The Work in the Pacific Union Conference
By FRANK. A. COFFIN
THE redistricting of the entire California field was brought about recently at the annual meeting of the conferences in this State. This was made necessary because of the rapid growth of the work on the Pacific Coast, making it difficult for those in charge of the largest conferences to give to the spiritual interests of the work in their fields that consideration which they desired to give, in addition to the large institutions requiring constant attention. The Southern California Conference had grown by leaps and bounds, until it had become the largest in the world in membership, having 3,773 Sabbath keepers, and a tithe in 1914 of $75,621.26. Los Angeles alone has fourteen churches. The California Conference had grown until it had a membership of 2,826, and a tithe for 1914 of $51,987.03. The Southern California camp meeting had become so large as to be unwieldy; and although some good results were seen from such gatherings, our leading brethren felt that much more could be accomplished in smaller meetings, where our workers could come into closer touch with the people. To some extent the same was true in the California Conference. Also, it was apparent that some change must be made in the territorial lines of the Central California Conference, for the mountains made an almost impassable barrier between the valley and the coast districts of this field, necessitating long detours for our workers to reach the coast, and travel by a circuitous route for our people on the coast to reach the annual camp meetings in the valley. The annual gatherings in the California and Southern California Conferences were much nearer by rail to these members, hence they were attending the meetings in these other conferences rather than their own. To work the field better, it was thought best to recognize these natural barriers, and place this coast portion with adjoining fields. Accordingly a joint meeting of the California, Central California, and Northern California Conferences was called to meet in Oakland, February 4-9. Two hundred and forty-three delegates were present, besides others of our brethren, and the Spirit of the Lord came into the meetings as all sought him with sincere hearts, desiring to know and do his will. All felt that in business matters as well as in evangelistic work we need the Lord’s guidance and presence, and there was a great desire on the part of our brethren to do that which would meet the Lord’s approval and bring about the most rapid advancement of the work. After studying the question for a day and a half, discussing the various issues involved, and planning for the work with a large map of California before them, the delegates decided to divide the California (Coast) Conference at San Francisco Bay, and along the northern line of Contra Costa County, leaving the bay cities in the southern portion, and all north of this line, in the Northwestern California Conference. In this readjustment of lines, San Benito and Monterey Counties were united with the California Conference, and San Luis Obispo County with the Southern California Conference. This joint meeting was made the annual session for the three conferences. Because of the desirability of having as large an attendance of able and experienced brethren as possible at the annual meetings, and because they can attend better in the winter than in the summer;17also because the strength of our conference officials is needed in the summer camp meeting season for evangelistic work, a recommendation was passed that the conference committees consider with favor the plan of holding the annual conference sessions hereafter in the winter months, after the close of the year. Like action was taken by the Southern California Conference at its annual meeting. A recommendation also was passed requesting the officers of the Pacific Union Conference to make thorough legal investigation, and report upon a plan to simplify the holding of all church and conference real estate. Three newly organized churches were received into the Central California Conference, these being: Clovis, Fresno County, membership 21; Shafter, Kern County, membership 18; Rolinda, Fresno County, membership 23. The Southern California Conference met in annual session February 18-21, 139 delegates being present. One new church, the Berean (colored), was admitted to the conference, with 30 members. During the last six months of 1914, 138 were baptized, about the same number received upon profession of faith, and the tithe amounted to $38,037.33. Twenty-seven church schools were in operation, employing 36 teachers, and having an enrollment of about 700 pupils. An increase of $885.16 in the retail sales of publications was reported for 1914, over the sales in 1913, those last year being $34,415.88. This local conference had 61 Sabbath schools at the close of the year, with a membership of 3,542, and their offerings for the last six months of 1914 amounted to $8,149.25; $1,852.48 of this being thirteenth Sabbath donations. The tithe for the year 1914 amounted to $75,621.26 in the Southern California field. The delegates gave careful study to our rapidly growing work, and decided to divide the Southern California Conference along the western boundary line of Kern and Los Angeles Counties. The territory east of this line was named the Southeastern California Conference. A welcome was extended to workers from our nearby sanitariums, who are assisting in evangelistic work in Los Angeles, and the conference pledged them its support. A resolution of protest was passed against the bill in Congress to censor the press, and exclude certain publications from the mails. Action also was taken supporting the twenty-cent-a-week plan. The three conferences in the northern part of the State passed a like resolution at their joint session. All the conferences elected officers for the year, and accepted reports from the various officers for 1914. The new officers elected were as follows:— California Conference: President, J. L. McElhany; secretary and treasurer, H. B. Thomas; executive committee, J. L. McElhany, J. W. McCord, C. E. Ford, R. S. Fries, M. A. Hollister, H. G. Childs, A. Brorsen.
Northwestern California: President, J. Adams Stevens; secretary and treasurer, S. Donaldson; executive committee, J. Adams Stevens, E. J. Hibbard, S. T. Hare, L. M. Bowen, E. C. Bond.
Northern California: President, Clarence Santee; secretary and treasurer, Verah MacPherson; executive committee, Clarence Santee, A. J. Osborne,18T. H. Watson, J. W. Rich, Geo. M. Wisner, N. W. Kauble, E. J. Urquhart. Central California: President, N. P. Neilsen; secretary and treasurer, G. A. Wheeler; executive committee, N. P. Neilsen, E. H. Adams, F. E. Brown, G. A. Grauer, A. N. Loper, P. J. Wolfsen, Nis Hansen.
Southern California Conference: President, B. E. Beddoe; secretary and treasurer, B. M. Emerson; executive committee, B. E. Beddoe, F. I. Richardson, G. A. Snyder, D. A. Parsons, E. G. Fulton, I. C. Colcord, H. G. Lucas.
Southeastern California Conference: President, W. F. Martin; secretary and treasurer, John McReynolds; executive committee, W. F. Martin, R. S. Owen, J. A. Burden, C. E. Rice, Frank Lane, C. F. Falkenburg, Clyde Lowry. The auditor of the Pacific Union Conference was elected auditor of each local conference. The territory now included in the six conferences is as follows:—
Northwestern California: Solano, Marin, Napa, Sonoma, Lake, Mendocino, Trinity, Humboldt, and Del Norte Counties.
California Conference: Contra Costa, Alameda, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, Monterey, and San Benito Counties.
Northern California: Stanislaus, Tuolumne, San Joaquin, Calaveras, Amador, Sacramento, Yolo, Eldorado, Placer, Nevada, Sutter, Colusa, Yuba, Sierra, Butte, Glenn, Plumas, Tehama, Lassen, Shasta, Siskiyou, and Modoc Counties.
Central California: Merced, Mariposa, Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare, and Kern Counties, north of the Tehachapi Mountains.
Southern California: San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Ventura, and Kern Counties, south of the Tehachapi Mountains.
Southeastern California: San Bernardino, Riverside, Orange, San Diego, and Imperial Counties.
The comparative standing of these local fields before division and afterward is given below:— Before the Division |
POPULATION 1913 |
NO. CHURCHES |
MEMBERSHIP 1914 |
TITHE 1914 |
|---|
| California |
1,253,444 |
39 |
2,826 |
$51,987.03 |
| Central California |
282,546 |
28 |
1,341 |
19,999.32 |
| Northern California |
418,650 |
26 |
1,688 |
27,035.29 |
| Southern California |
1,178,000 |
54 |
3,773 |
75,621.26 |
| Total |
3,132,640 |
147 |
9,628 |
$174,642.90 |
After the Division |
POPULATION 1913 |
NO. CHURCHES |
MEMBERSHIP 1914 |
TITHE 1914 |
|---|
| California |
1,084,167 |
20 |
1,620 |
$32,051.32 |
| Central California |
250,000 |
28 |
1,322 |
20,352.66 |
| Northern California |
394,650 |
22 |
1,617 |
25,371.22 |
| Northwestern California |
201,823 |
21 |
1,261 |
20,758.96 |
| Southern California |
877,000 |
29 |
2,163 |
40,728.88 |
| Southeastern California |
325,000 |
27 |
1,645 |
35,379.86 |
| Total |
3,132,640 |
147 |
9,628 |
$174,642.90 |
God is adding his blessing to the work being done in these fields, both by our evangelists and regular conference laborers and in our institutions. To him be all the praise for the continued and rapid development of the work in all its departments in this part of the harvest field.
FRANK. A. COFFIN.