The Home Missionary Work in the Southeastern Union Conference
By E. M. GRAHAM
IN response to an invitation from Elder Montgomery I left Washington, D. C., for Atlanta, Ga., July 8. Plans had been laid to hold two conventions, one July 9-11 in the Atlanta No. 1 church (white), and the other July 16-18 in the No. 2 (colored), church. The first meeting was on Friday evening, when Elder Willess presented the congregation the real meaning of this home missionary movement, both to our own people and to the world. Sabbath morning and afternoon were devoted to considering the proper methods and value of organization for work, and the different lines of work church members can use in their soul-winning work. The thought was brought out that as God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, and Christ so loved the world that he gave his life, so those who really love the Lord will give themselves in service to win sinners to Christ. All successful home missionary work grows out of this love of the members for the Father and the Saviour. The question box was an interesting feature, and was well filled with questions which showed a real interest and desire to do successful work. The last hour on both Sabbath and Sunday afternoons was devoted to answering questions. Sunday morning and afternoon subjects relating to organization and methods of work were still further considered. It was made clear to all that by careful organization, dividing the members into bands, dividing the territory into districts, and districts into small lots, more definite work could be done than by undirected individual efforts. The instruction during Sabbath and on Sunday morning and afternoon was given by the Southeastern Union Conference home missionary secretary, Brother W. H. Hayes, and the writer. On Sunday evening Elder Montgomery closed this convention with an address on the events which show that the end is rapidly approaching and that therefore the need of haste in our work is great. Though this ended the convention as planned, the interest manifested by the members was so strong that on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday evenings meetings were conducted by Brother Hayes on home missionary topics. Monday morning, in the union conference office, a few zealous home missionaries gathered: Elder Montgomery, Brethren, W. H. Hayes, L. D. Randall, D. W. Dillen, J. K. MacMillan, and Elder Williams, pastor of the colored church; also Miss Anna Knight, the union conference home missionary secretary for the colored people. This company and I spent Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and part of Thursday in a close and careful study of the duties of home missionary secretaries, union, local, and church; and of the principles of organization, need of loyalty to conference committees, to departments of work, and to one another; and of other topics connected with this great home missionary movement. I believe the time was well spent, and personally I enjoyed the interchange of thought, experience, and plans. On Sabbath and Sunday following we carried out the same program at the colored church, Brother Hayes and I being the instructors. Again the questions came in thick and fast, and considerable time was devoted to answering them. The Sunday evening meeting was taken by Brother Hayes, as Elder Montgomery had left for the Cumberland camp meeting. Both these Atlanta churches are full of live home missionaries, and they expressed their determination to do more, and more thorough work, in the future, so as to bear their share in the finishing of the work. From there Brother Hayes and I went to the Cumberland camp meeting. It was held in Cleveland, Tenn., a town of some 8,000 inhabitants, taking in surrounding districts within easy reach. There were about two hundred persons camped on the grounds. Tuesday and Wednesday mornings and Thursday and Friday afternoons an hour was given to the home missionary work, when different methods of work were explained and practical demonstrations were given in how to meet people and introduce literature. Volunteers were called for to go out and give away and sell literature and invite people to the meetings. Every afternoon saw some eager companies, each with a leader, set off for an hour and a half's work. The children caught the spirit and went also and helped. At the close of the meeting, it was said that every home had received some literature and an invitation to the meeting. Each night the pavilion was packed with interested listeners; seats were placed all around outside and filled, and still more people were sitting in automobiles, buggies, wagons, and other conveyances. We feel sure that the invitations given by the personal workers helped to bring about this result, and I believe that souls will be gathered in to build up the church in this place. Though the war has badly affected parts of the Southeastern Union Conference, the prospects are bright. Workers and people are united in a determination to win souls and to do their share in the finishing of the work. Such a spirit will surely bring upon it the blessing of God.