a ru fu In ju fu ru In fu in Ri in RJ in rJ in RJ n fu in Ri in RJ |u in RJ in RJ in RJ The mission of the Church is Missions” iSH5B5H5cLHH55SBSH5H5HEH5rHSEHBSH5HSHE[5SH5HHBHESHS55HSBSH5iB PAM. MARCH OFFERING -MANUAL- THE TIME OmiuNG FOR Foreign Missions first Sunday in March. ^ ^raj>er v|1% ICorb (Sob, tuijo biilt babe all men be babeb ypy anb tome to tfje bnotulebse of tbe tnitf), grant tfiat ®bp totjole cburcb map reabilp obep tbe commanb of CbP ^on> STebub Cbribt, to go anb teacl) all nations, bo that tbe gobpel of tE^bp grate map be bnobm to tbe uttermost parts of tbe eartb, anb tbe baap be mabe reabp for tbe tomtng of tbe iitng. ^peebilp fulfill lEbP purposes tonternmg Sfeto anb (Sentile. lEabe abtap bltnbness from Cbine antient people, anb tause them to see Slesns Christ tbeir ^abior. iiasten tbe bap tnbrn all Israel shall be sabeb, anb tnben the fulness of the (Sentiles shall be brought in. tEbese things tue asb in the name of l^im bubo boas giben to be a light to lighten the (Sentiles anb the glorp of fEbP people Ssrael, 3lesus Christ our S.orb. ®men. The Foreign Christian Missionary Society A. McLEAN, President Box 884 19 14 CINCINNATI, OHIO .sBasasHSHsgsHgssggHggsHSHSPSPJjESHsssESHSEgagassasasasHsa RJ in Ju in RJ in RJ in The goai of history is the redemption of the worid SESH5H5E5E5BSSSBSB5ESE5E5HSE5H5E5ESH5ESS5E5ZEESS£rB5ESESE5H5H5H5E5E5E?E5BHE5ESHHE5ESS5E “FATHER TIME” He states that the world continues to roll out of darkness into light. He records that the num¬ ber of church members in the non-Christian world has doubled in thirteen years. That is, that the actual membership in 1900 was 1,321,561; and now, thirteen years later, it is 2,644,170. In other words, as much has been accomplished in thirteen years as in one hundred years immediately preceding. Moreover, “ Father Time ” writes down that the Foreign Society made an encouraging growth dur¬ ing the past year. The advance, both at home and in the regions beyond^ was fully equal to expecta¬ tion under all the circumstances. The receipts about doubled in ten years, and the growth on the mission fields marks even greater enlargement. “ Father Time ” lays no claim to prophecy, but he expresses the deliberate judgment that the fu¬ ture has even larger things. He quotes John 1:50, “Thou shalt see greater things than these.” INTRODUCTION I T is believed that this issue of the March Offering Manual is a worthy successor to those that have been published. It con¬ tains much valuable information. The diagrams are important features. They are eloquent. The divisions into five parts we believe will make the Manual more convenient. Much space is devoted to the “Every-Mem¬ ber Canvass.” Full information is given. Our churches must be advised as to the latest and best methods. There is no conflict between the March Offering and the Every-Member Can¬ vass. Indeed the one supplements the other. We are sure the Living-link information will prove an inspiration. Let it be carefully studied. The Sermon Outlines will be most suggest¬ ive to our growing preachers, we are sure. This number of the Manual should be filed and kept for reference. 1 PART I Cfte iWartf) Offering March Offering for Foreign Missions RESPONSIBILITY God has crammed both thy palms with living seed; Let not a miser’s clutch keep both hands tight, But scatter on the desert’s barren need, That fragrant blossoms may reward God’s sight. God has dipped deep thy cup into his spring. Which drippeth over, it is so well filled; Lend it to some parched life, and let it bring Laughter and song to voices drought has stilled. God gave to thee his only well-loved Christ, Whose steps have smoothed the road that leads thee home; Tell those whose road is rough, whose way is missed. That he has called all weary ones to come. So shall thy giving set for thee God’s smile, And thine own soul drink deep draughts of his love; Earth’s shadows shall grow bright as heaven the while A web of glory round thy life is wove. THE MEANING The meaning of the March Offering is as follows: 1. It is an expression of the faith of the churches in Jesus Christ as the Divine Savior of the world. 2. It testifies to the faith of the churches in the gospel and its power to save all men. 3. The March Offering is also an expression of the con¬ fidence of the churches in the missionaries on the field and an appreciation of the faithful service they have rendered. They have endured hardness, they have faced death. Dur¬ ing the past year three of our missionaries died. They have planted the banner of the Cross on the grave of hoary pag¬ anism. 4. The offering is an expression of the desire of the churches to have fellowship with all the infant churches in the Far East—Japan, China, Philippines, Tibet, India—as well as in Africa and Cuba. These new-born disciples cry for fellowship and fraternity. They long for the touch of a friendly hand. Our help in March is a recognition of their faith and Christian heroism. It is the strong rejoicing in helping the weak. . 5. The offering testifies as to a church’s confidence in the final triumph of the truth in all the earth. The whole world is to be Immanuel’s land. Our Lord is to reign supreme among all men in every clime. The glorious day is rapidly approaching. More was accomplished in 1913 than in any former year since our Lord ascended on high, and 1914 will witness even greater victories. The growth during the past dozen years equals the growth from 1800 to 1900. 6. The offering testifies as to the life and usefulness of the local churches. It speaks of a church’s purity and unity and intelligent appreciation of all the highest and best things in Christian living. The church that is interested in a man in Asia or Africa will be interested in the man on the other side of the street. 3 Importance this Year There is special importance in the annual offering this year. We mention only a few. Others will suggest them¬ selves to the friends. 1. More Missionaries. Last year sixteen new mission¬ aries were sent to the field. The traveling expense, outfit money, and incidental expense made a heavy draft upon the treasury. This is more than we ever sent out in any one year before. We now have a larger number of missionaries on the field than at any one time in the history of the Foreign Society. This makes the offering important. 2. The work is larger. There are two new hospitals, more schools than a year ago, many more buildings than at this time last year, the school attendance is larger, more in the churches, Sunday-schools are growing; in a word, the whole work is in every way larger. Increased work demands larger outlay. 3. We have not yet reached the $500,000. Last year the receipts went up to $434,183, a gain of $33,454. We had hoped to make good the watchword, $500,000. Let us make another attempt. Our people are abundantly able to give this amount. May we not unitedly labor for this mark? That $500,000 would give us a feeling of self-respect and a consciousness of our real power. 4. Enlargement needed. The work is suffering in India for reinforcements. The missionary staff in that land is no larger than it was a dozen years ago. One station has been closed for want of more workers. Ten strong men could 4 be used in that land in our work. We need more missionaries in Japan. This need is most urgent. And the call from China is unceasing. Africa reaches out her large, black hand and begs for the bread of life. And the Philippines are ask¬ ing persistently for reinforcements. 5. The offering is important for our own sakes. We need the discipline and self-denial. This cause is the hope of our churches. It affords us a worthy task. If the churches neglect Foreign Missions they will be dead though they pre¬ tend to live. World-evangelization strengthens and vitalizes a church. It gives it red blood and strong muscles. A great task gives purpose and faith and self-respect. Missionary churches grow and prosper; o-missionary churches dwindle and perish. This is the history of Christianity. These things we see with our own eyes day by day. This offering is exceedingly important, and we hope every friend of the gospel will lend a hand. Points for Special Emphasis The following points should receive special em¬ phasis in our March Offering Campaign. 1. A greatly-increased force of missionaries is urgently needed. 2. A higher type of leadership imperative. 3. A vastly increased sum of money. 4. Missions a mighty apologetic. 5. World-wide Christianity the only adequate Christianity. 6. Urgency of the present situation. T 5 MARCH OFFERING Timely Suggestions 1. The Announcement This may seem to be a small mat¬ ter, but it is not. Let it be made clearly and distinctly. The first announcement should probably be made not later than the first Sunday in February. A joyous, hope¬ ful, expectant announcement will tell. *■ 2. A Special Feature. It is well to have some special feature in the March Offering every year. It seems that the emphasis this year may appropriately be put upon the rapid growth of the work and the splendid open doors before us. 3. Taken for Granted. The offering should be considered as a matter of course. It should have a place in the life of the church, like baptism or the Lord’s Supper. 4. A Church Rally. We hope you can arrange for a church rally in your congregation on Sunday night before the March Offering. This will go far toward educating the members and arousing them to the importance of the work. 5. The Apportionment. The apportionment in a church is a real test. Strike high! and, as one preacher puts it, ‘Then strike again.” The apportionment will help to reveal the church to itself. 6. March Offering Supplies. Make the most you can out of the March Offering supplies. Use the literature and the March Offering Envelope. Make the best possible use out of the pastoral letter. The March Offering En¬ velope will prove very useful. Please be careful to write the name of each member on the envelope before sending out or handing out. Stick a pin here! Two pins, if necessary. 6 Hold on to the Missionary Days Churches that have adopted the duplex envelope and take an offering for missions and benevolence each week should on no account abandon the regular ‘‘days.” The first Sunday in March is known as the time for the annual offer¬ ing in the churches for Foreign Missions. That day has been advertised until it is burned into the consciousness of all our people. The same is true of the first Sunday in May with respect to Home Missions. These days are a valuable asset to the Societies, and can not be dispensed with without loss to the work. The regular day should be observed for educational purposes and for liberal offerings as well, for even if the church does adopt the duplex envelope, only a fraction of the mem¬ bership will give every week. If the regular days are not observed, those who do not give each week will have no op¬ portunity to give throughout the year. Besides, the days should be observed for the benefit of strangers who may happen to be present. They should have the privilege of assisting the work as the Lord has prospered them. The minister of one of our largest and best missionary churches was asked how he raised money for missions and benevolence. He said that he used every plan of which he had knowledge. The church has adopted the duplex en¬ velope. He calls attention to the envelope from time to time. There are some tithers in that congregation. But all the days are observed, and those present are urged to give something extra. The minister knows that few of his people are giving as much as they should give, and that he is helping them and helping the work by getting them to give some¬ thing additional on the regular days. It is a great mistake not to conserve these days that have been built up at such a cost, and through such a long period of time. A secretary in another religious body that does not have special missionary days said we had a great advantage by observing a special day in the interest of Foreign Missions or of Home Missions. Some churches have made a splendid success by the “Budget Plan;” other churches have dropped down in their offerings. 7 What Method? In^securing the annual offerings in the churches for Foreign Missions, three methods are employed: 1. One method is called the “Budget Plan” or “Omnibus Plan.” By this plan only one offering is taken during the whole year, and the church divides it up among the various missionary and benevolent interests. The day is set apart for this offering and more or less preparation is made for it. Some reference is made to all our missionary and benevolent work, but, as a matter of course, no very special emphasis can be given to any one in a single day and in a special service like this. However, this method is popular with some. An Iowa pastor says: “We use the Budget Plan, and find it quite satisfactory. It is much better than ob¬ serving every missionary day.” An Illinois preacher, however, speaks as follows, “The Omnibus Plan was a failure, as we did not get as much as when we took pledges for each separate cause.” It should be borne in mind that no plan will succeed that is not worked conscientiously and thoroughly and intelligently, 2. The second is the “Duplex Envelope.” By this method a canvass is usually made of the whole church before the beginning of the new year and every member is asked to subscribe a definite amount for missions to be paid weekly, just as the current ex¬ penses are paid. This plan also has warm advocates. A Missouri pastor says, ‘ ‘It works well in getting the money.’ ’ A Washington pastor also says, “We find it much easier to raise the amount to support our pastor, and the same with the missionary offerings.” However, this plan has reduced the offerings in some of the churches, not because the plan is not a good one, but because it was not faithfully and persistently worked. Remember this. 3. The third plan, and the one most generally used among our churches, is to observe a special day for the offering accord¬ ing to the schedule of the National Convention. This method has been tried and found successful. There is an advantage in having a certain day set apart for a particular interest. It is like a dedication day or the day of beginning a great revival, or an annual commemoration. It can be said that there is more en¬ thusiasm on a special day. It has the advantage of presenting one thing at a time. More concrete and definite information can be given. Our own thought is that the churches should not be hasty in breaking away from the special day. The chief point is not the easiest way, but the way that will produce the largest returns. Let these methods be carefully considered before final steps are taken. It requires persistent teaching and constant watchful¬ ness to keep alive the missionary interest in any church, just as it requires diligence to keep alive the church itself. 8 God’s Challenge Again the world stands at the cross-roads of history. A few brief years will fix the course of centuries. Great crises will come again, but they will spring from the crisis of our day. New institutions, new nations, will be developed, but we shall de¬ termine whether they shall be Chris¬ tian. Never again can China arouse it¬ self from the quiet of centuries into a Republic. Never again can the vast social movements which are remaking our homes, our industry, our very ideals be so easily Christianized. Never again can the Gospel help organize a new civilization among the hundreds of millions who never heard of Jesus. Never again can we be in a position to fix the future of those who are to come after us. Christianity must dominate the new forces, the new conditions, the new nations, the new institutions, the new ideals now or lose the greatest opportunity the church has ever faced. We blame the church of the past— of Judea, of the Roman Empire, of the Crusades, of the Reformation, of the American Colonies—because it did not know the day of its visitation and let so many opportunities slip from its grasp. Will the future say the same of us? No generation ever faced such pos¬ sibilities of future weal or woe as does ours as it sees nations being re¬ born, civilizations looking to the church for guidance, and yet sees the forces of evil, of Paganism, of Mo¬ hammedanism growing more ag¬ gressive. The church of Jesus Christ must grow militant or it will grow feeble. Christians must sacrifice for their Master or see their Master put to an open shame. The opportunity is marvelous and appalling. It is God’s challenge to his church. Six Reasons Why Every Church Should Contribute to Foreign Missions First. Because the Master calls. He has said to go, and every church must participate in the going or fail in its loyalty to Him. Second. Because the money is greatly needed. The work is enlarging, the unentered fields are calling, the missionaries plead for funds for their work, and the decisive hour for Christianity in foreign fields has come. Third. Because the churches need the fellowship. The churches need to be saved as well as the heathen. Only the church that goes is prom¬ ised the blessing of the presence of Christ. A worthy part in world missions will save the churches from littleness, worldliness, and sectarianism. Fourth. Because the Gospel is ade¬ quate to save. One needs but to see the transformations worked by the Gospel in mission lands to have his faith greatly strengthened. Fifth. Because only through the churches and their giving will the lost world be reached. A native chief in Central Africa recently said to one of our missionaries, “White man, if you do not come and tell us the words of God, we have no opportunity.” Sixth. Because the large work of world redemption includes all Christian work in its blessed circle. Get a church deeply interested in the work of Christ in distant lands, and you will have no trouble in interesting it in every good work everywhere. 9 How will YOU Vote March 1st? THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH MISSIONARY BALLOT WOMEN CAN VOTE AT THIS ELECTION! To vote a straight party ticket mark of the party of your choice. a cross (X) in the square opposite the name NAME OF PARTY Do-Nothing | □ If I am able to give and refuse to give 1 anything to Missions I place myself in the Do-Nothing party and cast my ballot in 1 favor of the recall of every missionary in the foreign field. Do-Less 1 □ If I give less than heretofore, unless be¬ cause of diminished income, I favor a re- 1 duction of the missionary forces propor¬ tionate to my reduced contribution. Stand-Pat | □ 1 If I give the same as formerly, I favor holding the ground already won, but I 1 oppose any forward movement. Conquest | □ 1 If I advance my offering beyond former years, then I favor advance and the con- 1 quest of the world for Christ. THERE ARE NO STAY-AT-HOMES IN THIS ELECTION, EVERY MEMBER VOTES WITH ONE OF THESE FOUR PARTIES Vote your ballot in one of the above spaces now and be ready when you are called upon. Then prepare yourself by prayer and study and by recalling your obligation as a steward to do your duty, the first Sunday in March. How did the New Testament Christians vote ? How did Paul vote ? How will YOU vote? CHRIST said: “ He that is not with Me is against Me, and he who gathereth not with Me scattereth.” YOUR VOTE HAS A BEARING ON THE EVANGELIZATION OF THE WHOLE WORLD NOTE:—Here is material for a good sermon. 10 New Church Buildings and Missionary Offerings The supreme mission of the church is the evangelization and Christianization of the nations of the earth. Everything else must be held subordinate to this. Not the building and equipment of splendid houses of worship, however important this may be, is the first and divinely ordained work of the church, but the seeking and enlarging of the Kingdom of God. What¬ ever else we may do, or may not do, this must be done. If this tendency to neglect and to ignore our missionary offerings because, forsooth, we are building a fine house should become general just now, or at any time in our history, what would become of our rapidly growing work in the regions be¬ yond? How can we seriously determine upon a course that would greatly cripple our world-wide service? I am satisfied that if our preachers and consecrated building committees will think prayerfully on these things, no such action will ever be taken. The year we built our splendid house here in Winchester marked the largest offering for missions and benevolences the church had ever before made, the total gifts for .these Kingdom enterprises amounting to more than $3,000. We are not refer¬ ring to this in any spirit of self-praise, but rather to assure our brethren of our great joy in our unbroken fellowship in the preaching of the Gospel to the whole world. Whatever else we do, let us not neglect to help Christ in his mighty task of world-wide redemption. Let us not refuse to enter into “the fellowship of His sufferings” for the deliverance of the world from sin. He is depending upon us for this service. For his sake and ours and those for whom he died, let us not disappoint him. Winchester, Ky. J. H. MAC NEILL. A STUDY IN CONTRASTS The church at Bolenge, Africa, was organized ten years ago and now has 1,300 members. Seventy-six evan¬ gelists are sent out from this church, of which the congregation supports fifty. Christian gladly Home Christian bearing his tithe sweating under a load. mite load. 11 The Preacher and the March Offering The offering depends very largely upon the preacher. As a matter of course he knows more about the work than the people whom he serves. He has access to the sources of information. It is his business to know the facts. He must instruct them in all that relates to the advancement of the Kingdom. He must make them see the truth as he sees it, and feel about this enter¬ prise as he feels. As he is in knowledge and enthusiasm, so will they be in interest and liberality. Not. only so, but he must form plans for raising the offering. Every believer must be solicited to do his part. Some preachers never fail. No matter where they are, or how hard times are, or how inclement the weather, they always secure liberal offerings. The explanation is easy. They keep informed on missions, and they keep their hearers informed. They preach on missions and pray for missions every week in the year. They are in upright and downright earnest. To their minds the evangelization of the world is the greatest of all enter¬ prises. They see that the congregation is thoroughly canvassed. They go about raising an offering as they would to secure funds to build or repair a house of worship. They undertake to raise a handsome amount. They confidently expect it. They give generously themselves. By doing so they provoke others to do likewise. The people catch some of their enthusiasm and re¬ spond worthily. Such men can not fail. Others equally gifted and eloquent never succeed. No matter where they preach, or how large and rich the congrega¬ tion, or how favorable the occasion, they get little or nothing. The reason here, too, is plain. They are not in touch with the workers or in sympathy with the work. They do not know what has been done or the pressing needs of the field. The evangeliza¬ tion of the world is not a burden on their hearts. They do not lie awake at night and think about it and plan to assist it. They do not preach about it. They do not pour out their souls to God in the fervor and passion of prayer on its behalf. It is not in all their thoughts. If the people want to give, they will not object, but they never urge them to abound in the grace of giving. The truth is, that there are men in the pulpit to whom this great enterprise is a matter of small importance. They do not say with the Prophet of the Lord, “For Zion’s sake I will not rest, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not hold my peace, till the right¬ eousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.” No wonder they get so little. The baskets come back almost as empty as they went out. No canvass has been made. The preacher has made no contribution. There was no fire in the pulpit, and the pews were cold in consequence. 12 Sermon Outlines (Sermon Outline.) Subject: How We Might be Excused j. p. Mcknight. Text: And they straightway began to make excuse.—Luke 14: 18. INTRODUCTION.—Disposition of men to make excuse. 1. We might be excused from preaching the gospel to the heathen if Jesus had not commanded us to “go.” But He did. The commission is world-wide and imperative. The command is authoritative. 2. We might be excused from preaching the Gospel to the heathen if the doors of entrance to the nations of the world were closed. But they are not. The Macedonian hand is beckoning from every quarter of the globe. 3. We might be excused from preaching the Gospel to the heathen if there were no results. But there are. The success of modern missions is one of the most wonderful and glorious chapters in the history of the world. 4. We might be excused from preaching the Gospel to the heathen if we were too poor to send it. But we are not. Note the marvelous wealth of this land and of church members. 5. We might be excused from preaching the Gospel to the heathen if we were not responsible for the use of our money. But we are. 6. We might be excused from preaching the Gospel to the heathen if they might be saved in any other way. But they can not. CONCLUSION.—There is no reas¬ onable excuse. Pasadena, Cal. (Sermon Outline.) Subject: The Crowning Glory THOS. L. LOWE. Text: But far be it from me to glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.—Galatians 6:14. INTRODUCTION. — World - wide evangelism is the crowning glory of the church. 1. Evangelism is the crowning glory, for it is the crowning command* (a.) It is last. (b.) It is highest. , (c.) It is final. (d.) It is perpetual. (e.) It is inexorable. 2. Being the crowning command, then, it will ever be the crowning mis¬ sion of the church. 3. Evangelism is, moreover, the crowning need of the world. 4. Evangelism was the crowning, glory of the apostolic church. And,, as it was the crowning glory of the church of that age, so it is the crown¬ ing glory of the church of this age. 5. But evangelism is the crowning glory because, and supremely be¬ cause, through it is Jesus revealed as the “Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world.” Paul knew and taught two things— 2 l world of sin and a mighty Savior for it. He had but one purpose—to get the two- together. CONCLUSION.—And because evan¬ gelism is the God-ordered method by which Christ is to be made known and brought near to men as Savior, it is, and ever shall be, the crowning, glory of the Church of the living God.. Columbus, O. (Sermon Outline.) Subject: Foreign Missions. Why.^ C. O. REYNARD. Our generation is confronted with tasks grouped under title “Foreign Missions”: Evangelistic, medical,, educational, social. No lines of race,, or national life, recognize as bound¬ ing the task. Our generation is justi¬ fied in asking the question, “Why?” 1. The need of the fields.—Men, our brothers living and dying in abas¬ ing sin, dense ignorance, as in Africa, or in civilizations inadequate, as in India; every land that is non-Chris¬ tian can be, MUST BE, helped, up¬ lifted, by message of Cross. 2. The need of the church.—Needs great objective to keep her life pure. Illustration.—Church of Middle Ages torn by polemics when no foreign missionary spirit. Churches live when they give. Foreign Missions the great challenge which invigorates church. 13 3. The need of individual Chris¬ tian.—Our generation living too easily in luxury. Life of Christians needs big tasks. Flaming martyrs lighted ancient world — need men to-day flaming with zeal for unsaved to set our world on fire. 4. “The Lord hath need.”—He identifies Himself with human need, “unto them, unto Me.” Ancient world in need brought Him here; part of modern world in just such need as existed then; how His heart must ache; would send us in His stead. Loftis wanting to bandage wound in His side, went to Tibet to do it. Right. My offering is inadequate that does not—meet my share of world’s need; —enlarge my church’s life and min¬ istry; —express my faith, hope, love as larger than ever before; —indicate my love, allegiance, and obedience for and to my Lord. “As seeing Him —invisible.” Toronto, Can. (Sermon Outline.) Theme: The Great Commission I. J. SPENCER. Text; “All authority hath been given unto Me in heaven and on earth. Go ye, etc.”—Matt. 28; 18-20. INTRODUCTION.—Consider these words as introductory to a new dis¬ pensation. All nations are invited to the Gospel feast. 1. CONSIDER THE GREAT AU¬ THORITY. In Him heaven and earth are united. His authority absolute, uni¬ versal, merited, acknowledged. The secret of the unity for which He prayed is in making Him first and last, “God over all, blessed forever.” 2. CONSIDER THE GREAT SCOPE OF HIS ENTERPRISE. It comprehends strangers and sav¬ ages without written language. It extends into deadly climates and hos¬ tile territories. Cite Paul, who pushed out among Gentiles and into foreign nations; Carey, Livingstone, and others. We are fruit of foreign missions. 3. CONSIDER THE GREAT PUR¬ POSE OF THE COMMISSION. To make disciples. To make more disciples. No church designed to re¬ ceive and not give. Every disciple called to be a missionary. 4. CONSIDER THE WONDERFUL MEANS OF SALVATION. The Gospel is the power of God to salvation. Faith cometh by hearing the Word of God. The Word is the seed of the Kingdom of God. 5. CONSIDER THE GREAT PROM¬ ISE, “I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS.” He is present in the heart of the missionary; in providence and in the Word. His words are spirit and life. He is present to grant love, wisdom, hope, courage, and success. “If ye abide in Me and my words abide in you ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you.” CONCLUSION.—Will you accept the Divine partnership and take God as your Companion? ' Lexington, Ky. (Sermon Outline.) Subject: The Christ—A Missionary Guest W. A. FITE. Text; “Behold, I stand at the door and knock, etc.”—Rev. 3; 20. INTRODUCTION. Text is addressed to church. It is a part of the letter of our Lord to the Church of Laodicea, which was noted for its lukewarmness, self-satisfac¬ tion, and spirit of compromise. The city of Laodicea was noted for its banks, the manufacture of fine, rare garments of glossy black and violet colors, and a school of medicine which made an ointment for the eye. The church trusted more in the banks than the true riches—“gold refined in the fire,” more in its woolen clothes than “the white garments” of righteousness, more in its oint¬ ments than in “the eyesalve” of Christ. Same type of churches to-day. The message is for self-satisfied, luke¬ warm, materialistic churches. I. A PERSISTENT VISITOR. The knocking, calling Christ. “Be¬ hold I stand at the door and knock if any man hear My voice.” 1. The Call of the Christ. “If any man hear my voice.” (a.) That voice to the unchristian is, “COME.”—Matt. 11; 28; John 6; 37; Luke 14; 17; Mark 10; 21; Rev. 22: 17. (b.) That voice to Christian is, “GO.”—Matt. 28:19; Mark 16: 15; Luke 10:3; John 20:21. 14 To the self-satisfied Christian or church, doing nothing for the world’s salvation, Jesus conies knocking and calling. His knock is for entrance; His call is to go. He promises to be with those who “GO.”—Matt. 28:20. H. CONDITIONS OF ENTRANCE. “Hear My voice and open the door.” 1. Hear My voice. It is not as if he stood at the door saying, “Let me come in, let me come in.” But he stands there say¬ ing, “Go ye into all the world. Go, go, go.” Jesus is not a fawning syco¬ phant begging for entrance; he is a manly messenger calling to service. It is not the voice of invitation, but the voice of proclamation; not the voice of entreaty, but the voice of command. He is not a beggar asking favors; he is a King issuing orders. To the unconverted he stands (is no¬ where represented as knocking) with outstretched hands saying, “COME.” But to the Christian he knocks to give the alarm of the dying world and says, “GO.” 2. “Open the door.” (a.) The door of the mind—to un¬ derstand his will. (b.) The door of the heart—to sympathize with his plans. (c.) The door of the will—to exe¬ cute his orders. (d.) The door of our homes—that sons and daughters may become mis¬ sionaries. (e.) The door of our bank vaults— that the laborers may be paid. HI. THE BLESSINGS BESTOWED. 1. Jesus our guest. “I will come in and sup with him.” If it is an honor to entertain earth‘s dignitaries and rulers, it is a greater honor to entertain the King of kings and Lord of lords. 2. We are to be His guests. “And he with Me.” In the Kingdom to come we shall be guests at the bridal feast of the Lamb. Paducah, Ky. (Sermon Outline.) Subject: The Paramount Issue W. S. PRIEST. Matt. 28: 19-20. The famous Nebraskan who now occupies the exalted position of Sec¬ retary of State once had a great lec¬ ture on “The Paramount Issue.” The phrase became familiar to all the people. It had to do, of course, with politics, and, while accepted by many in the party to which he be¬ longed, it was rejected by those of the opposite side. But to the Christian the issue that is above every other issue—the “paramount issue”—is the evangelization of the world; and this is true because— I. IT WAS THE LAST COMMAND OF THE RISEN LORD. Indeed, it was the last recorded command given by Christ to his dis¬ ciples after his resurrection. This fact, therefore, enhances its impor¬ tance. Jesus must have regarded the evangelization of the world as the most sacred and important duty he had to lay upon the heart of his fol¬ lowers, else he never would have given that command just before his ascen¬ sion. Jesus expected that his dis¬ ciples would obey him; and since loyalty to the Master is shown by the readiness with which we obey him, we surely can not be regarded as loyal if we refuse to obey him in this respect. It is the will of the Father that the nations be given the Son as his inheritance; but how can this be done if we withhold the Gospel from the nations? It is the paramount issue because— H. THE SALVATION OF THE INDI¬ VIDUAL CHRISTIAN AND OF THE CHURCH DEPENDS UPON IT. It was never intended by our Lord that his religion should be a selfish, personal religion. As individuals and as churches we are to save ourselves by helping Jesus save the world. The one distinguishing feature of Chris¬ tianity is that it is self-propagating. It is the religion of conquest. No real Christian can keep the “good news” to himself. He must tell it to others. That’s why it spread so rapidly during the first centuries. Every disciple was a preacher of the glad tidings. So must it be now. Missions is the very heart and life of the church. Said Alexander Camp¬ bell: “The church is, and ought to be, a great missionary society. Her parish is the whole earth, from sea to sea and from the Euphrates to the last domicile of man. A Christian community without missions and missionaries would be a solecism in creation, and a gross deviation from the order, the economy, and the gov¬ ernment of the universe.” That the growth and prosperity of any congre¬ gation depend upon its interest in the work of the Gospel in the regions beyond is a truth so obvious as to need no argument. Says Doctor Pentecost: “He must be a blind 15 student of the providential order and the spiritual economy of the King¬ dom of God who does not see that all the ultimate home interests and prosperity of the church—even her very existence—are dependent upon the measure of active interest we take in the success of our mission work abroad.” Finally— III. THE MILLENNIUM WILL NOT COME UNTIL CHRIST IS MADE KNOWN TO ALL THE NATIONS. Our Lord said, “And this gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all the nations; and then shall the end come.” This probably had a limited meaning, but is rightly applied to the larger, fuller preaching of the Gospel to all the nations. This is the sole business of the church. The church is not a social club nor a literary so¬ ciety. It is the divine organization by which the world is to be evangelized. O, beloved, the “day of opportunity” is upon us! Shall we arise in the strength of Jehovah and go forth to the conquest of the world for Christ? Let us be seeking out young men and women who shall offer themselves for service at home and abroad. Let us persuade our men of wealth that the paramount issue is not a question of politics, nor of business expansion, but it is the preaching of the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Let each disciple of Jesus share in the seed¬ sowing and the harvest will be reaped as certainly as that God reigns and his adorable Son shall become the King of kings and Lord of lords. “I do not know Where falls the seed that I have tried to sow With greatest care; But I shall know The meaning of each waiting here be¬ low. Sometime, somewhere.” Wichita, Kan. (Sermon Outline.) Subject: The “ Go ” of Christ GEORGE DARSIE. Mark 16:15; Matt. 28; 19-20. I want to emphasize the word “go.” We too often step over that little word in Christ’s last commission. We hasten to emphasize the commands to believe, repent, and be baptized. And they ought to be emphasized. We emphasize the necessity of church edification in the last commission. And that, too, ought to be empha¬ sized. We give due importance to the promise, “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” And how necessary that is also. But “go” stands at the head of all of them. I. WHAT IT MEANS. 1. The authority of Christ. If His authority commands it, our loyalty must obey it. 2. Love of Christ.—As Jesus hung upon the cross he saw the perishing nations and races of men. For them all he died. And now to them all he sends the message of his salvation. 3. Aggressiveness of Christ.—We • must catch the aggressive spirit of our Lord and feel in our hearts the enthusiasm of the great campaign of world-wide conquests. 4. Universality of Christ.—Jesus is a world-Savior, and will be satisfied with nothing but world-conquests Christianity is destined lo be the re¬ ligion of the whole world. II. WHOM IT MEANS. It meant originally the apostles. Through them it reached to the early disciples. Through them it means all disciples now, the church of to-day. 1. You must Either Go or Send.— If you can not fulfill the command in person, then help someone else to da it. You are just as truly saying “go” when you enable someone else to ga as if you went yourself. And the more liberally you give, the louder you say it. Some are saying it very softly^ indeed. Others are not saying it at all. Still others are saying it with gratifying earnestness. 2. We Need to Say It Louder Every Year.—The needs of the field are many. 3. The Blessing of Saying It.—It comes back to us in spiritual enrich¬ ment. The reflex benefit is rich be¬ yond description. Terre Haute, Ind. (Sermon Outline.) Subject: The Gospel Preached to Abraham A. McLEAN. Text: And the Scripture foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel before¬ hand unto Abraham, saying, “In thee shall all nations be blessed.”— Gal. 3:8. “Scripture” is used here for the author of Scripture. The foresight ascribed to Scripture belongs to God. It will be seen that there was nothing partial or exclusive in this promise. It was for all nations and for all times. Let us note— I. THE EXACT IMPORT OF THE PROMISE. The blessing contemplated is that of justification by faith, and includes a title to pardon and peace and eternal life. This blessing is opposed to the curse spoken of in the following verses. II. GOD HAD A PURPOSE OF MERCY TOWARD THE GENTILES. This purpose included their justi¬ fication on the same grounds as the Jews. The Jewish economy was par¬ ticularistic; the Christian is univer¬ sal. In Christ all are one. There is neither Jew nor Gentile. There is no distinction between Jew and Greek. HI. THE WAY OF SALVATION IS THE SAME IN BOTH DIS¬ PENSATIONS. It is by faith. The Old Testament saints were saved by their faith in the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. The Levitical statement was typical of the true method of salvation. IV. GOD’S GRACIOUS PURPOSE WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED ONLY WHEN THE WHOLE WORLD HAS BEEN BLESSED IN JESUS CHRIST. Not until then can our Lord see of the travail of his soul and be satisfied. This is or should be a compelling motive with all Christians to give the Gospel to all mankind. (Sermon Outline) Vital Features of New Testament Missions INTRODUCTION.—Authorized by Christ and illustrated by his example. I. IMPORTANT GENERAL VIEWS. 1. World-wide in scope. 2. Every New Testament writer a Foreign Missionary. 3. Because of their inspiration, their methods under divine guidance, and with God’s approval. 4. Bringing in the Kingdom the passion of the Apostolic Church. II. PRACTICAL PRINCIPLES IN THEIR METHOD. 1. Workers carefully selected and specially trained. 2. In these features apostles were specially interested and active. 3. They had full confidence in the efficiency of this program. 4. First Christians zealous in making the work a success through their liberality. 5. Difficult problems were carried up to God for solution. HI. SOME LESSONS FOR OUR TASKS. 1. We must keep their magnitude before our eyes and in our hearts. 2. Let us not falter, for “Our sufficiency is of God.” 3. Let us always strike the keynote of apostolic workers, “Rejoice always.” 4. Look to our fields for the signs of promise* CONCLUSION.—Love the greatest thing in the world as God sees it, and therefore in our task it should be the motive leading us to the victory of faith which overcomes the world* - College of the Bible. B. C. DEWEESE. ^ 17 PART 11 ®l)e Jforeian ^ocietj> Growth of the Foreign Society Diagramed $3Z /rfcft£^s£ /ri /Y/tr/zf tt£LP£R6 The native preacher is very effective. He understands the customs of his own people and speaks their language from child¬ hood. He lives the simple life of the native. His dress, his man¬ ner, his customs are the same. And the native preacher has not attained to the habits of Western civilization and lives cheaply. His salaries are from $50 to $300 a year. A Chinese evangelist gets $75 a year; one in Africa, $50 a year. These all contribute generously from their living to the work of the mis¬ sion* 18 /&/ mo mo / 9/3 The gain in missionaries is not as large as we had hoped. A number have passed to their eternal reward. Some have broken in health and were compelled to return to Amer¬ ica. As the work grows on the field, it requires more to sup¬ port it. The large army of native helpers requires in¬ creased outlay. And then it is difficult to find missionaries well equipped to do the work we have in hand. Last year sixteen new missionaries were sent out. The number is now 181. The church membership on the field grows faster than the membership at home. Look at the great gains since 1900, or in thirteen years. Years of preparation were necessary. Now, then, to rapid increase, if we are able to follow up the work. The success of the work is one of the embarrassments. The infant churches must be cared for. Last year there was an increase of 20 per cent. The years to come may show even greater enlargement. Let us believe in God and the power of his gospel and press forward. /^4.£Z //YC/f£/l6£ //V A/£/yr3£/f£ 19 S6a3 The Foreign Society conducts 107 schools and colleges in for¬ eign lands, in 54 buildings, valued at $211,825. Mark the large increase in pupils in thir¬ teen years. Education is an essential feature of the Foreign Missionary enterprise. From the first the Society has recog¬ nized the supreme importance of developing this department of its workk Note we have an attendance of 5,683 in our schools. This is a great army. //vcffSAse //i P OP/i. 6 /723a Our missionaries have estab¬ lished 250 Sunday-schools on the mission fields, and the at¬ tendance is 17,238. The school of to-day will be the church of tp-morrow. This is an impor¬ tant evangelizing agency. Note, please, the rapid increase. The enlargement in thirteen years has been most encouraging. The increase for the past ten years shows 166 per cent. We could plant many more - if we' had more workers. 26 Growing In Strength The Society has lost in receipts only six years in 38 1882 1897 1913 $25,063 $106,222 $434,183 The above illustrates the growth of the receipts of the Foreign Society from 1882 to 1913. Quite an increase. The growth must continue. The For¬ eign Society has not yet come to its full power. Let us grow to $500,000 this year. 21 FOREIGN SOCIETY CATECHISM Question. What is the purpose of the Foreign SocietyF Answer. It is to make disciples of all nations. Q. When was the Foreign Society or¬ ganised f A. Louisville, Ky., October, 1875. Q. Where does the Society do work? A. In India, China, Japan, Philippine Islands, Cuba, England, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Africa. Q. How many missionaries on the field? A. The number is 181 American and English missionaries, and 832 native help¬ ers. Q. How many baptisms do our mission¬ aries report? A. For last year 2,958, about 500 more than for the year before. Q. Does the Foreign Society conduct medical missions? A. Yes. Q. How many medical missionaries and how many hospitals are supported? A. There are 15 medical missionaries and 30 hospitals and dispensaries. Q. How many patients were treated last year? A. The number was 160,716, a gain over the previous year of 7,429. The number treated is an average of 440 for each day and about 18 for each hour in the day, the whole year through. Q. Does the Foreign Society do edu¬ cational work? A. Yes, it conducts 106 schools and col¬ leges, with an attendance of 5,683, and of this_ number 283 are preparing for the Christian ministry. Q. Does the Foreign Society own any buildings for educational work? A. Yes, 54, valued at $211,825, an in¬ crease over the previous year of $33,170. Q. What is done for orphans? A. The Society owns three orphanages, valued at $9,000, and supports 175 orphans. Q. Have any churches been organized? A. Yes, 147 churches on the foreign field, with a membership of 14,452, a net gain the past year of 884. There are 138 church buildings, valued at $223,664. Q. Have Sunday-schools been started? A. Yes, there are 250 schools, with a membership of 17,238. Q. What is the whole property valua¬ tion 011 the foreign field? A. The missionaries report $853,706. It will no doubt soon reach a million. Q. Are there any fees or income on the foreign field? A. Last year the medical fees amounted to $10,958; the school fees to $7,367; total fees, $18,325. The total income on the fields, including missionary offerings, self- support, etc., amounted to $58,261, or more than all of the administration expense of the Society. Q. How many churches gave to For¬ eign Missions last year? A. The number was 3,122, a gain of 151 over the previous year. Q. How many Sunday-schools contrib¬ uted? A. The number was 4,051, a gain of 70. Q. How much did the Sunday-schools give? A. $92,853. Q. How much have they given since Children’s Day was inaugurated? A. The total amount is $1,201,904. Q. What is the amount of individual offerings for last year? A. $101,376, an increase of $16,259. Q. What amount was received on the annuity plan? A. From this source the Society re¬ ceived $49,386, a gain of $18,186. Q. What is the total amount received by the Annuity Fund from the first? A. Since 1879, when the Annuity Fund was started, the amount received is $508,- 801, and the fund continues to grow. Q. What was received by bequests? A. $8,468, a gain of $4,379. Q. What were the total receipts of the Foreign Society last year? A. The whole income was $438,183, a gain of $33,454- Q. How much has the Foreign Society received since its organization, thirty-eight years ago? A. The amount reaches $5,274,047. Q. How many Living-links in the For¬ eign Society? A. The total number, including churches, Sunday-schools, and individuals, is over 150. Q. Were any missionaries sent out last year? A. Y^s, sixteen new missionaries, the largest number in any one year in the his¬ tory of the Society. Q. Have any missionaries died recently? A. During the past year R. Ray Eldred and wife have died in Africa, and Mrs. Frank Garrett, of China, has passed away. Q. When is the offering for Foreign Missions in the churches? A. The churches make their offering the first Sunday in March, and the Sunday- schools make their offerings the first Sun¬ day in June. Q. What is the watchword for this year? A. The watchword is, “$500,000 by September 30, 1914.” 22 Steady Growth The following table shows the record of the Foreign Society for the past thirty-eight years. These are cheering figures. We have every reason for thanksgiving. This showing must be carefully studied to be fully appreciated. < p ►1 No. of Contrib¬ uting Churches. Amount Con¬ tributed by Churches. 1 No. of Contrib¬ uting Sunday- schools . Amount Con¬ tributed by Sunday-schools.. Total Amount Contributed. i 1 Missionaries. Native Helpers... Total Missionary Force. 1876 1 1 30 $20 00 $1,706 35 2 2 1877 41 548 18 2 2,174 95 2 2 1878 68 565 03 47 $195 10 8,766 24 5 5 1879 209 1,881 73 52 210 26 8,287 24 9 9 1880 324 2,723 09 69 246 02 12,144 00 10 10 1881 217 1,637 54 198 750 00 13,178 46 13 13 1882 524 4,940 77 501 2,175 00 25,063 94 11 11 1883 473 4,764 95 516 3,205 00 25,004 85 19 1 20 1884 585 7,189 90 699 4,125 00 26,601 84 22 3 25 1885 648 7,191 00 787 5,125 00 30,260 10 26 7 33 1886 653 7,004 32 820 6,035 00 61,727 07 31 13 44 1887 774 10,304 73 1,064 10,513 00 47,757 85 32 13 45 1888 990 15,181 72 1,217 15,662 00 62,767 59 37 23 60 1889 1,038 17,214 67 1,417 19,123 00 64,840 03 43 27 70 1890 805 13,505 88 1,251 17,765 00 67,750 49 53 28 81 1891 991 18,000 63 1,511 21,411 00 65,365 76 58 34 92 1892 1,355 24,259 85 1,452 22,907 00 70,320 84 63 37 100 1893 1,208 23,818 49 1,571 18,690 00 58,355 01 65 44 109 1894 1,806 30,679 63 2,276 23,486 00 73,258 16 66 55 121 1895 2,403 36,549 99 2,525 27,553 00 83,514 16 68 66 134 1896 2,459 39,902 00 2,605 28,418 00 93,867 71 76 67 143 1897 2,586 39,568 28 2,810 30,027 00 106,222 10 87 77 164 1898 2,907 45,650 20 3,180 34,334 00 130,925 70 93 108 201 1899 3,051 57,781 00 3,187 39,071 00 152,727 38 98 131 229 1900 3,067 65,964 00 3,260 42,705 00 180,016 16 111 146 257 1901 2,762 62,007 00 3,216 42,841 00 171,898 20 111 160 271 1902 2,822 68,586 00 3,365 48,116 00 178,323 68 115 223 338 1903 2,825 79,785 00 3,310 51,630 25 210,008 68 117 290 407 1904 2,915 89,545 01 3,532 56,832 47 221,318 60 143 295 438 1905 2,834 95,500 00 3,552 61,817 60 255,922 51 154 312 466 1906 3,178 109,018 00 3,638 66,809 65 268,726 00 154 333 487 1907 3,415 123,468 00 3,785 77,158 73 305,534 54 155 410 565 1908 3,457 128,347 00 3,742 75,180 20 274,324 39 167 594 761 1909 3,396 146,081 00 3,775 77,199 24 350,685 21 170 634 804 1910 3,227 138,098 48 3,864 90,251 82 360,712 92 170 761 931 1911 3,023 139,501 20 3,787 83,041 35 379,082 03 169 759 928 1912 2,971 135,835 49 3,981 92,751 92 400,728 44 172 1085 1256 1913 3,122 129,871 00 4,051 92,853 OC 434,183 01 1 181 832 1013 MISSIONARIES WHO HAVE ENTERED THE SERVICE DURING THE PAST YEAR E. A. Johnston, Africa Mrs. E. A. Johnston, Africa W. L. Burner, Cuba Mrs. W. L. Burner, Cuba H. P. Shaw, China Mrs. H. P. Shaw, China J. E. Moody, India Mrs. J. E. Moody, India C. H. Plopper, China W. H. Scott, India Mrs. C. P. Hedges, Africa Miss Lulu Snyder, China Dr. W. H. Frymire, Africa Miss Winifred Brown, Tokyo, Japan A. G. Saunders, Laoag, P. I. Cut not available Miss Apperson, Africa Never Before Never before were there so many doors open to the gospel. In China the church has the greatest opportunity she has had since Pentecost. The new Republic is in full sym¬ pathy with the missionary enterprise, and has granted re¬ ligious liberty to all the people. In Africa the chief difficulty arises from the m.arvelous success of the work. The mis¬ sionaries are unable to teach the inquirers and the converts the right way of the Lord, so numerous are they. What is true in these fields is true in other fields as well. The loving favor of our God is resting in fullest measure upon every department of the work. Pie it is that is opening the doors and bidding us enter. If we would be loyal td'Hirh," we must obey. Never before were there so many obligations resting upon the Society. Field after field has been entered, and station after station has been opened, and missionaries have been engaged and sent out under what appeared to be the manifest leading of the Divine Spirit. The chapels, schools, hospitals, dispensaries, orphanages” printing presses, and homes now” in existence must be maintained. We must meet our obliga¬ tions to the missionaries we have sent out and to those on the' fields whom we have led to Christ. We must do this if we would greatly honor our Lord. Never before did the Foreign Society have so many missionaries on the field; and never before was all the work so large. We ought to be thankful and provide larger things. Never before were we as a people so well able to carry on the work in all parts of the world. There are more churches, and a larger, membership, and much greater wealth than in any previous year. The vast increase in our resources has its lesson for us. Where much is given, there much shall be required. The March Offering this year should be by far the largest in our history. More churches should give, and their offerings should be on a larger scale than ever before. The March Offering should yield not less than $200,000 from the churches alone. This should be the very least the Society should receive this year from that source. If the churches reach this amount there will be no trouble in reaching $500,- COO for Foreign Missions this year. 25 GAINS OF THE FOREIGN SOCIETY FOR THE PAST YEAR Gain—In total receipts, $33,454. Gain—In contributing churches, 151. Gain—In contributing Sunday-schools, 70. Gain—In Sunday-school offerings, $102. Gain—In Individual offerings, $16,259. Gain—In Annuity Gifts, $18,186. Gain—In Bequests, $4,379. Gain—In miscellaneous Gifts, $1,592. Gain—In new Living-links, 37. Gain—Of 536 baptisms. Gain—Of 16 new missionaries. Gain—Of 7,492 in-patients treated. Gain—Of 7 new schools. Gain—Of 291 in school attendance. Gain—Of 20 new school buildings. Gain—Of $33,170 in value of school property. Gain—Of 884 in local church membership. Gain—Of $2,457 in medical fees. Where the Money Went The following is a statement of where the on the mission fields during the past year: money was spent China... $96,112 17 India. 67,673 09 Japan... 62,403 34 Philippine Islands. 53,202 75 Africa. 38,083 82 Tibet . 11,505 25 England. 9,189 31 Cuba.. 5,675 48 Scandinavia. 4,416 52 Hawaii. 2,312 00 Turkey. 227 05 More was spent in China last year than in all the fields in 1896, or seventeen years ago. » The Names of Those Who Died in the Service **Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends, * * INDIA. Miss Sue E. Robinson. Miss Hattie L. Judson. E. M. Gordon. G. L. Wharton. JAPAN. Mrs. Josephine W. Smith. Charles Elias Garst. CHINA. Mrs. Carrie Loos Williams. Albert F. H. Saw. Edwin P. Hearnden. Mrs. Edwin P. Hearnden. Thomas J. Arnold. C. E. Molland. Mrs. Frank Garrett. AFRICA. Dr. Harry C. Biddle. Miss Ella C. Ewing. R. Ray Eldred. Mrs. R. Ray Eldred. TIBET. Dr. Z. S. Loftis. Dr. Susie C. Rijnhart-Mayes. DENMARK. Dr. A. O. Hoick. ENGLAND. Mrs. Mary B. Moore. Marion D. Todd. “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” Ten Leading States The contributions from the ten leading States for Foreign Missions last year were as follows: Ohio. .$47,559 California. ...$21,882 Kentucky .... . 45,802 Michigan. ... 16,871 Missouri. . 36,307 Iowa. ... 15,502 Illinois. . 34,177 Nebraska. ... 15,106 Indiana. . 32,508 Pennsylvania ... ... 11,437 27 TAKING THE OFFERING C. R. HUDSON. Taking the offering is to missions what the harvest time is to farmers. It is the goal toward which they have been working in the past. A glorious harvest must be preceded by the careful preparation of the soil, by the sowing of well-chosen seed, by the cultivation of the growing crop; then, when the harvest time comes, by; laying aside everything else and calling out alb, the forces,- and neVe^^ untih the golden grain is safely stored in the missionary elevators in Cincinnati. Sometimes it is a good way to find out how to do a thing by first deciding how not to do it. b y / First—Do n’t put off preparation for the offering^ until the appointed day comes, but take the" literature and the envelopes sent out by the Society, write the name of each member of the family on a . small envelope, then enclose all in a larger envelope and send to the homes in the church by helpers ten days or two weeks before the appointed day. - Second^Dq n’t forget the children/ , They will ap¬ preciate seeing their names ^written by some one else and to know that they can have fellowship with the father and mother in this great work. Begin early to train for missions. The race-horse man takes his colts onto the track as soon as they can walk. So, if you would win the race in missions, begin with the children. Third—Do n’t neglect the scattered disciples. In the ' community, of every organized church there are a number of Christians who will not identify themselves with the local congregation. They will not move their membership from the I old home church. They expect to be buried there. As a result the spirit dies before the body. A good way to save them spiritually is to enlist them in the missionary work. % Fourth—Do n’t apologize that you are going to take Un offering for missions, but announce with great delight the day of the offering and speak of it as one of the high days of the church’s calendar. " ^ - 28 Fifth—^When the great day arrives and the worship’^ is over and the sermon is preached, do n’t extend the invitation and sing a hymn, but without music and without singing let the regular trained force of deacons take the offerings. On their return to the pulpit, with the congregation in the atti¬ tude of worship, thank God for the measure of the Spirit of Christ that is in the hearts of the people for the splendid offering that has been made and pray God’s blessing to rest upon it as it goes forth upon its splendid mission of helping to save the world. Pomona, Cal. 1. The offerings should be sent promptly. This is most desirable. Some offerings aro held for many months, when the donors suppose their gifts have been promptly sent %)h their mission of helpfulness. Other gifts aro made for Foreign Mis¬ sions which, for one reason or ahbther, are never forwarded. ^ ^ 2. Care should be taken to give the local name of the church, as Mt. Pleasant, Corinth, Sixth Street, etc., when different from the postoffice. i j ^ . - - 3. Friends are requested also to state definitely whether the money is from a church, a Sunday-school, an Endeavor Society, or an individuak We keep separate accounts with eacli of these, arid it is important that each receive proper credits, A little care in this matter will avoid misunderstanding* and save tirne and correspondence. 4. When money is sent for a special object or on a pfedge, or on a Life Membership, or Life Directorship, the fact should be so stated. This will help the Treasurer in his accounts. 5. And in all let us heed the apostolic injunction, “Not slothful in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.” 6. The offerings should be sent to F. M. Rains, Secretary, Box 884, Cincinnati, Ohio, who will at once return a proper re¬ ceipt. Money should be sent by bank draff, postoffice order, express order, or re^gistered letter. Please do not send currency^ as bills or silver coin, in a letter without registering. j PART III Mi^^iomxv Crainmg A New World Challenge The progress of Christianity during the past ten years can not be paralleled except in apostolic times. A day of amazing significance is upon us. The world has never before witnessed anything like it. We can hardly believe our eyes. We are in the midst of a new ‘‘fullness of time.” World conditions are most favorable for Christ to enter into his own. Our own country has come to a new conscious¬ ness. We think of other lands as neighbors. New ideals are before us. A more Christly spirit is upon us. We see the world in a new light. The Far East has |been aroused from its slumber of ages. The sleep has been so long that the light of the new day half blinds her. Japan hungers for a better national life. She is more conscious of her limitations than at any time in her age-long history. Many of her most thoughtful men know that the gospel, and the gospel alone, will meet her impera¬ tive needs. God has granted us far more than we dared to hope for China. As goes China, so will go the world, is the belief of many. All India is vibrant with Christian thought and aspiration, while certain evidences of disintegration are clearly seen at the very heart of Brahmanism. The prospect of her schools being increased in the not distant future is another sign of Christian progress. It is also another prophecy of the certain death of her heathenism. The Turk is humili¬ ated in the eyes of the world. The present-day Africa is a new and forceful challenge. Look where you may in the family of nations, and the appeal for light and life and guidance is overwhelming and compelling. As churches of Christ the gospel has been com¬ mitted to us in trust. Let us look well to our stewardship. 30 Making Advances He may run that readeth .—Habakkuk 2:2 PROGRESS OF THE WORLD’S EVANGELIZATION 1800 1900 1912 THE WHITE IN CIRCLES SHOWS PROPORTION OF PROFESSING CHRISTIANS From 1800|to 1900 the increase is illustrated by the diagrams. The membership in the foreign fields doubled in twelve years following 1900. The world task can be accomplished by 2000 if every Christian does his duty. Mark the progress being made and be encouraged. The Testimony of Four Presidents President Harrison (after a speech by Miss Singh, an Indian convert, at the New York Ecumenical Conference), ‘‘If I had had a million dollars and had invested it all in missions and this was the only result, I should not want my money back.’’ President Roosevelt: “When I came back, I wished it had been in my power to convey my experience to those people, often well-meaning people, who speak about the in¬ efficiency of Foreign Missions. I think if they could have realized but the tenth part of the work that had been done they would understand that no more practical work, no work more productive of fruit for civilization, could exist than the work being carried on by the men and women who give their lives to preach the gospel of Christ to mankind.” President McKinley: “Who can estimate their value (missions) to the progress of nations? Their contribution to the onward and upward march of humanity is beyond all calculation. They have inculcated industry and taught the various trades. They have promoted concord and amity and brought nations and races closer together. They have made men better. They have increased the regard for home and strengthened the sacred ties of family, have made the com¬ munity well ordered, and their work has been a potent in¬ fluence in the development of law and the establishment of government.” President Taft: “Until I went to the Orient I did not realize the immense importance of Foreign Missions. No man can study the movement of modern civilization from an impartial standpoint and not realize that Christianity and the spread of Christianity are the only basis for hope of mod¬ ern civilization in the growth of popular self-government. In the progress of civilization you can not over-estimate the immense importance of Christian Missions. If in China to-day you try to find out what the conditions are in the interior, you consult in Peking the gentlemen who are sup¬ posed to know; and where do you go? You go at once to the missionaries.” • • ' 32 A MISSIONARY IDEAL For the Local Church AS MUCH FOR OTHERS AS FOR OURSELVES The above diagram hangs on the wall of the Third I Church, Danville, Ill. The pastor, J. A. Barnett, is striving to bring the church up to this ideal. The goal ' embodied in the diagram is one of the slogans of the Lay- - men’s Missionary Movement, and all over the world , churches are striving to reach this ideal. Some have reached it and others have gone beyond. No one can deny that a church should do as much for others as for . itself. Is it not reasonable that of the fifty per cent thus set aside for missions one-half of it should go out to the ^ lands beyond, ‘where one hundred million people have never had the opportunity of believing on Christ ? . J ' i Why not have this as the ideal for your church ? Figures Are Not Dry The figures refiecting the growth of the missionary interest of the world read like fiction, but they are bedrock facts. The following are some of the world Protestant Foreign Mission statistics: Annual Income.$30,404,404 Annual Income on the Fields. 7,902,256 Total Number of Missionaries. 24,902 Native Workers. 111,862 Total Force, Missionaries and Native Workers, 135,954 Organized Churches. 15,396 Church Membership. 2,644,170 Additions from Heathenism Last Year. 116,071 Number of Sunday-schools on Mission Fields, 30,605 Number in Sunday-schools. 1,488,019 Schools and Colleges. 34,795 Pupils in Same. 1,670,147 Hospitals and Dispensaries. 738 Number of Treatments Last Year. 6,128,220 These statistics are taken from the January number of the “Missionary Review.” They are a valuable compilation. It is gratifying to be able to state that the number of church mem¬ bers in the non-Christian world has about doubled in the past dozen years. In 1900 there were 1,321,561 church members. Now, as above stated, there are 2,644,170. The growth has been wonderfully encouraging in every par¬ ticular. In 1900 the total income of all societies in Christendom amounted to $14,763,620. In 1912 the total income was $30,404,- 404, or more than double. The whole number of missionaries in 1900 was 15,019. To-day there is an army of 24,092, an increase of 9,073 in the twelve years. The number of new missionaries going out to the field annually, it is stated, is now about 1,000. Twelve years ago the number of native helpers was 64,193. At the present time this arm of the service numbers 111,862, or almost twice the number. A dozen years ago the number of Christian schools in non-Christian lands was 19,476. In 1912 they numbered 34,795, an increase of 15,319. This is simply a wonderful advance. The number of scholars in 1900 was 988,660, 34 and in 1912, 1,670,147, a gain of 681,486. We have to stop and think over these figures to realize what they mean. An army like that in daily instruction in mission schools is simply a marvelous advance for the Kingdom of God. The statistics were not as complete in 1900 as they are to-day. Year by year they are becoming more accurate. Wherever we look, the facts cheer all Christian hearts. The Lord is blessing the world-wide cause in a marvelous way. The success of the past dozen years is more than Christian men dared to expect. Human wisdom dare not forecast what the results of the next decade will bring forth. J. Campbell White, in a recent address, made the following interesting and encouraging statement: “To me it is full of encouragement that in the last seven years there has been an increase in contributions of at least $1,000,000 a year for Foreign Missions and a larger increase for Home Missions. Seven years ago this country was giving less than $7,000,000 a year, and that has increased until this year it is $17,000,000. It is a steady increase of $1,000,000 a year.” 35 The Call and the Response Missions is a world-cause. A divine program is the authority. Infinite goodness is the inspiration. The gift of the Gospel, the story of redeeming love, the illumination of the Holy Spirit, the inspired Word, and the presence of the King Eternal are the equipment. The enterprise is the overmastering issue be¬ fore the whole church of God. The disciple or church that falters or draws back fails indeed. This cause fertilizes the mind and warms the heart of every man that touches it. The in¬ tellectual and spiritual life of the preacher is quickened and strengthened by the advocacy of the cause that cost the Son of God his life on the cross. Only as we go will be grow! If we disobey the Supreme Commander we forfeit the rewards of faithfulness. Our boast of New Testament loyalty are empty words if we, with open eyes, disobey its clear and positive teaching. The spirit that brought again from the dead our Lord must fill our hearts and send us forth to the last man that cries for light and life. We beseech the friends and the churches to spring at once to the help of the men and women at the forefront of the con¬ test on the frontier of the world. ^ They call and God calls. Our response will measure our love and loyalty. HOW so ME AMERICAN MONEY IS SPENT ANNUAL EXPENDITURES IN THE UNITED STATES L n CHURCH (A/0/?/(\ Z n Ti 7^ \jgzeo,ooo,ooo FOfiefGN /yftss/OA/s CHEW/NG GUM r — \^/t,ooo,ooo n $ ES, 000,000 CO/VFECT/ONERY^ f saso,ooo.ooo 1 1 □ n 1 SODA FOUNTAIN □ Ti 0 rz SJ86.000.000 1 1 % T. a a n ■ ■ r [T b Y 7^' T r 2 "Z 71 TC 71 TC i ; L i ’ i 71 LL 71 1 . 1 3 yl 7^ ~0 5 71 7X Eecfy 3pL/7X-o"QOX0.9'Q JEWS 11,000,000 ROMAN CATHOLICS a73.000,000 I PROTESTANTS 166,000,000 1 EASTERNS (GreeKS.EtcQ 1 lao,000,000 37 What Has Been Done ‘‘What have Foreign Missions accomplished?” is often asked. It will be superfluous to undertake to mention all the blessings. The spirit of world-wide evangelism has opened the gates of every nation on earth to the gospel. This is a triumph worth the labor of a century. THE MISSIONARY AND THE BIBLE The missionaries have been the great translators. The task of spreading the Scriptures abroad would never have been attempted by the trader, nor could it have been done by the scholar. Only the missionary of ripe scholarship and with experience in the heathen land was equal to the under¬ taking. The foremost missionaries have been the foremost translators. The Burmese version of Judson, the Persian of Henry Martyn, the Sanscrit of Carey, the Bechuana of Moffat, the Chinese of Morrison, are all monuments of the highest talents and the most patient perseverance. MAP OF THE WORLD CHANGED \ Foreign Missions have changed the map of the world. The indomitable courage of the missionary has enabled him to pierce the very heart of the most exclusive nations of the globe, and has revealed lakes, and rivers, and mountains, and peoples, as well as cities and civilizations before unknown to Christendom. He has enriched every known science, biology, philology, zoology, etc. ENLARGED COMMERCE The missionary has transformed the commerce of the world, increased its variety, and enlarged its volume. The annual net profit of commerce with heathen lands, opened by missions, is estimated at no less than $20,000,000. In a century this amounts to $2,000,000,000. The total expendi¬ tures for missions in this period does not exceed $300,000,000. The net profit, therefore, amounts to $1,700,000,000. A century ago the commerce of India was almost nothing, now it is estimated to be worth $600,000,000 a year. In about a quarter of a century Japan has advanced so swiftly as to cause leading commercial nations to fear she may become a serious rival for the supremacy in industrial pursuits. Each year a New York publishing house sends 50,000 school books into the ‘‘Sunrise Kingdom.” The commerce of the Sand¬ wich Islands is now worth $15,000,000 yearly. These Islands paid for exports at a single American port, in one year, more money by $367,000 than it cost to Christianize them. RESULTS Missions to the ends of the earth have increased man’s moral character and culture, and prosperity and happiness. From the time messages of peace were carried from Rome to the British Isles to the last missionary that embarked for a heathen land, there have been uniform results. Every truly happy home in which is to be found Christian influences is debtor to world-wide missions. All our schools and uni¬ versities, every institution of beneficence, are results of For¬ eign Missions coming to our ancestors and leading them to a better character. Not the Anglo-Saxon alone, but the Anglo- Saxon spirit touched with the gospel is what has enlarged human knowledge and increased human happiness. We must not be blind to the power and value of Christian missions; on the contrary, we must show a living interest and a fitting gratitude for all that has been done, and for all the promises of the future. _ White Wedge Shows Proportion of Native Chris¬ tians to Unconverted Heathendom 1912 Native Christians, . . . 2,644,170 Heathen,. 1,054,000,000 The white wedge is twice the size it was twelve years ago. That is, the number of church members has doubled since 1900. Sixty Generations ^^HIS state of things has been going on for ages. There have been sixty generations since the time of Christ, and in each of these generations the same, or a greater proportion, of the people that have lived and died have never known the message of the Gospel. The 1,000,000,000 of perishing souls on earth to-day must have multiplied enormously, if you would know the awful waste of mortal lives through the neglect of the Church of God. One hundred thousand souls are dying every day without Christ. A population equal to one of our great cities drops out of mortal existence every twenty-four hours. If a city were anhihilated it would fill the world with horror, but a sadder tragedy is now going on all the time, and no one seems to care. 40 PART IV V / Ctjcrp iWemlier CanbaSsf THE WAY TO DO IT If you are introducing weekly giving for missions in your church 1. Appoint a strong missionary committee to assist the pastor in the missionary work of the church. 2. Conduct a campaign of missionary education covering several weeks in which the missionary work of the churches is set forth as well as instruction and appeal for steward¬ ship and systematic giving. 3. Put through a Personal Every-Member Canvass of all members of the congregation, the canvassers going, if possible, two by two, having first been instructed and their visit to the people having been announced. 4. Make the basis of the canvass a carefully considered sub¬ scription on the weekly basis for missions. 5. Have it understood that the subscriptions are to be paid weekly, as are church expense pledges, in envelopes provided for the purpose. 6. Appoint a separate missionary Treasurer who looks after missionary funds and makes remittances at least quar¬ terly to the missionary societies. 41 A WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT TO THE CANVASSER Christ*s Appeal to Your Manhood, —The work of the can¬ vasser is not easy. But neither was the road to Calvary, nor does a strong man ask for a child’s task. To offer it is an insult. The Master did not so deal with his disciples nineteen hundred years ago. He has not changed His method in dealing with his disciple of to-day. “If any man will follow Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Your Master honors you to-day by calling you to this difficult task. He has confidence in your manhood. Do not disappoint Him. This Canvass is Your Opportunity, —The cause you rep¬ resent is the worthiest in the world. The outstretched hands of the Master are the appeal to the world, “Come unto Me all ye that labor and are heavy laden.” His command to his followers is, “Go ye into all the world” and make Calvary’s story known. You may not be able to go in person, you may not be able to give large amounts personally, but you can urge others like you to give their utmost. This Canvass is your opportunity to do so, Joy in the Work, —young man, fully conscious of his priv¬ ilege and of the call of the Master to assist in furthering the Gospel, for two weeks every night traveled afoot many miles in the heart of a cold, northern winter to canvass the members of his congregation living in the country. What to many a man would have been a great hardship was to this young man a real joy. With a radiance that is born only of such Christian service, he spoke of the success which had accompanied his labors. The People Are Ready* —Some few people may make your visits unpleasant, but on the whole, we believe the average Chris¬ tian, when he is clearly told of the great blessings which his offering will bring to himself, his congregation, and the cause of the Kingdom of Christ in general, will be unable to resist the appeal. Keep on the Spiritual Side of the Issue,—Keep in mind simply the need which this canvass is to meet. Think of those without the Gospel in America and in foreign lands, also of those who for one reason or another, have a claim to our be¬ nevolent gifts. This will help you to rise above the plane of money-getting to the higher spiritual level. Where men are made to see the need they will not complain about “this ever¬ lasting begging,” but will regret that they have not more to contribute; more than that, they will joyously share even their scant fare with another still more needy. Therefore, go to the task prayerfully, cheerfully, courage¬ ously, hopefully, knowing that you are rendering a real service to the Master and to your fellow-man. Men in yonder world will rise up to call you blessed, and the Master will add his “Well done, good and faithful servant.” 42 WHAT THE EVERY-MEMBER CANVASS DOES Looking at this subject from other points of view than those which are financial, we may say that an annual Every- Member Canvass unifies, vivifies, multiplies, and satisfies the church membership. UNIFIES It unifies the church membership because it brings every unit into vital relation with the whole church. It gives every member a share in the activity of the church. To be sure, the true unity of the church centers not around the church treasury, but around Jesus Christ, who is head over all things. VIVIFIES It vivifies the church membership because it enlists a larger proportion of its membership in real, earnest work. Let a congregation carry out the Every-Member Canvass as suggested by the Laymen’s Missionary Movement, men and women going out two by two, to every home, bringing infor¬ mation concerning the great causes of the Kingdom, spreading interest, carrying inspiration, and that congregation soon shows new signs’ of awakened spiritual life and activity* Repeat that every year, the committees of two having new material for information, education, and inspiration to carry on their round of visits, and the growth of that congrega¬ tion in every department of life and activity as a congrega¬ tion of Christian believers and servants of God will become remarkable. This implies, of course, that the Every-Member Canvass is not merely an effort to get pledges for the support of the congregation on the one hand and for the benevolent and missionary purposes on the other hand, but that it is, as it also ought to be, a systematic campaign of education and inspiration along all lines of Christian activity. 43 MULTIPLIES The Every-Member Canvass, moreover, multiplies the church membership. It multiplies the activity of the mem¬ bers, the current income, the contributions for purposes out¬ side of the congregation, and therefore the love, the service, the usefulness, the influence of the church. Many pastors who have given this method a trial could testify concerning the manifold blessed results of it in their congregations. SATISFIES •> And, though some are loath to believe it, this method satisfles the church membership. The social feature of the visits of the committees in the homes of the members is help¬ ful and pleasant. The pastor and church council are ma¬ terially aided in their work as the officers of the congregation by the reports of the committees after their visits. The members are surprised and delighted with the showing which the congregation makes in the matter of benevolence. An annual Every-Member Canvass is one of the essen¬ tial features of an adequate financial system in a Christian congregation in America; but it does very much more for a congregation than merely to increase its financial income. A Pastor’s Way of Putting It This is the way one pastor expressed his conviction re¬ garding the way in which the every-member canvass ought to be conducted. Six P^s PERSONALLY PRIVATELY PRAYERFULLY PATIENTLY POINTEDLY PRESSINGLY 44 Missionary Finance An item in the program of the missionary committee is to provide for the adequate financial support of missions. (1) Teaching on Stewardship. Stress stewardship in the regular educational program of the church, thus preparing for the definite presentation of the financial appeal. Adopt the Scriptural rule of a weekly offering for missions and benevolences. Retain the annual collection to accommodate those not willing to comply with the Scriptural requirement. Encourage the practice in some cases of daily giving. Present the opportunity for special offerings on suitable occasions, such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. (2) The Weekly Offering. Why a weekly offering for missions? The only way to take missionary giving off the present weakly basis is to put it on a weekly basis. More men will give, and will give more. Far from decreasing, the contributions to current expenses actually increase thereby. It is fair. “Love thy neighbor as thyself.” There is no better justification than missions for having a better plan for securing current expenses. ADOPT PAUL’S PLAN OF CHURCH FINANCE (1 Cor. 16:2.) ERIODIC “Upon the first day of the week Worshipful Habitual Prayerful Cheerful ERSONAL let each one of you Each Man Each Woman Each Boy Each Girl No Proxies ’No Merging ROVIDENT lay by him in store Forehanded Deliberate Thoughtful Intelligent ROPORTIONATE as he niay prosper Generous Careful Responsible Faithful REVENTIVE that no collections be made when I come.’’ No Deficit No Interest on Loans No Worry No Retrenchment I 45 PLEDGE CARD No. 1. First Christian Church, COVINGTON, KY. PLEDGE FOR CHRISTIAN MISSIONS YEAR 1911 I pledge for Christian Missions, the fol lowing offering to be paid weekly: HOME MISSIONS, - - - - $_ FOREIGN MISSIONS, - - - $ TOTAL WEEKLY PLEDGE, $ Name_ Add ress_ Date __ PLEDGE CARD No. 2. MISSIONS AT HOME MISSIONS MISSIONS ABROAD Per Week* $5 $4 — $3 $2 $1 .50 .25 .10 Enter amounts larger than $5 or smaller than 10c. in blank space!. Upon the first day of the week (^SYSTEMATICALLY) Let every one of you (INDIVIDUALLY) lay by him in store as God hath prospered him” (PROPORTIONATELY)^ —1 Cor. 16 ; 2. For the extension of the Kingdom AT HOME and ABROAD, I wish to give on the WEEKLY* basis, until revoked, the amounts checked on the margins. I prefer to make my payments- (State whether weekly, monthly, or if annually, whefa.) NAME_ ADDRESS- ’^AII subscriptions are calculated on the WEEKLY basis, although payments may be made as desired. If no preference is expressed, payment will be understood to be weekly. Per Week* $5 — $4 $3 $2 $1 .50 .25 .10 Enter amounts larger than $5 or smaller than 10c. in blank spaces. 46 PLEDGE CARD No. 3. **Go ye therefore and make disciples of all the nations. * * Norwood Christian Church PLEDGE Christian Missions FOR YEAR 1911 I pledge for Christian Missions, the following offering to be paid weekly: HOME MISSIONS For American Christian Missionary Society . For Ohio Christian Missionary Society - .. For Board of Church Extension - - - . For Board of Ministerial Relief ; - - . FOREIGN MISSIONS For Foreign Christian Missionary Society .. Total Weekly Pledge - - . Name. Date.191.Address. **Upon the first day of the week, let each one of you lay by him in store as he may prosper that no collections be made when / come. ’ * PLEDGE CARD No. 4. SHELBYVILLE CHRISTIAN CHURCH MISSIONS “ Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store as God hath prospered him.”—1 Cor. 16:2. For Christian Missions and Benevolences, I pledge on the weekly basis, for the Missionary year beginning Oct. 1, 1912, the amount checked below. This is to be paid weekly unless I designate otherwise. $5 1 $3 $1 75c 50c140c130c 25c 20c 15c 10c 5c j i 1 Name. Address In case the above pledge card is used it would be well to print the names of the different missionary causes on the reverse side, \^th spaces for each Thus the donor can indicate, if he desires, the proportion of his gift he wishes to go to each cause. 47 cap- sue Every Congregation Making a Canvass, Every Member Mak ing a Pledge, Every Pledge as God has prospered. Jesus is still sitting over against the Treasury, :: :: 48 Eighteen Suggestions On How to Conduct the Every-Member Canvass for Missions The Every-Member Canvass for missions is in most congre¬ gations a new plan, and nat¬ urally there are very few men who have had experience in such a work. Moreover, the average man is deeply conscious of his lack of knowledge about the Church’s extension work. He feels handicapped in at¬ tempting to influence others to make a missionary offering. The following suggestions have been drawn from the varied experiences of many commit¬ tees that have successfully con¬ ducted the Every-Member Can¬ vass: 1. The leading men of the congregation should be en¬ listed actively in the work. There is no greater work in this world than the evangelization of the world. The biggest com¬ mercial, industrial, and scien¬ tific enterprises should not be given precedence over this still larger undertaking. The es¬ tablishment of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ throughout the world is worthy of and should receive the best efforts of the best men. The late Justice Brewer, of the Supreme Court of the United States, worked enthusiastically in the personal canvass of his own church. Throughout the country men high in financial and profes¬ sional circles have found gen¬ uine satisfaction in this per¬ sonal service. 2. Each canvasser should seek to inform himself as fully as possible concerning our mis¬ sionary work. Send twenty- five cents to the Foreign Chris¬ tian Missionary Society for three packets of pamphlets on the fields and work of the Society. The societies doing Home Missionary work will also be glad to send literature. 3. The subscription cards and duplex envelopes should be ordered at least two weeks in advance of the inauguration of the canvass. It requires time in which to manufacture and print the envelopes. The sub¬ scription cards, at least, should be on hand the night the sup¬ per is held. 4. There should also be on hand on the evening of the supper, preferably in card-in¬ dex form, the name, street ad¬ dress, and telephone number of all members of the Church. 5. The members of the Every- Member Canvass Committee should meet immediately after the supper for preliminary or¬ ganization, if not for the actual assignment of names and in¬ auguration of the canvass. 6. If there should not be time on the evening of the supper to assign names for the canvass, the committee should meet the following evening for the careful assignment of names to the members of the 49 committee. A record should be kept of all assignments. The simplest way to do this is to have a duplicate card-index of the names to be canvassed. Hand one card to the canvasser. Retain the duplicate with the name of the canvasser noted upon it. 7. It is important that the canvassers go two by two. A great mistake has been made in many instances by having a canvasser go alone. Not only is it more difficult to put aside a delegation of two than it is to say “No” to one, but the two men supplement each other’s work and greatly en¬ hance the educational value of the canvass, for after all the educational and spiritual influ¬ ence of the canvass is a para¬ mount consideration. 8. The distribution of the names to the members of the committee should not be by any arbitrary alphabetical or geographical method, but the members of the committee ‘ should select or should be given the names of the persons with whom they are best acquainted, or with whom they are most influential. 9. The canvassers should, if possible, be coached concern¬ ing their work just as salesmen and other effective business men are trained before engag¬ ing in any important business undertaking. If there is an insurance man or a sales man¬ ager in the parish, ask him to give an evening to this coaching work. One group of canvassers found it advantageous to prac¬ tice upon one another before beginning their work. The committee was called together and one team was asked to do the canvassing, while one of the men present impersonated the individual to be canvassed. 10. The following are among the points that may well be re¬ membered by the canvasser in connection with each visit: (a) Equip yourself with sub¬ scription cards and, if possible, with the sample of the duplex envelope. (b) Pray that you may be of use in helping others to take their share in furthering the Church’s mission. (c) Realize that the money offering which is needed can only come as an expression of interest on the part of the in¬ dividual whom you are seeking to enlist. Seek, therefore, to enlist his interest as well as to secure his subscription. (d) Avoid argument so far as possible. (e) Distinguish between sin¬ cere and insincere objections and handle them accordingly. (f) Do not agree easily to a postponement of decision. Ask for an immediate reply. A small amount per week secured in the first instance will be better than promises of a larger amount in the uncertain fu¬ ture. (g) Note on a card bearing the name of the objector any reason which may be given for not contributing. The objec¬ tion may be met subsequently with suitable missionary pamphlets and by other meth¬ ods carefully planned to this end. 11. The experience of the pas¬ tor should be utilized. Through long experience he has doubt¬ less located most of the diffi¬ culties and objections that are urged by people who do not contribute, or who contribute inadequately, to the missionary cause. He can render impor¬ tant service in coaching the canvassers. 12. It is not necessary, nor always advantageous, to begin the canvass with the largest subscribers. One of the most successful and deeply spiritual money raisers in America be¬ gan his canvass for the mis¬ sionary offering by going to the poorest member of his church, a woman who was in part de¬ pendent upon charity. By a distinct personal sacrifice she . was able to save and contribute five cents per week, and had great joy in making this weekly contribution. The next person approached was, of course, con¬ scious of the enjoyment of more of the comforts of life than the good woman who had contributed the five cents, and, with somewhat larger re¬ sources, could not consistently subscribe less than ten cents per week, which practically es¬ tablished a minimum weekly gift for the church. Others still better provided with this world’s goods felt stimulated to give correspondingly larger amounts, and thus there re¬ sulted not only a great increase in missionary gifts, but new consecration of life to the mis¬ sionary cause. 13. The canvassers should arrange, if possible, to lunch together each day to receive reports and exchange experi¬ ences. If it is impracticable to lunch together, a system of daily reports should be ar¬ ranged, so that the chairman may know each day just how the canvass stands. 14. The canvass should have a definite time limit of not more than ten days or two weeks. Some of the most suc¬ cessful canvasses have been completed within four days. 15. A report of progress should be made at any church services that are held during the canvass, and a final report made to the congregation at its conclusion. The final re¬ port meeting should be made the occasion for special thanks¬ giving and prayer. 16. If there are some who, on account of illness or absence from the community, can not be seen before the final meet¬ ing, arrange to canvass them as soon as possible. Personal letters may be used effectively with absent members. 17. Every step of the can¬ vass should be permeated with prayer. In one of the most successful canvasses the can¬ vassers met at the church each morning for prayer before en¬ gaging in the work of the day. If it is not feasible to meet at the church each morning, prayer should be kept foremost in the life and the work of the individuals. As a result of the Every-Member Canvass in one church the erection of thirty family altars is reported. 18. The conclusion of the canvass should be regarded as only the beginning of a com¬ prehensive educational cam¬ paign which will be conducted steadily throughout the year for the broadening of the in¬ terest and deepening of the spiritual life of the church. 51 PART V ®f)e Eibing'Unfe ^reatJiersf The following pages show the pictures of most of our Living-link pastors. It has been impossible to secure all. We have aimed to represent each Church, Sunday-school, College, and some of the individual supporters of missionaries. We are sure this will prove a very interesting feature of the March Offering Manual. Some churches do far more than support a missionary, as for example: First Church, Akron, Ohio; Euclid Ave., Cleveland, Ohio; Franklin Circle, Cleveland, Ohio; Uniontown, Pa.; Hopkinsville, Ky.; Jack¬ sonville, Ill.; University Place, Des Moines, Iowa, and others. Sometimes a group of churches in a county provides the salary of a missionary. This method has proven to be an in¬ spiration to such churches. Four Sunday-schools rank as Living-links. This, num¬ ber might be multiplied by ten at once. Twelve individual friends support a missionary each. This number can be doubled before the present year closes. There were more than thirty new Living-links last year. There are a number of others considering this step. Indeed, we are just coming to appreciate the wide field the Living-link presents. Many comparatively small churches are in this class. They have vision and a genuine gospel passion, and God has abundantly blessed every one of them. Almost any church of two hundred members can enter this rank. Of course, it will require effort and a down-right pur¬ pose, but that is the spirit of the New Testament church. This step will enlarge and strengthen the church for every duty before it. This is the road by which some of our churches have come to usefulness and a splendid example throughout the brotherhood. God has graciously fulfilled his promise as churches have followed the line of obedience. 52 LIVING-LINK PREACHERS ALABAMA CANADA CALIFORNIA H. Pearce Atkins, First Church, Birming ham, Ala. C. O. Reynard, Cecil Street Church, Toronto, Canada. G. H. Waters, Pomona, Cal. C. R. Hudson, Pomona, Cal. CALIFORNIA H. O. Breeden, First Church, Fresno, Cal. F. M. Rogers, Long Beach, Cal. R. W. Abberley, Magnolia Ave. Church, Los Angeles, Cal. R. F. Thrapp, First Church, Los An¬ geles, Cal. J. P. McKnight, First Church, Pasa dena, Cal. W. E. Crabtree, Central Church, San Diego, Cal. H. C. Holmes, Watsonville, Cal. Cut not available H. B. Patterson, • First Church, Pacific Grove, Cal. Cut not available D. F. Stafford, Covina, Cal. “ We find it easier to raise two dollars for the Living-link than we did to raise one dollar before we began to support Mrs. Dr. Macklin, Nankin, China. — R. H. Welshimer, Canton, O. “ The Living-link will live, for it lengthens our helping hand, dignifies church work, and makes prayers specific.”— W. E. Crabtree, San Diego, Cal. “The spirit of evangelism is a growing one among us as a result of the Living- link work .”—Stephen E. Fisher, Champaign, III. LIVING-LINK PREACHERS ILLINOIS Stephen Fisher, University PL Church, Champaign, Ill. E, S. Ames, Hyde Park, Chicago, Ill. J. A. Barnett, Third Church, Dan¬ ville, Ill. Clyde Darsie, Jacksonville, Ill. T. A. Hall, Lawrenceville, Ill. Ransom D. Brown, Le Roy, Ill. Paris, Ill. M. L. Pontius, Peoria, Ill. District of Columbia Wm. Price, F. W. Burnham, Peoria, Ill. Springfield, Ill. C C Kind ed Englewood Church, Chicago, Ill. Earl Wilfley, Vermont Ave., Wash¬ ington, D. C. “The Living-link idea is just the thing. It is a defiinite work. It stimulates the church.’’— W. H. Book, Columbus, Ind. “The Living-link plan has abundantly justified itself in practice.’’ —A. B. Philputt, Indianapolis, Ind. “ I am happy to speak in commendation of the Living-link plan.’’ —Finis Idleman, Des Moines, la. 54 LIVING-LINK PREACHERS COLORADO FLORIDA G. B. VanArsdall, Central Church, Den¬ ver, Col. S. E. Brewster, Colorado Springs, Col. J. T. Boone, Claude C. Jones, First Church, Jackson- Main Sfreet, Jackson ville, Fla. ville, Fla. INDIANA J. Boyd Jones, Anderson, Ind. W. H. Smith, Bloomington, Ind. W. H. Book, Tabernacle Church, Columbus, Ind. L. E. Brown, Connersville, Ind. Jas. Burkhart, Frankfort, Ind. Clay Trusty, Seventh Street Church, Indianapolis, Ind. A. L. Ward, Central Church, Leba¬ non, Ind. Moody Edwards, Flat Rock Church, New Salem, Ind. “The missionary supports the home church in a loftier plane of work.” — Geo. W. Hemry, South Bend, Ind. “ It brings the heathen field to your very door. Then one link leads to an¬ other. Think of the infiuence on a church of half a dozen of its own Living-link missionaries.”—/. J, Spencer, Lexington, Kv» 55 LIVING-LINK PREACHERS INDIANA F. E. Smith, C. M. Yocum, Jackson St. Church, Rushville, Ind. Muncie, Ind. G. W. Hemry, J. G. Smith, South Bend, Ind. Oxford, Ind., with churches in county Geo. Darsie, Central Church, Terre Haute, Ind. W. Earl Anderson, Danville, Ind., with churches in county ’ Cut not available h A. B. Philputt, Central Church, Indianapolis, Ind. J. R. Golden Angola, Ind. GEORGIA KANSAS MICHIGAN Howard T. Cree, First Church, Augusta, Ga. F. Ellsworth Day, Highland, Kan. W. S. Priest, Central Church, Wichita, Kan. C. J. Tanner, Central Church, De¬ troit, Mich. “ If the churches now ‘living at a poor dying rate’ will link themselves to the living mission they will feel the impulse of a new, rich, abounding life to which they are now strangers. This is the joyful experience of the Winchester church.” — J. H. MacNeill, Winchester, Ky. “The reflex influence on the church is a constant blessing. Missionary zeal is greatly increased, and all departments of church life and work receive an uplift.” —C. J. Tannar, Detroit, Mich. 56 LIVING-LINK PREACHERS KENTUCKY M. G. Buckner, Owensboro, Ky. Robt. N. Simpson, Harrodsburg, Ky. Mark Collis, Broadway Church, Lexington, Ky. W. N. Briney, Broadway Church, Louisville, Ky. H. D. Smith, Hopkinsville, Ky. E. L. Powell, Joseph D. Armistead, First Church, Louis- Cynthiana, Ky. ville, Ky. H. C. Garrison, Danville, Ky. Roger T. Nooe, Frankfort, Ky W. P. Crouch, Louisville, Ky. J. J. Castleberry, Mayfield, Ky. W. A. Fite, Paducah, Ky. “ The Living-link plan is the Apostolic plan of missions.” — H. C. Garrison, Danville, Ky. ” The Hopkinsville church is delighted with the Living-link plan.” — H. D. Smith, Hopkinsville, Ky. “The Living-link method of missionary work is ideal in idea and practice.” — E. L. Pozvell, Louisville, Ky. 57 LIVING-LINK PREACHERS KENTUCKY G. M. Brooks, Nicholas County, Carlisle, Ky. J. H. MacNeill, Winchester, Ky. R. H. Crossfleld, Pres’t College of the Bible and Transyl¬ vania University, Lexington, Ky. D. M. Walker, E. B. Barnes, Stanford, Ky. First Church, Rich¬ mond, Ky. Cut not available Jno. S. Crenshaw, Cadiz, Ky. W. E. Ellis, Paris, Ky. I. J. Spencer, Central Church, Lex¬ ington, Ky. NEBRASKA H. H. Harmon, First Church, Lincoln, Neb. E. J. Silas, Lincoln, Neb. W. H. Davis, Supt. Sunday-school, Beatrice, Neb. C. F. Stevens Beatrice Church, Beatrice. Neb. “The Living-link has been a great blessing in that it has vitalized and deep¬ ened missionary zeal in the church.’’— Jesse P. McKniaht, Pasadena, Cal. “The Living-link incites to really great undertakings at home as well as in¬ tensifying zeal in those abroad.’’— H. C. Holmes, Watsonville, Cal. “It is the most potent influence for developing the spirit of unselfishness in the church.’’— Ernest J. Stas, Lincoln, Neb. 58 LIVING-LINK PREACHERS MARYLAND C. B. Townsend, Peter Ainslie, Hagerstown, Md. Christian Temple, Bal¬ timore, Md. MISSOURI W. F. Richardson, First Church, Kansas City, Mo. G. L. Bush, Carrollton, Mo. MISSOURI D. W. Moore, Carthage, Mo. T. E. Winter, Fulton, Mo. H. K. Pendleton, Geo. H. Combs, Independence, Mo. Ind’ce Blvd. Church, Kansas City, Mo. B. A. Jenkins, South Side, Kansas City, Mo. Graham Frank, Liberty, Mo. B. T. Wharton, W. A. Shullenberger, Marshall, Mo. Mexico, Mo. “The Living-link plan enables the church to take definite aim, and through this method the new century will witness the surrender of heathenism to the great Captain of our Salvation.’’— L. W. McCreary* St. Louis, Mo. “ We have raised more money with less effort.’’ — F. M. Roger, Long Beach, Cal. 59 LIVING-LINK PREACHERS B. L. Smith. Moberly, Mo. with 'churches in county Levi Marshall, Nevada, Mo. Finis Idleman, Central Church, Des Moines, la. MISSOURI C. M. Chilton, First Church, St. Jos¬ eph, Mo. Cut not available Geo. A. Campbell, First Church, Hanni¬ bal, Mo. Cut not available L. W. McCreary, Hamilton Ave. Ch., St. Louis, Mo. M. A. Hart, Columbia, Mo. E. M. Todd, Canton, Mo. IOWA C. S. Medbury, University Place, Des Moines, la. R. W. Lilley, First Church, Keokuk, Iowa. B. A. Abbott, Union Ave., St. Louis, Mo. IOWA Walter M. White, First Church, Cedar Rapids, la. Walter B. Zimmerman, Pleasantville, la. “The Living-link idea is a boon to the missionaries. It gives them precious anchors in the home field. They know that somebody cares all the time.” •—C. S. Medbury, Des Moines, la. “ Nothing has been more effective in awakening the individual conscience and in enlisting the individual Christian.”— W. E. Ellis, Paris, Ky. “We rejoice in the esteemed privilege of being numbered with the Living-link churches.”—C. B. Reynolds, Alliance, O. LIVING-LINK PREACHERS OHIO Wm. Spanton, Supt. Sunday-school, Akron, O. F. D. Draper, Ashland, O. C. B. Reynolds, First Church, Alliance, Ohio. Justin N. Green, Evanston Church, Cin¬ cinnati, O. C. R. Stauffer, Norwood, O. J. H. Goldner, Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, O F. W. Rothenberg, Franklin Church, Cleveland, O. O. L. Hull, Glenville Church, Cleveland, O. W. A, Harp, John P. Sala, Collinwood, O. First Church, Dayton, Ohio E. P. Wise, First Church, East Liv¬ erpool, O. C. R. Oakley, First Church, Mans¬ field, O. “I am only too glad to speak a word of commendation for the Living-link plan after several years’ experience.”—J. H. Goldner, Cleveland, O. “The Living-link relationship has been a blessing to us as a church. There is a directness, reality, and personality about this plan that awakens enthusiasm.” — E. P. Wise, East Liverpool, O. “The Living-link plan is the only plan for doing big things.” — H. D. C. Maclachlan, Richmond, Va, LIVING-LINK PREACHERS OHIO W. H. Boden, Nelsonville, O. W. D. Ward, Newark, O. B. R. Johnson, Wellsville, O. Wm. D. Ryan, Central Church, Youngstown,'0. P. H. Welshimer, Canton,O. H. E. Beckler, Springfield,^©. T. L. Lowe, West Fourth Ave., Columbus, O. L. G. Batman, First Church, Youngs¬ town, O. NEW YORK Cut not available -- Jno. E. Pounds, Hiram, O., L. L. with Ravenna Cut not available E. A. Hibler, Central Church, War¬ ren, O. Cut not available A. A. Sebastian, Third Church, Buffalo, New York B. S. Ferrall, Buffalo, N. Y. R. H. Miller, Richmond Ave. Ch., Buffalo, N. Y. L. N. D. Wells, First Church, Akron, Ohio “The Living-link missionary makes any church a world power.” —Peter Ainslee, Baltimore, Md. “The Living-link plan will settle more knotty problems in your local field than I have time to enumerate.”— B. S. Ferrall, Buffalo, N. Y. “No offering we^^make is as cheerfully and as heartily given.” — V. W. Blair, N. Tonawanda, N. Y. 62 LIVING-LINK PREACHERS NEW YORK Ira L. Parvin, Niagara Falls, N. Y. Geo. B. Evans, N. Tonawanda, N. Y. V. W. Blair, First Church, North Tonawanda, N. Y. J. H. Craig, First Church, Troy, N. Y. PENNSYLVANIA Wallace Tharp, Allegheny, Pa. John Ray Ewers, East End Church, Pittsburgh, Pa. Cloyd Goodnight, Walter Mansell, Central, Uniontown, Washington, Pa. Pa. VIRGINIA TENNESSEE Cut not available C. M. Watson, Freemason St. Church, Norfolk, Va. H. D. C. MacLachlin, Seventh St. Church, Richmond, Va. Geo. W. Kemper, Hanover Avenue Ch., Richmond, Va. Cut not available Chas. E. Powell, First Church, Roanoke, Virginia Carey E. Morgan, Vine Street Church, Nashville, Tenn. “When our church had once seen the vision it was as easy to raise $600 as it was formerly to raise $60, and with this came the added blessing, it was easier to do everything else.’’— E. M. Waits, Ft. Worth, Texas. “ No more beautiful and effective plan has been suggested than the one of the churches having its own missionary at work in the field. It makes the business alive and real .’’—Wallace Tharp, Allegheny, Pa. 63 LIVING-LINK PREACHERS TEXAS C. M. Schoonover, Bonham, Tex. J. G. Slayter, East Church, Dallas, Texas. P. J. Rice, E. M. Waits, El Paso, Tex. Mongolia Ave. Church, Ft. Worth, Tex. INDIVIDUALS W. S. Lockhart, Hugh McLellan, Houston, Tex. San Antonio, Tex. I. W. Gill, Wichita, Kan. Wm. Jno. Minges, Des Moines, la. WEST VIRGINIA WASHINGTON W. E. Pierce, Cameron, W. Va. Chas. F. Hutslar, Island Church, Wheel¬ ing, W. Va. Cut not available W. B. Hendershot, Central Church, Hunt¬ ington, W. Va. Cut not available Wm. L. Fisher, J. E. Davis, First Church, Seattle, Central Church, Wash. Spokane, Wash. “The Living-link is very appropriate for it links the church at home in the most vital way with the foreign field.’’— Justin N. Green, Evanston, Cincinnati, O, “ I am committed to the Living-link idea because I believe it puts life into all the activities of the church.’’—M. G, Buckner, Owensboro, Ky, “The offerings are less likely to be affected disastrously by any local or tem¬ porary influence, or by a change of pastors.’’— Carey E. Morgan, Nashville, Tenn. The Missionary Days The missionary days have been of immense value to the work, and should on no account be discontinued. Where the missionary budget is adopted and the duplex envelope is used, the days should still be observed for educational purposes. The first Sunday in March gives the minister an opportunity for setting forth and emphasizing the work of the Foreign Society; the first Sunday in May affords him an opportunity of magnifying the work of Home Missions; and so throughout the year. These days have a place in the consciousness of tens of thousands of our people, and on the days that have been observed so long they will expec^to hear something about the interests the days represent. It will be found that in the every-member canvass some members will not agree to make an offering for Missions every week in the year. They have not been accustomed to that method, and they are not prepared to adopt it. And this is not practicable in thousands of country churches. It will also be found that the every-member canvass will not reach all; some will be sick and can not be approached, and some will be away from home at the time the canvass is made. All such should hear about the work and should have a chance tb give. If the days are not observed, the chances are that all these will not give anything. Not only so, but the days should be observed for the benefit of new converts, and for the benefit of strangers who may be present, and for the sake of the outside people who will give something if they are informed as to the nature and extent and needs of the work. The records of the Foreign Society show that in many, if not in most, of the churches that have adopted the duplex envelope less money is received than was received before. This is not because the new method is defective, but because it has not been thoroughly worked. No method will work itself. The offerings were smaller than before because the duplex envelope was supposed to possess some magical power. There was less education and less concern because there was less education, and, naturally enough, the offerings were smaller. Reliance upon any method is certain to lead to disappointment. The churches that use the duplex envelope should know that it is not a labor- saving device. The fact is that if the duplex envelope is to yield satisfactory re¬ sults, more work must be done by the minister and the Missionary Committee than was done under the system it displaced. There must be line upon line, pre(^t upon precept, here a little, and there a great deal. The need of systematic and proportionate and sacrificial giving must be kept before the churches until they give as did those churches of whom the apostle spoke when he said, “To their power I bear witness, yea, and beyond their power they gave of their own accord.” It is believed that the time will never come when the great missionary days can not be observed with great profit. However that may be, it is certain that they can not be neglected now without a marked falling off in the receipts. By all means let the great missionary days continue to be worthily observed. “SEND US ANYWHERE, PROVIDED IT BE FORWARD” A CLARION CALL A call comes ringing over the restless waves of every ocean. Its clear note comes from every mission station in the whole world. Our Lord sounds his imperial clarion along the entire line of battle. The King’s army has been halting already too long. The soldiers of the Cross have spent over-time in preparation. It is time for the whole column to move as one man upon the pagan world. The last commission of our Lord comes ringing in the imperative, “Go!” We must respond quickly. God has opened the door of every nation on earth. The facilities of the modem world hasten our footsteps. Will not the clear note from our workers pierce our dull ears in these days of preparation for our foreign offering? Tibet calls from the roof of the world. The Congo cries from the submerged continent. India asks with a tenderness and grace to touch the dullest of us who abide at home. Our mis¬ sionaries call long and loud. They are over-worked. Their children and wives and friends, and the native Christians, wonder why we are so tardy in sending reinforcements. The call comes out of every nation on earth. And the cry is loudest and most insistent in those lands where the missionaries have gone. These weeks should be a period of self-examination, and devout prayer to God should be made that we may hear anew the call from the Captain of our salvation. This is no time for deaf ears, but it is a time for prompt response. PLEASE DO NOT FAIL TO TAKE THE MARCH OFFERING