p. 14 | Progress in Louisiana by R. W. Parmele

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 10, 1916

Progress in Louisiana

By R. W. Parmele

As I was leaving the office of the Louisiana Conference for my new field of labor in the Cumberland Conference, my attention was called to some evidences of progress in Louisiana. While these were nothing very striking, yet in view of the difficulties of the field, they seemed to me very encouraging. The statistics placed in my hands covered only the past three years.

During the year 1913 the membership net gain was 40 members; in 1914 we increased by 43 members, and in 1915 we gained 42 members, net. In some unaccountable way the published statistical report gave only 14 baptisms during the year 1915, when the records show that 51 were baptized during the year. These figures refer only to the work for white people, and were not increased by immigration. The colored membership increased about 100 during the same period of time.

During the past four years we have purchased and erected six church buildings, five for white churches and one for our colored church in New Orleans. One of these for white people is now in process of building in Shreveport. The financial progress of the cause in Louisiana has been correspondingly encouraging. Harmony prevails throughout the field, and there is every reason to expect still greater success to attend the cause in the Louisiana Conference in the future.

R. W. PARMELE.