IN MEMBERS 
 
 IN MISSIONARIES 
 IN MONEV 
 
 BY 
 
 J. Y. AITCHISON 
 
 
 lEN’S MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 
 
 MADISON AVENUE, NEW YORK 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2016 
 
 https://archive.org/details/ouravailableresoOOaitc 
 
Our 
 
 Available Resources 
 
 IN MEMBERS 
 IN MISSIONARIES 
 IN MONEY 
 
 By J. Y. AITCHISON 
 
 
 LAYMEN’S MISSIONARY MOVEMENT 
 
 1 Madison Avenue, New York 
 
OUR AVAILABLE 
 RESOURCES 
 
 Never has there been a time 
 Tvhen Christ needed the absolute 
 devotion of his church more than 
 He does to-day. 
 
 Never has there been a time 
 Tvhen the world desired more earn- 
 estly or has had reason more con- 
 fidently to expect the Church to be 
 true to Christ than to-day. 
 
 Never has the Church in America 
 had greater resources in men and 
 in money with which to give the 
 whole gospel to the whole world 
 than to-day. 
 
 2 
 
AVAILABLE RESOURCES IN 
 MEMBERS 
 
 One hundred years ago there was one Prot- 
 estant church member to every fourteen of our 
 population. To-day there is one to every four. 
 What greater calamity could befall the world 
 than for the Protestant churches of America to 
 continue to grow in wealth and build up a 
 membership “unreached by the vital power of 
 an individual experience of Christianity’’ and 
 unconcerned about the giving of such an ex- 
 perience to the whole world? “He that saveth 
 his life shall lose it.” 
 
 AVAILABLE RESOURCES IN 
 MISSIONARIES 
 
 One hundred years ago only one student in 
 ten was a member of a church; to-day prac- 
 tically one-half of the student body of America 
 are members of Protestant churches. 
 
 During the Civil War, when the call came 
 for volunteers, Illinois furnished one out of 
 every seven of her entire population; one out 
 of every six of the population of Kansas vol- 
 unteered; from Louisiana one out of every five; 
 from Georgia one out of every four went to 
 
 3 
 
the front, while 28,000 more volunteers v/ent 
 from North and South Carolina than they had 
 voters. 
 
 There is just as good red blood in the veins 
 of the college students of America to-day as 
 ever flowed in the veins of their forefathers. 
 It took the Civil War to show of what kind 
 of stuff our ancestors were made. When once 
 the church faces her whole task with the de- 
 termination and devotion which the cause of 
 Christ demands in these days of unprecedented 
 need and opportunity, we believe the student 
 body of our colleges will be willing to heed 
 God’s call to service and throw their lives into 
 the breach. The former call was to die for 
 our country. Surely the call to give trained, 
 consecrated lives for the service of God and 
 humanity will not receive less devotion. 
 
 4 
 
AVAILABLE RESOURCES IN 
 MONEY 
 
 Less than 50 per cent, of the members of 
 Protestant churches are now enrolled as con- 
 tributors to the local expense and benevolence 
 budgets of the churches, or participating in 
 any definite form of service. At a time like 
 this such indifference is appalling. 
 
 Gifts Not Keeping Pace With Wealth 
 
 But this is not all. While over 50 per cent, 
 of our members are not giving anything, a large 
 proportion of those who are giving do not pay 
 in proportion to their real ability or in the light 
 of actual needs. A very small proportion of 
 those now contributing to the local expense or 
 benevolence budgets of the churches are paying 
 in accordance with their privilege and duty as 
 Christian stewards. There are in our churches 
 scores upon scores of men and women whose 
 income and wealth have increased steadily 
 year after year, but whose gifts to local needs 
 and missions have nowhere nearly kept pace. 
 
 It has been conservatively estimated that the 
 property of Protestant church members in the 
 United States amounts to over $23,000,000,- 
 
 5 
 
000. Yet while they added an average of 
 nearly $700,000,000 to their possessions each 
 year for the ten years from 1 890 to 1 900, in 
 1914 they gave but $28,875,000 to home 
 and foreign missions. 
 
 Fountains of Spiritual Life Drying Up 
 
 TTie result is not simply lack of funds for 
 the Lord’s work, but more fatal even than 
 that fact is the awful calamity which is befall- 
 ing many of these people individually in the 
 drying up of the fountains of their spiritual 
 lives. Then, too, think of the awful, far-reach- 
 ing paralysis of the influence of such members 
 upon the life of our churches. 
 
 Many Churches Not Enlisted 
 
 The end is not yet. One more tremendous 
 fact stares us in the face, namely, that a com- 
 paratively small percentage of our churches 
 have ever adopted an adequate program of 
 education concerning the fundamental laws of 
 Christian stewardship and missions, or have 
 ever yet put into practice the essential feature* 
 of a successful every-member canvass. 
 
 Dying Churches 
 
 Surely there are enough illustrations of the 
 pitiful failure and decay of churches which 
 have been so self-centered as to lose their own 
 vital message, and even their own existence, to 
 6 
 
arouse us all to the necessity of using every 
 means within our reach to overcome this wide- 
 spread indifference. 
 
 Indifference to What? 
 
 It may be well at this point to inquire to 
 what there is such indifiference on the part of 
 our churches: 
 
 I. To the revealed will of God. 
 
 II. To our duty and responsibility as Chris- 
 tian stewards. 
 
 III. To the greatest need of that part of the 
 
 world which is less favored than our- 
 selves. 
 
 IV. To our own highest moral and spiritual 
 
 development. 
 
 V. To the well-recognized fact that in view 
 
 of our resources in men and money the 
 Church is not anywhere nearly as efficient 
 as her mission demands. 
 
 Blind Leading Blind 
 
 For church leaders to accept such conditions 
 without making adequate effort to remedy 
 them means not simply that such leaders are 
 recreant to their trust, but that churches whose 
 policies are to continue in their hands are bound 
 
 7 
 
to produce an ineffective and selfish member- 
 ship. 
 
 Providence Will Foreclose 
 
 History, as well as revelation, shows that 
 Providence keeps books; and those who accept 
 Christianity must propagate it or lose it them- 
 selves. Unless Christian men who are making 
 money will use their wealth to honor God and 
 help their fellow-men, their money will be the 
 unmaking of them. Providence will foreclose 
 on the individual or the church which refuses 
 to serve. It is an obvious fact that the world 
 has slight interest in the church which does 
 not give incarnation to the spirit of Christ and 
 his ministry. The Christian law is ‘‘TO 
 HAVE IS TO OWE, NOT OWN.” No 
 
 church can afford to continue its work on a 
 program which will allow its membership to 
 remain indifferent to such tremendous issues. 
 One illustration of this point will suffice. 
 
 A Striking Contrast 
 
 In 1840 the Baptists of North Carolina 
 separated on mission and anti-mission lines. 
 The former numbered about 24,000 and the 
 latter, 12,000. Fifty years later the anti- 
 mission Baptists of the state were still about 
 12,000. But the missionary Baptists had in- 
 creased to 300,000. 
 
 8 
 
What 1 hen Is the Remedy? 
 
 What can be done to overcome such flagrant 
 indifference? Three definite things should be 
 undertaken : 
 
 I. To enlist church officers and leaders in 
 the whole program of Christ for the 
 evangelization of the whole world. 
 
 II. To enroll as regular supporters of the 
 church the 50 per cent, or more of our 
 Protestant church members who are not 
 now contributing to the current expense 
 and benevolence budgets. 
 
 III. To develop in the entire membership of 
 our churches the true spirit of Christian 
 stewardship which gives proper recogni- 
 tion to the Lordship of Christ. 
 
 The Every-Member Canvass 
 
 Space does not permit the full discussion of 
 all things that can and should be done. Par- 
 ticular attention will be given, however, to 
 some of the features of the every-member can- 
 vass, which has wrought such marvelous 
 changes in so many churches throughout the 
 country. There is absolutely no question that 
 when properly applied the canvass methods 
 have overcome indifference and produced the 
 results desired. 
 
Some of the essential features of an every- 
 member canvass are: 
 
 1. An adequate program of education and 
 preparation. Nothing short of a month 
 is adequate as to time, and nothing short 
 of the responsibility of the whole Church 
 for the whole world is adequate as to 
 scope. Conferences, prayer meetings, 
 public discourses, letters, and definite 
 missionary information and inspiration 
 are absolutely essential to create the right 
 atmosphere for a successful canvass. 
 
 II. A definite time for the canvass. An- 
 nouncement should be made as to the 
 exact time the canvass is to be undertaken 
 and letters sent to each member or family 
 of the church and congregation, request- 
 ing the members to be at home when the 
 canvassers call. The canvass cannot be 
 a success unless those who are to make 
 it, as well as those who are to be can- 
 vassed, all understand that the work is 
 to be done systematically and in an or- 
 derly manner. Under these conditions 
 a proper psychological and spiritual at- 
 mosphere will prevail for a successful 
 work. 
 
 III. A trained committee to make the canvass. 
 Many details must be mastered befoie the 
 committee undertcikes its work. “Sug- 
 gestions to Leaders in the Every-Mem- 
 
 lO 
 
ber Canvass and other denommationar 
 literature are available for this purpose. % 
 
 The primary qualification for a suc- 
 cessful canvasser, however, is that after 
 having considered all the needs, he him- 
 self shall make a subscription worthy of 
 his own ability. No man can ask an- 
 other to do a thing with any assurance 
 that he will secure a favorable reply un- 
 less he himself has a clear conscience that 
 he is doing his own duty. To overlook 
 this important point will make the in- 
 dividual canvasser ineffective and rob the 
 church of spiritual as well as financial 
 blessing. 
 
 IV. Canvassers must take individual interest 
 in those Jvhom thep are to see. There 
 is far more at stake than getting a few 
 dollars subscribed to church budgets. It 
 is a fatal mistake to say, “There is no 
 use going to see Mr. So-and-So. He 
 has not given a cent for years and never 
 comes to church.” A trained committee 
 will look upon Mr. So-and-So as one 
 worthy of their earnest prayer and the 
 use of their greatest skill that they may 
 win him back to the church and its work. 
 There are many cases on record where 
 canvassers have, in from twenty minutes 
 to half an hour, not only secured sub- 
 scriptions from lapsed members, but also 
 won back the hearts of these members to 
 the fellowship and work of the church. 
 
To do this requires a prayerful spirit and 
 an earnest purpose on the part of the 
 canvassers. Such victories cannot be won 
 if the work is undertaken hurriedly. 
 
 V. Weekly giving. One of the greatest 
 drawbacks to the work of the church to- 
 day is that we have so far overlooked 
 the fact that giving is an act of Tvorship. 
 The Old Testament law was, “None 
 shall appear before the Lord empty.” 
 The New Testament teaches, “Upon the 
 first day of the week let each one of you 
 lay by him in store.” 
 
 Too many churches and individuals 
 have reduced giving to an act of con- 
 venience. Not only from the point of 
 view of the spiritual teachings of the 
 Word and the practical business efficiency 
 of the church, but also of the best in- 
 terests and development of the individual 
 contributor, weekly giving is the most 
 effective plan. As has been clearly de- 
 monstrated, it is not impossible, even in 
 the rural districts. 
 
 A Pertinent Question 
 
 If with less than 50 per cent, of our church 
 members paying nothing, and a large percent- 
 age of those who are giving not paying up to 
 their real abilities, our Protestant churches 
 could raise in 1914, $12,450,000 for home 
 missions and $16,425,000 for foreign mis- 
 
 12 
 
sions, what might our churches raise in 1916 
 if all would respond to the claims of Christ 
 with anything like the abandon with which the 
 European soldiers have given themselves in 
 loyalty to their countries ? 
 
 No Excuse for Haphazard Giving 
 
 In 1914 Protestant church members in 
 America gave to all home mission work an 
 average of 54c. per member; to all foreign 
 mission work, 7 1 c. per member, or an average 
 for both of $1.25. During the same time our 
 entire population spent 
 
 For confectionery.. $290,000,000.00, or $3.15 per capita 
 For soda water. . 415,000,000.00, “ 4.46 
 
 For tobacco 1,200,000,000.00, " 12.91 “ " 
 
 For liquor 2,000,000,000.00, “21.50 “ “ 
 
 Is it not a sad state of affairs that the 
 American people can make a per capita con- 
 tribution to “Queen Nicotine” of $12.91, and 
 to “King John Barleycorn” of $21.50, while 
 our Protestant church members have paid to 
 the King of kings only $1.25 for all mission 
 work? It is just as easy for church members 
 to set aside their gifts for missions daily or 
 weekly as it is for the American people to pay 
 out their money for confectionery, soda water, 
 tobacco, and liquor daily or weekly. Not until 
 the church members will pay to churches sys- 
 tematically will the Lord’s treasury be ade- 
 quately supplied with the funds needed for the 
 extension of the Kingdom. 
 
 13 
 
Great Spiritual Results 
 
 As great as have been the financial results 
 of the every-member canvass, these returns have 
 been secondary in importance. The spiritual 
 results have been far greater. Lapsed mem- 
 bers have been reclaimed. In one church alone 
 over 200 members who had been entirely lost 
 to the church for years were won back to the 
 worship and work of the church as a direct 
 result of the canvass. Church attendance has 
 been stimulated. Pastors have reported an in- 
 crease in their congregations of from 5 to 100 
 per cent. The canvassers themselves receive 
 new joy as a result of the service. Again and 
 again canvassers have asked for other work to 
 do, and ministries that hitherto have been im- 
 possible for want of leaders have been carried 
 forward with the result that all departments of 
 the church work have taken on new life and 
 inspiration. For the real joy of it canvassers 
 have gone out on a fellowship canvass or an 
 evangelistic campaign, and cases are on record 
 where in a few weeks as many as one hundred 
 and fourteen new members have been added 
 to one church, without extra meetings of any 
 kind, as a result of the personal evangelistic 
 efforts of men who caught the vision of such 
 possibilities while conducting a money canvass. 
 
 14 
 
Not only have the salaries of hundreds of 
 pastors been increased, but what is far better, 
 the canvass has resulted in giving new vision 
 and encouragement to pastors whose messages 
 and ministries have been quickened until re- 
 vivals have broken out and the greatest work 
 of grace ever known has been experienced by 
 scores of churches. 
 
 These are not fancy fairy tales, but state- 
 ments of actual facts. Church members have 
 been led to see the difference between a real 
 and a nominal Christianity. Midweek services 
 have been attended by large numbers of men 
 who had formerly been absent, and new voices 
 have been heard in the prayer meetings. Many 
 have become men of prayer and have developed 
 into effective personal workers. In short, the 
 whole attitude of pastors, church officers and 
 congregations has changed from that of burden 
 and indifference to that of aggressive, trium- 
 phant, joyful ministry and helpfulness. No 
 wonder such churches have larger congrega- 
 tions, better financial support, and many addi- 
 tions to their membership. They have learned 
 that it is more blessed to give than to receive. 
 
 In view of such victories in so many churches 
 why should not any church have faith to be- 
 lieve that our Lord is able to do a fresh piece 
 of re-creative work in any parish just as soon 
 as He has proper channels through which to 
 work? 
 
 It is said that Napoleon once had need of 
 a soldier for a military feat so hazardous that 
 
in all probability it would cost the man his life. 
 Standing before his army he explained the situ- 
 ation fully. Then turning his back and folding 
 his arms in the characteristic attitude, he cried: 
 “If there is any man in my army willing to lay 
 down his life for France, let him step out of 
 the ranks.” Facing about, his countenance 
 fell, for the ranks were unbroken as before. 
 But his marshall, saluting, said, “Sire, the 
 whole army stepped forward.” 
 
 When once her leaders have explained 
 the needs and sounded the call for service, 
 will not the whole Christian army step 
 forward? 
 
 16 
 
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