Report of the British Union Conference
By W. J. FITZGERALD
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland is indisputably one of the most interesting divisions of the world. Politically, it has played a leading rôle for many centuries. Perhaps it is just to say that no other nation in any age has done more to spread abroad in all quarters of the globe the salutary influences of advanced and enlightened civilization. For more than four hundred years, explorers have been going forth from the British Isles to the remotest points in all directions. (Recently Lieutenant Shackleton has been within just a little over one hundred miles of the south pole.) In the immediate wake of Britain's explorers have ever followed hosts of colonists, full of courage, determina-tion.21 and resourcefulness. Great Britain governs nearly one fourth of the world's population, and the empire occupies one fourth of the habitable area of the globe. Not only has she enriched the world by carrying forward successfully a stupendous and superb scheme of colonization and empire, but she has also contributed bountifully to the world's wealth, commerce, science, art, literature, morals, and religion. It is beyond the limits of the human mind to estimate the work accomplished by the British people in the making and distribution of the Holy Scriptures, and other Christian literature. The United Kingdom acted no inconsiderable part in the great religious reform which revolutionized Europe in the sixteenth century. It contributed to that great cause its full quota of bold and brilliant advocates,—both writers and public speakers. It spilt sufficient of the blood of its people of all classes thoroughly to fertilize the reformation soil, and water the seeds of eternal truth deposited therein. No other European country did more in later periods to resuscitate the great reform movement, and carry it forward through successive stages toward the goal of full accomplishment. How great was the work of Bunyan, the Wesleys, Whitefield, Spurgeon, and a host of other valiant servants of God! In the great awakening of the forties of the last century, Great Britain was again found in the forefront of the agitation. Hundreds of her godly ministers of the gospel sounded the judgment alarm and advent tidings, not only in the home land, but in many mission countries of the earth. But what of Great Britain to-day, and the part she is acting and will act in connection with this great closing movement of God's truth in the world? Is she maintaining her past standards, and living up to her splendid traditions? Is there being gathered out from the masses there, a people who rally round the standard of the third angel? Is she moving forward to take her place shoulder to shoulder with those countries which are supplying devoted soldiers of the cross, who are to carry successfully this message to all divisions of mankind? Wherever the banner of British authority and influence waves, it is a positive guaranty of liberty to carry forward the work of the Lord without hindrance. This is so in the mother country; it is also true in far distant lands, influenced for centuries by the superstitions and vagaries of paganism and other false religions. The mighty influence of the British empire is still successfully exerted to keep gateways in all parts of the world open to the missionaries of the cross. This wholesome influence emanates from the United Kingdom, whose territory is the field of the British Union Conference. The British Union is among the smallest in area, and among the largest in population. It is composed of England and Wales, Scotland, Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands of Jersey, Guernsey and Alderney, the Shetland and Orkney Islands to the north of Scotland, and the Hebrides and other islands of the west coast of Scotland. Its area is 121,000 square miles, being somewhat larger than the combined areas of the States of New York, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. The population is about 45,000,000, or nearly half that of all North America, exclusive of Old Mexico. At least four distinct and characteristic nationalities,—English, Scottish, Irish, and Welsh,—are manifest to one who visits all divisions of the field. Three languages besides English are spoken by considerable sections of the population, the Welsh in Wales, the Gaelic in Scotland, and the Erse in Ireland being adhered to by thousands; and it requires no stretch of the imagination to discover many minor yet striking distinctions, as regards both customs and dialects. One finds no monotony attaching to a trip from Land's End at the extreme southwest of England, to John O'Groat's at the extreme northeast of Scotland; or from Sandringham in the east of England to Killarney in the west of Ireland. With such a territory and such a population, who could fail to possess inspiration to carry this work forward! Could one desire a better, more interesting, or more promising field? At the opening of the quadrennial term, Jan. 1, 1905, our work in Great Britain was twenty-six years old. There were at that time 2 organized conferences, North England and South England, and 3 mission fields, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, with an aggregate reported membership of 1,364. During the four-year period closing Dec. 31, 1908, two missions—Wales and South Scotland—were organized into conferences, 25 churches were organized, and there were added to the membership 875 by baptism and 128 by vote, or a total of 1,003. On account of a revision of the lists of church-memberships throughout the field, the reported net gain for the General Conference term was reduced to 310, giving the union a membership of 1,674 at the close of the year 1908. It is evident that the real gain in membership for the quadrennial period is much larger than the apparent net gain. The union made a gain of 68 members for the first quarter of 1909, so that on March 31 of the present year we had a total membership of 1,742. That which has been accomplished during the past four years, as regards membership, gives us assurance for the future. Our people have been devoted to the cause and faithful in its support. There has been a very encouraging gain in tithe and offerings during the four years. The tithe for the year 1904, the last year of the preceding General Conference term, amounted to $15,910, or a per capita rate of $10.93. The tithe for the year 1908, the last year of the term for which we are reporting, amounted to $25,078, or a per capita rate of $14.98. Thus the year 1908, as compared with 1904, shows a gain in tithe of $9,168, and a gain of $4.05 in the rate per capita. The total offerings to missions for 1904 amounted to $1,821, or $1.33 a member, while the total offerings to missions for 1908 amounted to $3,541, showing a gain of $1,720; and the per capita rate was increased from $1.32 to $2.17. The total tithe for the four-year period ending Dec. 31, 1908, amounted to $91,798.13, or a yearly average of $22,949. The yearly average per capita was $13.64. The total offerings to missions for the four years amounted to $12,238.99, a yearly average of $3,059.72, and a per capita yearly average of $1.82. It is therefore apparent that at every point of comparison the tithe and offer- ings for the year 1908 show a lead over the yearly average for the quadrennial term, indicating continual growth. The tithe and offerings for the first quarter of 1909 were larger than for any preceding quarter. Our tithe rate of $14.98 per capita for 1908 is $3.69 above the average rate per capita for the world, $2.72 above the average for the United States, $5.60 above the average rate for Europe, and $4.10 higher than the next highest in the European field. Over $7,000 has been raised in cash contributions and by the sale of the book, “Christ's Object Lessons,” for the union conference building fund. Six sevenths of this amount was raised during the latter half of the period. It is encouraging to note that during the last two years, when strenuous efforts have been put forth to secure offerings for the union conference building fund, the offerings to missions showed a decided increase. We find pleasure in being able to make a favorable report concerning our Union Conference. In August, 1906, the British Union Conference incorporated under the name of the Seventh-day Adventist Union, Ltd. At that time the union had no available assets. By the close of the year 1908 it had invested in the purchase of the Stanborough Park estate, and by the erection of buildings and otherwise improving the same, the sum of $78,380.86. Of this sum, the union owed $28,959.45. Thus the union had gained, in two and one-half years, by donations and otherwise, the sum of $49,421.41. Besides the amount invested in Stanborough Park, the union owns, for the execution of its different lines of work, several agencies and properties valued as follows: The International Tract Society, Ltd., $44,141.18; the International Health Association, Ltd., $7,586.93; the Good Health Association, Ltd., $28,328.08; the Stanborough Park Training College, $5,000; making a net present worth of $134,477.60. The different branches named, while operating under their own name and local management, are controlled by, and pay rent to, the union, besides turning into the union treasury all profits that are not needed to keep their business in good working order. We are thankful to report that all these branches are making profits. Full reports of these several departments will be submitted by their respective representatives. The local conferences will also be reported by their presidents. MINISTERS AND OTHER WORKERS
There are regularly employed in this field, to carry forward the work in its several phases, 17 ordained ministers, 11 licensed preachers, 19 missionary licentiates, and 19 other workers in conference employ, 7 teachers, 207 canvassers, 36 medical missionary workers, 30 employees in the publishing house, and 20 in the health food factory, making a grand total of 366. This means that one out of every five of our members is employed in the work for the denomination in some capacity. During the past four years, 11 native British workers, and 4 young workers from America, who had spent some time in our training-school, have gone out to different parts of the great foreign mis-22 sion field. Our union has released workers for at least 3 great mission divisions of the earth. It is still necessary for our field to receive some aid from the General Conference treasury. The amount required for the present year is $3,500. We are glad, however, to note that we turned over to the General Conference more than that amount in offerings last year, not counting the amount of tithe also paid by the union to the General Conference. It is our earnest hope and purpose that we shall need to ask for but one more annual appropriation for the regular work, and that this will be much less than $3,500. It is the desire of all the British believers that our field shall soon become not only fully self-supporting, but also able to help substantially in supporting the great work of carrying this blessed message to the millions who “sit in darkness and the shadow of death.” The British delegates unite most earnestly with you all in seeking an advanced and special preparation for service at this time. We desire to return to our field prepared to transmit to our fellow workers and brethren generally, an inspiration for more effective service. We purpose to march on faithfully with all the loyal ranks to the final great conflict and the final glorious victory.