R. H. Bolton Acts of Board Missions (1876)

 

Official.
Acts of Board Missions.

      The Board of Missions of the General Eldership of the Church of God in North America assembled at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, June 30, 1876.

      All members of the Board were present save Elder W. P. Small, of Indiana.

      The brotherhood present were received as advisory members. After which the following items of business were transacted:

      Minutes of missionary meeting held at Findlay, Ohio, were read, and also the actions taken through correspondence since aforesaid Board meeting.

      The report was accepted and considered, item by item. All of which was approved, save the following:
      WHEREAS, The Board of Missions acting without having present the minutes of the General Eldership passed the following:
      "Resolved, That two tiers of counties in Northern Kansas be transferred to the Nebraska Eldership territory;" and
      WHEREAS, We find it is but a duplicate of the action of the General Eldership taken on the same question; therefore,
      Resolved, That said action be stricken from our minutes.

      The secretary of the Board reported as follows:

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY.

      The secretary of the Board of Missions of the General Eldership of the Church of God in the United States submitted the following report:
      DEAR BRETHREN: According to a duty imposed upon me, as secretary of the Board of Missions, I herewith submit a brief report of the doings and prosperity of the General Missionary cause.
      We has in the field during past year

MISSIONARIES
as follows: Two in the State of Missouri, viz.: Elder D. Keplinger, whose health failed, and at his own request he was released from the Cass county mission, and Elder Geo. Thomas appointed. Missionary appropriations same as before.
      Elder D. Blakely on Morgan county mission; failing health caused him to resign, and Elder S. C. D. Jackson was appointed in his place. Missionary appropriations same as before.
      Three missionaries in the State of Kansas: namely, Elders C. B. Konkle, P. K. Shoemaker, and C. S. Bolton.
      In Nebraska, Elders E. D. Aller, Geo. F. McElwee, E. C. Gilbert and D. S. Warner. Brother Warner resigned, and Elders J. W. Kager and J. W. Figard were appointed in his place. Missionary appropriation to the field same as before.
      Other worthy brethren in those different States were excellent helpers to the missionaries. Their labors of love are properly appreciated.
      And Elder W. H. Oliver was appointed general evangelist within the bounds of the Michigan Eldership.
SUCCESS.
      Cheering reports hail from various parts of the work. Some are of the most encouraging nature. The Lord hath truly blest his Zion in many places. Among other points glorious new hails, especially from Michigan and portions of Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri. However in other parts the work is hindered, at least temporally, and does not go forward with power and efficiency, as we had desired and expected. Yet we thank the Lord for what was done and take courage--hoping for yet greater success in the future. There are many
FIELDS
yet, remaining unsupplied. We would not be unmindful of the many and pressing calls, hailing from the State of Maine. This point should be supplied with an efficient worker--one in whom the executive is well developed. Owing to the heavy tide of emigration westward there are golden opportunities for mission work in those regions. Specially in Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Dakotah, Oregon, California, Texas, as well as from a few of the southern States. From these come earnest Macedonian calls. Hence a great work lies before us. It can be accomplished. The question is, "Will we go up and possess the land?" We are fully able. We possess the men and means to do the work. Large free-will offerings must be made. All should do so. Besides ministers must be earnest, zealous and self-sacrificing. In these respects there can be material improvements.
      To the report of the treasurer of the General Eldership and missionary collector we refer you for an exhibit of the money gathered and disbursements during the year.
      The Board succeeded in placing but one mission collector into the field, and he worked for the Board less than one-third of the year, and during a time when collecting was exceedingly difficult; hence, a very greatly depleted treasury prevails. We hope a plan can be inaugurated to replenish largely the treasury the incoming mission year. Possibly our present policy, to collect through agents, if vigorously pushed, is the most successful among us as a people.
      I close by saying a great work has already been accomplished through the missionary cause, and a great work yet remains for us to do. May we ever be true to these precious interests sacredly entrusted to our care.
      May the God of heaven smile upon, bless and succeed this great work, that the greatest good may be accomplished and the name of the Lord be greatly honored.
R. H. BOLTON, Secretary.      
      Danville, Iowa, June 11, 1876.

      On motion, it was
      Resolved, That the report be adopted, and we authorize the publication of the same with these minutes in THE CHURCH ADVOCATE.

      The General Missionary collecting agent submitted the following report:

Report of the Collecting Agent of the
Board of Missions of the General
Eldership of the Church of God in
the United States.

      DEAR BRETHREN: I was appointed to the collecting work August 11th, 1875, at a meeting held in Findlay, Ohio, to canvass the States of Iowa, Illinois, Michigan and Indiana, commencing soon after the annual Elderships were held.
      Accordingly I entered upon the work and canvassed all of those States, save the Indiana Eldership, from which I was relieved by my request by the appointment of Elder W. P. Small, of Indiana. The very inclement weather in the west, during fall, winter and spring, rendering the condition of the roads almost impassible, together with the money pressure, rendered the collecting work exceedingly difficult.
      I done the best I could under the circumstances; and in the one hundred and three days really occupied in collection the following is the result of the money and pledges received to present date:

Cash, -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   $646 37
Pledges, -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   370 96
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      Cash and pledges, $1,017 33
THE OLD PLEDGES
taken the year previous, which I was appointed to collect, are not all gathered. I collected $271 82, and about $489 71 remains unpaid. A large portion thereof in Ohio and Pennsylvania. I conferred with the sub-collectors appointed, on different occasions, and as a response collected in the aggregate $271 82.
RECAPITULATION.
On old pledges remaining unpaid June 1st, 1875, $ 761 53
Since then collected, 271 82
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Remaining unpaid, June 30, 1876, $489 71
Five per cent. allowed for collecting, $13 59
Paid into treasury, $258 23
Collections since August, 1875:
Days employed, 103
Cash collected, $646 37
Unpaid pledges at present, 370 96
Aggregate of cash and pledges. 1,017 33
Wages for collecting services, including use of conveyance ten days, 150 55
Expense in collections, including expense of travel, stationery, &c., 188 16
Paid into treasury, 621 14
TOTAL AGGREGATE.
All moneys collected by agent, through sub-collectors, &c., since
      last General Eldership meeting,		 $ 918 19
Unpaid pledges remaining, 860 67
Expense of collections, 297 59
Paid into the treasury, 621 14
Balance due collecting agent, 54
      Considerable of the unpaid pledges can yet be gathered providing we can secure the co-operation of the ministers and churches. The collecting agent, or some other suitable person ought to be authorized to confer with the sub-collectors, ministers and churches, touching those unpaid pledges, and urge their immediate payment. A small per cent. ought to be allowed to perform this large amount of correspondence, and to make the numerous remittances of money--besides, the reception of those moneys ought to be acknowledged through THE CHURCH ADVOCATE.
      The books are present; hence, I ask this Board to audit the whole of this collecting business.
            Respectfully submitted,
R. H. BOLTON, Collecting Agent.      
      Danville, Iowa, June 27, 1876.

      The report was considered and adopted.

      Adjourned to assemble this afternoon at 2 o'clock.

      Prayer by Dr. Geo. Ross.

AFTERNOON SESSION.

      Prayer by Elder J. F. Weishampel.

      Received, read and considered letters from the following:
      Elder W. P. Small, Elder A. C. Garner, Elder Geo. Thomas, Bro. K. A. Moore, Bro. J. Dively, Elder S. C. D. Jackson; church at Versailles, Morgan county, Missouri; Elder D. Blakely; two from Elder P. K. Shoemaker; Elder C. S. Bolton, Elder G. F. McElwee; church at Coatesville, Nebraska; two letters from mission workers east of the Big Blue River, Nebraska; Elders of the church from Dewitt, Nebraska; Elders Aller and McElwee, Elder E. D. Aller, Elder G. E. Ewing; Elders of church at Orton, Nebraska; Elder J. W. Kager, Elder E. C. Gilbert, Elder C. B. Konkle; Elders of church at Barada, Nebraska; Elders of church at Keplinger school house, Crawford county, Kansas; Brothers J. V. Whisler, W. H. Sheets and A. Whisler, of Crawford county, Kansas; Elder J. B. White, of Michigan; Elder J. Hunter, Elder W. H. Oliver, Elder E. Marple, Elder J. V. Updike and Sister Elizabeth R. Gable.

      Adjourned to meet with the Board of Corporation this evening at 8 o'clock.

      Prayer by Brother J. H. Redsecker.

SATURDAY MORNING--JULY 1.

      After Board of Corporation transacted considerable business if adjourned, and the Board of Missions resumed its business.

      On motion, it was
      Resolved, That we proceed to consider the General Missionary work.

      Pending consideration of which adjourned.

      Benediction by the president.

AFTERNOON SESSION.

      Prayer by Elder R. H. Bolton.

      Resumed the consideration of the General Missionary work.

      After much interchange of thought by the Board, and brethren present, the following action was taken:
      WHEREAS, The acknowledged end of the Missionary Board must be only to open and commence church work; and not sustain and perpetuate it indefinitely, but to leave these beginnings and openings to be fostered and widened into glorious harvest fields by the people themselves, and we must constantly proceed to new fields and new work, leaving the old fields and the commenced work to be cared for and carried forward by others; and
      WHEREAS, The Missionary treasury is depleted, and as our present plans for gathering funds are not as successful as in the past, and as we have less than one thousand dollars ($1,000 00) on hand for distribution, over the several missionary fields this year, and as the money pressure is upon us; therefore,
      Resolved, That we make the appointments and appropriations only as our meager funds will justify, as well as with the distinct understanding that those appropriations cannot be increased. [2]
      Resolved, That we suggest and most strongly urge upon the several mission churches the propriety of sustaining to the very utmost of their ability, as an absolute necessity, the several missionaries.

      Missionaries were appointed to fields of labor as follows:
      Elder W. H. Oliver to Michigan. Appropriation $100.
      Elder S. C. D. Jackson was re-appointed to the Morgan county mission, in Missouri. Appropriation $100.
      Crete Mission to be supplied.
      Crete and Cropsey Mission was divided.
      Cropsey Mission--to include points east of Range Six (6), Elder E. D. Aller. Appropriation $200.
      Blue River Mission--to include points west of Range Six (6), Elder Geo. F. McElwee. Appropriation $100.
      Seward Mission--Elder J. W. Figard was re-appointed. Appropriation $40.
      Orton and Fillmore Mission--Elder J. W. Kager re-appointed. Appropriation $75.
      North Kansas East Mission--Elder P. K. Shoemaker was re-appointed. Appropriation $75.

      Resolved, That the mission fields of North Kansas West Mission; South-East Kansas Mission and Cass county mission, in the State of Missouri, be referred to the several Elderships to be supplied.
      Resolved, That Elder R. H. Bolton be requested to visit South-East Nebraska Mission as often as he may think practicable.
      Resolved, That Elder R. H. Bolton be continued collector of the missionary pledges.
      Resolved, That we are unable to supply the wants at present, of Oregon, Texas, Arkansas, Maine, &c.

      Adjourned to re-assemble with the Board of Corporation on Monday morning at 8 o'clock.

      Benediction by the president.

MONDAY, JULY 3, 1876.

      Board of Corporation transacted business one hour, then adjourned. After, Board of Missions transacted the following business:

      The letter addressed to the Board of Missions by Sister E. R. Gable touching the Sisters' Mission movement was re-read, considered, and the following action taken:
      Resolved, That we most heartily endorse Sister E. R. Gable's letter to the Sisterhood on the Missionary Fund, and most earnestly solicit the most immediate sympathy and co-operation of the Sisterhood everywhere. And we suggest the propriety of action on the part of the several Elderships on this matter, and inaugurate some plan by which this missionary fund may be successfully secured; and that Sister E. R. Gable be appointed treasurer to receive the funds, turning them over to the treasurer of the General Eldership, in sums of one hundred dollars and thus continue to remit, in sums of the above amount, as the money comes into her hands. And that we urge the Sisterhood everywhere to move forthwith in this matter as suggested by the sister, and remit the moneys as above directed, and all money received will be duly acknowledged through THE CHURCH ADVOCATE.
      WHEREAS, All things considered, it is deemed unadvisable to continue the collections through agents, for the present. and as we have no other special provision to gather the needed funds the present missionary year; therefore,
      Resolved, That we appeal to the brotherhood everywhere to remit moneys to the General Eldership Treasurer, Ottawa, Illinois, as free-will offerings unto the Lord; and, further,
      Resolved, That a collection in every church organization be taken in all the Elderships, in the month of November, for General Missionary purposes.

      Adjourned to meet on year hence with the Board of Corporation, at Fort Wayne, Indiana.

  P. LOUCKS, President.
R. H. BOLTON, Secretary
A. X. SHOEMAKER,
J. KENNEDY,
            Board of Missions.

 

[The Church Advocate 41 (July 19, 1876): 2, 3.]

 

ABOUT THE ELECTRONIC EDITION

      R. H. Bolton's "Acts of Board Missions" was first published in The Church Advocate, Vol. 41, No. 12 (July 19, 1876), pp. 2, 3. The electronic version has been transcribed from a copy of the article printed from a microfilmed edition of the newspaper held by the State Library of Pennsylvania. Thanks to Adams Memorial Library for arranging for the interlibrary loan, and to St. Vincent College Library for the use of its microfilm reader/printer.

      Pagination has been represented by placing the page number in brackets following the last complete word on the printed page. Inconsistencies in spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and typography have been retained; however, corrections have been offered for misspellings and other accidental corruptions. Emendations are as follows:

            Printed Text [ Electronic Text
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
 p. 2:      stationary, &c., [ stationery, &c.,
 p. 3:      (6) Elder E. D. Aller. [ (6), Elder E. D. Aller.

      Addenda and corrigenda are earnestly solicited.

Ernie Stefanik
Derry, PA

Created 23 May 1999.
Updated 15 July 2003.

R. H. Bolton Acts of Board Missions (1876)
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