THE ECHO PUBLISHING COMPANY

Like all the institutions connected with our work, the Echo Company had a very humble beginning. One of the missionaries who went to Australia in June of 1885 was a printer. He began work in his own bedroom, setting type on the Bible Echo. After the type was set and the form made up, it was taken in a handcart to a neighboring printer, and a small edition of the paper run off.GCB April 23, 1901, page 426.11

The work continued under this arrangement for a short time. It was not only found to be a very inconvenient way to publish a paper, but the work was beginning to assume such a shape that the brethren felt encouraged to arrange for a more convenient place to carry on their work, and for a press to do their own printing.GCB April 23, 1901, page 427.1

At the beginning of the year 1886 a building was taken at the corner of Rae and Scotchmer streets, North Fitzroy. This was a new building, which had been built for a store. At the rear of the building, was a stable and coach house. The press, also a small gas engine, that had been purchased, were set up and operated in this place as it was more convenient than in the store. Several persons who had accepted the truth connected with the office. A small amount of job work was taken in, and a paper called the Advertiser was started for the purpose of earning money to pay the workmen. This place was also the headquarters of the Australian Branch of the International Tract Society. A small stock of publications which had been imported from America were kept on sale.GCB April 23, 1901, page 427.2

The work continued in this building until 1889. It had at this time outgrown those premises, and the workers thought it should be placed on a more permanent basis, so in January, 1889, a meeting of our brethren was called in Temperance Hall, where they were then meeting for religious services, and the situation was placed before them. In less than half an hour, $3,500 was subscribed. In addition to this, loans were negotiated with a few of the brethren, which enabled them to perfect their plans.GCB April 23, 1901, page 427.3

In April of that year a company was incorporated under the laws of the Colony of Victoria. It was called the Echo Publishing Co., Ltd. Land was purchased in Best Street, North Fitzroy, and the erection of a building immediately begun. While this building was being erected, an iron building at the rear on the same lot was occupied in carrying on their printing work. The building erected was built of brick and was thirty feet wide by sixty feet deep.GCB April 23, 1901, page 427.4

A little later arrangements were made for a stereotype plant, and a small iron building was erected for this purpose. The work of the company continued gradually to increase until in 1892 when it was found necessary to ask the church, that had occupied a portion of the building for meeting purposes, to look for another place. A small binding plant was then put in; thus another branch of the business was added. In about two years’ time the bindery work had outgrown its quarters, and it became necessary to make changes, in order to give that department more room. This was done by rearranging the departments, but the work of the company was increasing so rapidly that it was found necessary to make frequent changes in our building, in order to accommodate our work.GCB April 23, 1901, page 427.5

During the time of bank failures it was necessary to economize very carefully, in order for us to carry on our work without a loss. But as the country began to rally from these financial failures, our work began to grow rapidly in volume and strength, until in the year 1897 we found it impossible to cope with the work in the building and plant we then had. The directors gave much time to the study of the question. It was finally decided to erect another building. Arrangements were made and the building was begun the first of February, 1898. In two months’ time this brick three-story building was completed and occupied. The new building was built over the iron one, which had been occupied up to that time as a press-room. After the roof was on the new building, the iron one was taken away, and our presses were left in a fine room twenty-five by eighty feet and fifteen feet high. During the month of April we received from America one of C. B. Cottrell and Sons’ presses, and a month or two later we received from the Basel house the backing machine, embossing press, self-clamp cutting-machine, and dynamo, which they had up to the time of turning their publishing house into a sanitarium. We were also fortunate in obtaining, very cheap, a portion of an electrotype plant, which had been idle for some years in Melbourne. Later we found it necessary to add two more Cottrell presses to our plant, which make five cylinder, and three platen presses at the present time.GCB April 23, 1901, page 427.6

In February of 1897 it was decided to open an office in the city of Melbourne, to enable us to obtain more commercial work and also to have a center where the light would shine before many of the business people with whom we might come in contact. From that time to the present our work has gone more rapidly than at any time before, as will be seen by comparison of the number of employees we have had at various times. In 1885 there was one person employed; in 1890 twenty; 1897 twenty-eight; at the beginning of 1899 eighty-three; at the beginning of 1990 there were ninety.GCB April 23, 1901, page 427.7

At the present time we have a very good connection with large business houses in the city of Melbourne, and we receive our share of the commercial work that is done in the city. The company has maintained the best of credit from the beginning of its work. Its account stands at the bank and with business firms as A1. We have no difficulty in getting goods to any value we require. We have always been careful to contract only such bills as we were sure we could pay when due.GCB April 23, 1901, page 427.8

At the beginning of our work the publishing of the Bible Echo was the main feature. Tracts were printed only to a limited extent, but in the year 1891 arrangements were made for the printing of our smaller books. “Steps to Christ” was the first book issued by the company. Then followed “Coming King,” “Christ Our Saviour,” and other works. Of the small books printed by us, those having the largest sale have been “Gospel Primer” and “A Friend in the Kitchen.” About 50,000 of each of these have been printed and sold up to the present time.GCB April 23, 1901, page 427.9

At a meeting of the Australasian Union Conference held in July, 1899, the following resolutions relating to our work were adopted:—GCB April 23, 1901, page 427.10

“Whereas, The Echo Publishing Co., Ltd., have been favored during the last two years with abundance of work, and have been enabled to erect a large and convenient building, and equip it with the most improved book-printing presses and other printing and binding machinery, thus doubling the Company’s capacity for general work, and enabling it to print and bind both trade and subscription books: therefore—GCB April 23, 1901, page 427.11

“Resolved. That we acknowledge with gratitude the providences that have led in this work, and that we encourage the directors of the Company to go steadily forward in their efforts:—GCB April 23, 1901, page 427.12

“(a) To fully equip the office for the printing and binding of large editions of subscription books.GCB April 23, 1901, page 427.13

“(b) To arrange with authors and publishers for the acquisition of book plates and rights to territory, so that Australasian editions may be published successfully and to profit.GCB April 23, 1901, page 427.14

“(c) To arrange with the managers of the London publishing house, plans for co-operation in the great work of adapting, publishing, and supplying our most important religious and health works for the successful sale among the people of Great Britain and the Colonies.”GCB April 23, 1901, page 427.15

This question was considered at a meeting of the stockholders of the Company held in September of the same year, and the directors were instructed to carry out the resolutions recommended by the Union Conference. The board have added to their plant just as fast as circumstances would warrant.GCB April 23, 1901, page 428.1

Already arrangements have been made for the publishing of some of our large subscription books. We obtained a set of plates for “Desire of Ages,” and “House We Live In,” and editions of these books have been printed.GCB April 23, 1901, page 428.2

Success has attended the work of our tract societies and canvassing agents during the past two years. Subscription books to the value of $147,191 have been sold. Since the organization of the Company about 125,000 subscription books have been sold in Australasia. Our work has been organized so as thoroughly to work all the territory with each book we have handled. We have also cast our eyes about us to see what we can do for our neighbors. The isles of the sea have appealed to us and we have been able to help them to some extent. Tracts have been translated and printed. “Christ Our Saviour” has been translated into the Tongan, and already 1,000 books have been printed and sent to that field. We have made several shipments of medical books to India and to the Straits Settlements north of Australia. The needs of South Africa have appealed to us, and we have been able to help them in several ways. Donations have been received from different parts of Australasia for the purpose of sending the Bible Echo to the soldiers of South Africa. The Echo company have supplied the papers at the cost of paper and ink. Many thousands of the Bible Echo have been sent into that country.GCB April 23, 1901, page 428.3

While the manager of the Company was in South Africa, a request was made for us to help them to get started in their printing work. We were glad to comply with this request. Besides helping them to obtain paper and type at a very small cost and making a cash donation toward a small cylinder press, we sent them one of the best men from our composing room to assist in their work. Thus has the Company endeavored to advance the work in that part of the harvest field.GCB April 23, 1901, page 428.4

The Lord has gone before us in all our work, and we have endeavored to follow in his opening providences. Difficulties beset us all the way, but we trust in the Lord to guide and help us over the difficult places. W. D. SALISBURY.GCB April 23, 1901, page 428.5