The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1908-05-07
AT the General Conference Of
the Methodist Episcopal
Church at Baltimore.
SIX BISHOPS ARE DEAD.
Book Concerns Report Shows
a Big Increase in Profits
Last Four Years.

BALTIMORE, Nd, May IA feat
ure OF todAy's sitting OF the quad
rennial GeaeraI coHfePnce Of the
Methodist Episcopal church was the
presentation d an Episcopal address
prepared by the bishops. A NUM-
ber OF reports from the different
boards were also presented.
BALTIMORE. Nd, May The
following Is an abstract Of the ne
port of the publishing agents OF the
Methodist Book Concern III New
York, submitted at the general con-
ference here today:
It Is with much satisfaction that
In making our quadrlenhial report
We are able TO present an exhibit Of
sales and earnings which, surpass
those of any other four years in the
long history of the book concern.
While the profits of the last fiscal
year are not quite equalito those OF
the previous year. the slight falling
OFF in net earnings Is more than ae-
counted for by the reduction In the
hours OF labor In our manufacturing
department during that year from a
nine to an eight-hour day. with no
reduction in the scale Of wages. The
total sales during the auadrennium
have been $4.175.019 showing an In
crease over the previous Quadrennium
OF $577 ,327. The net profits have
been S735, ,999, an increase over the
previous four years OF $2SI,9l1.
After providing for the payment OF
the last dollar Of Indebtedness, we
closed our last fiscal year with cash
on hand $54, 4,s99. together With sur
plus Investments and FIRE fund re-
serve amounting to S66S,7is, maxi
ing a total OF cash and surplus at
the end Of the year $72S,61s. All
OF our holdings in real estate are now
free and clear OF incumbfance. The
department Of publications and sales
has made a gratifying showing dur
ing each year OF the quadrsnnium
The total sales in this department for
the four years amounting to $1,403.-
5S2, an increase over the previous
quadrennium of $157,S4O. The de-
partment suffered loss In sales by
the transfer OF the San Francisco
business to the Western Methodist
Book Concern, but benefited by the
sales OF the new hymnal, which have
been large.
Our aim both in publishing and
selling has been quality rather than
quantity. We believeit is far more
important that the literature we dis
tribute should lie OF the most up-
lifting and stimulating Christian
character that consecrated brains and
ready money can produce, TIM that
for a little additional profit we should
pnder to the questionable demand OF
the times for light literature, not to
call 1t by stronger terms.
Our long established and success
ful repositories, located at Boston.
Pittsburg and Detroit. have contrib
uted their full share to the publish
Ing interests OF the church.
In pursuance II healthy policy
established IN recent years. dividends
to the annual conference are now de-
clared only from earnings actually in
the treasury rather than from anti
cipated earnlnes as was formerly the
usage. We are gratifed to report
that the dividends paid in this quad
rennium aggregate a larger sum than
was ever paid III any corresponding
period In the history Of the concern.
1t is also gratifying to state that
these larger dividends can now be
paid without IN any way encroaching
upon the business necessities OF the
house. Our periodical literaturei in
volume of output, and as against all
competition. has fully held its own
in this quadrennium. There period
Icals have been steadily held to
high standard Of circulation. At
tractive features both in their sub
stance and aseparance have been
added from tiric to time, and spec
ial helps for beginners have been in
troduced.
Our inventories as presented from
year to year are made up subject 10
such a scale OF discounts as to keep
all practical values conservtively nd
surely fully up TO the statements
presented in the published exhibits
Of the concern.