The Work in New Zealand by J. E. Fulton

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 8, 1915

The Work in New Zealand

By J. E. Fulton

A New Conference Organized

GOOD progress has been made in the work of the third angel's message in New Zealand. The camp meeting has just closed at Napier. The meeting was held in a pleasant park, and the weather was all that could be asked for. The attendance of our people was good, and the attendance from the city was fair. Never have I seen our people appreciate the word more than they did at this camp meeting. An excellent spirit was manifest. Not one note of discord was sounded, although it was an unusually busy camp meeting for the Dominion of New Zealand.

There was a very full program. The question of the organization of a new conference in South Island was considered, and after full deliberation it was decided to form the territory south of Cook Strait into a new conference. This plan was entered into with great enthusiasm by our people of South Island, and no opposition was offered by those of North Island, for all realized that the work could be carried on better with the division, and there seemed to be a spirit of cooperation for the finishing of the work. The number of Sabbath keepers in the new conference is about one hundred and fifty, being a very much smaller number than is found in North Island, where most of the work in the past has been done.

One reason for dividing the conference was because the long strips of territory forming the two islands of the Dominion of New Zealand involved an immense amount of traveling and expense to the president of the conference and the tract society agent and other workers who are required to travel. Traveling expenses are high. There were other reasons for forming the conference, one of which is that the work in South Island can be looked after better from a closer range, with a conference office in its territory.

The brethren of North Island were very liberal in the division of funds. Instead of dividing on a pro rata basis, the proposition was made by these brethren that the surplus tithe, amounting to about £1,000, be divided equally between the two conferences, and that the tract society stock also should be equally divided. A very liberal division was made of the tent property, and the brethren from the northern conference also gave some of their best workers to this new field. Pastor W. H. Pascoe was elected president of the new conference. Pastor C. K. Meyers is another ordained minister for the new field, and besides these there are Brethren T. A. Driver, A. Currow, J. Thompson, and H. E. Sharp, who hold ministerial license. Brother and Sister Sharp, who labored for some time in the East Indian Islands and who have returned on account of their health, were called to take positions in the conference and tract society offices, Sister Sharp taking the secretaryship of the Sabbath school and young people's departments. Brother G. F. Joseph, of Queensland, who has already been laboring a few months in South Island, was appointed colportage agent for the conference, and he has with him a band of six or seven earnest canvassers. The canvassing work has been carried forward very successfully of late in South Island. Now that the division has been made, we feel certain that God has led in the matter, and we look for marked progress in the new field.

The camp meeting was an excellent one. Much progress has been made throughout New Zealand during the year. Over one hundred members have been baptized, about twenty of these at the close of the camp. Over $2,500 was raised in offerings during the meeting, the major part of which is to go for further equipment at the Australasian Missionary College. Over 26,000 copies of a new Signs Special on the war question were subscribed for by our brethren at the camp, and no doubt when the matter is taken up in the churches this number will be about doubled. Never in all my experience have I been at a camp meeting where a sweeter spirit was manifested by both workers and lay members. I believe our brethren and sisters in New Zealand are arising to finish the work.

Pastor J. M. Cole was again unanimously reelected president of the northern conference. His staff of workers are all of good courage, and new plans were laid for pushing the work vigorously in the unentered towns of North Island.

J. E. FULTON.