was given, and a publishing committee in 1916 the church expressed a strong
was appointed. Thus, the publishing arm desire to purchase its own printing plant
of the Church of God was launched.
NOTES FROM THE
and have all the church printing done by
The general overseer’s report to the
CHURCH OF GOD
“consecrated” hands. A new publishing
1910 Assembly listed 31 churches with
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
committee was formed and authorized to
1,005 members. The purpose of a church formulate plans for a new facility. Tom-
paper was to tie the churches together
Fifth General Assembly (1910)
linson supervised the erection of a 20-by-
and carry reports of their work. It would
Saturday, January 15: The committee
30-foot two-story addition to the back of
also feature announcements from the
to consider a paper for the church
the original building at a cost of $692.32.
general overseer, sermons, and testimo-
reported favorably to starting a paper
Equipment was purchased, and on April
nies. Less than two months after the close
and recommended the appointment
1, 1917, the Church of God began print-
of that Assembly, on March 1, 1910, the
of a publishing committee to prepare
ing its own publication with seven full-
premier issue of The Evening Light and
for and start a paper. The report was
time employees. An additional building
Church of God Evangel was printed by
accepted and the following committee
expansion was completed in 1918, and
Walter Rogers Press in Cleveland with 125
selected: A. J. Tomlinson, M. S. Lem-
a new 37-by-50-foot building was con-
charter subscribers.
ons, T. L. McClain, Sam C. Perry, A. J.
structed in 1919 at a cost of $4,463.90.
On the cover page of the first issue,
Lawson, (and) George T. Brouayer.
The first detailed report of the Church
the editor explained his rationale for the of God Publishing House was distributed
“Evening Light” portion of the name.
Sixth General Assembly (1911)
to the Assembly of 1919. The report
Tomlinson had based it on his interpre- showed 14 full-time employees with a
tation of Zechariah 14:6-7, explaining,
Friday, January 6: In considering the
total payroll of $160 a week. By 1921,
“The dark and cloudy day has passed.
paper, it was decided to change the
there were 30 employees including “the
We are now in the evening light of the
name from The Evening Light and
managers of the different departments,
gospel age . . . and the evening light, the
Church of God Evangel to the Church
stenographers, bookkeepers, Bible Train-
true light, is now shining.” After only
of God Evangel, the new name to
ing School clerks, mailers, book makers,
one year, however, the phrase “Evening
begin the first of March 1911.
machinists, press feeders, etc.” The weekly
Light” was deleted and the publication payroll had swollen to $500 per week.
has since been called the Church of God
Seventh General Assembly (1912)
From its inception, the Evangel has
Evangel.
Report of Publishing Committee,
been considered to be the official journal
From the beginning, the publication
Wednesday, January 10: A. J. Lawson
of the Church of God. Editor M. W. Lets-
was well received. Its pages were filled
spoke about how the paper had
inger explained to the General Assembly
with announcements and glowing reports
started without a single penny the
of 1929, “This little paper never leaves the
of God’s blessings in the churches. There
first of March, 1910, and at that time
office without the office force, after labor-
were sermons and testimonies as well
there were 2,135 suscribers. January
ing hard to get it out, gathering around
as reports from the fledgling missions
1, 1912, found the paper in debt
and laying hands on it and asking the
ministry that had begun in the Bahamas
$123.18. An offering of $21 was
Lord to make it a blessing.” Today the
just weeks before the printing of the first
given, following by a special season
Evangel is still a labor of love by the staff,
issue. Reports of victories over the devil
of prayer for the paper. All arose,
and it and all publications are regularly
and about opposition to the developing
singing [the] doxology.
prayed over for God’s blessings upon
Pentecostal Movement were common. those who read their pages.
The August 15, 1910, issue was dedicated Since the beginning, the Church of
to the doctrines and teachings of the God Evangel—and indeed, the Publish-
Church of God. Twenty-five prominent the Tomlinson residence on Gaut Street ing House—has been dedicated to the
teachings were given along with the Bible in Cleveland, this 20-by-30-foot weather- advancement of the gospel through
references on which they were based. board structure, resembling a storefront the printed page. Those who work with
Designed as a tool for the examination building, bore the inscription Evangel publications are obeying the Great Com-
of beginning ministers, this was the first Publishing Co. Charles H. Shriner moved mission to “go . . . and teach all nations”
published statement of the doctrines and his printing press into the building and (Matthew 28:19).
teachings of the Church of God. began printing the Evangel. On March
Initially, the church used the services 17, 1915, Tomlinson moved the general Joel Trammell is a member
of a local printer. In the spring of 1913, overseer’s office from his home across the of the Historical Commission
the first publishing house building was street into this building. of the Church of God and offi-
erected by A. J. Tomlinson (see cover The arrangement with Shriner did not cial historian for the Church of
photo). Located across the street from last, and at the 12th annual Assembly God in Virginia.
EVANGEL • MAR 2010 9
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