Oklahoma by JOHN ISAAC

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · May 13, 1915

Oklahoma

By JOHN ISAAC

OKLAHOMA CITY.—The work in Oklahoma is steadily progressing, and its advancement brings courage to the hearts of the believers. Many have been the blessings that have strengthened the faith of the workers as they have toiled to bring to the people a saving knowledge of the gospel.

All who study the signs of the times in the light of the prophetic word, must see that we have reached the closing scenes of this world's history. In view of these times, we feel that a great responsibility rests upon us to enlighten all who will listen to the word of truth. If we do this work faithfully, we believe that many will escape “the wrath to come” who might be lost if we neglected to do the work committed to us.

We are glad that we are able to say that the missionary spirit is growing among our people. A number of missionary conventions have been held with encouraging results. The grace of giving is also developing more and more in our people as they learn of the great needs of the mission work.

During the year 1914 the receipts of the conference, in tithe and general mission funds and donations to the conference corporation obligations, were larger than for any previous year. The tithe was $34,700, which is an increase of $10,359 over the previous year. But $2,500 of this came in a little too late to appear in the report of 1914, as the treasurer had just closed his books when this amount was received, so it will go into this year's report. Even then this was the largest yearly tithe in the history of the conference, and $7,859 more than that of the year before.

The Sabbath school offerings show an increase over the previous year of $1,253.50. We are trying to double this increase this year.

The book and periodical sales fell a little short of the year before, there being no sale for the cotton. A large portion of the population depends for a living on cotton raising, and although the cotton crop was the largest in the history of the State, it did not find a market. We also fell short on the Twenty-cent-a-week Fund, reaching only seventeen and three-fourths cents a week per capita; but we are bending every effort to reach our goal in every apportionment this year.

The educational work has steadily grown until this year's work has exceeded that of any previous year. A uniformity of textbooks is adopted in nearly all the schools. The grades are equal to those of the public schools.

Our teachers are doing thorough work, the majority of them having received their education in Keene Academy and Union College. Students finishing the eighth grade are required to take the State examination questions in the common branches. The two intermediate schools are worthy of mention because of the good work they have done. There will be nearly twenty-five students who will finish the eighth, ninth, and tenth grades at the close of the spring term.

Almost every school has taken an interest in the Junior Society work. About twenty schools have been organized into the work of the society or the consecration service. What has been accomplished in this work has been almost entirely the effort of this year.

Our schools number twenty, with twenty-six teachers and some student help and an enrollment of over five hundred. The terms have been lengthened in a number of schools. Conditions were never more promising than at present. A spirit of cooperation has existed among patrons, teachers, and conference workers.

The outlook for the future prosperity of the educational work was never better. It has been “a year of precious blessings” for the educational work. The large army of young people among us gives promise of strength to the work in general. JOHN ISAAC.