General Conference Departmental Resume by C. M. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 19, 1913

General Conference Departmental Resume

By C. M. S.

ONE of the most important branches of the work carried on at this session of the General Conference was the work that was done for the young people. The devotional work undertaken in their behalf was attended with excellent results. The six-o'clock morning devotional meetings were usually well attended, and were appreciatively participated in by large numbers. At these meetings many gave their hearts to God, while others renewed their consecration; and it was the general testimony that these young men and women would go out from this meeting with a deeper spiritual experience than ever before, and with a stronger determination to stand by the work of God and give themselves to it.

In the young people of this denomination this work has an asset which it would be difficult to estimate too highly. With hearts truly converted to God, and with intelligent preparation for some phase of the work, they will be a power in this message. It is our duty to pray God that they may be wisely directed.

Another important phase of the work was the meetings of the Publishing Department. In these meetings matters of great importance to the progress of the message were daily under consideration. The question uppermost in the minds of all seemed to be, What plans can be laid for the more rapid and wide-spread circulation of our literature? It was not a question of advancing this or that personal interest, but of advancing the cause of God, of which all these branches, or departments, are active, necessary, and loyal factors.

The Sabbath School Department did efficient work, and it seemed that every phase of Sabbath-school work had its share of thoughtful consideration. Experienced Sabbath-school workers had been giving prayerful thought to the various topics assigned them, and the result was a feast of good things for those who were able to attend the sessions of this department. The result is bound to be seen in the future Sabbath-school work of the denomination.

In the Religious Liberty Department the same careful preparatory work had been done, and there was much interesting discussion of the various phases of religious liberty work. Excellent papers were presented on a large variety of topics, and the thoughts brought out were much appreciated by those who could attend.

The same could be said of all the other departments. Good reports were continually heard from them all.

In the Publishing Department one of the most interesting topics considered was the scholarship plan for student canvassers. This plan which was started a number of years ago by the Signs of the Times in offering scholarships for a certain number of subscriptions, has now broadened out until a large percentage of students at our higher schools have earned, or are earning, their own way by the circulation of our truth-filled literature. Through this means our schools are getting an excellent class of thoughtful, studious, and consecrated young men and women; and the result is that the schools are preparing this kind of people for still more efficient work in this cause. It works well for the schools, and enables them, on the whole, to send out into the work a better class and a better-prepared class of young men and women.

The Religious Liberty Department, as a result of its meetings, has created a demand for a variety of special literature for free circulation by our people. This literature should deal with the principles of Christian and civil liberty and sound a warning against the encroachments of those forces which would turn our government backward toward the principles of medievalism.

As one surveys the work carried on by these departments during the General Conference, he is compelled to the conclusion that the work throughout the world is bound to feel the impulse of what was done here. We believe that these meetings have been blessed of God, and that they will prove a blessing to the work in all the countries to which these delegates will go. The work in the home land will receive its inspiration and uplift also, and thus will this great band of consecrated workers move forward as one man for the accomplishment of the work. C. M. S.