Name/Title
AU Hough, S. S. - 1926-03-04 letter to Joseph Hastings HarrisEntry/Object ID
1990.1.404Context
BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION
of the Church of
THE UNITED BRETHREN IN CHRIST
S. S. Hough, Executive Secretary
1430 U. B. Building
Dayton, Ohio
March 4, 1926
Rev. J. H. Harris, D. D.,
39 East Park Street,
Westerville, Ohio.
Dear Doctor Harris:
I want you to regard this as a personal, confidential message.
One of my greatest joys during the past twenty years in general work, has been to note the development of Christian leaders in our communion.
I want to confess to you that your growth and development has been a constant inspiration. Others have spoken to me about it as the years have come and gone. Only this week a general secretary said; "Harris is the best superintendent we have got."
I feel somehow that your experience as a pastor and your experience as a Conference Superintendent, and your relation as trustee of the college, the seminary, and as a member of the Board of Administration and its Executive Committee, have fitted you in a peculiar way for the essential work that needs to to be done in our denomination to get the pastors and lay leaders to see the whole work, to recognize the educational agencies needed to impart the knowledge and to give training in the actual service so as to enable our denomination to rise up and be a greater force, not only in soul winning, but in soul building as we go through the next twenty-five years.
You will excuse me for being very personal in this. I talked the matter over with Mrs. Hough after our joint meeting, and we both felt that God has a large place for you, either to continue indefinitely as superintendent of your Conference, or in the Bishopric, or possibly soon to be associated with me in the diversified work of the Board of Administration, you emphasizing the organization and promotional end of the work, including the Every Member Canvass and field activities necessary for the realization of the whole program, while I could give more attention to the development and application of the principles of Christian stewardship—something I have neglected very much thus far—and a little later, when I must give up active work you would be the natural man to take over the whole job.
Now I have told you right out of my heart how it has seemed to us recently. While we have been thinking during the last ten days as I have just written, you can well imagine how I would feel
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on getting your letter of March 3 relative to the superintendency of the Otterbein Home.
What I have said in this letter was not called out by what you say about the proposition from the Home, for I intended to send it to you at any rate. I would like to talk the whole matter over with you soon.
I believe we must put far greater emphasis on group organization in the local church, on a better system of district meetings in the Annual Conferences, and on the development of the directors for missionary education and stewardship in every Annual Conference and in the local churches. The sooner we can get to this, the better and more rapid will be the development of our entire denominational activities, and it seems to me stewardship ought to be separated as far as possible from the appeal for money.
Because my hands have been so full of the administrative side of the work, it has been impossible for me to give the attention I should to stewardship. If I am continued beyond the next General Conference in general work, I wish I could concentrate more and more on the stewardship end of the job for another quadrennium. I am sure you will pray much about this matter.
Thank you, dear yoke-fellow, for your contribution. It looks good. I will read it carefully soon and will then report to you.
We are in the midst of preparing special matter for the Woman's Evangel and the Otterbein Teacher today, and tomorrow the Watchword and Telescope must have our immediate attention, in addition to the numerous leaflets and tracts which ought to go to press by next week.
With this I am enclosing a sheet calling for information about the Every Member Canvass in the form of questions and answers. Will you please write out for me an answer to each of the eight questions, and on the reverse side state other questions which are likely to arise and your answer for them?
You will think me ungrateful for asking you for so much, but you have had more experience than any other one accessible, and you nearer to the pastors and churches. Do your best on these questions and let me have the results, with the privilege of using your name in answering them.
I wrote Doctor Enck, as I did other Superintendents, for the exact list of his District Leaders with their addresses (and by the way I shall be glad for the names and addresses of your District Leaders) and Doctor Enck answers me as follows:
"Have no regularly appointed District Leaders. My Conference Church Extension Board is my advisory board and will help in all district work. If necessary I am privileged to appoint such men in addition as I may see fit.
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"Our Every Member Canvass will not take place until the month of September, which is strictly in line with act of General Conference, also of Annual Conference.
"In the meantime I am privileged to speak to all officials in quarterly conference, also at Mt. Gretna camp and Mount Lebanon.
"To conduct Every Member Canvass in May would be an utter failure."
I have written him there must be a misunderstanding and that I would like to have a conference with him about it. What would you say if you were in my place, to Doctor Enck, about this matter?
Sincerely,
S. S. Hough
EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
SSH/JH
P. S. Since writing the above I have a message from Doctor Kendall saying he is planning institutes or group meetings from April 6-9 inclusive. He writes:
"Our plan is to have a six o'clock dinner and have the official boards of all the churches of the group sit down together and consider how to put over a successful canvass."
Then at the public meeting that will follow he wants to have an address on developing local church leaders, etc.
In filling out his blank form he says:
"I am expecting Doctor Hough as I notified you. In case you can't come, send Doctor J. H. Harris."
That will be a fine opportunity in East Ohio. In case I cannot go would it be possible for you to take that place?
If they would not bear your expenses the Board of Administration would.
Truly,
S. S. H.
