Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 14 (1899)

Lt 146, 1899

Sisley, W. C.; Jones, C. H.

“Sunnyside,” Cooranbong, New South Wales, Australia

September 25, 1899

Previously unpublished.

Dear Brethren:

Before this reaches you, you will have received my letter in regard to illustrations for our publications. I hope that the Lord will impress the minds of the managers of our publishing houses that it is time for us, before building a tower, to sit down and count the cost. We have no blame to attach to anyone, for we all have been trying to make The Desire of Ages and other recent publications attractive, so that they will sell readily, because the people need the truths which these works contain. But now light has come regarding the dangers and difficulties which attend these efforts, and I see that it was not wise to incur so much expense by crowding these books with such a large number of illustrations. By doing this we have tied our hands, so that we cannot sell the books as cheaply as we would like to have done. I shall be more cautious in the future. 14LtMs, Lt 146, 1899, par. 1

What alarms me most is the spirit of rivalry in our institutions. I will request you to read the accompanying manuscript at a meeting in which the managers and foremen of the offices which you represent are all present. 14LtMs, Lt 146, 1899, par. 2

Yours truly. 14LtMs, Lt 146, 1899, par. 3