Another Noble Contribution to Mission Fields
By A. G. Daniells
Another generous gift has been made to the cause of missions by one of our conferences. At its annual session just held in connection with the Marysville camp-meeting, the Ohio Conference passed the following resolution:— Acknowledging the prospering hand of God upon our conference work and workers in the past, and recognizing his special blessing upon our missionaries sent last year into the heart of China, as the beckoning hand of God to move forward, we— Recommend, (1) That one half of our workers, together with one half of our conference tithe, be held subject to the call of the General Conference for use in aggressive work in the destitute fields in the regions beyond; (2) that this plan of sharing our workers and means with the more needy countries of earth be adopted as a permanent policy of the Ohio Conference till the gospel work is finished. This resolution was prepared and submitted to the conference by the committee on plans and recommendations, with clear, deep convictions that the policy enunciated is right, and that it must be followed if we as a people meet the approval of God, and give our message to the world in this generation. That this recommendation struck a responsive chord in the hearts of the brethren and sisters, was plainly evident by the ringing “amens” that followed its reading. The president of the conference and all the laborers in the State supported the proposal with a promptness and a decision that plainly revealed their devotion to the policy expressed by the resolution. The earnest, thoughtful speeches made by the delegates showed that the subject had been given earnest thought, and that they knew what they were about. During the consideration of the question, a number stated that when they read the report of Iowa’s action in behalf of mission work a few weeks ago, their hearts were filled with joy, and that they had been praying that the Ohio Conference would stand with Iowa in this forward move in behalf of missions. After the delegates had adopted the resolution by a unanimous vote, an opportunity was given the whole congregation to express itself. The audience arose as one man in support of the proposal. While the resolution was under consideration, a call was made for volunteers to mission fields. Seventy persons responded by rising. Among these were nearly all the ministers and laborers of the Ohio Conference. The scene was a beautiful one to look upon, and the hallowed presence of the Great Missionary was signally present. Who can not see from such experiences that this denomination is entering upon a new era in its missionary enterprises? The consecration of the conference tithe to missions forms a substantial basis of support for our missionaries, and makes it possible and safe to greatly increase our staff at the front. As a denomination, we have not fully awakened to the fact that the financial basis of our missions has never been right. It has not been consistent with the gospel plan of supporting the ministers of Christ. Long ago we saw that the tithe was the Lord’s for the support of his ministers. For years this plan has been carried out in the home land, and in organized conferences in foreign lands. But in mission fields the basis of the support of God’s ministers has been the gifts of the people. As long as a minister remains in a home conference, the basis6of his support is the regular, certain, and liberal inflow of the tithe. But the moment he responds to the stirring calls from distant lands, he is cut off from the tithe, and his support is placed upon the uncertain, fluctuating contributions of the people. For more than two years the weakness, not to say injustice, of this arrangement has haunted me day and night. I have been unable to see how we could permit this arrangement to continue. It is certainly plain to every one who will give it any thought, that this is contrary to the spirit of the gospel. If any of the Lord’s messengers are to depend for their support upon the gifts of the people, should it not be those who remain at home among their relatives, their friends, and their brethren and sisters? Here they are acquainted with the ways, the prices, and the resources of the country. They have many advantages over those who go far away among strangers, whose ways of living, dealing, etc., they do not understand. I have seen the personal welfare of the missionaries, and the interests of the cause they were laboring hard to build up in distant lands, greatly imperiled by the failure of sufficient contributions to meet their necessities. Knowing the meaning of such conditions, the Mission Board naturally exercises great caution in sending families to strange lands, and of necessity is kept on a constant strain to provide support for those already in the mission fields. But we rejoice to see that a change is taking place. The tithe, that is as regular and sure as the seasons of the year, is to be made the basis of the support of ministers in foreign lands, as well as of those at home in large, well-organized conferences. The hands on the great dial have moved forward, and they will never turn back. This will place in the destitute mission fields during the next year or so, scores of fresh, consecrated workers, and many thousands of dollars. The yearly tithe of our North American churches is more than half a million dollars. The tithe in all lands outside of North America was only about one fourth of that, or one hundred and thirty-four thousand dollars last year. Our contributions to missions during 1903 was about two hundred thousand dollars. Now, as our old well-to-do conferences will share their resources with the mission fields, as some are doing, we can easily double our staff of workers abroad. And should not this be done, if we finish this work in this generation? We have reason to rejoice at the prospect before us.