p. 149 | WANTS IN ILLINOIS by G. W. Colcord

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 10, 1877

WANTS IN ILLINOIS.

By G. W. Colcord

1. As a Conference we are in need of more earnest, working officers. We have a few who are doing something; but the sad thought is, we are not doing one-fourth, no, not one-twentieth, of what should be accomplished from month to month in this State. Sad, indeed! May God pity and help us. Our camp-meeting committee, our executive committee, and all our ministers, should be minute men. Why not? Come, my fellow-workers, let me hear from you. What are you doing? What do you desire to have done in Illinois the coming season? If you leave it all to be done by one, but little will be done, and perhaps great mistakes will be committed. No, no; let all come to the rescue. Write to and confer with each other; thus you will become posted, your love for God’s truth will be increased, and you will be enabled to labor with efficiency to save souls.

2. Our brethren and sisters sustain a great loss by not maintaining better order in the churches. I speak more particularly of the manner of conducting business meetings, and the keeping of all church records.

By the way, if all our preachers would keep a minute of every interesting item connected with their labors in any new field, when it comes to writing the records of the church, a reference to the minister’s journal would relieve the church organizer of three-fourths of his wearing toil. Therefore I advise as follows: Let all our Illinois lecturers keep a faithful account of every item of interest connected with their labor. Tell when you began the course of lectures, who were baptized (give name and date), when the church was partially organized, when fully, state who were chosen or ordained officers, etc.

Another thought: Why should not S. D. Adventists have a neat and convenient blank book in which to inscribe church records? Other denominations have them, nicely printed and ready for use. I have a form which we are using in Illinois which our friends like very much; but it is too laborious and wasteful of time to write so much. I should be rejoiced could Eld. U. Smith, or some one, furnish our people with a suitable book for this purpose. Business meetings will always be conducted with far more concision and profit (other surroundings being equal) if the chair insist on having all obey parliamentary rules. Study Cushing, or some author; then be orderly in God’s house. Elect to the clerkship the best scribes you have, unless otherwise disqualified; then tell them to keep the books free from blots.

3. Illinois has remained needlessly weak, ever since its first existence as a separate Conference, because those occupying responsible positions lacked religious courage. We have been fearful, too fearful, to deliver the whole truth to our brethren and sisters. Afraid to say, “One-tenth of all you earn you should place in God’s treasury.” I am sorry, and determine to reform. I ask all the preachers and all the members of our Illinois churches and all our scattered friends to lift with me in this effort.

4. Hopeful features are: Our preachers appear to be girding themselves for the coming summer campaign; quite a goodly number of our lay brethren are promising me they will work harder. We are not so cramped for money as heretofore. The Ill. T. and M. Society has more funds with which to operate. We now are arranging to use four tents next month. The Lord is gracious—willing to forgive and aid us. May his blessing rest upon Illinois.

G. W. COLCORD.