Publishing Work Advancing

As the message advanced, and the number of laborers constantly increased, the Lord in his providence, as we have seen, led us to an effective Bible plan for the sustenance of the ministry. With the increase in numbers came a demand for, and increase in, facilities for printing and publishing the truth, and a corresponding accumulation of property at the Review and Herald Office. That branch of the work started in July, 1849, by Elder James White, printing the first number of a paper, The Present Truth, with money earned mowing grass, had grown until now there were several thousand invested in the business. It became needful for some one to take the responsibility of this in the initiative. As the business had grown under Elder White’s judicious management, the plant and good-will of the business was legally his. But he did not wish it so understood. He called it “the property of the church.” In this position was an illustration of the principle expressed in the text at the head of this chapter, “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient.” He desired to place the matter in the hands of the church, but the church was not in a condition to legally hold property. This brought us, as a people, to a point where we again recognized that something was “wanting.” To make a move by virtue of which the church could receive and lawfully hold its real estate and other property, was a third step in the matter of order.COOD 109.3