Annual Meeting in Chile

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 4, 1908

Annual Meeting in Chile

N. Z. TOWN

FEBRUARY 4, Elder J. W. Westphal and the writer left Buenos Aires en route for Chile, he to attend the annual meeting to be held in Santiago, February 22-28, and I to audit the conference and tract society books. We had an enjoyable, although at times rather exciting, trip over the Andes, arriving at our destination on the morning of the sixth. We were cordially received at the home of Brother Wm. Steele in Espejo, where our brethren in Chile have established their printing plant and conference office. We found the workers in Chile full of courage, and pushing the good work ahead vigorously.

Chile was fortunate this year in having its general meeting just before the South American Union Conference in Argentina, as the delegates from Bolivia, Ecuador, and Peru must pass through Chile on their way. When we arrived in Santiago we found Brother Ed. W. Thomann and wife already there from Bolivia, and soon after Brother F. L. Perry from Peru, and Brother G. W. Casebeer from Ecuador arrived. All these brethren rendered valuable help in the meeting. The Lord blessed in the deliberations of the conference, and there was perfect harmony throughout.

Recommendations were passed that we express our gratitude to God for his blessing on the work during the past year; that students be encouraged to attend the school in Pua; that the canvassers imitate the self-denial and devotion of those who led out in this branch of the work in these fields; that the South American Union be asked to supply a good general agent for the book work in Chile; that efforts be made to get every family and believer in Chile to subscribe for the Revista Adventista; that new converts be well instructed in all points of the faith before being admitted as church-members; that our people be faithful in the payment of tithes; that the brethren help to pay the indebtedness of the printing plant; that the school building fund be increased; that each local church start a poor fund, and that a tithe of these funds be paid to the conference for a general poor fund; and that the Chile Conference put its laborers at the disposal of the South American Union Conference.

The brethren took a lively interest in the discussion of these recommendations. When they came to those in regard to helping the printing plant and the school, about two thousand dollars, paper, was given and promised for these enterprises. The spirit as well as the letter of the last recommendation, was very much appreciated in the Union meeting, when calls came in for workers from other fields. In answer to these calls Chile gave up two of her best canvassers, one for Bolivia and one for Ecuador.

The yearly report of the president showed an increase of seventy-two members during the year, and also a gain in the tithe of fourteen hundred dollars, paper. Elder F. H. Westphal was elected president for the coming year, and Brother Steele secretary and treasurer. At the close of the meeting seventeen souls were baptized.

Personally I received rich blessings in this my first trip to Chile. It does one good to become acquainted with the work and workers in other fields, and to learn how they meet and overcome the difficulties by the way. The work in Chile has suffered serious losses through earthquake and fire, but it is now going ahead stronger than ever.