Maryland and Delaware by Roscoe T. Baer

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Jan 8, 1914

Maryland and Delaware

By Roscoe T. Baer

As the year draws to a close, it seems perfectly natural to look back over the past to see what has been accomplished. In a few paragraphs I shall state some evidences of progress which has come through the Spirit of God using faithful workers both of the conference and of the churches (for there are those who are not in the employ of the conference whom we are pleased to recognize as workers) as instruments for bringing light and blessing to those living in the territory of the Chesapeake Conference.

During the past year evangelistic efforts were conducted in the cities of Baltimore, Wilmington, and Frederick, some of our largest cities, and meetings have been held in halls in Cumberland, Hagerstown, and Smithsburg, and in cities and towns where we have church buildings. The Lord has blessed his servants in the presentation of the word, so that fully one hundred have been converted and are now walking in the light. Most of these have been baptized, and are giving of their means to help extend the work. One new church has been organized at Frederick, where Elder S. T. Shadel took up the work last July. Sister Carrol, a Bible worker, and Elder Shadel and his family compose the working force there.

The way has opened for the erection of several church buildings this year, and five have already been dedicated to the cause of the third angel's message. The work has steadily advanced in cities where these memorials for the truth have been erected, and the erection of these memorials, I believe, figures to quite an extent in the great problem of getting our message before the masses in our large cities. Of course we are to use good judgment and plan wisely so as not to incur indebtedness, which tends to discouragement.

With all the burdens of providing houses of worship, our people have given nobly to the cause, both in tithes and in offerings. The tithe for 1912 was $9,282.20; and for 1913, $10,550, a gain of $1,267.80. The mission offerings have been the best in the history of the work in this field. We are hoping that when the returns are all in, we shall find that we have met our share of the Twenty-cent-a-week Fund. The book sales have increased over the previous year to the amount of $1,221.80. An institute for canvassers will soon be in progress, when we expect to gather recruits for a greater missionary campaign.

Owing to the increased race prejudice, we have been compelled to conduct our camp meetings and conference sessions separately. Our white brethren and sisters attend the camp meetings, and then during the year a special meeting for the colored brethren is held in some central place where all can come together. At this meeting the policy of the conference and resolutions are considered and adopted, so that there is harmony among all, and the most earnest desire on the part of all to see the work move forward. The work among the colored people is onward, and we have three growing churches, one of which paid into the conference more than six hundred dollars, which is more than was given by all the colored constituency of the conference three years ago.

The week of prayer proved a great blessing to our people here. The Lord wrought mightily in the hearts of many. In one of our meetings on the last Sabbath of the week of prayer, ten persons gave themselves to the Lord and requested baptism. This good news reached our office by telephone, and we all rejoiced to see the workings of the power of God.

Many other items of interest could be mentioned concerning the work here in the East which I may give some other time. We are of good courage in the Lord; and while we see a great need, we also see the Lord going before us, and this helps when the battle goes hard. We have our problems and are not without trials, but with the help of the Lord we hope to come off more than conquerors. God's hand is in this movement; he is “able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.” We desire to prove faithful and see the work close in triumph.

Roscoe T. Baer.