News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1916-01-05
Growth of Seventh Day Ad-
ventiStS

pdS1 yodIs dn BiVou III roPoIU Iuab hd
just been received from the worlds head
quarters of the church in Washington
d. G. Extracts of this report, which wal
compiled by III. e. Rogers, statistical sec
rotary of the denomination, have beer
sent broadcast throughout North Ameri
ca, in order that the believers might learr
of the way their church has advanced.
One of the remarkable statements in
the report is, that "The actual net gain
in membership for the year 1914 was
greater than the entire membership OF
the denomination throughout the world
as it stood thirty years after this move
ment had begun its work"
The report says further:-"At the close
of 1914, the total membership was 1854,
gain during the year of II 237, or 9.S5
per cent The gain for 1918 was s, 1870, or
7.16 per cent, and that was the largest
gain ever recorded up to that time. The
gain for 1914 was greater than that re-
ported for the preceding year by 3,107.
| The number of baptisms during the year
[ was 1900. The net difference between
the gain of members and the number of
baptized is 1912.
"The amount of money raised as offer
ings to foreign missions in the North
American Division was 1915, 565.95; the
membership in this division is 72,015
This amount is therefore an average of
GO Con- h., 81;
of this last amount will be better under
stood when it is explained that the latest
available reports indicate that for 1918
the average per capita contributions on
the part of the members of all the Protes-
tant bodies in the United States was SO
cents. The figures ranged from 81 SO,
the highest, for the Moravan bodies to
81 cents per member for the lowest.
"For years the number of companies
and their membership as we'll as the
number of baptized scattered believers
have been shown in the report, but in
harmony with the vote taken at the last
session of the General Conference, this
information has been discontinued. The
aggregate communicates thus dropped
out of the report would be approximate
ly $4,000. That is to say, the plan of
emitting the membership of companies
and scattered believers accounts for the
elimination of approximately $4,000 COM
municants from all reference in this re-
port.
1.-The number of organized churches at
the close of 1914 was 3,7O2. gain during
the year of 113, or 3.15 per cent.
This work is now carried forward in |
81 different countries, by force of la
borers comprised as follows: -ordained |
ministers, 926; licensed ministers, sos: IL
censed missionaries, 1,454; colporteurs,
2,076; secretaries, 1902; total evangelistic |
laborers, 5.313,
"Other laborers are engaged in lines
of work, as follows: Teachers in mis-
sions schools, primary schools and col /
leges, 1866; employed in publishing
houses, 1856; in sanitariums and treating
rooms, 1896; total of 4.047 institutional
iaborers. If to this be added the 1928
evangelistic laborers, there is secured a
grand total of $500 laborers engaged in
UNCONVENTIONAL work, or one laborer for
every thirteen members.
"The total funds contributed for evan
gelistic work by members of the denom-
ination during 1914 were $1,000, 1884 80, a
per capita of $24.56. This amount con-
tributed is greater than the preceding
year by 1928, 757.40, the per cent of in
crese being 7.s0. OF the total amount
So, 32S751. SS was from North
America, or 1886 per cent, and all other
countries, s761, .92, or 24.65 per cent.
1.-THE amounts raised for the three gen.
eral classes of funds were as follows:-
1.-THE, $1.91S. 496 OS, 1854 per cent; for
eign mission offering. $772, SO. or
"a 80 per cent; home and local offerings,
S499, S00.33 or 1917 per cent. The per
capita for the membership in North
America was S32.3S, for all the members
outside North America, S14. Is, an aver
age of $24.56
"During the fifty-two years since this
W DIRK has been organized, there has been
for evangelistic work alone,
s31, 675, s64.76.
'At the close of 1914. the total valua.
ton of the LAC church buildings was
81, 226, 56l.sS, an increase of $l77, $50 81
for the year. Donations and investments
during 1914 increased the net worth of
the denominational institutions approx.
mately 100000. A further expenditure
Of $4S4, 6S2,55 was made in the support of
educational institutions,
SO that the grand total contributions for
evangelistic work, the increased valua-
ton of church buildings, and the support
Of, and investments in UNCONVENTIONAL in
situations during 1914 constitute grand
total of 81, 461, 2O2s6. an average of s35.45
for each church member throughout the
world. For 1913 this average was 49,. 10,
thus showing an increase of $275 per
member for 1914. G. G. DROWN.
johnson, Vt.
/