General Conference Bulletin, vol. 4

PERIODICALS

1. Pioneer Papers. Prominent among those printed in the English language are the following: The Signs of the Times, published at Oakland, Cal.; the Present Truth, published in London, England; and the Bible Echo, published at Melbourne, Australia. GCB April 2, 1901, page 12.2

We quote the following from Special Testimonies on Missionary Work by Correspondence:— GCB April 2, 1901, page 12.3

“Our missionary paper, the Signs of the Times, is doing its work everywhere, and is opening the way for the truth to be more fully presented. This paper has been made a blessing to very many souls. All should feel the deepest interest to have it a spiritual messenger, full of life and plain, practical truth. In the Christian world there are many starving for the bread of life. The Signs of the Times, laden with rich food, is a feast to many who are not of our faith. GCB April 2, 1901, page 12.4

“Our brethren do not all see and realize the importance of this paper; if they did, they would feel greater personal interest to make it intensely interesting, and then to circulate it everywhere. All who have a part to act in the preparation of matter for this pioneer sheet are engaged in a sacred work, and they should be connected with God: they should be pure in heart and life.” GCB April 2, 1901, page 12.5

2. Our Church Papers. The Review and Herald is our leading church paper in this country, and should have a place in every Seventh-day Adventist family. GCB April 2, 1901, page 12.6

On this point let me call attention to what is said in Testimonies for the Church 4:598, 599:— GCB April 2, 1901, page 12.7

“The Review is a valuable paper: it contains matters of great interest to the church, and should be placed in every family of believers. If any are too poor to take it, the church should, by subscription, raise the amount of the full price of the paper, and supply the destitute families. How much better would this plan be than throwing the poor upon the mercies of the publishing house or the tract and missionary society. GCB April 2, 1901, page 12.8

3. Periodicals and journals devoted to special lines of work, such as Health and Temperance, Religious Liberty, Missions, etc., etc., each occupying an important field, and worthy of liberal patronage. GCB April 2, 1901, page 12.9

4. The Youth’s Instructor and the Little Friend are papers highly prized by the youth and children. GCB April 2, 1901, page 12.10

5. Within the last few years many of our Conferences have started little local papers, for the purpose of communicating more directly with their workers. It is to be hoped that they will be confined to purely local matter; otherwise they may interfere seriously with the circulation of our regular publications, and not be the means of accomplishing nearly so much good. GCB April 2, 1901, page 12.11

We are confident that but few of our people realize the value of our periodicals as an evangelizing agency. The following statement has come to us through the servant of the Lord: “It is a fact that the circulation of our papers is doing even a greater work than the living preacher can do.” GCB April 2, 1901, page 12.12

He then outlined some of the plans that have been adopted for the circulation of our pioneer papers and tracts. These will be found in booklets issued by the Pacific Press, under the titles, “The Use of our Periodicals in Missionary Work,” and “How to Use Tracts.” GCB April 2, 1901, page 12.13

He then spoke of trade books, subscription books, health books, and educational books under these headings, to the effect that more trade books should be prepared, and systematic efforts made to introduce them into bookstores, and that we should beware of devoting time to books that contain but little present truth. It is not a question of how many books can be sold, or how much money raised, but how much truth can be placed in the hands of the people. GCB April 2, 1901, page 12.14

He recommended conference and tract society officers, ministers, etc., to take our books and go out and sell them occasionally, in order to keep in sympathy with the canvasser. GCB April 2, 1901, page 12.15

Relative to health books, he believes they “should receive the same consideration and the same effort that is placed upon our religious works.” GCB April 2, 1901, page 12.16

In closing, he called attention to several statements found in Testimonies for the Church 4:389 and onward: among which are the following:— GCB April 2, 1901, page 12.17

“Other publishers have regular systems of introducing into the market books of no vital interest. ‘The children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.’ Golden opportunities occur almost daily where the silent messengers of truth might be introduced into families and to individuals; but no advantage is taken of these opportunities by the indolent, thoughtless ones. Living preachers are few. There is only one where there should be a hundred. Many are making a great mistake in not putting their talents to use in seeking to save the souls of their fellow men. Hundreds of men should be engaged in carrying the light all through our cities, villages, and towns. The public mind must be agitated. God says, Let light be sent out into all parts of the field. He designs that men shall be channels of light, bearing it to those who are in darkness.... GCB April 2, 1901, page 12.18

“Many are going directly contrary to the light which God has given to his people, because they do not read the books which contain the light and knowledge in cautions, reproofs, and warnings. The cares of the world, the love of fashion, and lack of religion, have turned the attention from the light God has so graciously given, while books and periodicals containing error are traveling all over the country. Skepticism and infidelity are increasing everywhere. Light so precious, coming from the throne of God, is hid under a bushel. God will make his people responsible for this neglect. An account must be rendered to him for every ray of light he has let shine upon our pathway, whether it has been improved to our advancement in divine things, or rejected because it was more agreeable to follow inclination. GCB April 2, 1901, page 12.19

“We now have great facilities for spreading the truth: but our people are not coming up to the privileges given them. They do not in every church see and feel the necessity of using their abilities in saving souls. They do not realize their duty to obtain subscribers for our periodicals, including our health journal, and to introduce our books and pamphlets. Men should be at work who are willing to be taught as to the best way of approaching individuals and families.... GCB April 2, 1901, page 12.20

“The wider the circulation of our publications, the greater will be the demand for books that make plain the Scriptures of truth. Many are becoming disgusted with the inconsistencies, the errors, and the apostasy of the churches, and with the festivals, fairs, lotteries, and numerous inventions to extort money for church purposes. There are many who are seeking for light in the darkness. If our papers, tracts, and books, expressing the truth in plain Bible language, could be widely circulated, many would find that they are just what they want. But many of our brethren act as though the people were to come to them, or send to our offices to obtain publications, when thousands do not know that they exist. GCB April 2, 1901, page 12.21

“God calls upon his people to act like living men, and not to be indolent, sluggish, and indifferent. We must carry the publications to the people, and urge them to accept, showing them that they will receive much more than their money’s worth. Exalt the value of the books you offer. You can not regard them too highly. GCB April 2, 1901, page 13.1

“My soul was agonized as I saw the indifference of our people who make so high a profession. I was shown that the blood of souls will be on the garments of many who now feel at ease and irresponsible for souls that are perishing around them for want of light and knowledge. They have come in contact with them, but have never warned them, never prayed with or for them, and never made earnest efforts to present the truth to them. I was shown that there has been a wonderful negligence on this point. Ministers are not doing one half what they might do to educate the people for whom they labor upon all points of truth and duty, and, as a consequence, the people are spiritless and inactive. The stake and scaffold are not appointed for this time to test the people of God, and for this very reason the love of many has waxed cold. When trials arise, grace is proportioned for the emergency. We must individually consecrate ourselves on the very spot where God has said he would meet us.” GCB April 2, 1901, page 13.2

W. D. SALISBURY (Australia) said that the average number of papers sold there each week is three and a half copies for each member in the Union Conference. They issue seven thousand copies a week, and there are two thousand Sabbath-keepers. GCB April 2, 1901, page 13.3

The total sale of religious books in the eleven and one-half years since the organization of their company, to June 30, 1900, has been a little over 75,000 copies, and of health books, a little over 38,000 copies; or sixty-six and one-fourth per cent religious books, and thirty-three and three-fourths per cent health books,—about half as many health books as religious books. At the present time the sales are running quite largely on health books. He said: “We aim to give the same attention to our health work as we do to our religious work, and carry these hand in hand together. The societies take equal interest in each.” GCB April 2, 1901, page 13.4

W. C. White said: “The circulation of our missionary journal is considered by our Conferences to be legitimate Conference work, and one of the most profitable parts of it. Our Conferences do not begrudge a ‘subsidy’ to good, faithful workers to sell our periodicals. That has to vary from $2.50 to $5 a week, according to the field they are in. GCB April 2, 1901, page 13.5

“We have tried the plan of holding general meetings of short duration—two or three days. A general rally is called. The people who have been reading these periodicals, come to hear, and they become interested, and feel impressed that the Spirit and power of God are with these brethren. These short meetings do more good in Australasia than a six-weeks’ course of lectures on the prophecies. Every time such meetings are held, a number of conversions follow, and some baptisms. GCB April 2, 1901, page 13.6

“I have just received a letter from Sister Farnsworth, now working in Dunedin, South Australia. She speaks of a faithful sister there who is selling four hundred copies of Bible Echo each week, and one hundred copies of Herald of Health each month, besides health foods. Some people have been buying the Echo of this sister for four or five years. The health paper has been offered with all health books, for twenty-five cents extra.” GCB April 2, 1901, page 13.7