The Church by E. M. Graham

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 26, 1909

The Church

By E. M. Graham

Instruction Pertaining to the Duties and Responsibilities of Officers and Members

Relation of the Missionary Secretary to the Missionary Meeting

THE missionary secretary has an important part to bear in relation to the missionary meeting. Usually a leader is appointed for this meeting, who is known as president, chairman, or leader. With him is associated the missionary secretary, and on them falls the burden of planning for this meeting, unless a committee is appointed to act with them, as is sometimes the case in a large church.

Much of the success of the missionary meeting will depend upon the preparation of the program. In some places, programs are prepared in the conference office, and sent to the churches regularly. There is much in favor of this plan. There is much matter available in the conference office to which the churches do not have access, especially the small country ones, and an opportunity is given to the conference to give a systematic education in the churches on missionary work in its various phases. It is a valuable help to the missionary leader and secretary, giving them the time they would have had to use in preparing the program to devote to training the members in taking part in it.

Whether the programs are prepared in the conference office or by the church, they should be planned so as to allow several to take part in them. Here is where the missionary secretary has a work to do. In every one of our churches there is latent ability that needs to be developed. Taking part in these programs is one way of doing this. In some cases parts of the program will be in the form of readings. Those who are appointed to read them will need instruction, and if they can be drilled beforehand, until they can make themselves heard in any part of the church or room, it is an advantage. Every church-member who is young enough, and who has had sufficient education, ought to learn to read aloud clearly and impressively. This is a valuable acquisition.

Though readings are occasionally necessary and good in missionary meetings, as in the case of extracts from the Testimonies, as a general rule the subject-matter of the lesson should be studied until it can be told instead of being read. This will make it more interesting to the hearers, and more educational to the speakers. But unfortunately most people are mentally indolent, and the missionary secretary will find it will take considerable time and effort to get the members to give the necessary study to the lessons to be able to talk to them intelligently. This should not lead to the abandonment of the effort, for with perseverance and tact, the desired result can be accomplished, and it is well worth all it costs. It is well to enlist the younger members for these parts, as their minds are more retentive, and therefore the study is not so difficult for them. In this way a foundation for public speaking can be laid.

E. M. GRAHAM.