The Later Elmshaven Years: 1905-1915 (vol. 6) - Ellen G. White

Chapter 23
The 1911 Edition of The Great Controversy
A matter of importance to Ellen White and her staff reached back to
early January, 1910. This was the development of a new edition of her book
The Great Controversy. From the early summer of 1888, when the enlarged
book with 678 pages of text was introduced, printing after printing had come
from the presses of Pacific Press in the West and the Review and Herald in
the East, and then in time from the presses of Southern Publishing
Association in Nashville, Tennessee. The book, issued by the thousands,
served the growing church and was a standby work, one sold widely by
literature evangelists. Through the early years of the new century the printing
plates gave increasing evidence of wear. In 1907, repairs were made to the
most badly worn plates, some improvements in illustrations were made, a
subject index was added, and the book was dressed up generally.
As C. H. Jones, manager of Pacific Press in early January, 1910, was
preparing for the annual constituency meeting to be held later in the month,
he took stock of the accomplishments in 1909, the work in hand, and some
things to which attention needed to be given in 1910. On January 5 he wrote
to his close friend and long associate in the work of the church, W. C. White,
listing things he felt needed consideration. Among these, under the heading
"Great Controversy, English," he wrote:
It will be necessary to print another edition of this book on or before
July, 1910. You are aware that the plates are worn out. New plates ought to
be made before printing another edition.
Plans were set in motion for a discussion of The Great Controversy
matter when W. C. White would be in Mountain View attending the
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