Editorial by Editor

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 15, 1909

Editorial

By Editor

Response of the Conferences

RESPONDING at the General Conference to the call of the mission fields, representatives of home conferences proposed, by resolution,—

That the ten-cent-a-week plan for missions be agitated until the result is attained, adding a third to the income.
That conferences, wherever expedient, by curtailing local expenses, definitely appropriate from one fourth to one third of the tithe to the support of the work in the regions beyond.

That was an enthusiastic meeting in which, one after another, brethren from local conferences gave heart and hand to this vote.

Kansas: “I believe in the doctrine, and am satisfied, from experience, that we shall be none the poorer in our home conferences.”—Charles Thompson.

Central Union Conference: “Two of our conferences have already squared themselves to reach the maximum mentioned, having pledged one third of the tithe. I believe others will do the same.”—E. T. Russell.

Northern Union Conference: “The best way to increase our tithe is to put forth aggressive work in our home conferences. We will build up the work at home, and ask our brethren to go to the distant fields. So we shall have a healthy growth, and we shall give our brethren courage in the home fields.”—R. A. Underwood.

Nebraska: “A few weeks ago we wrote to the treasurers of all our churches, asking them to submit to the people a proposition that we forward one third of our tithes to foreign missions at the close of each quarter during 1909. Out of fifty-one churches we received forty-six replies; and with two exceptions these letters stated that the proposition met with most enthusiastic approval. In several instances members confessed the sin of withholding their tithe, and brought in the Lord’s portion. As the result of this little agitation in our churches, we received the largest tithe ever paid in one quarter, with one exception.”—A. T. Robinson.

Oklahoma: “We propose as a conference to carry out this resolution.”—Andrew Nelson.

East Michigan: “I believe that as ministers and workers we have given too little attention to the ten-cent-a-week plan. We have the inspired Word that it is God’s purpose that there shall be systematic giving.”—E. K. Slade.

Eastern Colorado: “Eastern Colorado has already adopted this plan. I believe this is a move in the right direction.”—J. W. Lair.

Wisconsin: “No other resolution has interested me more. When we strike the question of this message to the world in this generation, the people are interested as in no other question.”—C. McReynolds.

Southwestern Union Conference: “I heartily favor this resolution, and believe it will be the means of interesting many that are not paying tithe.”—C. Santee.

Southern California: “In the United States last year there was raised $797,990 in tithe. Of this amount $105,700 was appropriated to mission fields. We shall not reach the ideal until we include the whole world in the use of the tithe. This will raise the tithe in our own fields.”—E. E. Andross.

Lake Union Conference: “I firmly believe that if our hearts are filled with a love for this work, we can accomplish more with two thirds than we are now accomplishing—not that we have not a love for the work, but as we take hold of it in the way proposed, I believe the Lord will bless our efforts in yet greater measure.”—Allen Moon.

Northern Illinois: “I believe that our own souls, in a measure, depend upon the things involved in this resolution.”—Wm. Covert.

Upper Columbia: “This resolution is good. We ought to pass it.”—G. E. Langdon.

For the Rank and File: “I believe this means more to us than any other resolution that has come before this Conference,” said M. C. Wilcox, of the Signs, speaking not as a conference president, but as one of the rank and file. “It means, if we go back with the spirit of this resolution in our hearts, that we are going to see our people, from one end of the world to the other, stand with us on that resolution. It means that every president of a conference can say to his people: We have more than our own conference on our hands; we have a world-wide field, and it demands world-wide faith on our part to take hold of this message.”

Europe With Us: “I am thankful that this resolution does not say that this shall be done in the United States alone. I believe I speak the sentiment of Europe when I say that we are perfectly willing over there to stand shoulder to shoulder with our brethren and conferences in the United States on this basis. I believe the time has come for this people to move forward.”—L. R. Conradi.

Australasia Shares the Burden: “Our souls have been thrilled with the reports that have come from all parts of the world field. Now I think this meeting is one of the most interesting of them all. It

is the response from the home fields to the calls for help. Australasia will be with you in every forward move. Brethren, this looks much like the loud cry of the third angel’s message.”—O. A. Olsen.