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We found a temporary solution. We could make the
contents of the book free to everyone, first, by publishing it
serially in The Plain Truth. The BOOK could come later. This gave
us time to solve our dilemma. So it was started serially in The
Plain Truth with the November, 1958, number.
Early in 1960 the time had come to publish the first
volume in book form, with some 12 to 14 installments in the one
volume. So we had a conference in our Business Manager's office
with him, Mr. Wolverton, publishing house representatives, Garner
Ted Armstrong, and Herman L. Hoeh, Managing Editor of The Plain
Truth.
We went into many questions: how much would it cost, per
copy? How fine a book should it be? Of course I should have liked
to produce a very fine deluxe quality book. I feel a thing worth
doing is worth doing the best we can--and that is GOD'S principle.
But we found such a book would cost upwards of $10 per copy! The
representative of the book publishers suggested a middle-fine
quality at lower cost.
But we still felt reluctant to put a price on God's
Message. We thought of compromising. How about putting a price on
it slightly less than cost to us? We thought we might feel better
about it if we could sell it below cost to us.
But, do you know, WE JUST COULD NOT BRING OURSELVES TO DO
EVEN THAT! We put it off. A whole year went by. Now I really
felt guilty! People NEEDED this book. It ought not to be delayed!
Just recently, before Mrs. Armstrong and I returned again
to the new Ambassador College in England, we held another
conference in Pasadena. The publishing house representative had
two very beautiful cover designs to submit. He knew our serious
problem. He now suggested a way to reduce production cost still
more. If we could go into MASS PRODUCTION--really BIG QUANTITY
production--50,000 or 100,000 copies, and using one of these
handsome cover designs on a high-grade light cardboard cover
instead of cloth board, the cost would be further reduced.
THAT WAS THE ANSWER! Immediately we saw that at last God
had made it possible to publish this much-needed book, in VAST
QUANTITY--making it available to many more people--WITHOUT PRICE--
AS A FREE GIFT FROM US!
What a relief! This problem had weighed heavily on our
minds for over a year. You see, other books must also be published
from now on!
Now the Eternal God, whose instruments we are, had solved
the dilemma for us. Now we could proceed immediately with VOLUME
I of The BIBLE STORY! Never have we put a price on God's Truth.
NOW WE KNOW WE NEVER SHALL!
So THAT'S what I am now so THRILLED ABOUT! It made us
all very happy, I can assure you! That's why I am writing you--to
offer YOU your copy of this handsome, valuable book, as a free
GIFT. And let me assure you that it is going to give all of us--my