The Eastern Canadian Meetings by M. E. Kern

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 10, 1916

The Eastern Canadian Meetings

By M. E. Kern

PREPARATION of heart for Jesus’ coming, and full consecration for the finishing of the work, were the keynotes of the series of meetings just closed in the Eastern Canadian Union Conference. There was a sweet spirit of harmony in all the meetings, and an earnest seeking after God on the part of the people.

Having never before attended meetings in this field, I was greatly impressed with the fact that there is yet a great work to do in eastern Canada and in Newfoundland. In the first place, it is a large territory. It is 2,556 miles by the shortest route between the eastern and western extremities of the field. The headquarters of the union, at Oshawa, Ontario, are not very far from the center of the field, east and west, yet it takes three and a half days or more of continuous travel to go from Oshawa to St. John’s, Newfoundland. From Oshawa one can go to Loma Linda, Cal., in less time than it usually takes to go to St. John’s. When the work is opened in Labrador, it will take a few more days to reach that field.

In some parts of the union the country is sparsely settled, making the work of the colporteur quite difficult. In other parts the power of Rome so completely dominates the people that the work goes very hard.

Here, as elsewhere, however, all men are musing in their hearts on the meaning of the things that are taking place in the world, and there is a new interest to hear the message. The leaders and the people of these conferences are planning to take advantage of this awakening, and push the work with new vigor, with the goal in view of doubling their membership in two years.

The Ontario camp meeting was held at Brantford, which is quite central for our people in that province. Ontario has a membership of 573. There were more than 300 at the camp meeting Sabbath school, which was a larger attendance than at any previous meeting, I was told. One new church was admitted to the conference. Ninety new members have been added to the conference since the beginning of this calendar year.

Elder A. V. Olson, who came to Ontario a few months ago, when Elder M. M. Hare was called to leave the field, was selected president, and there were chosen to assist him on the executive committee, F. G. Hill, J. Capman, W. J. Hurden, and Elder J. W. McComas, who has recently come to the field from Iowa. The other officers are, Olive Leach, secretary-treasurer; Eva Johnston, educational and Missionary Volunteer secretary; J. Capman, field missionary secretary.

Miss Margaret Shanks had charge of the young people’s meetings, and a good interest was manifested. There were a number of young men on the ground who had come in from their colporteur work. They had been having excellent success, regardless of heavy rains and discouraged farmers. Mrs. Florence M. Henderson had charge of the children. She had two regular meetings each day, besides two calisthenic drills, and a walk for exercise, health, and social enjoyment.

All departments of the work were discussed. The people pledged themselves to unite with the officers and workers in pushing the work as never before.

There was a fair attendance from the city at the evening services. On the closing day, eighteen persons were baptized, mostly young people.

Those present responded liberally to a call for funds for local work, and to help equip a science laboratory at the Eastern Canadian Missionary Seminary. They gave $1,600.

The Quebec meeting was held at Lennoxville, 110 miles east of Montreal. En route to this meeting I spent several hours in Montreal. This is practically a French city, and a stronghold of Catholicism. We have here an English and a French church. Elder Jean Vuilleumier has been laboring among the French, but it is now arranged for him to teach in the Eastern Canadian Missionary Seminary at Oshawa.

The Quebec meeting was not so large as the one at Ontario. There were 112 present at Sabbath school. Although this was the thirty-seventh annual conference session, the constituency of the conference is only 168.

It was at first thought that there would not be enough young people to have separate meetings, but there was a good company present, and some very beneficial services were held.

Elder W. C. Young, who was called to take charge of the field only a short time ago, when Elder Olson was called to Ontario, was reelected president. The executive committee consists of W. C. Young, L. F. Passebois, F. C. Webster, W. H. Knowlton, and W. C. D. Dingman. F. E. Dufty was reelected secretary-treasurer. N. H. Saunders is educational and Missionary Volunteer secretary, and he has also been chosen Missionary Volunteer secretary for the union. Both Elders Passebois and Webster have recently come to this field, and are beginning their work with good courage. Elder Passebois has settled in the city of Quebec, with the ultimate object of working for the French, although his first effort will be for the English. Elder Webster is residing in Montreal.

Aside from Elder M. N. Campbell and the writer, who attended all these meetings, Elder G. G. Roth, North American Division secretary for the French work, was in attendance, and his counsel and help were much appreciated.

There was a good attendance from the town of Lennoxville at the last few evening services. On the last day of the meeting, we repaired to a near-by river, where four persons were buried with Christ in baptism.

When a call was made for funds for local work and to help equip the laboratory at Oshawa, the brethren and sisters responded with an offering of $500.

It was voted to secure a man to take charge of the colporteur and home missionary work as soon as possible.

One night and a half day brought us to Norton, New Brunswick, where the Maritime meeting was held. The constituency of the Maritime Conference is 276, but the members are scattered over a large territory. The attendance seemed very small at first, but there were about 65 at Sabbath school. Practically all these had come some distance to the meeting, as there is no church or company in Norton.

Past experience seems to indicate that it is not wise to hold our general meetings here in tents. Several days of cool, rainy weather made us thankful for rooms to live in, and for the commodious hall which was secured for the meetings. Elder Skinner, the president of the conference, and at present the only ordained minister, is holding a series of meetings in Norton, following the general meeting.

The various departments of the work were discussed. It was decided to place a man in the field in charge of the colporteur and home missionary work just as soon as one can be found. Prof. C. L. Taylor, principal of Williamsdale Academy, was present at the meeting, assisting in the young people’s meetings and working for students. The young people who have been to Williamsdale seem to be much in love with the school. The prospects for this year are good.

The conference officers for the next two years will be: President, George Skinner; other members of the executive committee, C. L. Taylor, W. G. Steves, William Wasell; secretary-treasurer, Lulu Van Buskirk; educational and Missionary Volunteer secretary, C. L. Taylor.

On Sunday a beautiful baptismal service was held near the bridge connecting the two parts of the town. Eleven were baptized.

The sum of $550 was raised to install a water system in Williamsdale Academy and otherwise equip this institution for better work.

The Newfoundland Mission has a baptized membership of 57, most of whom are in St. John’s. A general meeting lasting four days was held here. Besides the members of the St. John’s church, there were about ten from outports.

The work has been established in Newfoundland for many years, and has had its ups and downs; but at no place have I found a more earnest spirit of seeking God. The days we were together were filled full of meetings, beginning with an early morning consecration service before breakfast.

Various lines of work were considered, and a definite conviction that the work must go forward in Newfoundland seemed to take hold of the brethren and sisters.

Elder D. J. C. Barrett is superintendent of this mission field. Elder Barrett and his wife, and Elder and Mrs. R. A. Hubley, who are laboring here, are of good courage, and fully expect to see the work go forward. Several have been added to the church recently, and others are waiting for baptism.

The young people’s work was a special feature of this meeting. Professor Taylor was present, and secured several students for Williamsdale. The members of the St. John’s church are also much interested in their church school, and are determined to bring it into harmony with the denominational system of education. Brother and Sister Gordon Smith, who are to take charge of the school, are now on the ground, and enter upon their work with courage. There are no public schools in Newfoundland.

The work in the Eastern Canadian Union is encouraging. Elder Campbell and his associates are working hard. There has been a gradual increase in the membership of the union. The Canadian Publishing Association seems to be prospering. In 1913 it did $10,000 worth of business; in 1914, $15,000 worth; and in 1915, $22,000 worth. The association has recently printed a French edition of “The World’s Crisis,” and Elder Vuilleumier has a company of workers selling it this summer. If good leadership can be secured for this branch of the work in each of the conferences, and a good man for the union, there is every reason to believe that the sale of literature will go forward still more rapidly.

The Eastern Canadian Missionary Seminary is doing excellent work, and there is good prospect for some strong young workers in the near future.

M. E. KERN.