Wisconsin by W. H. Thurston

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Jan 28, 1915

Wisconsin

By W. H. Thurston

ANOTHER year has passed, and its records are closed. We have entered upon a new year of opportunities and privileges. Great events occurred during the year 1914, and it has gone down in history as the eventful year of the nations. Continued progress has been made in gospel work, and the opportunities were never more favorable for a forward movement than at the present time. We know not what a year may bring forth, but the record will be made of progress or failure as one by one the days pass by. However, we do not expect failure, and therefore make no provision for it.

Wisconsin is one of our oldest conferences , being among the first that were organized by Seventh-day Adventists. The conference has passed through varied experiences, rising at times to the pinnacle of prosperity, then reversing to the verge of insolvency. Still the Lord has not cast off his people, but bears with them, leading them out of mistakes into the right way as they follow on to know and to do his will more perfectly. We are now in one of the convalescent periods of the conference, and the symptoms indicate complete recovery. The process has been moderate but sure. During the last four years the sanitarium debt has been reduced from $64,000 to about $50,000, and now $30,000 has been raised in pledges to apply on the debt, and nearly half of this amount has been paid, and the remainder is forthcoming. The tract society indebtedness, which was about $3,000, has all been paid, the last remittance having been made last month; and if any one person deserves more credit for this than another, it is Miss Mabel Cutler, a former secretary and treasurer. Other debts have been paid, and payments will be continued until all indebtedness is liquidated.

The Bethel Academy has fallen behind considerably, but definite plans will be formulated at the annual meeting of the auditing committee, to raise the money this year to clear away that encumbrance.

The students who are back on tuition from one to five or more years, would help very materially if they would settle

their accounts this year. We shall be advantaged several thousand dollars by the payment of a will to the conference this year, and that will be appreciated in this time of need.

We have not raised the amount requested for missions, but the amount paid in for 1914 is considerably more than that of former years, and over $5,000 has been pledged on this fund to be paid during the first half of 1915. The tithes and offerings are increasing, for which we all are thankful, and hope for larger amounts as the months go by and others are brought into the fold.

A large number of workers have gone forth to different fields from Wisconsin since the organization of the conference, and a great many have been brought into the truth who are remaining by the “stuff.” The reports show 148 new Sabbath keepers and 55 baptisms for the year ended Dec. 31, 1914. Two churches were organized, and one large company of believers. The publishing work compares very well with former years, and is much better than some years. All departments of work are prospering, and the people are of good courage. More home missionary work is being done by our churches than ever before, and results are encouraging. The prosperity which we are able to record is not due to any one person, nor to committees and boards alone, but to the activity and cooperation of all the believers in study, work, and prayer, and to the blessing of God. The Lord’s people sow the seed, but he gives the increase. When the debts of the Wisconsin Conference are all paid,—and they should be in one or two years more,—more work can be done both at home and abroad to advance the cause of the third angel’s message and help to finish the work.

I have enjoyed my work in Wisconsin during the past four and a half years, and the association with the members of this conference has been pleasant. Mistakes have been made, but we have endeavored to do what we believed was for the best interests of the Lord’s cause, and he has blessed our efforts, for which we are thankful. No doubt more might have been accomplished, but to the Lord be all the praise for the progress made. The circumstances make it advisable for me now to take up work in the Upper Columbia Conference, but I shall not lose my interest in my old home conference. I appreciate the counsel and support the workers and the churches have given me in this conference, and I trust the same may be given my successor, Elder P. A. Hanson, from the Upper Columbia Conference.

The work is one the world over, and it matters not where we are, only that we are laborers together with God. So may it ever be with us all is my hope and prayer.

W. H. THURSTON.