第116章 书刊
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第116章 书刊
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Chap.116 - Books and Tracts
§3
适当地推销分发我们的书刊，乃是现在工作中最重要的部分之一。没有这方面工作，整个工作成效就会甚少。我们的传道人在这方面可以比其他人做更多的工作。的确，几年前我们的传道士把这件工作做过了头。一些传道人出售一些不仅没有真正价值，而且在商业上也没有什么价值的书籍。{1T 687.2}[1]
§4
The proper circulation and distribution of our publications is one of the most important branches of the present work. But little can be done without this. And our ministers can do more in this work than any other class of persons. It is true that a few years ago many of our preachers were carrying the matter of the sale of books too far. Some of them added to the stock which they held for sale, not only publications of little real value, but also articles of merchandise equally valueless.{1T 687.2}[1]
§5
可是有一些传道人现在对我在《证言》第11辑中关于销书的话抱极端看法。在纽约州有一位责任并不大的售书员，拥有各种书刊。他决定不再销售了，并写信给出版社，说书刊要受制于订单。这是不对的。我在这里摘录一段《证言》第11辑上的话：{1T 687.3}[2]
§6
But some of our ministers now take an extreme view of what I said in Testimony No. 11 upon the sale of our publications. One in the State of New York, upon whom the burdens of labor do not rest heavily, who had acted as agent, holding a good assortment of publications, decided to sell no more, and wrote to the office, stating that the publications were subject to their order. This is wrong. Here I will give an extract from Testimony No. 11:{1T 687.3}[2]
§7
“销售我们出版物的负担不应落在劳苦传道教导人的传道人身上。他们的光阴和精力应当保持备用，以便他们在一系列聚会中的努力可以周到彻底。他们的光阴和力量不应用在销售我们的书报上，那些没有传道负担的人可以适当地把我们的书报带到公共面前。在进入新的园地时，传道人可能有必要随身带着出版物以供销售给人，在某些别的环境下，还可能有必要为出版社销售书籍办理业务。但只要有别人可以做，传道人就应避免这种工作。” {1T 688.1}[3]
§8
The burden of selling our publications should not rest upon ministers who labor in word and doctrine. Their time and strength should be held in reserve, that their efforts may be thorough in a series of meetings. Their time and strength should not be drawn upon to sell our books when they can be properly brought before the public by those who have not the burden of preaching the word. In entering new fields it may be necessary for the minister to take publications with him to offer for sale to the people, and it may be necessary in some other circumstances also to sell books and transact business for the office of publication. But such work should be avoided whenever it can be done by others.{1T 688.1}[3]
§9
这段引文的后一部分说明了前面部分。说得更清楚一些。我对这个问题的看法是：象安得烈，瓦格纳，怀特，拉夫伯勒这样的传道人要监督整个工作，有更多的挂虑和担子，所以不要给他们加上销售书刊的工作，特别是在帐篷大会和总会会议期间。给出这一看法是为了纠正一些人的错误，他们在大会期间放下严肃的工作向大家销售与工作无关的物品。{1T 688.2}[4]
§10
The first portion of this extract is qualified by the last part. To be a little more definite, my views of this matter are, that such ministers as Elders Andrews, Waggoner, White, and Loughborough, who have the oversight of the work, and consequently have an extra amount of care, burden, and labor, should not add to their burdens by the sale of our publications, especially at tent meetings and at General Conferences. The view was given to correct those who at such meetings so far came down from the dignity of their work as to spread out before the crowd merchandise which had no connection with the work.{1T 688.2}[4]
§11
我们身体健康的传道人，拥有这最大的财富，在适当的时候可以从事销售重要书刊的工作。特别是销售那些最近要我们教友注意的书藉。现在需要积极地销售这些书。我们在格拉提奥特，萨吉诺，和特斯科拉三县的旅行中，我丈夫销售和向穷人赠送了400美元的书刊。他先告诉人这些书的重要性，然后在几个人的帮助下及时地将书售出。{1T 688.3}[5]
§12
Our ministers who enjoy a comfortable state of health may, with the greatest propriety, engage at proper times in the sale of our important publications. Especially do the sale and circulation of such works as have recently been urged upon the attention of our people, claim vigorous efforts for them at this time. In four weeks, on our tour in the counties of Gratiot, Saginaw, and Tuscola, my husband sold, and gave to the poor, four hundred dollars worth. He first set the importance of the books before the people; then they were ready to take them as fast as he, with several to help him, could wait upon them.{1T 688.3}[5]
§13
为什么我们的弟兄不保证向书刊的基金更慷慨地奉献呢？为什么我们的传道人不恳切地把握这项工作呢？我们的人应该看到这些作品正是帮助那些需要帮助之人所需要的。这里是一个机会，可将钱财按照慷慨的蒙福计划进行投资。有时我们能读懂人，几乎就象读书那样清楚明白。在我们中间有些人把一百元，一千元甚至更多的钱投入健康机构。可是他们对出版书刊小册子，传扬与永生有关之真理的伟大事业却只保证奉献五至二十五元钱。他们认为健康机构是一项有收益的投资，而书报事业根据他们保证投入的区区之数来看，似乎会完全亏损。{1T 689.1}[6]
§14
Why do not our brethren send in their pledges on the book and tract fund more liberally? And why do not our ministers take hold of this work in earnest? Our people should see that these works are just what is needed to help those who need help. Here is a chance to invest means according to the blessed plan of liberality. We can sometimes read men nearly as plainly as we read books. There are those among us who put from one hundred to one thousand dollars or more into the Health Institute, who have pledged only from five to twenty-five dollars in the great enterprise of publishing books, pamphlets, and tracts, setting forth truths which have to do with eternal life. One was supposed to be a paying investment. The other, as we might judge from the littleness of the pledges, is supposed to be a dead loss.{1T 689.1}[6]
§15
在这个问题上我们不能保持沉默。我们的人要来做这项工作。也要投入金钱。我们要对贫穷而需要书籍的人说：把订单寄来，说明你们属世财富方面的真实状况。我们会寄给你一包书，里面含四卷《属灵的恩赐》，《如何生活》，《对青年人的呼吁》，《对母亲们的呼吁》，《安息日读物》和两张大图表及《解说之钥》。如果你已拥有一部分这些书，就说明你已有哪些书，我们就会改寄别的书或是寄给你们所没有的书。只要寄50美分邮费，我们就会寄给你价值五美元的包裹，并向基金收费4美元。【见附录。】 {1T 689.2}[7]
§16
We shall not hold our peace upon this subject. Our people will come up to the work. The means will come. And we would say to those who are poor and want books: Send in your orders, with a statement of your condition as to this worlds goods. We will send you a package of books containing four volumes of Spiritual Gifts, How to Live, Appeal to Youth, Appeal to Mothers, Sabbath Readings, and the two large charts, with Key of Explanation. If you have a part of these, state what you have, and we will send other books in their places, or send only such of these as you have not. Send fifty cents to pay the postage, and we will send you the five-dollar package and charge the fund four dollars. 【SEE APPENDIX.】{1T 689.2}[7]
§17
在这项赠书的慈善工作中，所有的人都必须按慷慨的大计划行事，就象在出版和销售美国圣经及小册子时所表现的那样。在许多方面，这些大机构的做法值得学习。他们在遗嘱和奉献中表现出慷慨的精神，并实行在圣经和小册子的销售和奉献上。安息日复临信徒应当在书报工作上远远走在他们的前面，正如其他的工作一样。愿上帝帮助我们。我们的小册子应按成本成百地奉献，留下少数利润支付包装费，邮费和运费。传道人和信徒应以空前的热情从事书籍和小册子的推销。要到人们能够和愿意购买的地方去售书，如有人买不起，就送给他们。{1T 689.3}[8]
§18
In this charitable book matter, all must act upon the great plan of liberality, such as is carried out in the publication and sale of the American Bibles and tracts. In many respects the course of these mammoth societies is worthy of imitation. Liberality is seen in wills and donations, and it is carried out in sales and donations of Bibles and tracts. Seventh-day Adventists should be as far ahead of these in the book matter as in other things. May God help us. Our tracts should be offered by the hundred at what they cost, leaving a little margin to pay for packing, or wrapping for the mail, and directing. And ministers and people should engage in the circulation of books, pamphlets, and tracts, as never before. Sell where people are able and willing to purchase, and where they are not, give them the books. {1T 689.3}[8]
§19
附录：第689页——传单社在许多州建立以来，承担起了向合适的穷人提供书报的工作。文中所提到的一些著作现已绝版。[9]
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【APPENDIX】
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PAGE 689--SINCE THE ORGANIZATION OF TRACT SOCIETIES IN MANY STATES, THE FURNISHING OF BOOKS AND TRACTS TO THE WORTHY POOR HAS BEEN ASSUMED BY THEM. SOME OF THE WORKS HERE MENTIONED ARE NOW OUT OF PRINT. THE TRUSTEES OF THE ELLEN G. WHITE PUBLICATIONS.{1T 718.5}[9]