Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-03-14
OUR PUBLISHING HOUSES.
The Southern Methodist Publishing
HOusas


House.
This institution was located in the city
Of Nashville by the Conference Of the NJ.
E. Church South, which convened in Co
lumbus, Georgia, in 1854. The coniro-
versy in reference to its location was quite
an animated one. Memphis, Louisville, ]
ST. Louis, Atlanta, Columbus, Prattville
and Nashville were the contending points
fer the prize. The first ballot placed Nash
vile the fifth in the list, Memphis, Louis
vile, Prattville aud Atlanta each receiving
large vote. On the second ballot Nash
vile advanced to third in position, Men,
phis and Louisville still in the lead. On
the third ballot Louisville received the
largest vote, closely followed by Nashville.
On the fourth ballot Nashville and Louis
vile exchanged places, Nashville being in
the front. On the fifth ballot Nashville
and Louisville each received ffty-three
votes, while it required fffy-nine to elect,
Memphis having received the remainder.
On the sixth ballot Nashville received
sixty votes and Louisville fifty-seven, and
thus the location was decided in favor Of
Nashville.
The question Of the location Of the Pub
fishing House having been settled in favor
Of Nashville, the proper officers at once
purchased property on the Public Square,
thought to be adequate to its wants, and
in the autumn Of 1854, under the agency
Of MessTs. Stevenson and Owen, entered
upon the pleasant task of building up an
institution that would prove a blessing
not only to the Methodist Church, but to
the entire South.
We have not before US the exhibits of
the Agents, Messrs. Stevenson and Owen,
presented each year to the Annual Confer
ences, but we learn that under their ad-
ministratiOn the assets ofthe HOusesteadily
increased.
In 1858 DR.. McFerrin was elected the
publishing Agent Of the Church and the
successor TO Stevenson x Owen, while /
Rev. Mr.. Abbey occupied the position Of
Financial Secretary, Under their joint
management the business capital of the |
House regularly advanced, until the COM
meneement Of the internecine strife.
Under the administration Of DR.. Meier |
rim the several departments of the Publish |
ing House were fitted up in a style worthy |
Of the Church it represented. Although |
the building was by no means attractive, |
yet the compOsitOrs room, the press room |
and stereotype foundry were fitted up after |
the most approved patterns. The House |
was annually sending out large editions OF |
the standard works of the Church, besides |
Sunday School periodicals, q Magazine for |
ladies, and the Christian AdUOcdte.
During the civil war the business Of the |
House was practically suspended. The |
United States Government seized and Oc- |
oupied the building, together with its sew
eral departments. AT the close Of the war, !
when DR.. McFerrin returned home, he |
found almost everything swept away; the |
labor Ofseveral years, together with nearly /
all the large capital brought to Nashville |
by the Church in the establishment Of the |
House, and the increase resulting from the |
activity and labor Of the years that were |
past.
The General Conference Of 1866 con-
vened in the city Of New Orleans. The !
body had not met for eight years. The |
nation had passed, during this period, |
through a terrible ordeal, and the institu- |
tions of the Church had felt the shock Of |
war. Among the many momentOus qUes-
tions that came before the body, there was |
none Of greater importance than that Of /
their publishing interests.
The whole question was referred to an 1
able committee composed Of one member 4
from each Annual Conference.
The condition in which the House had /
been left by the war rendered it dificult /
for the committee to reach a decision. At 4
one time it was proposed to abolish the
Publishing House altogether, and to print
all books for the Church in New York or
Philadelphia. This motion was defeated
by tie vote, and the continuance Of the
Publishing House was agreed 10, and DR..
Redfeld elected to the Agency.
In entering upon the duties Of the Office,
DR.. Redfeld had much to discourage him.
The House had been Frustrated by the war,
its credit damaged, its business gone, and
its capital impaired. He appealed, how
ever, to the Church, and, rallying to his
support, the House rapidly arose from its
ruins, each successive year. At the expi-
ration Of the first four years for which be
was elected, he reported to the General
Conference an increase in the capital Of the
House from SS7, 1870 TO S1SS, $50. As
making a net profit in four years Of
S101, 1865. At the General Conference
of 1870, DR.. Redfeld was reelected with
out opposition. The success Of the four
years of his administration indicated that
the te m upon which he entered, after his
reelection might be a prosperous one.
Confidence had become fully restored, and
the House was in the midst Of a career of
usefulness and success, when on the night
Of the 18th Of February, 1872, a fire was
in the rear building, which IN
vOlved a loss Of about $4,000.
This fire, however embarrassing to the
Agent and the Church, resulted in the cree
ton Of the present elegant edifce that Oc-
cupies so commanding a position on the
Public Square.
We refer to the Southern Methodist Pub
fishing House with a feeling Of more than
satisfaction. Next TO the Capitol
it is the most handsome building in the
city. Il presents a front of 1l6 feet, run ,
ming back PA feet. It is four stories above
ground in front, with an attic, and seven
stories high in the rear. The front is built
Of stone The house and ground cost
SIG, 2T7.S1, and including the value Of the !
ground formerly owned by the Church, it |
makes the Publishing House and ground |
worth 500, 59T.55. The success that has
attended the Publishing House during the {
four years preceding the General Confer '
ence Of 1874 it shown in the following
of the Book Agent, DR.. BEDFORD, '
as made to that body:
'tBy referring to the several Exhibits we
have made to the Annual Conferences, it
will be seen that there has been a regular
improvement in the financial condition Of {
.he House since the General Conference Of !
1870.
We reported in our Exhibit, after the de- S
1uctiOn of all liabilities:
July 1, 1870. ,352.45
JULY 1, 1871. 2I6,547.55
july !, 1872. 229,T36.7S
July 1, lS73.... ..,.,... 276,117.43
April /, 1874. 314,037.u
'sThis Exhibit shows a difference in favor
If the House, for the past four years, Of +
s125, 6S4.66. ]