p. 17 | A Profitable Union Meeting by K. C. RUSSELL

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 12, 1908

A Profitable Union Meeting

By K. C. RUSSELL

A UNION meeting for all the Seventh-day Adventists in the District of Columbia was held in Pythian Temple, Sabbath, February 29. It was an occasion long to be remembered, because of the presence of God's Spirit and the Christian fellowship which was enjoyed by those in attendance. The hall, with a seating capacity of over five hundred persons, was filled with our people.

There are in the District of Columbia five organized churches, and one company of Sabbath-keepers that has not yet been organized. These churches are known as the First Church of Seventh-day Adventists, located on Eighth Street, N. E.; the Memorial Church, Cor. M and Twelfth Streets, N. W.; the Takoma Park Church; the Sanitarium and Seminary Church; and the Fifth Church of Seventh-day Adventists, located at present at Cor. Twelfth and R Streets, N. W., besides a company of Sabbath-keepers in Georgetown.

Extra street-cars were provided to convey our people from Takoma Park, with the students from the Foreign Mission Seminary. There were both forenoon and afternoon sessions. One important feature of the forenoon session was the reports which were rendered by the superintendents of the six different Sabbath-schools in the District. The following topics were presented by the respective superintendents: “How May a Teacher Lead His Younger Pupils to Decide to Be Christians?” “How to Secure Prompt Attendance at Sabbath-school,” “The Importance of a Systematic Study of the Sabbath-school Lesson,” “Relation of the Sabbath-school to the Foreign Fields,” “Five Common Mistakes Made by Superintendents and Teachers.”

Elder G. B. Thompson presented some interesting statistics regarding the growth of the Sabbath-school work, and the great possibilities in giving the message to other countries by devoting all Sabbath-school donations to the mission work.

Elder A. G. Daniells gave an interesting address on the world-wide mission field, after which an intermission was taken for lunch.

At 3 P. M., Prof. W. W. Prescott delivered an excellent sermon, in which he emphasized the importance of keeping in memory the fundamental truths which have made us what we are. It was clearly shown that all the time periods in the Bible have been fulfilled, and we are now living where the work of God can be quickly brought to a close. We were earnestly exhorted to seek for that oneness with Christ in which his life and character may be reflected in ours.

Following this sermon there was a lively social meeting, in which a large number participated. Many expressed themselves with reference to the remarkable growth of the work in the District of Columbia within the past few years. If the Lord has wrought so marvelously with the limited facilities which we have had heretofore, what may we not expect with the influence and aid of our institutions in planting the truth in this great center?

The annual meeting of the District of Columbia constituency was held in Takoma Park the following day, Sunday, March 1. This meeting is similar in character to a session of a local conference. The meeting was one of intense interest, and gave new inspiration and courage to the representatives of the work in the District of Columbia.

Plans were laid for more aggressive work with our literature in this territory, which will embrace the sale of both our large and our small subscription books, and also our periodicals.

The tithe on hand in the District, Dec. 31, 1907, amounting to $3,484.88, was voted to the mission fund.

The future of our work in the District of Columbia was never brighter, and we believe that with the increase which we have had in our church-membership, and the influence of our institutions, the work may be carried on with vigor and success in this important center.

K. C. RUSSELL.