The publishing work of this denomination spans its entire history. The story of its development and expansion is a confirmation of that early vision which represented it as "small in its beginnings," but like "rays of light which encircled the earth. This picture has been faithfully reproduced in the activities of thousands of men and women who are giving their lives to the literature ministry in all the world and selling annually now about $7,000,000 worth of literature.
During the long years that this work has been going forward, we have never called together for counsel and discussion the entire leadership within the various departments of the publishing work in North America, until such a gathering was held in Chicago on April 3-7 of this year. It was an excellent meeting and accomplished much in planning for the future of our publishing work. Particular emphasis was placed upon the need for a revival of colporteur sales of the Spirit of prophecy books and Daniel and the Revelation. For many years these great masterpieces have been pushed somewhat into the background while other books have taken their place. Action was taken to revive their circulation. This decision was based upon instruction which through the years has been to some degree overlooked by our publishers. On page 21 in Colporteur Evangelist we read:
"Instruction has been given me that the important books containing the light that God has given regarding Satan's apostasy in heaven should be given a wide circulation just now ; for through them the truth will reach many minds. Patriarchs and Prophets, Daniel and the Revelation. and The Great Controversy are needed now as never before. They should be widely circulated because the truths they emphasize will open many blind eyes. . . . Many of our people have been' blind to the importance of the very books that were most needed."
And again in 1903 Mrs. White wrote:
"In Desire of Ages. Patriarchs and Prophets, Great Controversy and in Daniel and the Revelation, there is precious instruction. These books must be regarded as of special importance, and every effort should be made to get them before the people.
"We are warned to avoid the mistakes that the Israelites made in obstinately refusing to receive the warnings that came to them from God."-Ellen G. White Letter 229, 1903.
We earnestly hope that the ministry of this great cause will throw its powerful influence behind this movement to revive the sale of these wonderful books, which are especially designed to prepare a people to stand in the time of trouble which is just before us.
A special feature of the convention was the morning devotional talks. They were all most excellent. But we would mention especially that given by F. D. Nichol, in which he brought to us a picture of the early advent movement in the days of William Miller, Joshua V. Himes, and others-all literature-minded men who used the printing press (even in those days of crude mechanics and slow printing processes) to scatter the message.
