General Conference Bulletin, vol. 4

OUR EDUCATIONAL BOOKS

There are new fields of labor constantly developing in the oldest and best worked territories. How shall these be treated? The advance movements in our educational work, call for a new educational literature. How shall it be provided? Who will write it? Who will print it? And how shall it be sold? GCB April 2, 1901, page 11.11

A successful educational literature will be prepared by men of experience in teaching work, whose hearts are moved to write, and who will work with persevering confidence that the effort may prove a blessing to themselves and to others. The assignment of this responsibility by committee or conventions is valueless. If our school-book writers will get out their lessons, and after use in their classes revise them, and then secure the publication on college presses of small editions for the use of others, they may secure criticism and counsel that will lead to improvement for future use in larger editions. GCB April 2, 1901, page 11.12

Let our college presses print the first editions in inexpensive form. This will usually be done at the author’s risk. Broader plans may be laid for subsequent editions. GCB April 2, 1901, page 11.13

Our schoolbooks should be issued in modest, inexpensive form, and sold at moderate prices. They need not pass through the hands of district or State depositories, but should pass direct from the publisher to the schools using the books, and the schools should be willing to retail to its students at a very small profit. GCB April 2, 1901, page 11.14

In all the questions regarding territory and territorial rights, we must seek to discern correct principles, and adhere to them as the compass to the pole. May the Lord of Israel help us to abandon selfish policy. GCB April 2, 1901, page 11.15

CLASSES OF LITERATURE AND THE PLACE OF EACH. GCB April 2, 1901, page 11.16

(Extracts from paper by C. H. Jones, Manager Pacific Press.) GCB April 2, 1901, page 11.17

The Seventh-day Adventist denomination is one of the youngest religious organizations now engaged in carrying the gospel message to the world, yet no other denomination can boast of the wealth of literature which we possess. GCB April 2, 1901, page 11.18

We have of English tracts alone, about two hundred and fifty different titles, covering a wide range of subjects; over one hundred trade books, exclusive of foreign editions; and nearly fifty regular subscription books. Besides these we have scores of weekly and monthly papers published in various languages. GCB April 2, 1901, page 11.19

From a recent Testimony we quote the following:— GCB April 2, 1901, page 11.20

“Our power and efficiency as Seventh-day Adventists is largely dependent on the literature which comes from our presses.” What responsibility this places upon authors, contributors, and publishers, and with what care manuscripts should be prepared! GCB April 2, 1901, page 11.21

And again: “The proper circulation and distribution of our publications is one of the most important branches of the present work.” GCB April 2, 1901, page 11.22

Our literature is naturally divided into four general classes: 1 Periodicals, 2 Pamphlets and tracts; 3 Trade books; and 4 Subscription books. These classes are again subdivided, so that nearly every phase of the message is covered, and every line of work is being provided for. GCB April 2, 1901, page 12.1