Off to the Mission Fields in 1903
By W. A. S.
LAST year it was early seen that the mission treasury would not warrant adding very heavily to the staff of missionaries in the fields abroad. Here and there posts required strengthening, but the General Conference Committee decided to defer opening several new stations earnestly called for by the fields. The hard time in missions comes when we have to hold back candidates who offer themselves, and send word to the fields that we shall have to delay re-enforcements. Yet, as the list for 1903 shows, even last year in missions means no little movement toward the fields abroad. As you go through the record, think what an added responsibility of praying and giving such a list lays upon our churches in this country. There went out in 1903 the following workers to the fields named:— Elder J. A. Strickland and wife, January, to Jamaica, West Indies. Elder B. E. Connerly and wife, January, to Porto Rico, West Indies. Elder D. U. Hale and wife, January, to the Gold Coast, West Africa. Elder A. W. Kuehl and wife, February, to the Transvaal, South Africa. Brother J. M. Hyatt and wife, February, to the Gold Coast, West Africa. Elder J. H. Watson and wife, March, to Nyassaland, Central Africa. Brother Andrew Ness and wife (canvasser), April, to Scotland. Dr. A. J. Hetherington, April, to the Bay Islands, Central America. James McKay, David Johnson, Laura V. Porter (canvassers), April, to Great Britain. Elder Alexander Ritchie and wife, April, to Scotland. Dr. J. M. Keichline, May, to Egypt. Miss Berta Taylor (canvasser), May, to England. Elias Zarub, May, to Syria. R. T. McPherson and wife (printer), June, to South Africa. George M. Harris and wife (nurses), June, to England. A. C. Enns and M. H. Wentland (nurses), July, to Germany. C. D. Lude (teacher), July, to Argentina, South America. Elder S. W. Nellis and wife, Elder S. M. Cobb and wife, Elder R. D. Quinn and wife, J. L. MacElhaney, N. J. Walldorff, in July, to Australia. Fred Robert and wife, August, to France. Drs. A. C. and Bertha L. Selmon, Drs. H. W. and Maude T. Miller, Charlotte Simpson and Carrie Ericksen (nurses), October, to Inland China. Earl Rees and wife (nurses), October, to Japan. Ella McIntyre (nurse), October, to Egypt. Dr. V. Pampaian and wife, and C. Pampaian (nurse), October, to the Transcaucasus, Asiatic Russia. Dr. A. W. George, October, to Turkey. Elder I. J. Hankins and wife, October, to South Africa. James G. Smalley (teacher), October, to the Bay Islands, Central America. Dr. Geo. W. Thomason and wife, October, to Ireland, preparatory to going on to South Africa. Drs. A. M. and Maude O. Vollmer, October, to Samoa, Pacific Islands. Of workers from this country, already in fields abroad, Elder M. A. Altman and wife, of England, sailed for South Africa in December, while Brother A. C. Enns, reported above to Germany, went on in October to German East Africa, in company with J. Ehlers, of Germany. Early in the year W. O. James and wife went on from England to India, and Elder H. Armstrong and wife, of England, also sailed for India. Besides these laborers some have gone to Mexico and to Europe as independent, self-supporting workers. The laborers named, with the wives, make up a total force of sixty missionaries who sailed from this country in 1903, while eight from Europe went on to regions beyond. We do not list the children, who, nevertheless, are wanted in the fields, and count as helpers in the missionary campaign. Of this list, Brother and Sister Hale have returned from the Gold Coast, being driven back by the deadly fever, and Elder J. H. Watson has laid down his life in Nyassaland. All the rest are pushing the battle in the fields. It means something very practical to this mission treasury that this force has been added. Yet it is, after all, such a little contribution to the world's great need. Truly we must pray the Lord to greatly bless the efforts of the little band abroad as they seek to break the bread of life to hungry souls. Then shall even a few loaves and fishes suffice to feed the multitudes. And it is most important that all shall remember the regular, systematic, weekly gift laid by for missions, the faithful remembrance of which by all would produce a steady flow of means to sustain work already begun and to greatly increase it. There is not a laborer in the list who does not realize that in the day of harvest he will divide his sheaves with those who at home have prayed and given in order that he might go. W. A. S.