The Western New York Conference by I. H. EVANS

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 28, 1915

The Western New York Conference

By I. H. EVANS

It was my privilege to attend the annual meeting of the Western New York Conference, held at Rochester, N. Y., October 5-11. The delegation was not large, but from the beginning of the meeting, unity prevailed in the discussion of the resolutions adopted and in the election of officers. Elder H. C. Hartwell was elected president, and most of the officers and committeemen who served during the previous year were reelected.

The meetings were held in the new church at Rochester, a beautiful building, given by Miss Hannah Browning. It cost about $11,000, and will seat about 300 persons. Below the church are office rooms for the conference and the tract society, a good schoolroom for the church school, and a prayer meeting room. The building is lighted with electricity and heated with vacuum steam. Having such a representative place of worship, it seems that the cause of God should rapidly grow in Rochester, and that the place should become a strong center for the third angel’s message in western New York.

Rochester was once the center of our work. Here, Brother James White and his colaborers began to print a periodical for the promulgation of the third angel’s message. It was in this place, too, that Spiritualism had its beginning, almost simultaneously with that of the third angel’s message.

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH AT ROCHESTER, N. Y.

On Sabbath and Sunday there was a good attendance of our people. On Sabbath afternoon, Brother A. E. Sanderson, the home missionary secretary of the union, gave an earnest talk on the Harvest Ingathering campaign, and the brethren present set $2,000 as a goal toward which to work in soliciting funds. Elder A. G. Daniells was present the last day of the conference, and several opportunities were given him to present his stirring message concerning the advancement and great needs of the work in the Far East. His talks were much appreciated, and were a source of inspiration to all. More than $700 in cash and pledges was raised for foreign mission work.

During the conference two licentiates, Miles R. Coon and F. C. Carlson, were ordained to the gospel ministry.

The brethren and sisters in the Western New York Conference seemed of good courage, and we believe there will be a marked growth in the work in that conference in the near future. I greatly enjoyed my stay at the conference, and was especially pleased to note the spirit of unity and cooperation which prevailed.

I. H. EVANS.