The Home Missionary Work for Quarter Ending Sept. 30, 1915
By Edith M. Graham
The report of the third quarter's home missionary work shows that the spirit of service is growing among our people. The totals of the different items run into large figures, and it must be evident to all who look at them that such a volume of work must have given a knowledge of this last warning to a large number of people. One union conference report has failed to reach us, the South American Union. We think it must have been lost in transit, as the reports from that union have come promptly before. This has reduced the foreign totals somewhat, but even so, they are encouraging. More persons have reported work this quarter than reported last—564 in the North American Division, and 3,493 in the foreign fields. There were 2,107 more letters written in the Division, and 5,272 more outside of it. In the Division 4,344 more missionary visits were made, and in the regions beyond 5,675 more. The Division members gave 3,486 fewer Bible readings, but the foreign members increased theirs by 6,496. In the Division 285 fewer subscriptions were taken, whereas in the other fields there was a gain of 3,640. In papers sold, the Division came out ahead by 16,193 more than the previous quarter, while in the foreign fields 4,115 fewer were sold; but the Division lent and gave 45,056 fewer this quarter, and the foreign fields 3,973 more. The Division gain in books sold was 3,632, and the foreign gain 2,256. In the Division 52 fewer books were lent or given, and in the outside fields 3,512 more. The Division sales of tracts increased by 6,661, while the foreign sales were 22,135 less. In the Division 238,867 fewer tracts were lent and given, but the regions beyond used 171,582 more in this way. The Division gain in hours of Christian help work was 981, and the gain abroad 711. Articles of clothing given in the Division were 2,657 fewer, and outside of it 918 more. In the Division 2,060 fewer meals were given, and 1,202 fewer abroad. In the Division 258 more treatments were given, and 563 more in the foreign fields. The Division obtained 72 more signatures to the temperance pledge, and the foreign fields 541 more. The offerings in the Division were increased by $580.30, while the foreign offerings had a drop of $135.36. There were 173 fewer conversions reported in the Division, and 116 more in the foreign fields. We obtained a report from one European mission field; and Korea, the Inca Union Mission, and Honduras are represented in this report, the two latter for the first time. We think these figures should encourage our people to press forward. This home missionary work, which is to have an important part in the finishing of the work, is not being left to the members of strong conferences, but it is fast becoming a world-wide movement.