The Chesapeake Conference
By Roscoe T. Baer
THE work in the Chesapeake Conference for the year 1912 has made considerable progress. The conference committee voted to conduct four tent efforts,—two for the English, one for the Germans, and one for the colored people. These efforts were in a measure successful, and over sixty white persons and twenty-five colored persons have embraced the truth. Accessions to the faith have also been made at Cumberland, Thurmont, Rock Hall, Smithsburg, Baltimore, and Wilmington, making in all fully one hundred that have accepted the truth during the year. For years the message has had its representatives in Baltimore, the largest city in the conference; but, without a church building, the work has progressed under serious difficulties. The brethren and sisters and workers here labored faithfully to change this condition, until a very choice lot came into their possession; and upon this lot to-day stands a neat brick building, which, when finished, will comfortably seat three hundred persons. This church building is being pushed to completion, and will be ready for dedication about March 1. It is gratifying to know that after years of effort, there is at last a monument to God's great memorial in this city. There has been a very substantial growth and increase in the conference finances. This is due to an increase in membership, and also to an increase in faithfulness in the payment of tithes and offerings, following the general meetings which have been held with the churches in various parts of the field. The tithe for 1911 was $8,960.10, and for 1912 $10,584.47, an increase over 1911 of $1,624.37. There has been a sufficient increase in offerings for missions to bring the conference out on the Fifteen-cent-a-week Fund. The offerings for 1911 were $1,888.57, while for the year 1912 they were $4,306.66, a gain over 1911 of $2,418.09. The total tithe and offerings for 1911 were $10,848.67, and for 1912 $14,891.13, a gain of $4,042.46. The Sabbath-school offerings for 1911 were $978.76, and for the year 1912 $2,145, a gain of $1,166.24. These figures are a source of encouragement to us as we labor to develop this field, which has been classed among the weak and dependent ones; but we can see that with the help of the Lord the work is progressing, and the future looks162more promising than ever. Plans are fully in operation which it is hoped will materially help us to reach still greater heights, and as we enter upon the duties of another year, we feel confident that God will enable us to accomplish more than has ever yet been realized in the Chesapeake Conference. We trust that the Lord will continue his blessing upon his people, and that faithfulness and whole-hearted consecration may characterize each one until victory through Christ will come in the finishing of God's work in the earth.