Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1909-10-17

faith in the common people. 1 be-
lieved that to visit the larger fields
and canvas the Weather people first
would largely destroy the prospect OF
any great measure of success-in fact
that it would be a serious blunder.
believed that If it could be dem.
onstrated and the less wealthy OF
our people could be SO interested In
our undertaking as to make sub
stantial contribution to our cause
that then we might reasonably ex-
pect liberal support from those who
were in possession Of large means.
Facts which have developed during
the progress of the work have veri-
fed this conviction
r. As yet, none of those charges
which occupy first rank in our ION
ference haze been visited.
AS no little misapprehension re-
garding the manner in which the
work has been done appears to exist
brief explanation may not be in
appropriate.
I cannot too strongly emphasize
the fact that where. the pastor has
accompanied me in the canvass much
larger results have been secured than
where he has not done so.
The cause having been presented
a list Of the membership secured
from the pastor is carefully canvass
ed with a view to ascertaining their
financial ability. Not infrequently
the assistance and advice of some
business friend of the church thor
oughly familiar with the field is also
secured. i; r,
! No, gift has been considered too
small to ACCEPTING pledge too small
to take. -'>' = *.
. The words Of commentator utter
ed by our Master in appreciation of
the widows mite have not been dis
Certain of the small sums
contributed have represented vastly
more Of sacrifice than many of the
larger gifts. ~. .........,.. III =" r
/ & To discount the worth of an offer
ing because it is small is generally
pnwise and always unkind. ~ 81
During the early stages Of the
work many small contributions were
received not because of lack of in
terest or Of sympathy upon the part
of the donors, but because our IN
dertaking was in = its Inception,
Your agent was inexperienced and
the territory being canvassed had
for a number OF years suffered from
partial crop failures !
@ During the months from. May to
September, inclusive, the pledges Sc
cured have averaged considerably
more than 500 each :
+ In presenting our work to the con-
gregation and afterwards in 'ap-
preaching our peop1e I have in no
case assn med the attitude of a sup
plicant for. q favor, OF one soliciting
a charity, of one begging for ;crusts
of bread for the old and disabled
servants of God and those dependent
upon them. n s. s H. ..... s. =
+ / have gone among our laity as
your representative not to beg from
them, but to afford them the oppor-
tunity of righting a great wrong Of
performing an act of justice long de-
layed, of Strengthening a weak place
in the foundations of our Zion, of
making good the promise of com
Portable support pledged by our:
church to every Methodist minister.
I consider that when 1 have in
duced 9 man to contribute to our
cause that I have done him a favor
the extent OF which is limited only
the size Of the gift. T. e. IT.. A
Among the many hundreds who
have been interviewed not score
have been found who did not favor
our enterprise, most freqcent remark
which has been made being one Of
wonder that SO necessary a work had
been 80 long delayed. s b s = f
Owing to the expression of a very
natural disinclination on the part Of
the brethren to have our cause pre-
scented on their field during the clos
ing weeks Of the conference year 81
have devoted the last month to re-
visiting a portion of the territory al
ready covered with the purpose of
interviewing those laymen who had
been absent from the fields on my
first visit. This work T found very
productive indeed.
At the conclusion OF my canvass
of the various fields have gone care
fully over the results with the pas
tors giving each detailed written
report OF the work, ennmerating the
names OF the givers, the amounts
contributed by each, the yearly pay
ments and the cash receipts.
A duplicate report has been fur
nished to the treasurer and I have
retained another. Il
Thus three complete records of my
work on every charge visited are In
existence, reducing to q minimum the
possibility OF error.
After my appointment last year
rou will remember that / declared /
Continued on page six.)