Church Clerks by Mrs. M. V. Newman

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Oct 27, 1904

Church Clerks

By Mrs. M. V. Newman

MRS. M. V. NEWMAN

I WONDER how many church clerks realize what an important position they are occupying, and what a great opportunity they have for cheering sad and discouraged, and often tempted, souls. And I wonder if they ever think that, because of a lack of faithfulness on their part, precious souls are sometimes lost to the cause of truth. Of course it is not only the privilege, but the duty of absent members to report to their home church, whether the clerk writes to them or not; but they do not always do this, and the clerk, by her friendly, Christian letters, can often save the absent members from drifting away from Christ. And so I shall offer a few suggestions for the benefit of church clerks who have never been absent members themselves, and therefore do not always fully realize the needs of those who are deprived of church privileges.

I consider it very important to write to the absent member long enough before the quarterly meeting so that his answer may be received just before that occasion. Write a good, earnest letter,

showing him that you are interested in him, and that the church is interested in his welfare and desires to hear from him. Tell him his letters will be a source of strength to the home church, and urge him to write immediately. We all know how easy it is to answer a letter when we first receive it. How many of us have been very enthusiastic over letters which we have received, and have thought we would answer them in a short time; but after a few days our interest cooled, and we put off writing until we did not feel like it, and consequently did not write.

Of course it takes time for the clerk to write to all the absent members when the church is a large one, and she may feel that she has not the time for so much writing. But we always find time to do that in which we have the most interest. If church clerks really feel a burden for their work, and they certainly should, for we should never do anything into which we can not put our heart, they will find time for it.

And if an absent member should send tithe or an offering, by all means do not fail to acknowledge it—not simply by a receipt, for that alone seems merely a matter of business, but write a few words showing your appreciation of the donation. I remember, when the Haskell Home was first built, of sending a donation to it, and of receiving in reply a warm letter of thanks, and also a photograph of the building. Well, I can not tell you how much deeper it made my interest in the Home, and how I wished I could donate much more. Again, I made an offering for something. I forget what it was now, but it was while I was in Battle Creek, and the clerk wrote me a receipt, and on the receipt wrote the word “Thanks.” Of course it made me feel that the offering was appreciated, and also I felt that the young man was careful and thoughtful in his work. Another instance which I will mention is that of an absent member who sent to the home church thirty dollars as tithe. The name of the clerk not being known, it was sent to the elder. Nothing was received in return but a receipt—not a word of thanks or encouragement. This is just as it should not be.

Do not be afraid of dealing gently, and even leniently, with absent members. You know not their temptations and discouragements. And unless you have been an absent member, you do not know how much a letter is appreciated, and how it warms and revives a discouraged soul to feel that he is still remembered, and that the church has still an interest in him. How it makes my heart ache to see a notice in the REVIEW from a church, stating that if the absent members do not report by such a time, their names will be dropped from the list! Is that the way that Christ instructed us to deal with an erring brother? Why will not his instruction apply to absent members as well as to the erring ones who are still with us? Why not ask for their addresses so you may be able to write to them, and then kindly and in a Christian manner urge them to report? I would say again, We can not deal too gently with the absent, and perhaps erring members. How does God treat us when we wander from him? And should we take it upon ourselves to be less merciful to our brother?