General Conference Departmental Resume by C. M. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 12, 1913

General Conference Departmental Resume

By C. M. S.

IN the third meeting of the Foreign Department Elder O. A. Olsen laid before those in attendance the vital importance of doing more for the foreign population of the United States and Canada. He said there were millions of Italians, Poles, Slavs, and other nationalities in this country. In many localities the Lord is raising up believers among these peoples, and from them earnest pleas are continually coming for help. Leaders must be selected to take charge of the work of training men and women to give the help that is being demanded by these converts from the foreign population, and to assist those who are already seeking to help such ones.

A very important topic was under consideration at the eighth meeting of the Religious Liberty Department. In a number of instances our workers have used quotations in their public addresses, which it has been difficult or impossible to verify. In some cases such quotations have been challenged, and the ones who have used them have been unable to prove the quotations authentic. They have used such quotations in good faith, believing them to be authentic, and embarrassment has come to them and more or less injury to the work they were trying to do, when they were unable to show the genuineness of the extracts. Some of these quotations, traced back from one writer to another, have vanished. These experiences have shown the importance of ceasing to use any quotation which we cannot verify. It was recommended that our public workers furnish themselves with a list of quotations which can be authenticated.

A strong testimony to the importance of the circulation of our literature in opening up work in new territory was borne by Elder G. W. Caviness, of Mexico, in the ninth meeting of the Publishing Department. Elder Caviness stated that the circulation of our tracts, papers, and books seemed to be almost entirely responsible for the raising up of companies of believers in Mexico. The tenth meeting of the department was devoted to a consideration of the scope and work of the General Conference Publishing Department in carrying forward the work committed to this people. The work of the department, as set forth by Elder Daniells, showed that there is no greater nor more important work than that which comes under the jurisdiction of this department of the work. It must secure literature adapted to the needs of all classes, from the simplest people in heathen lands to the best educated and most perfectly civilized peoples of the world. It must see to the proper translation of literature for the various nationalities. It must be on the lookout for writers who have ability in presenting the truth strongly and attractively. It acts as a unifying agent among our publishing houses, holding before them all the common endeavor of giving this message to all the world. It is the business of this department to educate our people to appreciate the importance of our literature in the proclamation of this message. It must provide a system to enable our people to circulate this literature intelligently and successfully. It will also assist and encourage home missionary work, using its influence to put the rank and file of our people at work in the circulation of tracts and periodicals.

The eleventh meeting of the department was devoted to the need of spiritual power in colporteur work. This power, it was shown, makes all other phases of the work easy, solves difficulties, and unravels trying perplexities. Such power is the key that unlocks every problem connected with the distribution of our literature.

The meetings of the Missionary Volunteer Department have been of much interest and profit to those in attendance. The denomination is manifesting greater interest in the work being done by this department of the General Conference, and the organization continues to grow. It is being taken up in the foreign fields, and the young people are being developed rapidly as missionary workers. The importance of this department of the organized work can hardly be overestimated. It is not only of great assistance in the extension of the work, but it serves also to bind the young people to the work and to insure a greater and more rapid increase in the number of our laborers than would otherwise be the case. At these department meetings the importance of this branch of the work is being demonstrated in the reports of work done by the young people and the record of persons brought into the truth through their instrumentality.

C. M. S.