The Northern California Conference
By George A. Irwin
This meeting was held in the Oakland church, according to appointment, June 15-18. It being practically the first meeting ever held apart from the annual camp-meeting, it was feared that the attendance would be small, but in this the brethren were happily mistaken, for over one hundred delegates responded when the roll was called at the first meeting, and several others came in later. From the first a good spirit was present in the meeting. The reports in the main showed a good degree of progress. Ten new churches were admitted to the conference, with an aggregate membership of two hundred and thirty. This may not seem like a large increase for the number of laborers carried on the conference list, but when we take into account the fact that many of these are connected with institutions, and only a few are actually engaged in field work, the report shows a good degree of success. The treasurer's report showed a surplus in the treasury, June 1, 1905, of $5,500. One hundred and one Sabbath-schools were reported, with an aggregate membership of 3,438. The contributions amounted to $4,132.81, of which $2,471.65 was donated to foreign missions. There are fifteen Young People's Societies in the conference, with a total membership of four hundred and twenty-four. The condensed report of the work of these societies during the year was eight hundred and twenty-six missionary letters, 8,151 missionary visits, 816 Bible readings, 36,195 papers distributed, and 114,448 pages of tracts and books sold and given away. In addition the Healdsburg Society purchased material for a preaching tent which they made themselves and donated to Ceylon. The missionary secretary submitted a very interesting and complete report of the work done by the various churches and missionary workers in the conference, which showed a good increase over the former report. Brother C. H. Jones, manager of the Pacific Press Publishing Co., gave a verbal report of the work of that institution. He said that there was abundant evidence that the hand of the Lord was in the move which they made to Mountain View, and while they had sustained some loss and much inconvenience thereby, things were now taking definite shape. So much work was coming in that they were compelled to work day and night. Orders were in for large editions of our own books, and there was work enough to keep the plant running to its full capacity for three months, even if no other work came in. The report of the manager and others connected with the St. Helena Sanitarium, was encouraging. A good spirit and influence permeates all departments of the institution. The gross profits for 1904 was $8,350, upon which a tithe was paid. One thousand dollars of this amount has been spent on “Ministry of Healing,” and the remainder applied on the indebtedness of the institution. A report rendered by Brother Bowen, of the Health Food Co., including stores and restaurants, showed a net increase for the year 1904 of $4,500. While some restaurants had been closed because of poor location and lack of patronage, others were being opened. Experience is enabling the brethren to conduct this branch of the work so that it will be self-sustaining, and at the same time exert an influence in favor of the truth. Elder M. H. Brown, chairman of the Healdsburg College Board, gave a general statement of the industries and financial condition of that college. Owing to the light attendance the past year, the school had run behind between six and seven thousand dollars. Arrangements were made at a recent meeting of the stockholders to provide for this deficit, and also to meet the interest on the debt. Prof. W. E. Howell gave an interesting talk relative to the high grade of work and the character of the school, both of which the faculty had endeavored to maintain; and while they had encountered some opposition and met with difficulties, they had also many evidences of God's blessing upon their efforts, as shown by the conversion of students who are now engaged in the work. At a meeting of the stockholders held just after the close of the conference, Professor Howell was elected president for the ensuing school year. There was a good missionary spirit manifested throughout the entire conference, which took definite form in the passage of resolutions calling upon the brethren to be faithful in the practise of the ten-cents-a-week plan for the support of foreign mission work; the conference also reaffirmed its approval of its former policy of furnishing laborers and support for foreign fields as far as consistent with the interests of the home field. Ministerial credentials were granted to the following persons: W. T. Knox, M. C. Wilcox, A. S. Kellogg, J. W. Bagby, M. H. Brown, A. Brorsen, D. T. Fero, E. J. Hibbard, A. J. Osborne, J. D. Rice, Isaac Morrison, C. N. Martin, M. C. Israel, J. S. Hannon, C. M. Gardner, B. L. Howe, N. C. McClure, G. W. Rine, H. A. St. John, E. D. Sharpe, C. L. Taylor, J. O. Corliss, H. Shultz, A. Schlotthauer, H. G. Thurston, H. C. Barney, J. N. Loughborough. Ministerial licenses were granted to W. L. Sims, A. J. S. Bourdeau, A. J. Morton, C. N. Miller, Frank Bond. Missionary licenses were given to Mrs. A. C. Bainbridge, Mrs. Carrie R. King, Mrs. Cora A. Rice, Miss Belle Hickox, Miss Jeanette Henry, Wm. Mogle, S. W. Walker, C. W. Peter, W. H. Covell. Elder W. T. Knox was unanimously elected president of the conference. Associated with him as officers are T. A. Kilgore, Secretary; Mrs. Carrie R. King, Sabbath-school Secretary; A. J. S. Bourdeau, Missionary Secretary. The members of the executive committee are W. T. Knox, J. O. Corliss, A. S. Kellogg, M. C. Wilcox, J. H. Behrens, A. J. Osborne, and George E. Langdon. Elder Langdon was recommended to this field by the recent General Conference, and it was expected he would be present at this meeting, but word was received that his wife had been taken ill, thus delaying their coming until such time as she would be able to travel. The only thing that occurred to mar the good feeling of the meeting was the indisposition of Elder W. B. White, president of the union conference, and his decision to retire from active field work for a time to recruit his health. We trust that the prayers of his many friends and acquaintances, for his speedy recovery and restoration to the work, may follow him in his retirement. We have every reason to hope that the coming year will be one of marked progress and prosperity in the work of the Lord in all its branches in this conference, and extend even to the regions beyond. GEO. A. IRWIN.