Pacific Union Conference by John Norton Loughborough

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 27, 1908

Pacific Union Conference

By John Norton Loughborough

THIS conference, which was held in the sanitarium chapel at St. Helena, Cal., January 17-25, was one of the most powerful and harmonious meetings we have witnessed in California. In all the doings of this session, whether business or preaching, the Spirit of God was manifest in a marked manner, producing unity of heart among the brethren, and a most solemn sense of the shortness of the time in which to act faithfully our part of the work to be completed in this generation.

There was quite a full delegation of the ministers and workers in the union, and a representation from all the branches and interests in this field, each of which had time allotted for careful consideration and planning for their future work.

The transaction of business was so arranged that two or more preaching services could be conducted each day. For the first half of the session heartfelt and deeply impressive discourses were given by conference laborers. During the last half of the time we were favored with the labors of Brethren A. G. Daniells, W. W. Prescott, and F. Griggs. Besides these, several of the missionaries about to embark for China were present. The presence of these, with the appeals for the distant heathen lands, mightily stirred the Pacific Union, and will doubtless lead to still more earnest financial aid in spreading the message to the ends of the earth.

Sister White was able to speak to us with great power on two occasions. In the first of these she set forth the importance of the work in the cities, and in the Southern field of the United States. In her second talk she set before us the aid of temperance in the carrying out of a true spirit of patience, godliness, and brotherly kindness.

In the afternoon of Sabbath, January 25, there was a farewell service with the missionaries present en route to China, and in the evening following the Sabbath a reception was given by the physicians, nurses, and helpers of the sanitarium, for the missionaries and delegates. This social evening, which was interspersed with song and instrumental music, was indeed a happy close to the free entertainment which had been tendered to the delegates during the conference.

Each morning session of the conference was preceded by a social service or spiritual talk, from 6:30 to 7:30 A. M., and a prayer service of one-half hour, from 9 to 9:30 A. M., thus bringing in the heavenly messengers to preside over our deliberations. For myself, I can say the spirit prevailing, especially in connection with the preaching services, to me seemed to be much the same as the power attending the message of 1844. May the Lord help us so to maintain the consecration made to the work during this conference that we may share more and more the showers of the latter rain. It is surely coming. May our cups be right side up, ready to be filled to the overflowing, as promised to the consecrated ones. Mal. 3:10.

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.