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EN
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hi
March 1945
Church Extension Fund Comparisons
It is interesting to note that during the past eight years,
1938 to, and including 1945, $131,436.25 has beén received
from the Church Extension Fund, as follows:
Received in 1938 $6,000.00
Received in 1939 6,500.00
Received in 1940 8,000.00
Received in 1941 7,060.25
Received in 1642 9,026.00
Received in 1943 35,000.00
Received in 1944 32.830.00
Received for 1943 27,000.00
Total for 8 years, "$131,436.25
We appreciate these good appropriations which have come
to us from year to year, making possible the erection of much-
needed church buildings in various parts of the Division.
Book and Bible Houses
Progress has been made during the past two years in the
building up of the working capital of the Book and Bible
House, and in the reduction of accounts with the Pacific Press.
Note the following:
Working Capital, December 31, 1941 $45,653.84
Working Capital, December 31, 1943 89,434.26
Increase in Working Capital for period $43,780.42 or 96%
This good increase was partially donated by the Pacific
Press and the Division, the Press giving $6,678.28, and the
Division Committee, $7,678.28, or a total of $14,356.56. By
deducting these donations from the $43,780.42 noted above,
we then show the actual increase resulting from Book and
Bible House earnings over the two-year period. The amount
of the increase was $29,423.86, or 67 per cent.
Appropriations
The 1945 appropriations to the world field were the largest
in the history of our work, and amounted to $10,983,851.51.
This means that during 1945 the General Conference will be
forwarding to the various divisions an average of $30,092.72
per day. If someone had told us a few years ago that over
ten million dollars would be appropriated in 1945 for the
carrying forward of our world-wide work, it would have
seemed only a beautiful dream. It is amazing the way our
people sacrifice for the cause they love.
The base appropriation for the Inter-American Division
for 1945 has heen set by the General Conference Committee,
INTER-AMERICAN DIVISION MESSENGER 7
in session at the recent Autumn Council, at $405,612.00, as
compared with $355,800.00 for 1944, and $309.400.00 for
1943. Other appropriations will come to this field for the
coming year in the form of “specials,” which will amount to
another $75,000.00. We are indeed grateful to God and to
our brethren in the homeland, that this additional help is to
be made possible by the generosity of our people who are
willing to sacrifice for the cause of God in mission lands.
We appreciate also the appropriations made by the Gen-
eral Conference in the amount. of $27,000.00 from the Church
Extension Fund, and the provision of $39,000.00 for the
promotion of our radio work in Inter-America during 1945.
Expressions of Gratitude
We are truly grateful to the Lord for His manifold bless-
ings that have attended our work during this past year, and
for the large number of souls won to the message through the
self-sacrificing efforts of God-fearing men and women through-
out the Division. We rejoice in the encouraging gains record-
ed, and we believe that the future is bright with promise; and
that within a short time other thousands of precious souls will
be rejoicing in the message.
We greatly appreciate the privilege of working with breth-
ren and sisters who love the Lord and who have given their
lives in willing sacrifice that others might live. Their sole aim
and ambition has been, and still is, to finish the great task of
bringing to men and women everywhere the good news of a
soon-coming Redeemer.
The problems and trials of the past year have in many
instances been exceedingly heavy to carry. Disappointments
have come to us all, but we thank God that He has kept His
promises, and that our courage is strong in Him. Consecrated
workers have been driven to their knees again and again, but
their service of love has not been in vain, for the message
shines brighter and more glorious than ever before.
I am sure that we all long to learn the deeper meaning of
communion with the Master, for it is through this means that
our souls can be enriched and lifted high upon the mountain
top of His sunshine and love.
Our prayer is that 1945 will be the best year in soul win-
ning in the history of our work, not only in this Division, but
throughout the world field, and that as a result of the effort
expended the work may soon be finished.
THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE
INTER-AMERICAN DIVISION COMMITTEE
It was November 27, 1944, the time
appointed for the opening of another
session of the full committee of the In-
ter-American Division. One by one the
members had arrived. From the wild
pampas of fair Mexico, the torrid sec-
tion of Central America, the scattered
islands of the Greater and Lesser An-
tilles, and from the papal-controlied re-
gions of Colombia and Venezuela, a few
of God's faithful sentinels had found
their way to General Peraza, Havana,
where are located the headquarters of-
fices of the Inter-American Division.
The brethren came to this important
meeting with two aspects of mission ac-
By J. T. CARRINGTON
tivity resting with insistence upon their
hearts,—good news of progress, and the
sense of dire, soul-stirring need.
From the General Conference office in
Washington, D. C., three representatives
came to Havana to attend this meeting;
namely, Elders W. H. Branson, A. W.
Cormack, and H. M. Blunden: and from
the Atlantic Union Conference, Elder
M. L. Rice. All of the union leaders
were in attendance, and also Elder A.
V. Larson, the manager of the Pacific
Press Publishing Association, Cristobal
Branch; and, these, with the resident
members of the Division Committee,
made up the record of one hundred
percent attendance at this gathering.
Under the leadership of Elders Glenn
Calkins and C. L. Torrey, the Division
extended a hearty welcome to all the
visitors, not only welcoming them to the
meeting, but to the beautiful island of
Cuba as well. Some had been here be-
fore; but for a few, this was the first
visit; but we all felt at home, for the
spirit of brotherhood pervaded the entire
meeting.
The surroundings and situation, as
well as the atmosphere of quiet restful-
ness and serenity, so necessary to the
careful study of numerous problems af-
fecting God's work, were all a part of