Home Missionary Work for Quarter Ending June 30, 1915
By Edith M. Graham
THE report of the home missionary work done during the quarter ending June 30, 1915, gives us some points upon which to reflect. When the last report appeared, we felt very happy to see all but four conferences in the North American Division reporting. This quarter, one of these, Arizona, has reported, showing thereby that its work is now organized. The other three, Maritime, Quebec, and Utah, all small conferences, are planning and working for efficient organization, so they will shortly take their place in the great home missionary movement. But the blank lines against eight other conferences where the work has been organized can only be regarded with feelings of sadness. No doubt many in these conferences were faithfully working, but the absence of reports shows failure somewhere in that strong, united effort that makes for success. Another sad feature is that every item of work done totals less than in the previous quarter. This drop in the work is more noticeable in the North American Division than in the regions beyond, where more letters were written and received, more books sold, more hours devoted to Christian Help work, more meals provided, treatments given, signatures obtained to the temperance pledge, and more conversions reported for the second quarter than the first. This makes for these countries a gain in eight lines of work and a decrease in ten. In the North American Division there is one gain only, in the number of tracts lent and given away. The credit for this must be given to Minnesota, where a very large quantity of tracts was distributed. Doubtless the chief reason for this general drop in the amount of work done is due to the fact that this report covers the three months when those engaged in agriculture in any way are naturally very busy. They work early and late to secure a good harvest, and the Lord expects men to be diligent in their business. But must the work for perishing souls suffer because of this? There is a spiritual seed sowing to be done, that a harvest of souls may be gathered. Is the Lord well pleased to have our people remember the material harvest and devote every energy to that, and forget the spiritual harvest? The enemy of souls does not rest in the summer. Is it not possible, and doubtless certain, that careful study of this problem will show our people that they19can continue an aggressive soul-winning campaign, and with it give proper attention to the earthly crops? Could we not expect the Lord to bless the work of those who devote time to his service, so that their harvests would be no less? These are questions that are worthy of careful and prayerful consideration. Notwithstanding the general drop, the figures are still large, and they show much work done which God can use to save and warn souls. This page of figures means hundreds of thousands, even millions, of people enlightened in regard to the great warning message. A constant stream of work like this cannot fail to accomplish great things, but what will it do when all the members take hold?