Massachusetts by ALLEN MOON

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 4, 1915

Massachusetts

By ALLEN MOON

Some progress is noticeable in reviewing the work done in the Massachusetts Conference the past year. I came to this field about one year ago the first of November. On my arrival to take up labor in connection with the conference, there was manifest a strong sentiment in favor of moving the headquarters of the conference and the tract society from South Lancaster to Boston. At a meeting of leading brethren held soon after I came, it was decided to make this change. Rooms for the use of the conference were secured in Tremont Temple building, in the heart of Boston.

This move has proved advantageous in many ways; for example, Boston is the center of excellent transportation facilities, as well as the center of a vast population. The membership of the churches in Greater Boston is more than four hundred. The tract society's sales of literature have greatly increased as the result of being associated with this large membership, and a correspondingly greater number of people have been made acquainted with the truth through the publications.

The laboring force of Massachusetts, although small, has shown a commendable degree of earnestness and activity in the work of soul saving. Since the beginning of the present calendar year there have been organized two churches, with an aggregate membership of thirty-six; and there are companies ready to be organized in three places, with an aggregate membership of fifty-six. This does not include the work conducted in Boston by the union conference brethren, Elders Quinn and Russell; nor does it include the additions to the Worcester church as the result of a tent effort in that city.

Three tent meetings were held outside of Greater Boston. These were in Worcester, Methuen, and Holyoke. Elder J. G. Hanhardt, assisted by Elder Bicknell and wife and Miss Spencer, conducted the effort in Worcester, with good results. Elder J. K. Jones had charge of the work in Methuen. Two Bible workers assisted Elder Jones. Brethren Rice and Butler, with their wives and two other Bible workers, conducted the meetings in Holyoke, where a church has been organized.

After a short course of lectures in Holyoke, the tent was moved to Northampton, an entirely new field, and a second series of meetings held, resulting in raising up a strong company of believers. A church will soon be organized in this place, composed of a good, substantial class of believers.

Elder Jones's work in Methuen has resulted in bringing in material for a

strong church where none has ever been before. Other companies of believers have sprung up in various places as the result of private labor and the use of literature. On the whole, the Massachusetts Conference is in a fairly healthy condition.

Beginning with January of this year, the mission offerings have exceeded twenty cents a member for the conference each month. The Harvest Ingathering for October will make up the total for the year. ALLEN MOON.