TO OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF THE ILL. T. AND M. SOCIETY.
By Wilson Pottenger
I HAVE been laboring for a short time in the interests of this society, endeavoring to get our members to see the necessity of engaging more earnestly in the T. and M. work. Will not God hold us accountable for the time and means he has given us to devote to labor in his cause? Most assuredly he will. We all have a work to do as individuals, a work that no other can do for us. God does not require impossibilities of us. The T. and M. work is adapted to the capacity of each individual; and our heavenly Father will hold us to an account, according to what he has given us. In the armies of nations we see the necessity of order and discipline. Every man, from the Commander in Chief down to the private soldier, must do his duty, or confusion and defeat will result. So it is in the missionary work. Unfaithfulness on the part of officers or members is disastrous to the success of the work. I would recommend all to read the series of4articles from the pen of sister White, published in the Review, beginning with No. 24, Vol. 52. Aided by the Holy Spirit, she represents in its true light, the great importance of the work,—what it has done, what it is doing, and what it will accomplish if conducted in a systematic manner. I would earnestly recommend each member of our conference to carefully and prayerfully read these articles, and then go to work as never before, in spreading present truth as set forth in our publications. And I would suggest to our ministers the propriety of urgently inviting persons to become members of the T. and M. society as soon as they are brought into covenant relation with the church. Our State is not doing what it should in the T. and M. work. In a membership of 700, only about 284 belong to the T. and M. society. And of this number, only about 126 reported last quarter. Some of the districts failed to give the number, so they were credited with but one. We hope for a better state of things in the future. Having opened a correspondence with the officers and some of the members of our society, and having visited in several localities, I will say by way of encouragement that the “outlook” is decidedly better than it has been. A few of the directors have failed to respond to my letters of inquiry. But I hope to hear from all, as I wish to make myself acquainted with the work as far as possible. We must labor together if we would succeed. To this end, brethren, let us make one grand effort. Let us raise our T. and M. membership to at least 500 during the year 1879. This can be done. Illinois must come up and take her place among her sister conferences in the T. and M. work. May God bless the Illinois T. and M. Society. WILSON POTTENGER, Vice-Pres.