p. 32 | Review and Herald, Vol. 87, No. 40. (10/6/1910)

Financial Summary for 1909

Tithe

Per Cent of Fund Named Per Cent of Grand Total From the United States ............ $860,573.86 70.64 From all other countries .......... 357,669.60 29.36 Total $1,218,243.46 61.39

Offerings

From the United States:— Reported by conferences .......... 214,884.51 Reported by Sabbath-schools ...... 81,225.41 Reported by Miss. Vol. societies .. 7,180.07 303,289.99 79.18 From all other countries:— Reported by conferences .......... 43,554.47 Reported by Sabbath-schools ...... 32,988.47 Reported by Miss. Vol. societies .. 3,252.00 79,794.94 20.82 Total $383,084.93 19.30

Special Funds

Tithes appropriated by conferences in United States for evangelistic work in mission fields ................ 77,857.39 Tithes in all other countries ........ 20,628.02 98,485.41 Total “offerings” noted above ........ 383,084.93 Total for mission fields in 1909 ..... 481,570.34 Total of similar funds in 1908 ....... 444,127.94 Increase for 1909 .................... 37,442.40

Home Missions

Contributed for support of orphanages, religious liberty work, work for colored people, and various lines of mission work, where the funds are sent outside the church, but not to a foreign field:— From the United States:— Reported by conferences ............ 78,897.57 Reported by Miss. Vol. societies .... 3,985.27 82,882.84 60.54 From all other countries:— Reported by conferences ............ 52,792.34 Reported by Miss. Vol. societies .... 1,233.55 54,025.89 39.46 Total $136,908.73 6.90

Local Church Work

Contributed for local church work, such as distribution of literature, assisting needy poor, church expenses, maintenance of church-schools, and all other local missionary work or enterprises:— From the United States:— Reported by conferences ............ 115,337.92 Maintenance of church-schools ...... 97,902.06 Maintenance of local Sabbath- schools ........................ 5,482.78 Reported by Miss. Vol. societies .... 2,464.39 221,187.15 89.80 From all other countries:— Reported by Conferences ............ 16,825.34 Maintenance of church-schools ...... 6,800.08 Maintenance of local Sabbath- schools ........................ 986.14 Reported by Miss. Vol. societies .... 521.32 25,132.88 10.20 Total $246,320.03 12.41

Financial Summary for 1909 (Concluded)

Grand Total

Per Cent of Fund Named Per Cent of Grand Total Grand total of all funds raised by the Seventh-day Adventist denomination in 1909 for evangelistic work: From the United States ............ $1,467,933.84 73.97 From all other countries .......... 516,623.31 26.03 Total for 1909 ................ $1,984,557.15 100.00% Total for 1908 .................... 1,770,649.07 Net gain .......................... 213,908.08 Per cent of gain .................. 11.21

Another statement as to funds indicates that there was— Per Cent Raised by churches, as tithes ........ $1,218,243.46 61.39 Raised by churches, as offerings (foreign, home, and local) ....... 522,292.15 26.32 Total by churches ................ $1,740,535.61 87.71 Contributed by Sabbath-schools ....... 120,682.80 6.08 For maintenance of church-schools ... 104,702.14 5.27 By Miss. Volunteer Department ....... 18,636.60 .94 Total by departments ............. 244,021.54 12.29 Grand Totals ..................... $1,984,557.15 100.00

Communicants

Total Sabbath-keepers in the United States ............ 65,122 64.52 Total Sabbath-keepers outside the United States ...... 35,809 35.48 Total ............................................. 100,931 100.00 Per cent of gain ...................................... 3.45 Per capita of total funds from communicants in the United States ...... $22.54 Per capita of total funds from communicants outside of the United States . 14.43 Per capita for entire communicants ................................. 19.66

Summary of Statistical Reports, 1863 to 1909

Summary of Statistical Reports, 1863 to 1909—Table No. 3

YEAR	Union Conferences	Local Conferences	Missions²	Ministers	Licentiates	Licensed Missionaries	Canvassers	Total Laborers³	Churches	Membership	Sabbath-Keepers⁴	Tithe	Per Capita	Offerings to Missions	Total Sabbath-School Offerings	Book and Periodical Sales
1863¹	......	6	......	22	8	......	......	......	125	3,500	......	$8,000 00	$2 29	......	......	$3,000 00
1864¹	......	6	1	24	10	......	......	......	130	3,800	......	10,000 00	2 63	......	......	3,500 00
1865¹	......	7	1	25	10	......	......	......	140	4,000	......	12,000 00	3 00	......	......	4,000 00
1866¹	......	7	1	27	10	......	......	......	150	4,250	......	15,000 00	3 53	......	......	4,500 00
1867	......	7	1	28	10	......	......	......	160	4,320	......	18,661 39	4 32	......	......	5,000 00
1868	......	7	1	32	19	......	......	......	159	4,475	......	23,366 57	5 22	......	......	6,000 00
1869	......	8	2	33	24	......	......	......	167	4,900	......	18,952 77	3 87	......	......	6,500 00
1870	......	8	3	37	35	......	......	......	179	5,440	......	21,822 46	4 01	......	......	7,000 00
1871	......	11	2	35	48	......	......	......	185	4,550	......	23,066 42	5 07	......	......	8,000 00
1872	......	12	1	41	47	......	......	......	205	4,936	......	25,956 42	5 28	......	......	8,500 00
Total, 10 years.	......	......	......	......	......	......	......	......	......	......	......	176,826 03	......	......	......	56,000 00
1873	......	13	1	51	83	......	......	......	239	5,875	......	30,687 49	5 22	......	......	10,578 40
1874	......	13	1	60	70	......	......	......	300	7,000	......	31,000 00	4 43	$5,000 00	......	14,000 00
1875	......	13	2	69	76	......	......	......	339	8,022	......	32,618 62	4 06	7,000 00	......	18,000 00
1876	......	14	2	96	70	......	......	......	398	10,044	......	43,998 47	4 38	8,000 00	......	20,000 00
1877	......	15	3	106	97	......	......	......	478	11,708	......	47,176 56	4 03	10,000 00	......	25,000 00
1878	......	16	6	117	154	......	......	......	540	13,077	......	47,637 29	3 64	12,000 00	......	27,000 00
1879	......	20	9	144	151	......	......	......	599	14,141	......	51,714 38	3 65	15,000 00	......	31,780 66
1880	......	24	8	144	116	......	......	......	640	15,570	......	61,856 88	3 98	22,000 00	......	40,000 00
1881	......	24	7	148	126	......	......	......	640	16,916	......	74,185 55	4 39	26,000 00	......	45,000 00
1882	......	26	6	167	134	......	......	......	660	17,169	......	84,261 36	4 91	30,000 00	......	47,000 00
Total, 10 years.	......	......	......	......	......	......	......	......	......	......	......	505,136 60	......	135,000 00	......	278,359 06
1883	......	26	3	165	135	......	......	......	680	17,436	......	96,418 62	5 53	34,000 00	......	55,000 00
1884	......	28	3	176	145	......	......	......	705	18,702	......	105,543 41	5 64	37,000 00	......	62,409 12
1885	......	28	3	186	151	......	......	......	741	20,547	......	122,641 69	5 97	38,000 00	......	41,692 36
1886	......	28	3	213	166	......	......	......	798	23,111	......	146,936 78	6 31	44,000 00	......	76,219 52
1887	......	30	8	227	182	......	......	......	889	25,841	......	192,720 99	7 44	45,000 00	$16,751 83	113,795 06
1888	......	32	7	232	168	......	......	......	901	26,112	......	163,129 23	6 20	49,468 36	18,485 77	250,000 00
1889	......	34	7	229	183	......	......	......	972	28,324	......	224,743 78	7 93	55,998 08	22,541 24	500,000 00
1890	......	34	8	227	184	......	......	411	1,016	29,711	......	245,433 98	7 59	59,726 61	28,042 71	734,397 00
1891	......	34	8	230	166	......	......	396	1,066	31,665	......	258,037 27	8 11	60,611 20	29,435 05	819,749 00
1892	......	34	11	244	156	......	......	405	1,102	33,778	......	302,310 19	8 94	75,526 39	37,542 07	706,690 33
Total, 10 years.	......	......	......	......	......	......	......	......	......	......	......	1,837,985 94	......	490,100 84	153,398 91	3,359,912 39
1893	......	35	11	267	193	......	......	460	1,151	37,404	......	350,690 56	9 37	108,572 11	37,936 11	416,044 52
1894	1	35	12	301	214	......	......	515	1,225	42,763	......	321,517 06	7 51	108,429 10	39,562 42	310,434 55
1895	1	36	22	326	257	......	......	583	1,331	47,680	......	309,142 76	6 45	73,322 54	37,336 35	250,000 00
1896	1	37	27	336	237	......	......	573	1,439	52,202	......	341,978 37	6 55	83,682 47	40,125 13	250,000 00
1897	1	37	24	407	249	......	......	646	1,575	56,436	......	363,415 16	6 43	140,335 97	41,541 40	250,000 00
1898	2	39	27	446	260	......	......	706	1,654	59,447	......	432,158 08	7 26	70,170 45	40,301 87	200,000 00
1899	2	44	42	490	331	543	......	1,386	1,785	64,005	......	490,656 16	7 66	75,662 42	39,071 79	300,000 00
1900	2	42	42	510	337	571	......	1,500	1,892	66,547	75,767	510,258 97	6 73	95,615 24	46,794 40	250,000 00
1901	9	57	41	553	340	611	......	1,591	2,011	69,356	78,188	578,628 13	7 40	100,000 00	43,819 67	300,000 00
1902	13	72	42	553	323	528	826	2,278	2,077	67,150	73,522	643,747 83	8 75	115,000 00	51,642 01	430,027 71
Total, 10 years.	......	......	......	......	......	......	......	......	......	......	......	4,342,193 08	......	970,820 30	418,131 15	2,956,506 58
1903	13	78	48	616	324	662	1,032	2,704	2,120	69,072	77,554	684,030 54	8 82	137,315 67	55,823 85	477,714 98
1904	13	78	52	605	335	713	1,053	2,730	2,243	71,891	81,721	691,819 33	8 47	144,712 20	60,460 80	436,600 68
1905	13	80	56	647	339	719	1,068	2,797	2,340	77,443	87,311	858,014 91	8 85	169,335 11	68,613 71	548,067 03
1906	16	86	66	693	408	948	1,218	3,502	2,416	79,422	91,531	998,275 82	10 91	193,005 86	75,068 55	824,027 69
1907	21	93	68	712	394	1,013	1,382	3,587	2,504	80,897	94,048	1,064,753 43	11 33	204,323 16	85,105 89	1,035,565 62
1908	21	101	66	779	427	1,017	1,681	4,007	2,537	83,145	97,579	1,101,396 47	11 29	208,015 68	104,620 77	1,286,981 24
1909	21	104	72	787	425	1,107	1,660	4,104	2,691	88,502	100,931	1,218,243 46	12 07	285,084 93	120,682 80	1,402,444 00
Total, 7 years.	......	......	......	......	......	......	......	......	......	......	......	6,616,533 96	......	1,599,822 61	570,376 37	6,011,401 24
Grand Totals.	......	......	......	......	......	......	......	......	......	......	......	13,478,605 61	......	3,105,733 75	1,141,906 43	12,662,179 27

Statement Regarding Adventist Bodies

The accompanying table presents some interesting statistical information regarding the Adventist bodies in the United States, as shown by volume 2, pages 1-36, of the report of the United States Bureau of the Census, regarding religious bodies, for the year 1906. This indicates the growth since its preceding report, for 1890, and as the figures speak for themselves, it is not necessary to enlarge upon the statistical phase here. The facts set forth in the following presentation—decidedly brief though it is—are drawn from the census report, and are not stated here in any way for the purpose of drawing invidious comparisons, but solely as a matter of information. Each denomination was requested by the bureau to prepare the historical statement to accompany its report, the bureau securing statistical returns direct from the churches themselves, so that all that information might be put on the same original, authentic basis.

History and Doctrine

While all these bodies are classed in reports as Adventists, yet, so far as is known, there is no organic connection or affiliation between any of them. The oldest body is that known as the EVANGELICAL ADVENTISTS, the organization of which resulted from the advent movement of 1840-44. The believers in the advent doctrine met at Albany, N. Y., April, 1845, and formed a somewhat loose organization, which for ten years included practically all the Adventist believers except those who, in 1846, began the observance of the seventh day of the week as the Sabbath, and were, in 1863, organized as Seventh-day Adventists. In 1852 there arose a discussion regarding the conscious state of the dead and the immortality of the soul. The party taking the negative side of these questions also proclaimed that Christ would come in 1854, and in 1861 organized a denomination known as the ADVENT CHRISTIAN CHURCH. The next branch to organize was the SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS, whose chief doctrines are, in a word, a belief in the near, visible, personal return of Christ—without setting a date for that event—and the observance of the seventh day of the week as the Sabbath.

The CHURCH OF GOD (Adventist) was established by those who withdrew from the Seventh-day Adventists in 1865 in opposition to the spirit of prophecy, also repudiating the view that the sanctuary to be cleansed at the end of the 2300 days (Dan. 8:14) was the heavenly sanctuary. In 1905 a portion of this body separated yet again from the parent body, charging an exercise of arbitrary authority on the part of its General Conference, and organizing what are known as the CHURCHES OF GOD (ADVENTIST) UNATTACHED CONGREGATIONS. These two bodies observe the seventh day of the week, while the remaining four branches observe the first day.

The discussion which arose over the theory that there is to be no resurrection of the wicked, gave rise to the organization of the LIFE AND ADVENT UNION in 1864. The representation of a number of independent bodies holding Adventist views, yet refusing to be identified with other branches, met in 1888 and organized an association known as the CHURCHES OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS, a characteristic belief being that of the theory of an age to come.

Polity

The churches of the EVANGELICAL ADVENTISTS are congregational in polity, their annual conferences having “no ecclesiastical authority,” and consequently “no general missionary enterprises” are carried forward.

The organization of the ADVENT CHRISTIAN CHURCH is on the basis that the churches are congregational in polity, the national body having no ecclesiastical authority, “each church being absolutely independent in its own management.” Foreign work is carried on at 12 stations in three countries, by 21 American workers, and 60 native helpers. They have three educational institutions, with an enrolment of 216.

In the SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST denomination, just as the members are united in a local church, so the total churches are united in a local conference, and the local conferences are united in a union conference, 21 of these forming the General Conference. The general body acts only in an advisory way in organized fields, but has direct supervision of work in unorganized territory, mainly now in heathen lands. Work outside the United States is carried on in 45 countries, by 284 American workers, and 1,108 native helpers. In 1906 there were 492 schools of all grades, having an enrolment of 11,997; 64 sanitariums, with 1,526 trained employees and physicians; 22 publishing houses, issuing over 1,200 publications in 52 languages [now 65]; 109 journals in 24 languages. Truly, it may be said that one of the reasons for the growth in this denomination is that “in union there is strength.”

In polity the CHURCH OF GOD (ADVENTIST) is “essentially congregational, except that the General Conference of churches is recognized as having a certain authority in matters referred to it.” Publishes one paper, and has no organized missionary work, but there are “two general missionaries working in different States.”

The CHURCHES OF GOD (ADVENTIST) UNATTACHED CONGREGATIONS withdrew from the body just named because of their rejection of the idea of a central representative body, and consequently rely wholly upon the efforts of the individual churches. There is sufficient co-operation, however, to permit the publication of a paper. No foreign work, and no educational work, so far as known.

The churches of the LIFE AND ADVENT UNION are distinctly congregational in polity, associations being merely for fellowship, and having “no ecclesiastical authority.” No foreign work is carried on, but about $500 is raised annually for the support of weaker churches in this country. One journal represents its interests.

The CHURCHES OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS are also congregational in polity, the state and district conferences exercising “no authority over the individual churches.” No foreign work is mentioned. No schools have been established. Home mission work is conducted by “a number of evangelists, who are supported by voluntary contributions.”

Foot-Notes for Table No. 1

(a) Since mission fields are not organized in the way conferences are, the dates in Column 2 do not refer to the time of their organization, as in the case of conferences, but to the time when the field was entered or when information was first separately given in these reports. The distinction between conferences and mission fields is indicated by the names assigned each in the list.

(b) The tithe per capita is based upon the total Sabbath-keepers, and not upon the membership of churches only.

(c) By total laborers in Column 19 is meant the total number of laborers employed in the conference or mission field in evangelistic work, including not only the four classes named in the preceding columns, but all other persons not thus specified. The totals in Column 18 are not always, therefore, the totals of the four preceding columns, but are frequently greater.

(d) The Philippine and Singapore mission fields were transferred to the Asiatic division Jan. 1, 1910, where they will appear in future reports.

(e) A failure to receive returns from the Chinese mission field for 1909 (as was the case in 1908) makes necessary the compilation of this report on the basis of the one secured for 1907, with a few changes that are supposed to be correct. The 30 in Column 19 under China indicates native colporteurs and evangelists.

(f) Under General Conference are included those engaged in general labor as well as the amount of tithes and offerings not accounted for elsewhere.

(g) The total book and periodical sales for 1909 are more accurately given in Table 2, section 2, where the sales of the publishing houses themselves are shown to be $1,402,444. It is not possible for the conferences to report the entire sales made by the publishing houses, since the houses deal directly with individuals in many cases. Therefore the report of the publishing houses as to the amount of books and periodicals printed and sold by them should be considered as more accurate, and will be noted in the standing summary, Table 3, as the sales for 1909. The report of conference sales, however, is retained throughout the report, in order that the showing for the various conferences may be referred to by those desiring the information.

Foot-Notes for Table No. 2

Section 1

(a) The system of educational work outlined by the Educational Department of the General Conference, in 1906, comprising sixteen grades, or years of study, is arranged as follows: Church-schools (information concerning which will be found listed under Columns 28 to 32 in Table No. 1), grades 1-8; intermediate schools, grades 7-10; academies, grades 9-12; colleges, grades 13-16.

(b) In compiling the returns, fractions of acres were not included, thus omitting institutions located on small plots, such as city lots. The figures therefore indicate quite accurately the possibilities of work in agricultural lines.

(c) The “capacity” of schools is the number of students that may be accommodated in classes, and does not refer to dormitory or boarding accommodations provided.

(d) The grades taught by each school indicate the kind of work undertaken, as outlined in note (a), and of course shows whether the institution is doing intermediate, academic, or collegiate work.

(e) In the column indicating laboratory facilities the word “No” occurs where the schools have none; the word “Yes” is used in connection with schools having such facilities. These facilities cover lines of work in various schools as follows: Astronomy, chemistry, physics, histology, zoology.

(f) Schools having facilities for manual training are indicated by “Yes” in corresponding column; those not having such facilities are listed with “No” opposite. These facilities range as follows: Carpentry, cooking, farming, dairying, nursing, printing, plumbing, horticulture, dress-making, tent-making, broom-making, brick-making, etc.

(g) In the column indicating graduates will be found the number who have been graduated from each school the preceding year. The particular character of the work done entitling to such graduation is indicated by reference to Column 9, where the grades of work carried by each school are given.

(h) In Column 14 is shown the number of students (not graduates alone) entering some department of denominational work during the preceding year. This includes such lines as ministry, Bible work, teaching, medical work, canvassing.

(i) Private school.

(j) Assets and acres included in statement for Loma Linda Sanitarium, which see under section 3.

(k) Not in operation during 1909.

Section 2

(l) Covering printing-offices of local conferences and schools.

(m) Denominational publications are now issued in sixty-five languages, as follows:— Arabic, Armenian, Armeno-Turkish, Battak, Bengali, Bohemian, Bulgarian, Burmese, Cantonese (China), Chasu (East Africa), Chitonga (Rhodesia), Danish-Norwegian, Dutch, English, Esthonian, Fijian, Finnish, French, German, Greek (modern), Greek-Turkish, Hawaiian, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Icelandic, Italian, Japanese, Java-Malay, Kafir (Xosa), Korean, Laplandish, Lettonian, Lithuanian, Malay (Singapore), Mandarin (China), Manganja (East Africa), Maori (New Zealand), Niue, Polish, Portuguese, Rarotongan, Rumanian, Russian, Samoan, Santali, Servian, Sesuto (South Africa), Slovakian, Spanish, Swahili, Swedish, Tagalog, Tahitian, Tamil, Tongan, Turkish, Turkish-Greek, Urdu (Roman), Urdu (Persian), Welsh, Wendic, Wen-li (China), Yiddish, Zulu.

Section 3

(n) The Christiania Health Home is conducted on treatment-room basis, accommodating 50 patients with treatments daily, or 7,000 treatments each year. Calcutta is similarly operated.

(o) Including assets of Scandinavian Philanthropic Society.

(p) Refused to report after repeated requests.

(q) Several institutions are omitted from this list for 1909, because of their failure to furnish returns as requested, and it was difficult to determine whether they are being operated or not. The compiler did not care to estimate in these cases, if the managers of the institutions could not, after repeated requests, report the necessary information.

Estimated.

Foot-Notes for Table No. 3

1. Estimated conservatively.

2. By the term “mission” is meant a local field not yet organized into a conference, whether in the United States or elsewhere.

3. In the column showing total laborers are included all persons specified in preceding columns as well as all other evangelistic laborers not thus specified. The amount shown in this column is therefore frequently more than the total of the four preceding columns.

4. Beginning with 1909, the report shows the number of Sabbath-keepers, as well as the church-membership. The difference is made up of members of companies and isolated believers. From this date the tithe per capita is based on the Sabbath-keepers.

5. From 1887 to 1909 the amount given to missions, and included in the preceding column, was $296,692.70, leaving $343,413.73 expended otherwise.

Adventist Bodies in the 1906 Census

Statement Compiled from Report of Religious Bodies of the U. S. Census Bureau Regarding Adventist Bodies for 1906 (U. S. only)

Name	Year Organized	Churches	Members	Ord. Min'rs	Lic. Min'rs	Ch. Bldgs.	Seat. Capac.	Value	Increase Since 1890: Churches	Members	Value	Decrease Since 1890: Churches	Members	Value	Per Ct. Gain in M'mbs.	Per Ct. Decr'se M'mbs.
Evangelical Adventists	1858	18	481	8	—	16	4,050	$27,050	—	—	—	12	666	$34,350	—	58.14
Advent Christian Church	1861	500	26,799	528	150	428	104,339	$854,323	—	983	$388,718	30	—	—	3.80	—
Seventh-day Adventists	1863	1,889	62,211	488	278	981	169,740	$1,454,087	894	33,220	$809,012	—	—	—	114.56	—
Church of God (Adventist)	1865	10	354	20	11	3	1,200	$4,000	—	—	$2,600	19	293	—	—	45.31
Churches of God (Adventist) Unattached Congregations	1905	10	257	12	4	2	350	$2,300	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Life and Advent Union	1864	12	509	40	—	6	1,150	$29,799	—	—	$13,009	16	509	—	—	50.00
Churches of God in Christ Jesus	1888	62	2,124	160	42	37	7,135	$53,650	—	—	$7,575	33	748	—	—	26.04
Totals		2,501	92,735	1,256	485	1,473	287,964	$2,425,209	894	34,203	$1,220,914	110	2,216	$34,350	52.63	—

One Way to Help

By W. T. KNOX

THE West Indian Union Conference has at Cristobal, Canal Zone, besides the headquarters for the conference, the Watchman Publishing Association. To properly provide for the needs of this work, a property has been secured, and a building suitable for offices and church purposes provided. This has been a great help to the work, and its benefits have now been enjoyed by the brethren for almost two years.

In securing this mission property, however, some debt has been incurred, upon which they are paying a heavy interest. This they are anxious to stop; but in order to do so, it will be necessary to secure a loan of two thousand dollars. I shall be pleased to hear from any of our brethren in America who can accommodate them with a loan of this amount, or any part of it. The officers of the West Indian Union Conference will give their note drawing five-per-cent interest.

W. T. KNOX.

Sabbath-School Teachers' Reading Course

READ on page 14 what Mrs. L. Flora Plummer says about the Sabbath-school Teachers' Reading Course.

Seventh-day Baptist Membership Declines

THE United States census reports place the membership of the Seventh-day Baptists at 8,381, a decrease of just a trifle over eight per cent in the last sixteen years.

Fourth-Sabbath Home Missionary Program

THAT is an interesting program for the fourth-Sabbath home missionary service appearing in the Missionary and Publishing department this week. This will be a regular feature each month. It would be well for each church to have its work organized before October 22, so as to be ready to make full use of this program. The plan of organization of the church tract and missionary society is fully explained in the notes following the suggestive program found on page 11.

Annual Statistical Report

While eight pages are added this week, the regular departments are closely limited to give place to the annual statistical report. This report is a treasury of material for study, and must be an incentive to prayer and earnest effort in each conference and field. Notwithstanding the losses by death of faithful members, which we feel more and more with the passing years, and the naturally heavy loss by the dropping away of those who drift into the world, there was a net increase last year of 3,352 souls. Let us work and pray yet more earnestly to win a larger number to the faith, and at the same time labor more earnestly than ever to keep any from straying from the fold of truth.

Early Orders

By W. T. Knox

THE early orders we are receiving for the Harvest Ingathering number of the REVIEW are a good indication. September 23, one week before the date set to begin to mail the papers, orders had been received for over twenty-five thousand copies, from conferences which have begun the work early, and wish to make sure of having supplies well in hand before October 31. This is a good example for all to follow.

W. T. KNOX.

Offering for Southern Colored Work

By Editor

We hope there was a liberal response last Sabbath to the appeals sent out by the North American Negro Department for a large offering for the work among the colored people of the South. If any overlooked this annual October offering, be sure to take it up next Sabbath. Elder A. J. Haysmer, secretary of the department, writes from Nashville:—

We are enlarging our force of workers, and doing all we can to speedily carry this message to the millions of colored people in this country who know it not. The results of the efforts put forth are very gratifying. About one hundred have already accepted the truth this season. The field is ripe. The calls are coming in much faster than we can fill them. Just now is the time to push this work.

Illustrated Meeting Announcements

WE have received from brethren conducting meetings in New York City some copies of their announcement leaflets. Each topic is illustrated with a pen sketch by Brother C. Maybell, a few years ago one of the leading political cartoonists of the country, but now using his pencil to preach the message for this time. The brethren testify that the cartoons illustrating their topics have been a strong feature in gaining public attention, and they hope to devise some plan by which these sketches may be made available for use by workers elsewhere.

Publishing Houses’ Common Work

A MEETING of the representatives of the publishing houses, for the special study of their common work, brought to Washington last week Brother H. H. Hall, of the Pacific Press, and Brother R. Hook, of the Southern Publishing Association. These brethren brought good words regarding the work in the fields they represent.

Twenty Car-Loads of Publications

By S. N. Curtiss

DURING the first eight months of this year, more than twenty car-loads of publications have been sent out from the Washington office of the Review and Herald Publishing Association. Of this amount about three fifths were periodicals, and comprised more than two million copies of the various periodicals issued by this office.

A car-load of books, pamphlets, and tracts has been shipped each month during 1910. These eight car-loads have contained more than one hundred thousand copies of our books on present truth.

Two and one-half car-loads of publications on present truth sent out each month from one office alone! When we consider the wonderful development of this branch of the Lord's work in the comparatively few years since its beginning, we may well exclaim, “What hath God wrought!”

S. N. CURTISS.

Harvest Ingathering Campaign

By A. G. DANIELLS

A Good Response

During the past few weeks we have received many very encouraging letters from our union and local conference presidents relative to their plans and arrangements for conducting the Harvest Ingathering campaign in their territories.

We appreciate these letters very much. The leaders in our conferences seem to approve, without exception, of the plans that have been laid for local conference officers and laborers to direct the campaign, and the correspondence surely indicates that strong, intelligent plans are being worked up in each conference for pushing the work.

We feel a deep interest in this new plan, and greatly rejoice as we see the local conferences putting their shoulders beneath the load; for if the Harvest Ingathering work is conducted according to the present plan, it will mean a successful campaign, and the strengthening of our work both in the local conferences and in foreign fields.

And yet, while we rejoice and are full of courage, there is still a feeling of anxiety lest some may not realize how great the responsibility is which they have taken in this matter, and may fail to lay such broad plans and to put such energy into the work, as to bring the best possible results. We therefore especially urge the officers and laborers in our conferences, and the officers of churches, to take a strong hand in directing this campaign, and in following up the work until it has achieved a splendid success. If the leaders both in the conferences and in the churches put their shoulders beneath the load, and lift with might and main, the people will respond faithfully and do a good work. May the Lord greatly bless both leaders and people in this good work.

A. G. DANIELLS.