In no case are the publishing institutions
to be devoted chiefly to commercial work. When this work is given
the first place, those connected with the publishing houses lose
sight of the purpose for which they were established, and their
work deteriorates.
There is danger that managers whose spiritual
perception is perverted will enter into contracts to publish
questionable matter merely for the sake of gain. As the result
of taking in this work, the purpose for which the offices of
publication were established is lost sight of, and the institutions
are regarded very much as any other commercial enterprise would
be. In this God is dishonored.
In some of our publishing houses the commercial
work necessitates a constant increase of expensive machinery
and other facilities. The outlay thus demanded is a heavy tax
on the resources of the institution, and with a large amount
of work there is required not only an increase of facilities,
but a larger force of workers than can be properly disciplined.
It is claimed that the commercial work
is a financial benefit to the office. But One of authority has
made a correct estimate of the cost of this work at our leading
publishing houses. He presented the true balance,
showing that the loss exceeds the gain. He showed that this work
causes the workers to be driven with a constant rush. In the
atmosphere of hurry and bustle and worldliness, true piety and
devotion wither.
It is not necessary that the commercial
work should be entirely divorced from the publishing houses,
for this would close the door against rays of light that should
be given to the world. And connection with outside parties need
be no more detrimental to the workers than was Daniel's work
as a statesman a perversion of his faith and principles. But
whenever it is found to interfere with the spirituality of the
institution, let the outside work be excluded. Build up the work
that represents the truth. Let this always come first, and the
commercial work second. Our mission is to give to the world the
message of warning and mercy.