Planning for Stronger Work by A. J. S. B.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 26, 1910

Planning for Stronger Work

By A. J. S. B.

ELDER S. E. WIGHT, president of the West Michigan Conference, writes that much interest is being manifested in home missionary work in that conference. He says: “I am glad to inform you that we are taking up this line of work very enthusiastically. We have appointed Brother Oliver Denslow as field missionary secretary of the conference.” Thus, one by one, our local conferences are completing the equipment of their tract society organization, through the appointment of a good field missionary secretary.

Elder W. H. Thurston, president of the Kansas Conference, reports further progress in the organization of the home missionary work in that field. He says: “I am pleased to inform you that our executive committee has appointed Miss Maggie Ogden as field missionary secretary of this conference. Miss Ogden has been engaged in Bible work, but will soon be released to take up her new duties.” Speaking of their efforts to make this work a success in Kansas, Elder Thurston says, further: “We are at it, all at it, and always at it.” A good motto for every worker to adopt!

In his program giving the conference plans for the summer’s work, Brother E. L. Spencer, secretary of the North Dakota Tract Society, states that during May there will be conducted a special temperance campaign, the workers using the Temperance number of the Youth’s Instructor. During June all are to use the Signs of the Times Monthly. During July a strong midsummer effort will be made with Life and Health. In August a special campaign will be carried on in behalf of Liberty and the Protestant Magazine. The month of September will be devoted to the sale of the Watchman.

Elder C. A. Burman, president of the Alberta Conference, writes that the Alberta Tract Society office has been strengthened by the addition of a German worker, who will assist the secretary, Brother F. L. Hommel, in promoting the sale of our magazines and other home missionary efforts. This appointment, he writes, has been made “because we see the need of more thorough work being done from our office.” Regarding the canvassing work, he writes: “It looks now as if we would have about sixteen agents in the field this season, most of whom will handle the books. The outlook for our book business is bright.” Probably no other conference in northwest Canada is favored with so many American and foreign emigrants each year as Alberta. This means more population, and hence greater possibilities for the sale of our literature.

Brother Paul Curtis, missionary secretary of the Central Union Conference, is doing considerable field work. Writing of a recent trip of twenty-three days among the churches in Kansas, he says: “I visited four churches and the intermediate school at Oswego, Kan., and disposed of 700 copies of the Temperance Instructor, 150 of the Signs Monthly, and took 31 subscriptions to the REVIEW AND HERALD. We also made up two clubs of the Signs weekly, totaling 106 copies.” The prospects are good for an aggressive home missionary campaign in that great union conference during 1910.

Mrs. S. N. Haskell reports that a very successful home missionary institute has just been held in Fresno, Cal. She says: “We have had the largest attendance that we have had at any institute held in this conference. The sales of publications amounted to over five hundred dollars. A number of the brethren and sisters took up the work, and are developing into good workers. Best of all, two persons took their stand to keep the Sabbath.” The holding of workers’ meetings and missionary institutes among the churches is one of the best and most direct methods of arousing a permanent interest in home missionary work of all kinds.

Elder B. F. Kneeland, president of the New Jersey Conference, is planning to make a systematic effort in behalf of home missionary work in connection with their camp-meeting, to be held at Trenton June 23 to July 4. He says: “Monday, June 27, has been set apart as a special missionary day. Besides this, we have arranged to spend an hour every morning in giving instruction in various lines of church and missionary work. There will be only two sermons a day, and one Bible study, so there will be considerable time to devote to practical lines of instruction in the work which ought to be done in our churches.” Brother E. E. Pennington, recently appointed as field missionary secretary of this conference, will assist in giving this instruction to the elders, missionary secretaries (librarians), and other officers of the church.

We note that the Nebraska Conference has been divided into six districts, to facilitate a more thorough organization of home missionary work. Speaking of their recent spring workers’ meeting, held at Hastings, Neb., April 14-24, Elder A. T. Robinson, the president, says: “The united testimony of all was that it was the best meeting of the kind ever held in the Nebraska Conference. From the beginning to the close, we held before ourselves a picture of the small results that have been seen in our home work, and the great dearth of workers and means in foreign fields. The Spirit of the Lord witnessed to our study of this subject, and every worker goes out from this meeting with his whole soul afire with a determination to see greater results of his labors the coming season. A carefully prepared program had been previously arranged, and different ones had given special study to subjects assigned them. These topics were presented in a most striking manner, and many of the papers were followed by an interesting and profitable discussion. We look forward with bright hopes to the coming season’s work.” A. J. S. B.