The General Eldership of 1875 is now a matter of history. The work that it can do is done, and it only remains for us to gather what fruits its actions and its influence may produce. With few exceptions it was a meeting characterized throughout with good feeling, and one that, we think, will have a beneficial influence throughout our borders. Much work was done during the eight days and three evenings that the Eldership was in session, and yet some very important interests were not touched upon, or else but partially considered. This was occasioned by the fact that several other matters, with reference to which no practical conclusions were reached, consumed a great deal of time, and the disinclination of delegates to remain longer in session than till the second Wednesday night.

      Among the items of interest upon which the Eldership should have spent considerable time is our missionary work. At least one additional day should have been given to this subject, as it involves one of the most important matters of which the General Eldership has charge. Some means should have been devised to secure funds regularly for the support of missionaries. We have now a surplus of funds in the treasury, but unless some regular system of collections is set on foot the funds now in treasury cannot last more than a few years at the longest. The people have been considerably stirred up on this subject during the past year, and are in a better state to enter upon some regular system of giving than they have been at any previous time. We had confidently hoped that something would be done which might take the place of collecting agents, but the time of the Eldership was wholly consumed in deliberations upon other matters, and so we are still left without a regular system for securing missionary money.

      Besides, the thorough discussion of this subject would have proved beneficial in other respects. The reports from our mission fields were not presented to the Eldership in such detail as to make a clear and distinct impression. The demands of the extreme west and of the south for missionary laborers were not as fully stated as was desirable. The result is, that the missionary fires were not fanned to a new and vigorous flame, as is often the case at such general gatherings. There is a great work to be done by the General Eldership in extending our borders westward and southward, but the body saw fit, after electing a good Board of Missions, to commit this work into its hands. We hope they will act with vigor. We think they should not defer the matter of securing regular contributions until their annual meeting in 1876, but if possible have an early meeting and devise some feasible plan to be put in operation at once.

      The Church semi-centennial was also measurably overlooked. It is now about fifty years since the first churches were organized by Elder Winebrenner, and a proper celebration of the fiftieth anniversary might have been made productive of much good. It is not too late yet, if the Executive Board will assume the responsibility of superintending this matter without express direction from the Eldership. We believe there would be a general and cordial acquiescence in any measures that said board might agree upon. And under discrete and wise management such a celebration, could be made a general blessing.

      The work of writing and publishing a history of the Church should also have received more definite attention. We believe that there is quite a general desire to see such a work in print. The materials for it can yet be obtained with comparatively little trouble, but if the matter is delayed much longer the difficulty of securing authentic information on many points will be materially increased. No one seems to have any disposition to undertake this work of his own accord, and hence the necessity of official action. The election of an editor for the Board of Publication, with authority to write and publish such a historical work, is all that might have been necessary. Said editor could also have gathered the materials for a life of Elder Winebrenner, which the Board is authorized to prepare and publish at an early period. Both these works are wanted, and would command a ready and extensive sale.

      Our educational interest might also with profit have received more thorough attention. Some suitable plan by which to work up from small beginnings could have been matured. We must first plant the tree, and then watch its slow growth for years before we can expect to gather the desired fruit. The Eldership took one good step forward, we think, in authorizing the incorporation of the General and of local Eldership Boards. If each Eldership will appoint boards composed of efficient and active men they can work together for the gradual accumulation of funds for educational purposes. This we hope will be done.

      We have thus called attention to these items, which the Eldership failed thoroughly to canvass, to the end that the proper boards may take hold of them at once and not suffer any time to be wasted in inactivity. By faithful co-operation we can do a great work in every department of the Church. And it should be our ambition to do all that we possibly can.

[The Church Advocate 40 (June 16, 1875): 4.]

      Christian H. Forney's "Omissions" was first published in The Church Advocate, Vol. 40, No. 7 (June 16, 1875), p. 4. 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.

      Inconsistencies in spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and typography have been retained.

      Addenda and corrigenda are earnestly solicited.

Ernie Stefanik
Derry, PA

Created 31 May 1999.
Updated 13 July 2003.