p. 20 | Southwestern Union Conference by W. W. EASTMAN

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 15, 1908

Southwestern Union Conference

By W. W. EASTMAN

As we have just finished our work in the camp-meetings of the union, it may be well to report what has been done. At the local meeting in southeastern Texas several decided to enter the work, some of whom are already in the field.

At the Texas State meeting sickness in the family prevented our doing much

in a personal way, but Elder C. Santee and others came to the rescue, and good meetings were held with the canvassers and those especially interested, and quite a number planned to enter the work at the earliest possible moment.

Oklahoma had a very large meeting; and with so much business, we found it difficult to hold as many canvassers’ meetings as we would like to hold. However, we had several very profitable book meetings with the whole congregation. It would have done all our canvassers good to hear Elder A. G. Daniells give a history of our book work up to the present time.

At the Arkansas meeting we saw but few of the canvassers, as many of them remained at their posts and did not attend the meeting. However, a good interest in the book work was manifested, and a few more will soon be in the work in that State. Arkansas is fully alive to the importance of the book work. They set their stakes in the spring for ten thousand dollars this year, but they have already passed that mark.

At all the camp-meetings the attitude toward this work is all that we could ask. The canvassing work no longer takes a back seat, but is recognized as the most mighty and important agency in the hands of the Lord in bringing the work of the third angel’s message to a close. It seems to us that as canvassers we ought to be filled with courage and enthusiasm to see the hand of God in this work as it is. Once we held our meetings in a little tent at one side, at an hour when other meetings were held, and even then with only a handful of such as had courage (or sympathy enough with the canvasser) to come to such a meeting, but now we hold our meetings with the whole congregation. Then, there was only the State agent to present the importance of the work; now, we have the president of the General Conference, the State conference presidents, and the union conference president, and all the ministers that can get an opportunity to talk. All are eager to have a part in the work now, which is just as it should be.

Then we could hardly get a dollar to help us in close places, but now the conferences are taking hold of this work with willing hands to help in a most practical way. Then the field was full of book agents with worldly and popular books, but now the enemy has almost abandoned the field, leaving it clear for us. People are buying our books more readily than ever in the history of our work. Why?—Because the time has come. The field is cleared for action, and we are to do the acting. Crops are generally good throughout this field, and people are getting good prices for their produce, and money will be in circulation all the year. What we want to do now, and all the time, is to keep right at it. Press in every sale possible till our spring institutes. May the Lord help us to be men and women of faith that will act.

W. W. EASTMAN.