The Seventh Annual Convention of Self-Supporting Workers
By M. Bessie De Graw
AT sundown, Friday evening, October 9, there gathered in Gotzian Hall, the assembly room of the Nashville Agricultural and Normal Institute, between one hundred and fifty and two hundred persons — delegates from the various rural schools and mission centers of the South, and friends and interested patrons of the self-supporting work in the South. In spite of the fact that the convention was held later in the season than usual, a large number of the highland schools were represented. Among those who attended the meetings were: Elder W. C. White; Dr. Newton Evans, president of the Loma Linda Medical College; Sister Josephine Gotzian; Dr. H. P. Parker and Brother Nis Hansen, of the Pacific Coast; Drs. David and Mary Paulson, of the Hinsdale Sanitarium; Prof. Frederick Griggs, secretary of the Educational Department of the North American Division; Mrs. Robert Scott, of Montclair, N. J.; Elder S. E. Wight, president of the Southern Union Conference; and a number of the local conference workers. The first session was the vesper service Sabbath evening. Ringing testimonies were given concerning the blessings which have attended the work in various parts of the field during the past year, and the spirit of loyalty and cooperation which is felt toward all departments of the work was voiced by a number of those in attendance. Professor Griggs occupied the hour following, impressing upon his hearers that the Lord’s work in all ages has been carried forward by men imbued with the idea that they had a special mission in life. Sabbath was an interesting day. Elder W. C. White gave a stirring talk in the morning on the test of discipleship, which is love for one another. The work of the Sabbath school, and the wonderful opportunities offered in the Sunday school work in highland districts, were discussed by those who have had practical experience in such schools. Every hour of the day was filled with good things. A large company gathered each morning for the five o’clock service, which was a devotional meeting. Those who are spending their lives in pioneer service in out-of-the-way places, find that they need a constant connection with the great Source of life. There is something about their very work that binds them close to the Master, and some of the keenest experiences I have ever heard related came from the lips of men and women who are giving their all to the spread of the third angel’s message in these stirring days. The medical work came in for a large share of attention. Elder White gave a very interesting talk, showing the growth of our present medical institutions from the simplest beginnings when the present message started. There is a call through the spirit of prophecy for a return to simple methods. It seems that the Spirit of God is calling for medical workers in all parts of the world, and as human suffering is relieved, souls are made tender for the reception of the gospel. There is need of a strong class of medical evangelists, and definite steps were taken at this time to start a training class in the Madison school which will prepare men and women to do medical evangelistic work. The work in the self-supporting mission centers of the South is varied in its nature. These centers find need of ministerial help. The canvasser has his place, for the people are eager for literature containing the truth. The children, and adults also, need teaching. There is a call for the day school, and a call for the night school. The trained nurse is a veritable angel in these communities. The farmer and the mechanic have their part. And it is intensely interesting to listen to the testimonies that are given by such a company of workers as one meets at the annual convention; for all these interests are represented. The delegates listened with much pleasure to a very practical lecture on health, by Dr. Olin West, secretary of the State board of health, and they were equally interested in the practical instruction given by Mr. Neal, of the United States Department of Agriculture. It is impossible to give in the limited space of such a report, any adequate idea of the work covered by the convention. The general expression was that it was good to be here. The work is growing. The nearer we come to the end, the more imperative is the demand for such work as this. It becomes evident that the Spirit of God foresaw the troublous times in which we are now living, and has been preparing Sabbath keepers to carry the truth in this and foreign fields largely in a self-supporting way. He is bringing this work into favor, not only with men and women whose hearts have been touched with the love of the third angel’s message, but with men in high places, so that the work will be able to go with greater speed than ever before. This last fact is illustrated by the following statements from Dr. P. P. Claxton, United States Commissioner of Education, who, after coming in direct touch with the work of the highland schools and the training school at Madison, wrote to the delegates assembled in convention as follows:— “I wish very much it were possible for me to be present at the meeting of teachers and nurses of the hill schools which you are holding at Madison. I am greatly interested in the work which these schools are doing. The work which you are doing at Madison is remarkable and worthy of high praise. If you succeed in permanently maintaining the school on its present basis, it cannot fail to accomplish great good. The work which you are doing is highly practicable, and seems to me to be based on important fundamental principles of education. The same is true of the small schools which I visited, and I shall watch their progress with the greatest interest. I believe that you will succeed in accomplishing what you have in mind.”