A Step in Advance by Editor

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 22, 1908

A Step in Advance

By Editor

The steadily growing interest in the extension of this message among all the people of the world is an encouraging feature of our work. Only a few years ago all the tithes of the home conferences were devoted to local work, and no one seriously thought of sending such funds outside of the local conference limits. Six or seven years ago the idea of using a portion of such tithes for mission work began to be agitated, and some of the conferences adopted the plan of appropriating a part of their surplus tithes at the close of the conference year for the use of the Mission Board. The number of conferences making such appropriations and the amounts donated have increased until, during the year 1907, according to the official report, the sum of $118,391.84 was thus devoted to work in “the regions beyond.”

This is a long step in the right direction; but so far as we know, the Colorado Conference is the first one to set apart a definite portion of its tithes for the mission work. At its annual conference, held in connection with its camp-meeting, the following resolution was adopted:—

Resolved, That this conference dedicate hereafter one third of its income of tithes to this world-wide evangelization, and that the officers of this conference be instructed to turn over, quarterly, to the General Conference the money thus dedicated to be used for gospel work as the needs of the general work shall demand.

We call attention to this action, with the hope that other conferences may be inclined to follow this example. If our long-established conferences, in which this message has been proclaimed for many years, would consecrate a definite and liberal proportion of their regular income to the spread of the truth in the unworked fields, there would thus be provided for the Mission Board, in addition to the offerings, a regular income which could be depended upon for the support of its missionaries in many fields. While these definite appropriations should not take the place of gifts and offerings, yet they would go far toward relieving the tension of the Mission Board treasury, whose income is now wholly dependent upon voluntary action either by individuals or by conferences.

When we consider that in the territory under the supervision of the Mission Board there is found more than one half the population of the globe, it seems only reasonable to expect that a considerable portion of the amount paid for the support of our evangelistic work should be expended in these populous fields. No matter how fully the warning may be given in the home land, the Saviour’s return will be delayed until this gospel message shall have been carried “to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.”

We commend the action of the Colorado Conference, and invite those holding responsible positions in other conferences to consider the propriety of recommending the passage of a similar resolution at the next annual session of their constituencies.