The Columbia Union for 1913 by B. G. Wilkinson

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 26, 1914

The Columbia Union for 1913

By B. G. Wilkinson

As we look back upon what God has done for his work in the Columbia Union Conference during the year 1913, our hearts are moved with gratitude. This little union, with only a few more than six thousand members, is pressing on in the work. Many large propositions were faced last year, and with the help of the Lord were successfully carried out.

All the workers from the different parts of the field report encouraging additions, both in churches to the conference and in members to the churches. The president of one conference says that every tent effort in his territory last summer resulted in raising up a new church. We do not have at hand the definite figures of the net increase in membership, but we are satisfied it will be of an encouraging nature.

New Church Buildings

All over the union there have been arising new memorials to God. While sometimes the devotion to the task, and the raising of money to erect a church building, check for the time being other features of the work, nevertheless when the new structure is up, permanency is given to the work, which begets confidence in the hearts of believers and others. We are satisfied that if the new buildings which have been erected are properly used, next year will see a large growth in the membership throughout the union.

At Baltimore a new brick structure, worth about $12,000, was erected and dedicated; also in the same city a new church for colored people, valued at $5,000. At Newark, N. J., an English memorial was erected, valued at $10,000, and a Slavo-Bohemian church, costing $5,000. In this same conference a new church building, containing offices for the conference and rooms for a church school, was erected in the city of Trenton. The writer was present at the dedication of the new church at Hagerstown, Md., worth about $4,000. In this same conference a church was erected at Fords Store, at a cost of about $1,200; one at Pondsville, Del., at a cost of $500; and one at Whitesville, costing $2,000.

In a few days the writer expects to attend the dedication of the new church in Wilmington, Del., valued at $3,500. In Takoma Park, D. C., a new church, valued at $20,000, was dedicated free from debt. The church at Pittsburgh was rededicated, with a new addition costing $3,800, while the old debt of $1,500 was completely liquidated. Portsmouth, Va., has seen a new church building arise, valued at $2,500; while plans have just been laid to erase completely the debt of $6,000 from the church at Richmond. Other plans are in progress which will be reported later.

Tithes and Offerings

We are glad to report an increase of about $13,000 in tithes this year, bringing the total tithe of the union up to $131,000 for the year 1913. In two conferences alone the increase in tithe was nearly $4,000 each. Of the $60,000 allotted to the Columbia Union to raise upon the Twenty-cent-a-week Fund for 1913, all was raised except about $2,700. This is all the more encouraging when we remember that some things operated strongly to make this work difficult the last year,—the heavy floods in Ohio, and the holding of the General Conference session in the heart of the union. This was attended by so many of the brethren of this union, whose expenditure in time and money, together with their donations to various missionary objects, kept them from attending their own camp meetings, and naturally diminished their gifts. The Columbia Union this past year has sent in to the General Conference for its various needs about $88,000.

Institutions

We are glad to report that the operation of Mount Vernon College this year was successful. There will be no loss, and we are confidently expecting a gain. Through donations the debt has been reduced several thousand dollars, so that whereas four years ago the debt was $32,000, this year it will be reduced to $23,000, and of course whatever comes to this institution as a share of its efforts in the Twenty-cent-a-week Fund will bring its liabilities lower than the sum mentioned.

The total debt on the Philadelphia sanitarium today stands at $9,000, whereas it once was $85,000. At the recent committee meeting held by the Columbia Union Conference, plans were adopted to unite again this year in an effort to raise money to pay off the remainder of this debt.

It was with pleasure that the union could cooperate in the effort to make the educational institution at Washington a college. While the outlook for Mount Vernon was most encouraging, we feel very glad to transfer the college interests to the school planted at the headquarters of the denomination and the influential center of the United States. All will take hold with good courage and earnest efforts to do their part in making both the college at Washington and the academy at Mount Vernon successful. Splendid provisions have been made to secure a larger patronage and success for the Washington Sanitarium. In all these the Columbia Union is endeavoring to cooperate to her best ability. We believe there are splendid days ahead of this excellent institution.

Publishing Work

This branch of the work is progressing. The last few months have witnessed high marks in the record of the union, and the work has bright prospects of taking on still larger proportions. By July we had reached the $15,000 mark, but 1914 bids fair to see that mark reached as early as April, and the probabilities are that by July we shall have reached the $20,000 mark. Our work prospered well during the closing months of the year. Even December, which usually gives us a record of not more than $1,500 to $2,000, almost reached the $5,000 mark.

The institutes thus far this winter have been strong. Ohio had the largest attendance that has been known in many years. A colporteurs' band at Mount Vernon College was recently organized with a membership of over sixty. This

is the largest colporteurs' band ever organized in this school. The canvassing spirit runs high among the students.

Men are leaving excellent positions throughout the union to engage in this important work. It will be interesting to watch the progress of this work through the columns of the Columbia Union Visitor. The union is manned with a splendid corps of field agents, the best corps of agents we have ever had in the history of the union.

Religious Liberty

The work in this department has taken on new life and vigor. The religious liberty institute held at Baltimore, Md., was timely, and it was there that we came in close touch with the work of the Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America, with the Lord's Day Alliance, and with Cardinal Gibbons, the American head of the Catholic Church. Reports of what took place there have already appeared in the REVIEW, so we shall add nothing at present.

Letters are now being sent out from this department to all our brethren throughout the union, preparing them to cooperate in a great effort in behalf of temperance. We believe that we as a people should do a greater work along this line. There is no reason why this denomination should not assume its proper place as a pronounced advocate of routing the forces of rum.

We have just closed a successful meeting of the Mount Vernon Academy Board and of the Columbia Union Conference Committee. Nothing has been left undone to keep the union conference for the time being in control of the academy, and to give to the school all needed support, in order that the work of Mount Vernon Academy may be the very best that can be arranged. The Columbia Union Conference Committee also laid some good plans in behalf of the evangelical work and for the increase of our foreign mission funds for the coming year. Throughout the union every one, both workers and people, is of good courage, and we are looking forward to the favor of God and the witness of the Holy Spirit.

B. G. WILKINSON.