Greater New York Conference
By H. W. Cottrell
The fourth annual session of the Greater New York Conference was held, according to appointment, October 4-9, in a hall on 110 Street, New York City. The weather was delightful throughout the entire period of the meeting. We were much disappointed in not having with us any of the General Conference brethren from Washington, D. C. The services were well attended by our people, as the hall was easy of access from all parts of Greater New York by means of elevated, surface, and subway electric trains, a subway station being within a few rods of the place of meeting. Evening services were well attended by those not of the faith, and a good impression was made. A Baptist minister who recently accepted the truths of the message we bear was in regular attendance. A Jew who was just converted to Christianity came to our Sabbath meetings, and for the first time made a public confession of Christ as the Messiah, accepting him as his Saviour. He occupied about thirty minutes in his address, proving from the prophecies that the Jesus of Nazareth was “very Christ.” It was indeed refreshing to see another soul rescued by the Spirit of the Lord, as “a firebrand plucked out of the burning.” Jesus is “the way, the truth, and the life.” Elder S. N. Haskell and his wife were present, also Brother and Sister Burgess of India, and the writer, besides the local conference laborers. Every one did what he could to make the meetings a success, and the Lord added his blessing as he always does under such conditions, and we had a heavenly sitting together. It was restful to be in the meetings of the business session on account of the prevailing influence of the Spirit of Christ. Not a discordant note was sounded during the period. Every department of the work received its share of attention. Eleven thousand special Signs of the Times, to be known as the New York Specials, were taken by individual members, with the view of doing missionary work with them in the city. Eighteen hundred copies of the Bible Training School were also taken by individuals, in the interest of the work in India. Special efforts were made to secure yearly subscriptions for the REVIEW AND HERALD, Life and Health, Youth’s Instructor, and Atlantic Gleaner. Special arrangements were made to close out the sale of their quota of “Christ’s Object Lessons” this conference year. Unusual interest was manifested in the sale of “Ministry of Healing,” to establish sanitarium work in Greater New York. The fall missionary campaign work was considered, and plans laid to do active work. A good work has been begun among the Italian-speaking people of the city, one Italian laborer giving his time to that effort. He receives his support from the Kansas Conference. Elder C. H. Edwards was again elected president of the conference, and E. H. Hall secretary and treasurer. The conference committee and department secretaries, with one or two exceptions, remain as last year. The outlook for successful aggressive work in New York is more favorable now than at any period in its history. May the Lord abundantly bless these workers with their heavy responsibilities.