Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-07-18
Annual Report of Rev. w. B.
0leSon Predicts Extensive
Broadening of Scope

"A Great Door and EfectuaT' form
ed the topic OF the annual report
which Rev. William Brewster Oleson
corresponding secretary and general
superintendent OF the Hawaiian Evan
| gelical Association, presented at the
SIND annual conference Of that or.
! ganization which came to a close al
Wailuku, Maui, Wednesday. The re.
| port was the seventh which Mr.. Ole.
son has presented to the members OF
the association, and was listened to
most carefully as he read il in Ha-
waiian. Interesting and instructive
the report throughout showed that the
organization has accomplished re-
markable work during the past IL
months, and predicts an even bright.
er period during the coming year.
In full, the report is as follows:
I'm presenting this my seventh an
nual report, feel constrained to re-
fer less in detail to the record of the
year just ended, and to call atten-
ton to three outstanding facts of par.
amount Importance.
Evidence on every hand of the
continuance during the past year of
terized the work of this board for the
last ten years, is one of these out
standing facts. The year just ended
has been one of wholesome and en-
coufaging progress The number of
accessions to the churches on confess
sion of faith has been large, and the
total church membership has nearly
reached the nine thousand mark The
Sunday school membership lacks on
ly seyenty-six of being ten thousand.
The endeavor societies connected
with many of our churches, have
had gratifying increase
Notwithstanding adverse indus
trial and financial conditions, many
of the churches have made a marked
advance in benevolent contributions.
There have been fewer changes than
usual in our working force; and, in
the main, the changes that have TAX
en- place have resulted in enhanced
leadership and added efficiency.
Owing to reduction of over
$4,000 in our budget. larger RESPONSE
bilities have been laid on some of our
workers, and no new work has been
inaugurated Incidentally, this has
compelled the focusing of the energies
and resources of the boards varied
agencies on the work already in hand,
and this in turn has developed a deep
ened sense Of obligation on the part
of churches and individuals toward
the work Of the board. has awakened
a determination among some of our
churches to become more nearly self
supporting, and has stimulated inter-
est in plans for securing greater eff
cheney in our missionary work.
These and other evidences of
wholesome accomplishment are great
ly to the honor of all our fellow
workers, both those who have wrought
so bravely and tirelessly in the field,
and those who have so staunchly sus-
tanned the boards enterprises by their
generous and self-denying gifts of mo-
ney. The wholesome advance which
has been made In the boards work
the past year. furnished a splendid
basis on which, In all ordinary cir
cumstances. we would feel justified in
pledging still greater advance.
But there looms large another out
standing fact, viz, the necessity, ac-
still further reduction of our bud
get. Last years reduction was some
thing more than peremptory COM
mand to halt It was an actual de-
pleting of necessary supplies for the
forces in the field. It not only meant.
the abandonment of plans for the
coming of new workers from abroad,
but also the unemployment of men
already at hand. II meant reduced
appropriations to our social settle
ments and to needy schools. 1t meant
the denial of certain supplies to some
of our workers, thus limiting, by just
so much, the efficiency of their work.
II meant greatly restricted travelling
on the part OF agents, superintend-
ents, and others, thus restricting the
cooperation and fellowship and over
sight that have heretofore been found
such valuable adjuncts in all our
missions A further reduction in our
budget, which seems imperative, will
not only accentuate the embarrass-
ments of the past year, but will COM
pei further restrictions in our vari-
GUS agencies at a juncture when We
ought not to be marking time, or beat.
ing retreat, but responding rather
to the bugle call to advance
For the great outstanding fact of
all in our review of the year Just end
ed, is the unmistakable pressure of OPP
portunity. In large degree, this is
the accumulated effect of ten years
of constant advance in efficient organ
ization, in strategic placing of mis-
sionaries. and in the remarkable stead
mess of effort Of many workers OF
demonstrated worth and prestige in
their several fields. These factors
have opened the way for the possible
extension of the present activities of
the board at a minimum increase in
expenditure, and a maximum increase
in advantage and results. With re-
enforcement of half score of work
ers in close relationship with mission
stations now well-established, there
would fo1low inrroaeod off7cioncv In