Annual Meeting of the North England Conference
By GUY DAIL
The delegates of the North England Conference assembled on the same grounds as last year, at Leicester, August 1-7, for their second annual gathering. The eleven churches and five companies were represented by an attendance of about one hundred and twenty-five. The weather was all one could desire, as the sky was clear, and sumptuous, we were blessed with almost continual sunshine each day of the meeting. The townsfolk showed a good interest, although the attendance from the outside was hardly as large as last season. The brethren gave earnest heed to the word spoken. All lines of work received attention. The reports showed progress. For the year ending June 30, 1904, there had been eighty-five baptisms, and twenty-nine had been received by vote. The membership had grown from three hundred and seventy-eight to four hundred and one. This is not a very good showing; for in the numbers reported a year ago, some were counted who in reality did not belong to the church at all. Through the earnest efforts of the former secretary and treasurer, Brother C. H. Castle, correct lists were prepared, so that we know now who are united with us, and who are not, at least so far as open profession is concerned. The work of God does not go forward in the Continental countries without great difficulties, and it must encounter opposition and ridicule and indifference in England. Simple gospel truth is not any more popular in our time than it was in the days of Noah. However, there are some who really are seeking truth, and who will obey God at all hazards. Such recognize his voice as the Scriptures are more fully opened to their understanding. It is from among this class that we have been able to organize five new churches in North England the past year. One of these is a conference church, organized to contain the larger number of the isolated believers. The recently organized congregations in King's Heath, Birkenhead, Manchester, and Leicester were received in the sisterhood of churches at this conference. It was in grateful recognition of the good work done that the first resolution was passed at this meeting:— “Resolved, That the first resolution of this conference be one of thanks and gratitude to our Father in heaven for the spiritual and financial prosperity during the past year, in that he has given success to all who have labored for him, and added strength and growth to the cause of the third angel’s message in the North England Conference.” As to the financial prosperity, the tithe for the year was £1076 7s. 1d., an increase of £123. Through the very generous assistance of the California Conference, which gave them £390 5s. 3d., the North England Conference was able to settle with all its laborers, and have a small balance in the treasury. Creditable work has been done also in the Sabbath-school and church-school departments. At the end of the first quarter of the conference year, there were thirteen Sabbath-schools, with a membership of 355, and at the close of the year, there were seventeen schools, with an enrolment of 490. Their donations had been £93 11s. 3d., and of this sum, £52 11s. 3¾d. was given to missions. A new church-school was opened at Kettering last year. Sister Castle began the work, but was compelled to give it up on account of her health. She was succeeded in March by Sister Raywell. This school is supported by contributions and tuition; it has an enrolment of twenty-six, and an average attendance of twenty-four. It was in reference to the esteem in which the labors of Brother and Sister Castle had been held that the conference passed the second resolution:— “We desire to express our appreciation of the faithful and able services of Brother and Sister Castle during the time they have been with us, and our deep regret that the state of Brother Castle’s health makes it necessary for him to seek a change of climate and occupation, and our sincere trust that, with the blessing of God, he may soon be restored to health and strength, and be spared to have a part in the giving of the glorious message until Jesus comes.” Brother Castle sincerely thanked the brethren for their kindly expressed sympathy and well wishes and appreciation of the efforts he had put forth. Feeling that the highest standard has not yet been reached, however, by the churches and Sabbath-schools, this resolution bearing upon the further improvement of the Sabbath-school Department, was heartily supported:— “Whereas, The Lord has given very clear instruction concerning the importance and value of the Sabbath-school work; therefore,— “Resolved, That the conference committee be requested hereby, to make a special effort through this conference year to bring this branch of the work to a higher standard than it has hitherto attained.” Brother Gillatt has been in charge of the canvassing work in this field the past year. He has been succeeded by Brother Joyce. Probably in no other land are our canvassers doing more to spread the message than they are doing in Great Britain. Forty agents and many of our lay members in the North England Conference have been busy at work scattering our periodicals, and between a dozen and sixteen colporteurs have been selling our bound books. From June 30, 1903, to June 30, 1904, 564,748 papers were distributed, and books to the value of £1084 7s. 6d. were sold. These resolutions expressed the sentiments of the delegates with reference to this branch of the work for these times:— “We recommend, That every family and each worker in the North England Conference be encouraged to subscribe for the Missionary Worker and the REVIEW AND HERALD, in order that they may keep in touch and in sympathy with the progress of the third angel’s message in all its phases, throughout Great Britain and the entire world. “Whereas, The Lord has spoken so definitely with regard to distributing our literature; and,— “Whereas, Experience during the15past year in our conference along this line has demonstrated the wisdom of this plan of work; therefore,— “Resolved, That we, as ministers, Bible workers, church officers, and lay members, pledge ourselves to an earnest and systematic effort to place before the people our tracts and other literature containing the third angel’s message. “Whereas, The Lord has set his hand the second time to recover the remnant of his people, and has graciously restored to his church the gift of prophecy; therefore,— “Resolved, That we put forth a more earnest effort to acquaint ourselves with these writings, and to encourage our brethren and sisters throughout the conference to secure, as far as possible, the volumes of the ‘Testimonies for the Church,’ and especially the more recent volumes, and to make an earnest study of the same.” Two recommendations were passed with special reference to the raising of funds, the one taking cognizance of the need of yet greater faithfulness in bringing to the Lord his tithe, and the other providing for a tent fund. To assist in accomplishing the first of these ends, the conference is to supply envelopes for the monthly collection of the tithe in order that it may regularly and promptly be forwarded to the treasurer, and as a beginning in carrying out the second suggestion, a collection of £10 5s. 6d. was taken up, and £21 18s. was pledged. The Leicester Sanitarium, of which we spoke quite fully in our report last year, was formally opened Feb. 8, 1904. It accommodates about a dozen in-patients. Its patronage has not been very large, and yet quite a number who have sought the assistance of the institution have found health and happiness. Dr. F. C. Richards is superintendent. The following officers were chosen for the coming year: President, E. E. Andross; Secretary, May Loveday; Treasurer, Mrs. M. Barnard; Auditor, W. T. Bartlett; Secretary of Sabbath-school Department, Mrs. M. Barnard; Secretary Tract and Missionary Department, J. Brandt; Executive Committee, E. E. Andross, S. S. Barnard, George Hawkins, J. W. McCord, S. G. Haughey. In the territory of the North England Conference, which consists of eighteen counties, with a population of 16,158,061, the brethren begin the new conference year with four ministers, two licentiates, seven Bible workers, and fifty colporteurs, who go forth in faith, believing that still greater victories for the truth are in store for them. They should be remembered in the prayers of God’s children, that his Spirit may direct their efforts, and that sinners may be converted to God, and be prepared to meet the Lord at his soon coming.