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The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 4

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    IV. Streams of Published Light to Encircle Globe

    Beginning in 1846 a few tracts began to be issued by the Sabbatarian leaders—two by Joseph Bates in 1846, two broadsides by Ellen Harmon in 1846 and 1847, two more tracts by Bates in 1847, and a pamphlet by James White in 1847. Then a call was sounded forth by Ellen Harmon “White in November, 1848, for a publishing work that would, in time, become worldwide in scope and influence. In Otis Nichol’s home in Dorchester, Massachusetts, she was given her first view of this new and expanding work. At the close of this vision she said to James White:PFF4 997.1

    “I have a message for you. You must begin to print a little paper and send it out to the people. Let it be small at first; but as the people read, they will send you means with which to print, and it will be a success from the first. From this small beginning it was shown to me to be like streams of light that went clear round the world.” 9E. G. White, Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, 125.PFF4 997.2

    That was a bold prediction to make in the presence of an unbelieving world, which looked upon the advent cause as a complete failure that would soon go into oblivion. It was also a faith-testing commission to give to a mere handful of penniless adherents to certain cherished principles. No one else in that small group would have dared to paint such an incredible picture of a world-wide work to come. Everything was at low ebb. They were just, getting their bearings/just finding a clear message to give. And at the time Ellen White was but twenty-one, and James White only a few years older. In fact, with the exception of Joseph Bates, the group was largely made up of youthful crusaders for a cause, with a burden of leadership resting upon them. These statements, and others by Ellen White, troubled the “little flock,” for they could not see how this could ever be fulfilled, and their opposers tormented them over the remoteness of the prospect. 10Spicer, Poineer Days, pp. 100, 101; Loughborough, Great Second Advent Movement, p. 275.PFF4 997.3

    However, moving forward by faith, they issued the first little number of Present Truth in July, 1849, and sent it forth accompanied by prayer. (Facsimile reproduction on p. 1024.) And James White now put his whole soul into writing as he had done into preaching. His was an infectious energy—an overflowing ardor that moved and molded other lives. Periodicals, pamphlets, and books began to appear with steadily increasing frequency—twenty-six in all, just up to 1854, in addition to the periodicals. But it was a “peripatetic” press, as Spalding aptly phrases it. 11The succession of different publishers’ cards tells the story-seven different towns in four separate States-1849-1855. The Present Truth was first issued at Middletown, Connecticut (four numbers), next at Oswego, New York (six numbers), then the final issue at Paris, Maine. The first four numbers of the Advent Review were printed at Auburn, New York. And Paris, Maine, marked the launching place of the first issues of the larger Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, with Saratoga Springs, New York, as the mailing place for volume 2 (Aug., 1851-March, 1852). The first press of their own was finally secured in Rochester, New York (1852-1853)—just an old-fashioned hand press. The Youth’s Instructor was also started at Rochester. Then in 1855 the publishing work was moved west to Battle Creek, Michigan, and was incorporated in 1861. Here was the first real headquarters, where it stayed for forty-eight years, until moved to Washington, D.C., in 1904. Wherever the Whites went, their “editorial office” went, and local printers published the various issues.PFF4 997.4

    Picture 1: STREAMS OF LIGHT TO ENCIRCLE THE GLOBE
    The bold prediction was made by Ellen G. White, In 1848, that a publishing work was to be started that would spread until it belted the Globe. Time has fulfilled the prediction in an amazing way
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    Such was the humble beginning of a publishing work that is now turning out books and periodicals by the multiplied millions. In 1875 a second publishing house, the Pacific Press, was founded in Oakland, California. Tract societies and colporteur distribution followed. Uriah Smith’s two books, Thoughts on Daniel and Thoughts on the Revelation, bound together, formed the first subscription book. 12Sold by George King of Canada, who became a colporteur in Michigan in the 1870’s. So it was that the prophecies, as might be anticipated, were in the forefront of the Adventist publishing work from the very first.PFF4 999.1

    Here is a thumbnail picture of the remarkable fulfillment of that 1848 prediction:PFF4 999.2

    As this is being written Seventh-day Adventists have 39 publishing houses scattered around the world in 35 countries, with a capital investment on January 1 of $12,428,715, and a gross annual sale of f 16,371,888, with 1,704 publishing house employees, and 3,557 colporteurs. This literature is now issued in 198 languages, with Braille for the blind, and includes 348 periodicals, the world around. 13Ninetieth Annual Statistical Report of Seventh-day Adventists (1952), pp. 3, 5, 26, 29. These simple facts speak for themselves. The test of fulfilled prediction seems fully met in this earliest example concerning literature production.PFF4 999.3

    Picture 2: PHENOMENAL SPREAD OF SPIRITUALISM PREDICTED
    (Upper Left)Cottage home of Fox sisters, at hydesville, New York, 1848, cradle of modern spiritistic Phenomena;(Right)stone marker that tells its own story;(lower left)initial spiritualist “Church” at rochester, New York, called “international shrine of spiritualism,“With commemorative obelisk by its side;(lower right) plaque at base of Obellisk; (inset) Katie, one of the two Fox sisters
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