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 Efectual" form
ed the topic OF the annual repor
which Rev. William Brewster Oleson
corresponding secretary and genera
superintendent of the Hawaiian Evan
gelical Association, presented at thu
92nd annual conference of that or
gaTlization which came to close a
Waikiki, Maui, Wednesday. The re
port was the seventh which Mr.. Ole
son has presented to the members o.
the association, and was listened Il
most carefully as he read it in Ha
waiian. Interesting and instructive
the report throughout showed that the
organization has accomplished re
markable work during the past /:
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
the steady advance that has charac
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-,
conraging progress. The number OF
accessions to the churches on comics.
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 q reduction of over
$4,000 in our budget. larger responsi.
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
determination among some of our
/ oh m IL al
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 alf ordinary cir
cumstances, we would feel justified in
pledging still greater advance.
But there looms large another out
standing fact. viz. the necessity, &C
cording to all human appearance, OF
a still further reduction of our bud
get Last years reduction was some
thing more than peremptory COM
mand to halt. II was an actual de-
pleting of necessary supplies for the
forces in the field. 1t not only meant
the abandonment of plans for the
coming of new workers FROM abrl Id,
but also the unemployment of men
already at hand. 1t 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 yari-
GUS agencies at a juncture when We
ought not to be marking time, or beat.
ing a 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 minimum increase in
expenditure. and maximum increase
in advantage and results. With re
Enforcement of half a score of work
ers in close relationship with mission
stations now well-established. there
would follow increased efficiency in
the extent and thOroughness of the