Is It Worth While? by E. M. Graham

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 29, 1915

Is It Worth While?

By E. M. Graham

As you look over the figures given in the home missionary report for the quarter ending Sept. 30, 1914, ask yourselves the question, Have the efforts made to build up this work been worth while?

Let us consider a few points. This is the work of only a small proportion of our lay members, probably about one tenth. In thirteen weeks they have circulated over two million and a quarter papers, magazines, tracts, and books. It is generally acknowledged that in this age of the world's history, when most people read something, public opinion is very largely controlled by the reading matter which is circulated. This being so, we cannot continue to pour millions of tracts, periodicals, and books into the world without rapidly spreading a knowledge of the last warning message. As these publications reach those who are seeking for light, the Holy Spirit uses them to convict hearts.

The twenty-one thousand missionary letters have also carried with them the messages of truth and love. Thirty-nine thousand Bible readings have probably reached several times that number of persons. The thousands of acts of kindly service have doubtless opened hearts to respond to the loving calls of Jesus. The small efforts made by many to do something to give this message have swollen into a mighty river. Surely we may look at these figures and take courage.

It is somewhat remarkable to find that South Carolina has been the most successful in enlisting church members in service, in proportion to their numbers. This is the second record made in the South in this home missionary work, for it was the Southeastern Union Conference that first sent in a report from every local conference.

We have had considerable difficulty in collecting reports from Europe, which is the reason this report is published so late. Even now no report has been received from the British Union Conference. We feel sure it has been lost somewhere on its way, for it is unlike our British office to fail to send a report.

It has interested me to see that in the Bavarian, Middle Hungarian, Saxon, Transylvania, and Moravian-Silesian Conferences more home missionary work was done in the first quarter after the war started than in the quarter before. The members not called to active service evidently rallied to the Lord's work so as to more than make up for the work of those taken from them. Other fields in the war zone have done a creditable amount of work, not falling far behind the results in more prosperous times.

We welcome another union conference into our home missionary army, the South American Union Conference. It has made a fine record for the number of papers sold for a first report.

We hope the members in each conference will study their own report, and see if they cannot make the river which is bearing us home, rush faster and wider.

E. M. GRAHAM.