The Work in Kansas by R. C. Porter

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 11, 1907

The Work in Kansas

By R. C. Porter

The recent council of workers at Manhattan, Kan., embracing the directors of districts, the conference committee, the educational superintendents, the medical superintendent, and the State canvassing agent, was a profitable meeting. Reports from the workers showed good progress in nearly all parts of the field where meetings have been held. Our Bible workers have been meeting with good success also. The canvassing work shows a marked increase this year over last year, in the number of canvassers preparing to enter the field. The canvassers delivered between eight thousand dollars and nine thousand dollars' worth of books in the State of Kansas last year. They have set the mark at twenty thousand dollars for this year, and we hope they will be able to reach it. In book sales last year this State doubled the amount of the previous year. This year there will be three or four times the number of canvassers in the field. I am very much pleased with the way our canvassing work is progressing.

The Educational Department reports sixteen teachers, teaching sixteen church-schools, with two hundred and seventy-five pupils in attendance. Twenty teachers have already signified their intention to attend the teachers' institute to be held this summer in Kansas City, Kan. The educational secretary presents his plans of work as follows:—

1. To raise the standard of education higher among the teachers, and increase their efficiency in the schoolroom, in methods, management, and apparatus. To this end, (a) to conduct a model school in connection with the teachers' institute to be held this summer; (b) to establish more church and industrial schools, at least one to be German. These to be self-supporting centers for the development of workers for God.

2. To thoroughly organize our Young People's Societies by card membership, to be transferable to other Societies upon removal; and a State society for all the isolated.

3. To establish a circulating library of excellent books on different Biblical and historical subjects, nature study, biographies of godly men and women, mission fields, etc.

The educational work is in a very prosperous condition, and the present plans will develop a higher state of efficiency for both the educational and the young people's work.

The medical work has made a steady advance during the year, until it stands with double the patronage now that it had a year ago. A spirit of unity prevails among the workers. The institution has met all interest, insurance, and operating expenses during the second year, which is doing exceedingly well for a new institution.

The tithe has greatly increased during the past year, and the missionary spirit among the churches is gradually rising. To the Lord belongs the praise. R. C. PORTER.