The Tennessee River Conference
By N. W. Allee
ALL the institutions in the conference seem to be in a prosperous condition. At the Nashville Sanitarium Dr. Hayward is doing an excellent work. The institution is worthy of our confidence and patronage, and contributions should come in liberally to help place it in a better condition for usefulness. I am now at the sanitarium, taking treatment. It is a splendid place for sick people. The doctor and all the attendants are exceedingly careful, and give their patients the very best of service, and God's blessing is resting upon the institution in a large measure. I am glad to report that I fully believe I am now on the road to recovery. God has wonderfully visited me of late by his Spirit and blessing. I was never more conscious of the presence of an angel in all my life. He filled my soul with peace, and gave me the assurance that I should live, for which I praise God's holy name. The Hazel school is just closing a very successful year's work. Professor and Mrs. Stone have labored very faithfully for the interests of the students. God's blessing has been with them, and their efforts have been crowned with success. They will now turn their attention to the preparation of the new buildings on the farm, so that there will be new quarters for the students another year. This enterprise is of inestimable value to our conference, and should have our warmest and most earnest sympathy and support. Money is greatly needed to provide the material for the erection of the home and the schoolhouse. We trust our brethren will deal with this institution with a very liberal hand. Donations large and small should be continually coming in from every part of the conference. If we are not able to give one hundred dollars, let us give whatever amount we can, and help it often.17If a continuous stream, though the amounts be small, is flowing into the treasury, the work can go on. Let us believe that we should often contribute to this enterprise. Each church ought to take up collections of fifty cents, a dollar, or five dollars from each one as he can give, and send it on. It would be a great encouragement to those who are bearing the burden, and have all the difficulties of the work to meet. I am also glad to report that the work of our conference is quite encouraging at this time. God has blessed Brother Lowry, and he has been able to bring in twenty-eight souls into the truth since the last tent season began. There have been additions to the churches at Springville, Bowling Green, and Leach; the Nashville church has had several additions, and the Memphis church has had quite large additions during the past few months. Ten recently joined that church. Courage and hope seem to be prevailing largely throughout the conference. Our tithe has increased very materially. It is about thirteen hundred dollars in excess of that for the previous year. For this we are very thankful to God. Tent-meetings the Coming Season
It is now expected that two tents will be run in the conference, besides Brethren Butler and Haskell's tent-meeting in Nashville. Elders Burrow and Donnell, with their assistants, will first pitch at Riley, Tenn. The other tent, we trust, will be conducted by Elder Barry and Brethren Lowry and Mosebar, perhaps in the northern part of Kentucky. Now, we shall need to pray for the efforts of these brethren, as they go out to meet those who are trampling under their feet the holy law of God. It requires courage, grace, and grit to face all the opposing elements of the world, and hold forth the Word of life, and uphold as the standard of our conduct the principles of God's holy law. We are glad to say that we believe courage and hope pervade the hearts of most of our brethren. Many of our churches are being revived by an increase of interest in the tract and missionary work, and by additions to their churches. Sister Welsh is doing Bible work in Bowling Green, and seems to be meeting with encouraging success. Brother and Sister Balsbaugh are doing Bible work in Memphis, and are having additions as the result of their labor. Brother Wales is also doing Bible work in Memphis, and is meeting with encouraging success. All our laborers seem to be of good courage. We trust that the Lord's blessing will rest upon the efforts, and that we shall see many souls gathered into the fold of the truth. Courage and hope should fill the hearts of our brethren all over the conference; for we are certainly nearing the day of the great final consummation. God is very gracious to his people, and his blessing maketh rich and addeth no sorrow. We consider ourselves exceedingly fortunate in securing as State agent Brother H. H. Johnson, who is pressing the work vigorously, and we confidently believe that our canvassing work will show the best record the coming year that it has ever done. This is as it should be. The canvassing work is no secondary or unimportant factor in the spread of the message; in fact, many souls will be reached in this way who can not be reached by the public laborer. We should be glad to see many more of our brethren and sisters cut loose from the world, and join the ranks of those who are actively engaged in spreading the message through the printed page. God has promised greatly to bless this branch of the work, and he always fulfils every promise he makes. We are sure the cloud that has been hanging so long over the Southern field is rising. We hope soon to see it dispersed, and the bright rays of light from heaven resting upon the people and the work of this great field. We are so glad that the brethren and sisters of the North are becoming more and more interested in the progress of the work here. The work among the colored people needs money, and many more to engage in it. It is slow work; and it seems to take a long time to fit colored laborers to labor among their people. But God blesses every faithful effort put forth in behalf of this people. We are glad that something is being done in our conference, and that some are embracing the truth. Altogether we feel of good courage in our conference work. Let us all press on, and we shall soon be crowned with victory. N. W. ALLEE.