The Washington herald., 1913-05-17
REPORTS SHOW
CHURCH GROWTH
Treasurer Of Seventh-day Ad-
ventists Gives Figures Show
ing Giving Of Tithes.
SUNDAY BEING OBSERVED
European Division Shows Gain in
Membership of More Than
1900 Persons.
SUNDAY BEING OBSERVED

Covering a record of remarkable growth
in the various features of the work OF
the denomination. two reports were pre-
scented yesterday at the worlds confer
ence of Seventh-day Adventists which
is convened in twenty-four day SEES
sion at Takoma Park. These were the
reports of the treasurer Of the general
conference, Elder w. T. Knox. Of Ia
koma Park, and the vice president OF
the general conference for the Russian
division, Elder l., r. Conrad, of Ham,
burg. GERMANY.
The report of the treasurer, Elder W.
T. Knox, showed that during the dec
ade ending 1872, the 1.-THE amounted to
S17S se6.n3. The mission funds amounted
to sS,55257 During the next decade
1873 to 1852. the 1.-THE amounted TO $685.
1860, and the donations to missions
amounted to $685. 0cS6. In the next dec
ade, 1888 TO 1892. the 1.-THE grew to
s1.S37.9l5 while the mission funds grew
10 1896. 467.O1 During the next decade,
1893 to 1902 the tithes were raised to
t4342 1873 o.. while the mission funds were
raised to Sl,271.5g7.24 During the last
decade 1908 TO 1912, the tithes amounted
to the enormous sum of Sll.oS6. ABS. Il.
while the mission funds amounted to
s.. 936, 43Si1.
Work Done I'm Europe.
Another report which aroused the in
terest of the delegates was delivered by
the vice president of the general con-
ference for European division. Elder L.
r. Conrad. of Hamburg, Germany, and
covered the growth of four years for
the work in Europe Elder Conrad 70
ported the greatest harvest of souls in
the last four years that the denomina-
ton has ever had. reporting a gain of
17.S7o. which vas a greater gain since
the last general conference in 1900 than
the entire previous membership for
thirty years.
strength in like proportion. the 1.-THE and
offerings from 1904 to 1905 amounting to
500. 90. ard from 1905 to 1912 to sl.246,00N,
the receipts doubling every fourth year.
He report also showed that since 1905
three new union conferences, one new
union mission. fifteen local conferences,
and eighteen local mission fields had
been added during the four years to the
European division-an increase of thirty
seven organization making total of
ninety-four organizations in the European
division of the general conference.
Another report which interested the
delegates was that Of the publishing
department of the general conference
by the secretary Of the department, Elder
y. T. Town of Takoma Park. This
showed that encouraging progress had
been made during the four years. In
1919 the denomination was issuing liter
allure in sixty-five languages; in 1872 this
number had grown to seventy-one. In
1893 of the 1850 Colporters engaged in
the circulation of UNCONVENTIONAL liter
allure. 49,. or Is per cent. were outside
Of the United States: at the close of
1912. out of the total of 2194. there We're
L2i3. or IS per cent. in fields abroad.
During the four-year period. the total
value of literature circulated was s6.i25.-
900 a gain of S2.7l6OJO over the pre-
ceding four years The year 1872 was
said to be the banner year. The total
value of sales reached Sl.S36.500.
At the beginning OF the Sabbath last
night hundreds of additional people had
come in to spend Sabbath and Sunday
at the camp from nearby States. 1t is
expected that during the Sabbath serv-
ices today more than 400 people will
be in attendance at the meeting.
The Sabbath school will he held al 9
O'Clock this morning under the direction
Of Elder George r. Thompson, of Ia
koma Park. the secretary of the Sab
bath school department of the general
conference.
At II o'clock Elder l H. Evans. of
Shanghai, China. the vice president of
the gC.-eral conference for the Asiatic
division, will deliver a sermon. At ,
O'Clock in the afternoon another preach
ing service will he held, at which Elder
E f. Andross, OF California. will speak.
Tonight at 7:45 o'clock Elder J. T.
Boettcher. Of Riga. Russia. will deliver
a stereopticon lecture on Russia, giving
something Of the hardships and obstacles
which Seventh-day Adventists meet in
heir missionary operations.