The Home Missionary Report for the First Quarter of 1915 by Edith M. Graham

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 21, 1915

The Home Missionary Report for the First Quarter of 1915

By Edith M. Graham

This report gives some very encouraging figures. It shows that 1,554 more members worked than did so during the previous quarter. There were also the following increases in the different lines of work: 7,341 more letters written, 3,819 more letters received, 14,775 more missionary visits, 8,601 more Bible readings, 8,545 more books sold, 9,027 more books lent and given, 16,036 more hours of Christian Help work, 3,435 more articles of clothing given, 6,321 more meals given, 1,540 more treatments, and 239 more conversions reported.

The paper and tract work, however, shows a general decrease, which is difficult to understand. There were the following decreases: 5,316 fewer subscriptions, 127,239 fewer papers sold, 89,478 fewer papers lent and given, 501 fewer tracts sold, and 757,336 fewer tracts lent and given, these last being nearly double for the previous quarter. As the circulation of literature is one of the most effective methods of giving the message, it is important that the lines of work connected with it should be kept up.

The work in the North American Division shows some interesting averages. Taking the work of the union conferences on a per capita basis, the Southeastern Union Conference has the highest record in the number reporting, the letters written and received, the hours of Christian Help work, the number of treatments given, and the signatures to the temperance pledge, six records out of nineteen. Next comes the Southern Union Conference, with the highest records for Bible readings, articles of clothing given, meals provided, and offerings, four records. The Atlantic Union Conference has the record for the largest number of missionary visits, papers sold, and tracts sold. The Northern Union Conference has the record for papers given away and mailed, and tracts lent and given away. The Columbia Union Conference has the record for books sold, though the Central Union Conference follows within a very small fraction, so it also deserves an honorable mention. The Central Union Conference has the largest number of subscriptions. The Eastern Canadian Union has the most books given away, and the Southwestern Union reports the most conversions. All of these are proportionate to membership.

These figures are interesting, for they show some perhaps unexpected results. The Southern field is frequently spoken of as being in a more backward condition than the rest of the country, yet the three Southern union conferences hold eleven records out of twenty for the home missionary work for the first quarter of 1915.

We have two new fields to welcome this quarter, the India Union Mission and the little Guatemala Mission. For some reason, the Japanese report has failed to reach us, but they are still working.

Only four of the conferences in the North American Division failed to report, Maritime, Quebec, Arizona, and Utah.

Let us remember, as we look upon this array of figures, that they are not merely figures, but symbols to represent human instrumentalities willingly offered to God, for him to use in saving souls. In the 914 conversions, we see some visible fruits, for which we praise God. The full results will be made known in eternity. EDITH M. GRAHAM.