Mission Report for 1914 by H. E. ROGERS

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 28, 1915

Mission Report for 1914

By H. E. ROGERS

ON the following pages will be found a report covering lines of work carried on by the denomination in non-Christian and non-Protestant countries. In this territory are included China, India, Japan, South America, portions of the West Indies, Mexico, the Pacific islands, southern Europe, etc. The total number of countries or political divisions in which this work is carried on in mission territory is 72. Work is also conducted, as indicated by the accompanying summary, in 18 Christian lands; thus making a total of 90 countries or political divisions in which this denomination is today carrying forward its work. This, of course, brings this work in touch with nearly every country in the world.

The total number of foreign laborers engaged in what is denominated mission territory is 749; of native laborers, 56 are ordained, 1,097 are unordained, making a total of 1,153 native laborers. The total force in the field therefore at the close of 1914 was 1,902. According to the latest mission reports, this denomination now stands the sixth in point of total laborers in the field of all the missionary societies in this country. These workers are engaged at 247 main stations and 440 substations. This is an increase of 55 main stations and 138 substations during the year.

The number of organized churches now stands at 766, an increase of 70 during the year. The total membership of these churches is 21,879. The number baptized during the year was 3,583, an average of nearly ten every day; the total adherents are 23,342; Sabbath schools, 1,105; members, 27,593. There are 14 training schools in this territory, with 783 students enrolled. There are 74 head schools and 160 outschools, in which are 10,373 pupils; thus there is a grand total of 11,156 pupils taught by 96 foreign and 305 native teachers.

Work is conducted orally in mission territory in 117 languages; and including 7 additional languages in use in Christian lands, the total number of languages used orally in the entire field is 124. Publications are issued for use in mission territory in 82 languages, and including 7 languages in which publications are issued in Christian lands, there is indicated a total of 89 languages in which publications are issued by the denomination for use throughout the entire world. In the mission territory there are 14 printing plants, 29 hospitals and dispensaries, and 7 mission boats.

The total funds raised in mission territory during 1914 was $231,170.88; from the home base, $788,877.34; or a total expenditure in mission fields during 1914 of $1,020,048.22. In mission territory there is an average of 698,033 persons for each evangelistic laborer, in Christian lands the average is 57,771; in mission territory there is 85.01 per cent of total population, in Christian lands 14.99; in mission territory there is 31.95 per cent of total laborers, in Christian lands 68.05. The average contribution from North America (which furnishes the greater portion of funds from the home base) was $8.55 for each member in that field during 1914.

A comparison of the report for 1914 with the one for the preceding year shows an excellent gain in nearly every item presented. The increase in total force in the field was 18.43 per cent; the gain in baptisms compared with the 1913 members was 18.53 per cent; and in attendance at the various schools 16.09 per cent.

H. E. ROGERS.