Manuscripts and Memories of Minneapolis

C. H. Jones to W. C. White, Mar. 30, 1893

office of
Pacific Press Publishing Co.
oakland, cal., u. s. a.
PRINTERS, STATIONERS AND BINDERS,
Subscription Book Publishers.
TELEPHONE 55.
CABLE ADDRESS “UPRISING.”
Branch Offices 18 POST ST., SAN FRANCISCO.
43 BOND ST., NEW YORK.
48 PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON.
March 30th, 1893.
Eld. W. C. White,
North Fitzroy, Australia.
Dear Brother,—

Your long letter dated at North Fitzroy, Jan. 19th, was received while I was in Battle Creek, and read with more than usual interest. There is so much I want to say that I hardly know where to begin. I have been away from the office for nearly two months, and great changes have taken place in that time. The General Conference was the best meeting I ever attended, without any exception. We had a feast of good things; and the spirit of the Lord was present in large measure. Wish you could have been with us to enjoy the good meetings and see the spirit of unity and harmony, and brotherly love that prevailed. It was so different from the experiences we have had at some Conferences in the past. As we studied the Bible, rays of light shone in upon the sacred page, and many souls were made to rejoice in the Lord. The morning meetings were of special interest to me. The instruction given by Eld. Olsen, and the testimonies; that were read, affected every one present; and then when an opportunity was given for others to speak, many would be on their feet at once, ready to testify as to what the Lord had done for them. The meeting that was perhaps more affecting and encouraging than any other, was the one when Bro. J. H. Morrison made a confession in regard to the course he took at Minneapolis, and had taken since that time. I tell you, Brother White, Brother Morrison has made thorough work. He went right to the root of the matter; and it affected every one present. You know that during the meetings this matter was made quite prominent; the testimonies which had been sent referred it in particular; and many confessions were made. This opened the way for the Lord to work; and he did work for us in a special manner. While I was not at fault in the position taken at Minneapolis, yet I feel that I have committed just as grave mistakes in other directions, and I do feel like confessing my sins and humbling myself before God, and rejoicing with trembling. The Lord has done great things for me and mine, for which I praise his holy name. The Conference just closed has been a season of great refreshing to us all. MMM 248.1

In our Committee meetings, the spirit was entirely different from what I have seen manifested at times in the past. As different names would come before us for consideration, the desire seemed to be to pass as lightly as possible over mistakes that had been made. Instead of criticising, a spirit of love and forebearance was manifested. I believe that our laborers go out from this conference much better qualified to engage in the work than ever before. You have had the BULLETIN, and it will therefore not be necessary for me to go into particular. All the meetings were well attended, and at night the tabernacle was packed. MMM 248.2

The BULLETIN contained very full reports of the religious services; but a great deal of business was transacted which does not appear in the BULLETIN, and I will briefly notice some of these things. MMM 249.1

You will perhaps be surprised to learn that the Pacific Press has sold its London branch to the General Conference Association; that Association to take charge of the work April. 1st; this closes our fiscal year. I read with interest what you had to say in regard to this matter, and must confess that it had some influence upon my mind. Five out of seven of the Directors were present at the General Conference, so it was possible for us to consider and act upon these things right there at the meeting. Very little was said in public in regard to the matter; but there seemed to be a general sentiment that the General Conference should have the oversight of the publishing work, not only abroad but here at home as well. Of course it is understood that it will take time to bring this about. All the details of this transfer were made by special committees, and then brought before the General Conference Association and the Pacific Press Board. In brief they are as follows:- MMM 249.2

1. The General Conference is to take the old stock transferred to the Pacific Press from the mission when we took charge of the work in London, at the price which we paid for it. MMM 249.3

2. The General Conference is to take the plant, lease, etc. at par value, as per inventory. MMM 249.4

3. The General Conference is to take our stock of books, tracts, etc., at 65% of retail price; the unbound signatures to be put in at cost. MMM 249.5

4. The General Conference is to assume all liabilities; pay all bills; and carry all debts, the difference to be charged or credited to the Pacific Press as the case may be. MMM 249.6

5. The General Conference is to allow the Pacific Press five thousand dollars on account of loss and expenses which the home office has never charged up to the Branch. MMM 249.7

There are some questions in regard to this last item, and by mutual consent it was left open for the present, and the matter to be adjusted at the time of our annual meeting, when Eld. Olsen will be present to act for the General Conference Association. MMM 249.8

Looking at this transfer from a commercial standpoint, you can see that it is all one-sided. The General Conference is getting a good thing for merely nothing. It was the Pacific Press that started into that field and ran all the risk. We lost money for the first two years. Finally the branch has been placed on a paying basis; and now the Gen. Conf. takes it when everything is running smoothly. Looking at it from a business standpoint, the Pacific Press should have had at least fifty thousand dollars; but of course we could not treat the matter simply from a business standpoint. Still we do feel that there should be some remuneration for the heavy expense and burden which the London branch has been to us. We have invested there at the present time about forty or fifty thousand dollars. We have sent MMM 249.9

[Selection ends here.] MMM 249.10