Writers and Royalties
205
I wish to make some additions to Christian Education [published
in 1893], and then if the Review and Herald wishes to carry it, they
can do so if they will pay me a small sum as royalty, to be invested in
the education of many who cannot attend school and pay their own
expenses. In Melbourne I bore the expenses of no less than fourteen.
During the first term of the school in Cooranbong I carried several
through school, paying their board and school expense.—
Letter 7a,
1897
.
Publishing House to Receive Its Share—The publishing house
should receive their share of the profits from the books published. This
should be proportionate to the work they do in getting out notices, etc.
But let the publishers be careful not to claim that they are the ones
who do the greatest amount of work in preparing these books for the
[236]
market. Let the authors take a reasonable sum for their work, but they
are not to sell their right to any institution. This will not be a blessing
to the institution.
Unless care is taken, the market will be flooded with books of a
cheap order, and the people will be deprived of the light and truth
which it is essential they should have to prepare the way of the Lord.
This has been done, and will be done again, unless right principles
control in the publishing work.—
Letter 43, 1899
. (
Selections from the
Testimonies Setting forth Important Principles Relating to Our Work
in General, 218, 219
)
Problems in Paying Back-Royalties—When men are converted,
there will be a clearing up that can never be done by any mere inves-
tigation you may endeavor to make. It would be useless now to try
to arrive at exact justice in all past transactions. By doing this, you
would place yourself in a hopeless puzzle. Some have received all
the royalty they should on their books. The Lord does not require the
Review and Herald office to do the intricate work of apportioning to
each author a sum on back-royalties. By doing this, you would make
a worse error than has been made. This proceeding would awaken in
some a selfishness that would prove a great injury to them. I might
name many persons, but I forbear.
Come now to your senses, and do not create a second error. Let
us consider these matters. Those who handle the books should have a
fair remuneration for their work. But let me tell you that should such
a move be made as you propose, all authors would feel themselves