The Superior Mission Field
By E. R. Williams
Report of the Superintendent at the Lake Union Conference
The Upper Peninsula of Michigan began its work as a mission field, Oct. 1, 1902, when Michigan was divided into four parts. The two southern conferences (East and West Michigan) kindly consented to help support the work in this new field, where the number of believers was few, there being at that time two organized churches and one or two unorganized companies, with a membership of less than one hundred and twenty, including scattered Sabbath-keepers. The annual tithe amounted to about eight dollars a member. At the present time there are five organized churches, and three companies, with a membership of about one hundred and sixty, and tithes amounting to nearly twelve dollars per capita. We present herewith a financial statement covering the time since our last camp-meeting, or a period of a little less than ten months. The amount of money received from all sources is as follows:—
Lake Union Conference........$ 300
East Michigan Conference..... 155
West Michigan Conference..... 1,122
Sup. Mission Field........... 1,420
Total........................$2,997
Amount paid workers.......... 2,638
Balance on hand..............$ 359 The annual donation was $137; the book sales have amounted to $1,675.19, with three canvassers in the field. The tract society, which started with no money and only a few books, has now quite a little stock of books, tracts, etc., and about one hundred dollars. We are glad to make mention in this connection, of the fact that the West Michigan Conference kindly donated a number of the Swedish edition of the “Life of Christ,” which has helped very much in the work here. The Sabbath-school work has also been making some progress, there being at the present time eight organized schools, three family schools, and three Young People's Societies. A comparative statement of the donations received will help in forming some idea of the interest manifested in this work, and of its growth since the organization of the mission field. The amount received during the first quarter was nineteen dollars. During the last quarter the donations received were nearly double those of the first, the amount being thirty-six dollars. The number of workers in the field at the present writing is as follows: two ordained ministers, three licentiates, one secretary, one Bible worker, three canvassers, and one more in training for the Bible work. The workers are all of good courage, and have no desire to leave the field, though the work has sometimes been hard. Our brethren in the churches are, generally speaking, in good spirits, and earnest in the work. They have taken part in missionary effort, including the sale of “Object Lessons.” This work has been finished in this field as far as the quota is concerned, ours having been more than filled some time ago; this does not mean that nothing more will be done in this work. We can truthfully say that this is a promising and fruitful field. The Lord has blessed us much, and still there are many more and greater blessings ahead. We ask our dear brethren to remember us before the throne of grace.