Ellen G. White — Messenger to the Remnant

Approved for Publication

This painstaking work called for handling some sections as many as six or eight times. The working team having completed its revision of the manuscript in the light of the criticisms of the fostering committee, the revised manuscript was mimeographed and submitted to the Board of Trustees of the Ellen G. White Publications, who were responsible for the preparation of the proposed book. Copies were given to the officers of the General Conference for their concurrence in the release of unpublished materials. As the volume was being considered as a Ministerial Reading Course book, it was also submitted to a reading committee appointed by the Ministerial Association Advisory Council. In the interest of economy of time, the manuscript was submitted simultaneously to these groups. Their responses were received shortly thereafter. EGWMR 96.2

Careful note was made of all their suggestions, but very little in the way of change was called for. Appropriate action was taken approving the manuscript. EGWMR 96.3

A foreword was written, explaining the preparation of the volume, but no recognition was given to those responsible for the detailed work of its compilation. Policies governing this work place the full responsibility in the hands of the Board of Trustees, and no individual receives personal credit for the part he may have had in assembling the materials comprising a posthumous Ellen G. White book. EGWMR 96.4

The manuscript, now in its final approved form, was passed to the publishers, and it was sent directly to the copy room. The usual procedure in the handling of book manuscripts calls for its acceptance by a book committee, but in the case of an Ellen G. White book, this step is omitted, and the material goes directly to the copy room. The Board of Trustees of the Ellen G. White Publications carries the full responsibility ordinarily assumed by a book committee. EGWMR 96.5

In the copy room, study was given to punctuation, capitalization, spelling, and so forth, but the work was carried on within limits carefully defined by the Board of Trustees. EGWMR 96.6

From the copy room the manuscript went to the typeroom, then to the press, and from there the new book went to the field. EGWMR 96.7

It can be seen from this detailed account that the human element which might tend to warp a compilation was held to an absolute minimum. It is the daily prayer of those in the office of the Ellen G. White Publications having to do with the compilation of manuscripts that in their work the Lord will so guide that the finished product may accurately represent the subject covered and may preserve the emphasis given by His messenger. EGWMR 96.8