p. 19 | The Southern Union Conference

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

The Southern Union Conference

By Arthur Grosvenor Daniells

THE third biennial session of the Southern Union Conference was held in Nashville, Tenn., January 9-19. There was a good attendance from the local conferences and the institutions of this union. A bookmen's convention was held in connection with the conference session, which brought in a large number of the brethren who are giving their lives to the circulation of our literature. The union and local presidents, and the general agents of the Southwestern Union, showed their interest in the publishing department of this work by coming to the bookmen's convention. The presence of these brethren was a source of encouragement to all, and their services were greatly appreciated.

The reports rendered by the conferences and institutions were in most cases very encouraging. The conferences show a steady growth in membership and funds. The attendance at the schools is the best, as regards numbers and the character of students, we have ever had in the South. The sanitarium work in the new and permanent buildings is just getting started. Graysville Sanitarium reported an encouraging gain for the ten months that it had been in full operation. The publishing work has made the most encouraging progress during the last few years. The increase in the manufacture and sale of our literature in the South has been truly remarkable. The Southern Publishing Association, which lost very heavily during the first few years of its operations, has steadily turned the scales, and reported a substantial gain for last year. This is a great victory, for which all feel profoundly grateful.

Owing to the extent of the territory, the population, the lack of laborers and funds, and the difficulties involved in the race problem, it was thought that it would be a benefit to the cause in the South to divide the territory and organize another union conference. This was done, and the conferences of North Carolina, South Carolina, Eastern Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida were grouped into a new union, which was given the name of the Southeastern Union. This conference has an area of 223,000 square miles, a population of 7,970,000, a church-membership of 1,670, and a tithe for 1906 of $15,921. The Southern Training-school, located at Graysville, the Graysville Sanitarium, and the Atlanta Sanitarium are located in this new conference. The city of Atlanta, Ga., was selected for the headquarters. Elder K. C. Russell was elected president, with a good strong committee and efficient staff of officers.

The Southern Union retains the conferences of Kentucky, Tennessee River, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana, giving it an area of 208,000 square miles, a population of 8,935,000, a church-membership of 1,663, and a tithe for 1906 of $17,935. The Southern Publishing Association, the Nashville Sanitarium, and the Oakwood Manual Training-school for colored workers are located in this union. Besides this, the Madison Agricultural and Normal Institute, established by Brethren Sutherland and Magan, is also located in this territory. Elder George A. Irwin was elected president of this union. It will be seen that the two conferences are about equally divided as to area, population, membership, tithe, and institutions.

This change in the organization was made with the hope that by increasing the staff of management and workers, the various parts of the whole South would receive more laborers, and thus the work be more rapidly developed. For years earnest appeals have been made by the spirit of prophecy to our people to do more in behalf of the South. There is a conviction that the time has come for a strong, earnest campaign to be made in behalf of that field. An appeal is being made to eight of the strongest conferences in the North for each to send a good tent, and a good, capable preacher, and a Bible worker to the South, and support them for at least one year. If this request is granted, eight additional tent companies will be added to the present forces of workers in eight of the different States in the South. This will be a great help; but it will not be more than the field requires.

At this meeting, Elder Geo. I. Butler decided to retire from the official positions he was holding. For many years he carried the responsibilities of the General Conference presidency, besides the chairmanship of the Boards of the Battle Creek College, Review and Herald Publishing Company, and other institutions. Finally he broke down under the strain, and was obliged to retire from active service. Six years ago he was elected president of the Southern Union Conference, and although well advanced in years, he threw his interests and energies into the work with great earnestness. Only those closely associated with the general work in the South can form any just idea of the many perplexing obstacles that have had to be met. But by the blessing of God, through much prayer and never-ceasing energy and effort, a great change for the better has been brought about. The per cent of increase in the membership and funds during the last six years has been greater than in any other union conference in the United States. The increase in the circulation of our literature has far outstripped any other union in America. The whole work has been put on a more substantial basis, and our brethren in the South have come to realize that God has given them a place, a work, and a valuable financial power in this great cause.

It is not a pleasant thing to see our comrades retire from active service in the battle; but when it becomes necessary through ill health or advanced age for them to do so, it is a great satisfaction to see them able to do so with a record of unswerving loyalty to the cause, the whole life having been devoted to earnest, hard work for its advancement.

In retiring from the cares and toils of office, Brother Butler does not abandon active, useful work in the cause. He will still give more or less time to preaching and writing. It is expected that he will attend camp-meetings in different parts of the country as the way opens.

The details of this session of the conference will be furnished by the officers. Much more of interest might be written, but space will hardly permit. Every effort made for an advance move calls for the prayers and co-operation of our people.

A. G. DANIELLS.