A. B. Maston was elected President of the Victorian Conference at Easter, 1890. At this time he began to urge, with great persistence, the necessity of a printing and publishing house for the purpose of furthering the interests of the Churches. After much private and public talk, a meeting was held, in Lygon Street schoolroom, on Feb. 20, 1901, to discuss the project. By the time a second meeting had been held, on April 21, and a third on May 5, the idea had caught on among the leading brethren, and a prospectus of the proposed company was issued on May 14.

      Many days were spent in canvassing among the brethren for promises of financial support. Bro. Maston threw himself into this work with characteristic energy, and with considerable success. The company was floated, and the first meeting of directors was held on July 30, 1891, and the first general meeting on Dec. 2.

      At this time he was preaching,--first at Fitzroy Tabernacle, then, after a visit to Tasmania in the interests of the company, at Ascot Vale. The first printing order turned out from the premises of the company, at 528 Elizabeth Street, was executed on December 24.

      Bro. Maston tells the story of the establishment of the company in the special issue of the "Australian Christian," for Dec. 19, 1901. [49]

      The history of the Austral Publishing Co. is the history of an idea; and that idea was born a good while ago, long before our present publishing house had anything but the merest imaginary existence. When first I came to New Zealand, now nearly twenty-two years ago, there fell into my hands a small card tract about the size of a post card, printed on both sides, issued by "The Christian Sower Tract Fund," in Chicago. The idea at once suggested itself to me, Why not have a "Christian Sower Tract Fund" in this country? Seven years after, the "Christian Sower Tract Fund" of Australasia started work. The effort proved two things to me:--1. That work of the kind was needed. Hundreds of thousands of tracts were printed, and readily bought at a fair price and put into circulation, while hundreds of brethren everywhere contributed small amounts to assist in the work. A five thousand edition of "On the Rock," slightly abridged, was published. This book sells in America for 6/2; the "Christian Sower Tract Fund" sold it for 6d. A second stereotyped edition of five thousand was brought out and sold. 2. I was also convinced that a work of this kind would receive the support of the churches if run on the right lines. I had no printing press, nor office of any kind, and my opportunities of advertising were few, yet the work was successful. [50]

      I often tried to get rid of the idea, but over and over the question came to me, If all this work can be done in this way, what could I do if I had a printing press of my own? In my own mind, many plans presented themselves, only in turn to be abandoned. I spoke to many brethren on the subject, some discouraging the idea, others giving me a careful hearing and much encouragement. One good brother, now gone to his reward, gave liberally and regularly to my tract work, but was frequently thrown in paroxysms of opposition when I would mention the idea of a publishing house; and while refusing to become a stockholder, he frequently assisted me in the earlier days of the Austral's struggles for life. His heart was in the right place, and when I think of him now, it fills me with the deepest emotion.

      A threat on the part of nature that I might be unfitted for preaching, the chosen work of my life, led me on my return from my first visit to America to re-consider the whole question. Besides, on that journey I gathered much information and some enthusiasm on the general question of the publication of Christian literature. Over twelve months were spent in thinking, talking and planning. During this time, I made myself a general nuisance in talking to every man on the question I could get to listen to me. I gathered much information, and when finally a start was made, I was fully, informed on all the probable difficulties [51] which might arise. The first actual steps were taken after I had spent eleven years in thinking the matter over, and waiting for the right moment to come, so that certainly no undue haste was taken.

      On the evening of February 16th, 1891, the circular [reproduced on page 59] was posted to some seventy-five brethren in Melbourne and suburbs, and, as a result, forty brethren came together on the date and in the place named. Over this meeting F. G. Dunn presided, and I laid before those present my plans. My idea was to form a limited liability company to carry on the publishing interests of the brotherhood. The first meeting expressed in a general way its approval of the scheme submitted, but at my request no definite action was taken. I very much desired that anything which might be done should be the result of careful consideration, and after all possible aspects of the case had been fully discussed, a second meeting was held on April 21st, but owing to a great storm it was adjourned to May 5th.

      At the meeting on May 5th, in the Lygon Street schoolroom, W. C. Craigie presided. It was resolved that an effort be made to float such a company as I had named. On the suggestion of F. G. Dunn, it was decided to call the proposed company, The Austral Printing and Publishing Co. The following were elected Provisional Directors: Thos. Smith, W. C. Craigie, F. G. Dunn, B. J. [52] Kemp, Robert Lyall, James McGregor, and W. C. Thurgood, and I was appointed Secretary pro tem. Shortly after, a prospectus was issued as a supplement to the "Standard" and "Pioneer," and so, I suppose, reached nine-tenths of the brethren who would be likely to take an interest in this kind of thing. For months the fate of the enterprise trembled in the balance. From the first I did not see how the work could be successfully carried on with a smaller capital than £1,500, and I hesitated to start on less. Finally, at a meeting held on November 20th, 1891, it was resolved to make a start with the stock subscribed, which finally settled down at 941 shares of one pound each. This represents the whole of the money which has been invested to this date in this work.

      The history of the Austral Co. may some time be written; the difficulties which presented themselves during the first five years of our existence will never be fully known. I had not had the advantage of a business training, and the agony of soul caused by the financial tangle and strain can only be appreciated by those who have had the same experience. And then the difficulty of keeping in view the real objects of the company was great. Gradually, however, the atmosphere cleared, and the sea calmed, until now it is smooth sailing compared with the first five years.

      Since the starting of the "Christian," four years ago, our field of usefulness has been greatly [53] enlarged, and our opportunities for doing the work originally intended have greatly increased. There is one thing for which I am now profoundly thankful; that is, that nothing we have accomplished has been the result of controversy or contention. Our victories, such as they are, have been those of peace. The ceasing of the two papers and the starting of the new one were by mutual consent, and with the co-operation of all concerned.

      The starting of the new paper marked the beginning of a new era in our history, and greatly enlarged our field of usefulness. The fact that we have but one paper is not alone the secret of its success; apart from our publishing house and the present combination of interests the present paper could not be made to pay its way. Our publishing interests are combined, and thus they stand--divided they fall. The financial aspect of a single paper is not the only one. It takes a union of effort and ability to run a paper, and this we have had, the brethren everywhere vying with each other and giving me every assistance. I have not pleased everybody, but the great rank and file of our brotherhood have testified their approval by the support which they have given the paper. I have simply acted fairly and impartially, and I have found that this course pleases most right-thinking men and women.

      To say that all of my original plan has worked out would not be exactly true, but it is working [54] out by degrees. I much desired to see a place established where the brethren of Australasia could not only get anything they wanted in the shape of our literature, but where they could get any information they desired about our churches and the cause generally, and not the least of the services rendered by the "Austral" has been that of a general enquiry office. The amount of work in the way of correspondence and investigation in this one direction is considerable. All the information sought has not been exactly along gospel lines, but we have never refused to give information and help when possible. One brother in a neighbouring State was deeply anxious to get a certain breed of fowls, and while he did not know whether we were in the poultry business he thought we might help him. A two-penny stamp and five minutes' time gave him the desired information. In the course of the year hundreds of letters are received from isolated and other brethren and sisters with special religious difficulties or needs, asking, perhaps, for a Tract that may help them, often enclosing a few stamps or postal note to pay for same. The Tract is sent, and frequently a short letter with it, telling them to hold on, and do the right. I am always glad to sell a thousand or five thousand Tracts, but I am just as pleased to send ten or twenty to some struggling brother on the backblocks, who is doing his best in God's name to preach the gospel. This, in part, is what the "Austral" is trying to do. [55]

      Ten years in the history of an enterprise of this kind are not much, but give some kind of an indication of what may be done with care. One thing, at least, I have learned, and that is that a work of this kind cannot be unduly forced; indications must be studied and opportunities watched. This has been my policy in the past, and as far as I have any control will be in the future. The future, therefore, depends on circumstances. I have some plans in my mind, but am willing to wait developments. The possibilities of a work of this kind are practically boundless, and so it should gradually grow and advance with advancing years. I have great hopes for the future.

      Any success which has been achieved is largely owing to the Directors, whose pictures and names appear on another page of this issue. From the first, they have taken a real, living interest in all the affairs of the company. Not only have they assisted with their advice, which, as business and practical men, has been of great assistance, but they have stood by the company financially. Without their aid, which has been freely and cheerfully given, our work would have been greatly hampered. Personally, in this way, I wish to publicly thank them for what they have been to me, and for the really practical help they have rendered the Austral Co. To Bros. F. G. Dunn and D. A. Ewers for their loyal support and great help I am thankful. Without their moral support and [56] practical help I could not have carried on the "Christian" as I have. To those brethren and sisters everywhere who have helped and encouraged our work, I am grateful. The willingness which brethren have shown in writing for the "Christian" has been a continual pleasure to me. Our preaching brethren everywhere have loyally supported me in the work in hand. Without their constant aid and sympathy I could not have accomplished even what I have. Will they, and all others who have in any way helped me during the past ten years, accept this acknowledgment of my gratitude.

      I believe that when the history of the efforts of those in this country who are striving to be simply Christians comes to be written, covering the period of the past ten years, the work of the Austral Co. will occupy an important place. I am sure of but one thing as far as my connection with the company is concerned, and that is that I have tried to act unselfishly in the matter. I have laboured under some difficulties, but my services, such as they are, have been given to this great work. It is now in a position, with careful management, and the continued co-operation and sympathy of the brotherhood, to do grander and better work in the future than ever in the past. An institution of this kind is not the work of a few years, nor even of one lifetime; it is a development, a growth, and the brethren who have encouraged the work so far with their money and sympathy have been sowing for the next generation as well as for the present. [57] This number of the "Christian" is being sent out to show to some extent what ten years have accomplished, and to encourage all to greater and more faithful efforts in the future. If so much has been accomplished in one decade, what may we not expect in a generation? This great country is in its infancy, and we should see that the present generation is kept fully informed and amply provided with the very best gospel literature, and that the foundation of a publishing house is laid deep and wide, which will provide for all the demands for the growth of our great country.

      In the same issue of the "Christian," the leading article said, among other things, "How far the Austral Publishing Co. has assisted in the work of the present Reformation, no man can tell. That in the various publications which it has sent forth it has done a great work, goes without saying. That work cannot be estimated by tabulated results. Evidences of present good accomplished have been borne witness to times without number, but who can tell of the preparatory work which has been done, and is now being done, by the thousands of publications concerning New Testament truths, which have been scattered throughout the land?--publications which, without the aid of the Austral Company, would only have gone out in tens, instead of thousands." [58]

Dear Brother,

      For a number of years I have been thinking of starting a Printing and Publishing Co., to be run in the interests of the Church of Christ. It seems to me that the time has now arrived to take some definite steps in the matter. I would be glad of your presence at a meeting to be held in the School Room, Lygon Street, Christian Chapel, on Friday evening next, February 20, at 8 o'clock, when I will be glad to lay my plans before you. Allow me to say, beforehand, however, that the business, if started, will be run on strictly business lines, and that your presence at the meeting will in no way commit you to anything which may be done.

	Yours truly,
A. B. MASTON.

      At the time of writing, the Directors of the Company are. W. C. Craigie, W. C. Thurgood, C. W.. Mitchell, R. Lyall, and B. J. Kemp, with G. P. Pittman as manager. [59]

[LABM 49-59]