Home Missionary Report by E. M. GRAHAM

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 3, 1914

Home Missionary Report

By E. M. GRAHAM

This report shows an encouraging increase in the amount of work reported. Forty-five of the sixty-nine conferences in the North American Division are represented in this report, and two union conferences, the Southeastern and the Northern, show every conference as reporting. We are glad to see the Massachusetts Conference represented this quarter, because it was in that part of the field that this home missionary movement was first started. It is good to see that the old-time missionary spirit still lives there.

This report has grown into large figures, and as I look upon them I see, not merely figures, but that which they really represent

—channels through which the Holy Spirit may reach souls. The Lord has so planned the work of salvation that it is done through human agents. On one side is the Holy Spirit, waiting to impress hearts with their need of a Saviour, and on the other side are perishing sinners, longing for such a Saviour. The Lord is pleading with his people to become the connecting links between these two, and so open ways for the Holy Spirit to do its work upon hearts. When we remember that each of these figures means a channel opened by which at least one soul may be reached, and probably more than one, we cannot but rejoice when we see so many of them. We know that every channel opened does not mean a soul saved, but it does mean a soul warned and given the opportunity of being saved.

The report of the European Division is an excellent one, but would have been even better had the Scandinavian Union not failed to get its report in on time. In view of the sudden outbreak of war, we are sure that our European believers are thankful they circulated so much literature while they still had opportunity to do so. Their opportunities now will be greatly cut down, and what they do will be done amid difficulties and privations of which we have no conception. We should take warning by this, and push our work forward as rapidly as possible in all countries that are still at peace, for how long peace will continue no one can say.

The South African Union appears in this report for the first time, and shows that a good beginning has been made. The Asiatic Division has added two fields this quarter, Japan and the Philippine Islands, and it is good to see that the message creates the same missionary spirit in the hearts of these Eastern people as it does in the Western lands.

While we rejoice in this large array of figures, we sorrow that there are not many more of them. Compare the membership with the number reporting and see how many idlers there must be in the ranks, even allowing for some who work but neglect to report. In the armies of the world which are calling their men into service, those who do not at once respond are considered traitors, and if caught, are given no mercy. What are those who have enlisted in the army of the Lord but are taking their ease in this time of strenuous warfare with the enemy of souls? This is a serious question, for “there will be no idler, no slothful one who neglects the work of the Lord, found inside of the kingdom of heaven.” — “An Appeal to Our Churches,” page 13. Men are rushing from the ends of the earth to battle for their countries. Should not Sabbath keepers everywhere show equal enthusiasm in the service of the Lord? Shall we not all unite in making the next home missionary report a far larger one? The night comes on fast, when no one can work.

E. M. GRAHAM.