A Good Sabbath Meeting

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 23, 1908

A Good Sabbath Meeting

In order that all the members of our several churches and companies in the District of Columbia might have an opportunity of learning of the progress of the work in foreign lands from the lips of the men who are carrying the message there, a union meeting of the General Conference Council delegates, and of the members of our churches here, was held in Pythian Temple, Washington, on Sabbath, April 18. With an intermission of an hour for lunch, the meeting continued from 10 A. M. to 4 P. M.

Elder K. C. Russell, chairman of the District Committee, presided over the morning session, and explained the reason for the union meeting. As there was to be no Sabbath-school for the day, Elder E. E. Andross, president of the British Union Conference, gave a very practical dissertation upon the theme of the lesson, dwelling particularly upon the work of Abraham and its likeness to the work that is given us to do for the world to-day,—separation from the world, his attitude toward the law of God, and the blessing that was to come to the people of this world through him.

Before the taking of the morning offering, Elder W. A. Spicer occupied a few minutes in relating items of special interest in connection with the progress of our work in the regions beyond. He said: “Every week there is need of offerings because every week there is extension of the work. Six missionaries for Africa are to-day tossing upon the waters of the mid-Atlantic, two of whom are to join Elder W. H. Anderson at the mission station in Barotseland. Our work is just being opened in Guatemala by Brethren Nowlen and Cardey. In China the brethren are just separating from a general meeting to go to their fields, with hearts filled with courage. In Korea they have just held their first general workers’ institute, with forty Seventh-day Adventist workers and leaders in attendance. An illustrated pamphlet, entitled ‘The Everlasting Gospel’ is now sounding this message in the Hindi tongue, which can reach eighty million people. This work needs our prayers, our gifts, and our consecrated service.”

Following the taking of the offering, Elder E. W. Farnsworth gave an earnest, practical sermon upon the anointing and work of the Holy Spirit, prefacing the general theme of his remarks by practical lessons drawn from the experiences of the children of Israel in the rebuilding of Jerusalem. He declared that God never puts a premium upon idleness, and that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit was given for a purpose, and that purpose was the accomplishment of God’s work. He asked, “Are we willing to do the work for which the anointing is the initiatory rite? or do we want the preparation without doing the work?”

After lunch Elders O. A. Olsen, of Australia; L. R. Conradi, of Europe; and George Teasdale, of the island of Java, spoke upon “Our Mission Work.” These were stirring addresses, showing the openings for work, the insistent demands of the various fields, and the great dearth of workers and means to supply these demands. They also showed the wonderful growth of our work in the different fields, the increase of facilities for carrying it on, and the evidences of God’s leading in opening ways and overcoming difficulties. The hearers could not but be impressed with the fact that the Lord is preparing to do a mighty work, and cut it short in righteousness.

At the close of these addresses, Elder Spicer introduced Prof. Walton C. John, who was to begin on the following day his long journey to South America, where he will take up work in connection with one of our schools.

This meeting was a most excellent one, uplifting and encouraging in its nature, and intensely interesting from beginning to end. The large hall was filled with our people, and the need of a commodious place of our own for gatherings of this kind was strongly emphasized.