CHRISTMAS DONATIONS TO FOREIGN MISSIONS by California Conference Committee

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Mar 9, 1888

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 14, No. 10.

CHRISTMAS DONATIONS TO FOREIGN MISSIONS.

By California Conference Committee

It is unquestionably true that Seventh-day Adventists, as a people, are deeply interested in the cause of foreign missions. And it is evident that their interest and activity in both home and foreign mission work are steadily increasing. Those acquainted with them know that they are not a wealthy people, and some surprise is expressed that, notwithstanding the fact that there are but few wealthy men in their churches, they seem ever ready to undertake educational and missionary enterprises, that would appear discouraging to a body of Christians only twenty-five to thirty thousand in number.

However liberal they may be and however self-sacrificing in the cause of missions, they are not, as some honestly suppose and others maliciously report, bringing themselves rapidly to a state of poverty by their prodigal liberality. They believe and teach that temperance, industry, and economy are essential, Christian virtues, and that self-denial and sacrifice for the good of others are necessary to Christian growth.

In their foreign missionary operations, as in everything else, they have aimed at economy and practicability, for it seems apparent that their resources must ever appear limited when compared with the work undertaken. Many of the more expensive methods in use by other societies were of necessity disregarded, and only the most economical and safe plans of labor are followed.

Notwithstanding the most careful economy, the expenses of these missions during the last two or three years has exceeded by several thousand dollars each year the amount contributed for their support. To partly pay the old debt, and to help carry forward the present work, a Christmas meeting was held in all of their churches, in which each church-member, and all the children also, were encouraged to make a Christmas gift for the foreign missions.

All seem to have taken a hearty interest in the plan, and contributed according to their ability or their interest in the work. It is estimated that nearly $25,000 was contributed in this Christmas offering.

The amount contributed by the churches and isolated members of the California Conference is reported as follows:—


Burr Valley, Nev.,	$ 81 00	Oakland,	602 16
Calistoga,	38 86	Petaluma,	15 40
Dow's Prairie,	10 25	Placerville,	23 97
Eureka,	75 10	Reno, Nev.,	187 50
Ferndale,	107 00	Sacramento,	52 80
Forestville,	3 25	San Diego,	206 00
Fresno, (a)	143 70	San Francisco,	194 00
Gold Hill, Nev.,	13 00	San Jose,	55 10
Grass Valley,	4 25	San Pasqual,	101 30
Healdsburg,	825 25	Santa Ana,	92 00
Lakeport,	5 35	Santa Barbara,	44 80
Laytonville,	15 00	Santa Rosa,	30 00
Lemoore,	89 60	Selma,	30 50
Little River,	25 00	St. Clair, Nev.,	26 65
Los Angeles,	118 00	St. Helena,	529 60
Monrovia,	26 05	Vacaville,	48 45
Napa,	38 05	Woodland,	90 55
Norwalk,	72 35	Personal,	134 87
		Total,	$3,655 71

Considering the heavy burdens, such as erecting new meeting-houses, borne by several of these churches, also the fact that over

$2,000 in cash was given by them for the same purpose at the Oakland camp-meeting, and that since this camp-meeting over $5,000 has been paid, that was pledged to the missions a year ago; we must regard this as a liberal Christmas present to the missions.

What a blessing this will be to the cause of truth in foreign lands! What an encouragement to the faithful workers in the mission fields, who see around them most promising fields of labor, and faithful men willing and anxious to engage in the work, if the necessary means for carrying on the work can be provided.

And how are those affected who have made this Christmas present? In almost every case the donors are happier for having made the gift. We have heard of no one who wishes his gift had been smaller, but there are many who wish it had been more. Leaving out the note of $1,000, we find that the average per church-member is less than two dollars. A few have given their hundreds, and some scores their twenties, forties, and fifties, but the average is very moderate.

What a change it would make in the mission treasuries and in the work of all missions if every Christian would give a thoughtful answer, not only once a year, but once a week, to the question, "How much owest thou my Lord?" CAL. CONF. COM.