W. A. Spicer, C. P. Bollman, I. H. Evans, C. M. Snow, T. E. Bowen
| Tithe | ||
| From the United States | $ 797,990.25 | |
| From all other countries | 303,406.22 | |
| Total | $1,101,396.47 | |
| Offerings | ||
| From the United States: | ||
| Offerings to foreign missions reported by | ||
| Conferences | 170,866.40 | |
| Reported by Sabbath-schools | 67,871.87 | |
| Reported by Missionary Volunteer Societies | 7,576.25 | |
| 246,314.52 | ||
| From all other countries: | ||
| Reported by Conferences | 32,429.00 | |
| Reported by Sabbath-schools | 27,409.03 | |
| Reported by Missionary Volunteer Societies | 1,893.13 | |
| 61,731.16 | ||
| Total | 308,045.68 | |
| Special Funds | ||
| Tithes appropriated by Conferences in the United | ||
| States for evangelistic work in mission fields | 105,706.19 | |
| From all other countries | 30,376.07 | |
| 136,082.26 | ||
| Total “Offerings” noted above | 308,045.68 | |
| Total for mission fields in 1908 | 444,127.94 | |
| Total of similar funds in 1907 | 395,320.32 | |
| Increase for 1908 | 48,807.62 | |
A very encouraging showing is presented by the accompanying figures, to which attention may be briefly called. It will be noted that the total evangelistic and institutional laborers connected with the denomination in active labor is 7,466, which number, as related to the entire communicants in any way connected with the denomination, stands as one to thirteen; in other words, every thirteenth member in the denomination is an active laborer in this cause. GCB June 1, 1909, page 265.1
In financial lines it will be observed that the per capita of all funds for evangelistic work, based upon the entire number of communicants connected with the denomination, contributed during 1908, was $18.14. Further, it is shown that the gain in assets of all institutions during 1908 was 18.15 per cent. GCB June 1, 1909, page 265.2
These are figures which indicate much regarding the progress of this cause during the recent past, speak in a definite, positive manner as to its future growth, and would seem to give great assurance as to the ultimate result to be accomplished in the work of heralding this truth to the world. Many agencies, facilities, and organizations are now operating to extend this message to earth’s remotest bounds as rapidly as possible. Thus may its consummation be hastened. GCB June 1, 1909, page 265.3
WASe
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 mission field: GCB June 1, 1909, page 266.1
| From the United States: | ||
| Reported by Conferences | $91,245.08 | |
| Reported by Missionary Volunteer Societies | 4,394.64 | |
| 95,639.72 | ||
| From all other countries: | ||
| Reported by Conferences | 48,408.42 | |
| Reported by Missionary Volunteer Societies | 849.59 | |
| 49,258.01 | ||
| Total | $144,897.73 | |
| Local Church Work | ||
| Contributed for local church work, such as distri- | ||
| bution 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 | 89,311.51 | |
| Maintenance of church-schools | 87,685.90 | |
| Maintenance of local Sabbath-schools | 7,352.64 | |
| Reported by Missionary Volunteer Societies | 1,458.26 | |
| 185,808.31 | ||
| From all other countries: | ||
| Reported by Conferences | 14,717.35 | |
| Maintenance of church-schools | 13,685.65 | |
| Maintenance of local Sabbath-schools | 1,987.23 | |
| Reported by Missionary Volunteer Societies | 110.65 | |
| 30,500.88 | ||
| Total | $216,309.19 | |
| Grand Total | ||
| Grand total of all funds raised by the Seventh-day | ||
| Adventist denomination in 1908 for evangelistic work: | ||
| From the United States | 1,325,752.80 | |
| From all other countries | 444,896.27 | |
| Total | $1,770,649.07 | |
| Total for 1907 | 1,704,718.12 | |
| Communicants | ||
| Total Sabbath-keepers in the United States | 65,074 | |
| In all other countries | 32,505 | |
| 97,579 | ||
| Per capita of total funds from communicants in the | ||
| United States | 20.37 | |
| Per capita from communications in all other countries | 13.69 | |
| Per capita for entire communicants | 18.14 | |
| Evangelistic Laborers | ||
| Evangelistic laborers in the United States | 2,305 | |
| In all other countries | 1,702 | |
| Total | 4,007 | |
| Relation of workers in the United States to | ||
| Sabbath-keepers in the United States as | 1 to 28 | |
| Relation of workers outside the United States to | ||
| Sabbath-keepers outside the United States as | 1 to 19 | |
| Relation of total evangelistic workers to total | ||
| Sabbath-keepers as | 1 to 24 | |
| Institutional Laborers | ||
| Teachers in colleges, academies, etc | 476 | |
| Teachers in church-schools | 625 | |
| Employees in publishing houses | 515 | |
| Employees in sanitariums | 1,843 | |
| Total | 3,459 | |
| Relation of total institutional laborers to total | ||
| Sabbath-keepers as | 1 to 28 | |
| Total evangelistic and institutional laborers | 7,466 | |
| Related to entire Sabbath-keepers as | 1 to 13 | |
| Summary of Institutions | ||
| Educational Institutions | No. | Gain for 1908 | Assets | Gain for 1908 | Per Cent of Gain in Assets | |||
| Advanced Schools | 83 | 16 | $1,625,670 56 | $ 398,924 41 | 32.52 | |||
| Elementary Schools | 535 | 77 | 147,749 05 | 26,162 29 | 21.52 | |||
| Publishing Houses | 26 | 3 | 1,038,215 26 | 59,321 12 | 6.06 | |||
| Conference Sanitariums | 44 | 4 | 2,019,697 46 | 152,885 49 | 8.19 | |||
| Private Sanitariums | 36 | 12 | 746,649 04 | 269,177 36 | 56.38 724 | 112 | 5,577,981 37 | 906,470 67 |
| 724 | 112 | 5,577,981 37 | 909,470 67 | |||||
| Church Buildings | 1,177 | 5 | 1,514,549 80 | 183,218 95 | 13.83 | |||
| Totals | 1,901 | 117 | $7,092,531 17 | $1,089,689 62 | 18.15 |
Washington, D. C., May 4, 1909. GCB June 1, 1909, page 266.2
Last of all I want you to notice that those who proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ in the last days must send forth the message that “Babylon is fallen.” It takes much grace and determination to stand forth in the fear of God, and tell this part of the gospel. If there is any part of the third angel’s message that needs the special power of God in its presentation, it is concerning fallen Babylon. It takes the love of God to win men and women, bringing them from the darkness of sin into the truth. GCB June 1, 1909, page 266.3
Elder J. T. Boettcher gives us the following extract from a letter concerning an interest in the Caucasus:— GCB June 1, 1909, page 266.4
“A brother wrote from Wladikawkas (Caucasus) for a Russian Bible, saying he had no money to pay for it; so Brother Fenner from the tract society in Riga sent him his own. After receiving the Bible he wrote as follows:— GCB June 1, 1909, page 266.5
“‘I take pleasure in informing you that I have the Bible, and thank you most heartily for sending it. The people here read in it diligently with me, and now we turn to you for counsel. From the Bible we have learned that we are lost sheep and so we ask you to send us instruction as to how we ought to live. There are a number of us, and we have no teacher.’” GCB June 1, 1909, page 266.6
Another note comes to Elder Boettcher from a village in Turkestan:— GCB June 1, 1909, page 266.7
“As the youngest brother in the Lord, I send you greetings. My family, consisting of eleven members, are the only believers of the message in this place. There are four Baptists here who desire to keep the Sabbath. The people around here are mostly Baptists and Molokans. On the Sabbath we hold two meetings, and we have full liberty to teach the Word unmolested. Sometimes I speak. I ask you to send me our Russian paper for one year, for which I enclose money. Also send tracts (for 25 cents). I desire to pay tithe, but do not understand how.” GCB June 1, 1909, page 266.8
The evening service last night was called as a regular meeting of the Conference, to hear reports from India and Burma. Elder J. L. Shaw, superintendent of the India Mission, which includes Burma and Ceylon, reviewed the progress and problems of the general field, and Elder H. H. Votaw followed with a special report for Burma. The large audience showed no signs of unrest, though the meeting held late. This meeting of the Conference will be reported in to-morrow’s BULLETIN. GCB June 1, 1909, page 266.9
The report of the statistical secretary, Brother H. E. Rogers, which we publish to-day, is a treasure-store of facts and information for those who study it. It shows a net gain of 294 churches in the four years, and of 15,858 Sabbath-keepers. This net gain of Sabbath-keepers represents, of course, a much larger number taking hold of the truth, as this gain is over and above all losses by death or apostasy. The actual church membership gain is 11,254 for the term. The tithe report shows receipts for 1908 of $1,101,396, or $409,577 more than was paid in 1904. This statistical report is an encouragement and an appeal, marking the progress of the message, but indicating how much more ought to be done. GCB June 1, 1909, page 266.10