Report of the Young People's Work by A. L. HINDSON

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 28, 1912

Report of the Young People's Work

By A. L. HINDSON

Of the Australasian Union Conference, for Year Ending June 30, 1912

NUMBER of societies .......... 92 Present membership .......... 779 Present associate membership .......... 852 Members in state home dept.... 56 Associate members in state home department .......... 223 Total membership .......... 1,910 Number taking Reading Course .......... 76 Number taking doctrinal studies .......... 448

Report of Work Done Missionary letters written ..... 3,054 Missionary letters received .... 1,412 Bible readings or cottage meetings .......... 1,915 Missionary visits:— With individuals .......... 9,991 To hospitals .......... 768 Other institutions .......... 578 Ships .......... 429 Copies of papers:— Subscriptions taken .......... 767 Sold .................... 51,750 Lent .................... 8,879 Given ................... 182,160 Pages of tracts:— Sold .................... 63,835 Lent .................... 206,052 Given ................... 467,239 Books:— Sold .................... 1,588 Lent .................... 1,408 Given ................... 877 Families or individuals supplied with food, clothing, etc. .......... 693 Treatments given .......... 949 Hours of Christian Help work.. 13,718 Offerings, local society work...$ 195.07 Offerings, home mission work.. 582.44 Offerings, foreign mission work 4,016.56 Collections, work for the blind.. 49.92

There are some very encouraging features in the young people's report for the year 1912. With its 92 organized societies and 279 isolated young people scattered throughout our field, we have an interested band of Volunteers, 1,910 strong. Since the beginning of the year, 83 have joined the ranks.

One of the most interesting features of the work, and one in which the greatest progress has been made, is the study of the doctrinal texts of the message. During the past few years these studies have covered quite a wide range of subjects, so that it is really surprising what the youth, and even quite young children, have learned of the Word of God through this systematic effort. Examinations are conducted at the close of each quarter on the subjects studied, when the questions asked must be answered with closed Bibles in the words of the texts, and references given. The last quarter of the year the examination on the millennium was taken by 448, and each quarter the number has increased. Thus these studies seem to be creating a taste for the Word of God, and acquainting our young people with the doctrines we hold as a people, as well as preparing them to give the light to others.

Next perhaps in importance to the study of the Bible is the Reading Course provided for our young people. In this way a desire is being formed for solid reading. The first book of the present Reading Course was the “Story of John Paton,” an abridged edition especially prepared for the young. Of this about 450 copies were taken. The next book of the course is to be “Christ’s Object Lessons,” and copies of this book have been specially bound for our use, retailing at sixty-one cents a copy, thus bringing the book within the reach of all our young people. That a large number of our youth may avail themselves of the study of this excellent book, the hearty cooperation of all our workers is needed.

In the home missionary work done by our young people there has been an increase in some items, and a falling off in others. In the letters written there has been a slight decrease, but a larger increase in the letters received. There has been an increase in the Bible readings held, but a decrease in the visits made, save to ships, which have received more visits than the previous year. We have taken a larger number of subscriptions for our papers and given away more copies, but have sold and lent fewer copies. In the tract work fewer pages were sold and lent, but more were given away; this is also true of the circulation of books.

It was recommended last year that we encourage our young people to make the distribution of literature the prominent feature of their missionary work. In harmony with this action, we shall need to devise plans along such lines as are adapted to their capabilities, and keep this work well to the front.

The poor and sick have received ministry at the hands of our young people, as shown by the 693 families supplied with food and clothing, the 949 treatments given, and 13,718 hours of Christian Help work done.

During the year funds were raised by our young people as follows:—

For local society work .......$ 195.07 For home missionary work .... 582.44 For foreign mission work ..... 4,016.56 For work for the blind ........ 49.92 Total ....................$4,393.99

It will thus be seen that our young people have given almost $5,000 to the Lord’s work during the year. As compared with the previous year, this shows a gain of $298.80.

One very helpful plan in the New South Wales Conference has been to call together all the officers of the young people’s societies within reach of Sydney, at the close of each quarter, for counsel and instruction. This has tended to promote unity of action and to strengthen the work.

It will be interesting to know to what workers in the mission fields our young people have contributed:— New South Wales is supporting Brother and Sister Sterling in the Cook Islands. The Sydney café workers have also given $73.05 toward the support of native workers. New Zealand is supporting Brother and Sister Howse in Samoa; Queensland, Bennie in New Guinea; South Australia, Paullasi Bunoa in Fiji, and Brother and Sister Thorpe (partial support) in the Tongan group; Victoria and Tasmania, Brother and Sister Stewart in the Cook Islands, Brother and Sister Carr in the New Hebrides, and Moapi, a native worker in Fiji. They have also purchased an organ costing $48.70 for Tonga.

Thus the interests of our youth and children are bound up with the interests of those in the mission fields; and the names of their missionaries and their fields are becoming household words in almost every home. Our young Volunteers do not need to ask what missions is, as did the little girl who said that she thought he must be very poor and cold to need so many warm socks as her aunty was always knitting for him.

One feature of the work that has received special attention this year is that of interesting young people not of our faith in the cause of missions. This has met with encouraging results in some instances, and substantial help has come from them to swell our offerings.

A. L. HINDSON, Secretary of Young People's Dept.