AN EVIL TO BE CORRECTED.
By John Nevins Andrews
To the brethren of the N. Y. and Pa. Conference, and to any others guilty of the same neglect: I have just been conversing with the Conference Secretary relative to the business of the Conference that devolves on him. I learn that the quarterly reports are not made out promptly, as they should be. Indeed quite a large number of churches have not reported at all for the present Conference year. A portion of the licentiates have made no reports. Even some of the ministers of the Conference have been somewhat tardy in this thing. Now this is all wrong. We will except the cases of all who may be prostrated by severe sickness, or who have lost the use of their reason. But those who can plead neither of these excuses are entirely inexcusable. You have blanks in your houses, look them up. A very few words with the pen, and a very small amount of care and thought are all that it will cost you. It is the duty of the ministers, the licentiates, and the church treasurers, to make four financial reports to the Conference Secretary. These reports are necessary in order to settle up our finances at the Conference at the end of each year. If we have these reports from the church treasurers, we can easily determine the finances of the Conference. If we have the reports of those who are in the employ of the Conference, it is easy to settle every thing with them. A very little pains will save a very great amount of perplexing labor at the time of Conference. Ten minutes’ time, once in three months, will enable each person from whom a report is due, to make that report in a proper manner. Why not do this, every one, promptly? Is it lack of interest? You are not willing to own this. What is the trouble? You forgot it. Very well; what made you forget it? If you really cannot remember so simple a thing as this, it is your duty to take some pains to guard against this forgetfulness. Take your pocket diary and turn it through and mark each quarter with these words: “Here a report is due from me to the Conference Secretary.” Then when you come to that date in your diary, you will be reminded of your duty. But some of you do not keep a diary; very well, you have an almanac. Mark as suggested in the case of the diary, and you will be reminded of your duty by the almanac. The Conference has supplied each individual with blanks, free of expense. If you have failed to get them let the secretary know it. Then simply fill out the blanks. Make your report according to the model of the blank, &c. If nothing is received for the quarter, send the secretary a blank report, so far as this is concerned. The quarterly reports of the churches should correspond with their pledges to the Conference. To fulfill these pledges, the treasurers, and the other officers of the churches, should be careful to see that the s. B is promptly paid. In fact, every family should keep a box and deposit in it each first-day of the week, the amount of their pledge. Then they are ready for a monthly settlement with their church treasurer, and he for a quarterly report in full, to the secretary. If the ministers will fill out the blanks each quarter, it will be a very simple matter to settle with them at Conference, even if they should be absent. Now it is really a matter of importance that these things be attended to. When the apostle says, “Not slothful in business,” what does he mean? Is it that we be very careful of our own worldly interests, and very negligent in the business that pertains to the cause of Christ? Perhaps our own conduct too often indicates that this is our interpretation of the words. If so, there is a text that exactly meets our case. Here it is: “Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord negligently” [margin]. Jer xlviii, 10. We certainly have need of genuine repentance. Let us attend to this thing without delay. “He that is faithful in that which is least, is faithful also in much; and he that is unjust in the least, is unjust also in much.” Luke xvi, 10. A word to the wise is said to be sufficient. Let us see how many will act with promptness. Remember that the address of our Conference Secretary is E. B. Saunders, North Parma, Monroe Co., N. Y. The Conference depends upon him to keep its accounts in proper form. He cannot do this unless you severally fulfill the work which devolves on you. The matter is addressed to your conscience. When you have read this article, go at once to your desk and fill out your reports that have been hitherto neglected; then resolve in your heart that you will never be found in this sad plight again. Keep your vows and you will be a much more careful man in time to come than you have been in the past. The time is at hand when the Master will say, Give an account of thy stewardship, for thou mayest be no longer steward. J. N. ANDREWS.