, and Swedish languages. GCB April 2, 1901, page 6.13

“10. Resolved, That we recommend that the work, ‘Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation,’ be issued in the German, Danish, and Swedish languages.”—Year Book, 1884, pages 36 and 37. GCB April 2, 1901, page 6.14

This request from the General Conference was duly considered by the stockholders of the Publishing Association in their meetings, and was answered by the following resolution:— GCB April 2, 1901, page 6.15

“Whereas, The General Conference has recommended the publication of certain works in the foreign languages, and the translation of others, that they may be ready for publication as soon as called for; therefore.— GCB April 2, 1901, page 6.16

“Resolved, That this Association shall carry out these recommendations, and we request the trustees to put these plans into immediate execution.”—Year Book, 1884, p. 53. GCB April 2, 1901, page 6.17

This resolution adopted unanimously by the stockholders, recognizes the responsibility of the Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association to prepare and publish literature in the European languages, and it distinctly expresses the willingness of the Association to assume the responsibility of this work and go forward with it. In the discussions of this resolution the fact was brought out by the leading men of the denomination, who were leading stockholders in the Association, that the original design of this association was to meet the demands of the denomination in publishing and circulating whatever literature was most needed for carrying the third angel’s message to the world; and in view of the fact that the objects and aims of the Association were to serve the interests and necessities of the denomination, and that God was blessing the Association so that there was a good profit on some portions of its work, it was legitimate and right that it should enter heartily into this branch of the work, which was so much needed, notwithstanding the fact that some features of the work might never pay, and that other parts would require many years to bring back the original expenditure. GCB April 2, 1901, page 6.18

In the adoption of this resolution, the Publishing Association committed itself to a policy, which, if it had been adhered to through succeeding years, would have kept this Association in the forefront as the leading missionary agency of the denomination. This, no doubt, would have brought to it the blessings which God has pronounced upon the liberal soul, and would have saved it from the centralizing policy which has manifested itself in many ways, but especially in the erection of large buildings, which, according to the messages sent us from time to time, ought never to have been built, because in God’s plan the message to the world would have gone much more rapidly if the money invested in these buildings had been devoted to aggressive missionary work, or to the building up of many smaller enterprises in various centers of population in different countries, which would have been lights to the world, and would have greatly hastened the work of the third angel’s message. GCB April 2, 1901, page 7.1

Some of those who had been connected with the Review and Herald for many years, and who were acquainted with the necessities of the field through their travels and labors in many parts of the United States, felt that a great victory had been gained when the stockholders expressed their wish so unanimously that the Association should go forward with this foreign publishing work and it was a cause of sorrow to some of them when we were told a few days afterward that in private conversation between members of the board, one expressed the following sentiments: “Well, let them pass their little resolutions about the Association’s translating and printing foreign books. The directors will manage the business according to the best interests of the Association.” Here was a distinct pronunciation of that intention which has been worked out in the succeeding years, to the effect that the men chosen by the stockholders to carry forward the work of the Association would conduct the business to meet their personal views and ambitions regarding the work. The work specified went forward slowly, and much good was done, but only a small part of the work needed was undertaken. GCB April 2, 1901, page 7.2