The Atlantic Union Conference by George B. Thompson

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 27, 1916

The Atlantic Union Conference

By George B. Thompson

The eighth session of the Atlantic Union Conference was held at South Lancaster, Mass., Jan. 4-11, 1916. An effort was made to have all the ministers and other workers in the union present. About two hundred delegates and visitors were in attendance. These, with the students and other members of the church at South Lancaster, made a large congregation each evening. Aside from one meeting, at which the president of the union gave his annual opening address, and the necessary standing committees were appointed, the first four days of the meeting were devoted to institute work, the instruction being given by Elders A. G. Daniells and I. H. Evans and the writer. One hour each day was given to conference reports on various lines of work, and these were of such an encouraging character that they added greatly to the strength of the meeting. The keynote of the meeting was that of living a victorious Christian life through faith in Christ, and the responsibility which rests upon us to win souls to Christ.

The meeting was of a most spiritual nature. All present experienced a great spiritual uplift. It brought renewed courage and hope into the hearts of the faithful and untiring workers present, and a greater determination than ever before was expressed to give ourselves unreservedly to the work of rescuing souls from sin, before the curtain of life's drama drops and the Master's work is done. The nearness of the end, together with the tremendous work before us both at home and abroad, urges us forward to the greatest missionary endeavor possible, and we were impressed as never before with the responsibility of doing personal work for souls.

A strong missionary spirit was manifested throughout the meeting, for work both at home and abroad. The need of arousing all our churches to active missionary endeavor is sensed keenly, and the home missionary work is being pushed. The strong appeals by Elder Daniells, whose heart burns with a great burden for the benighted millions in heathen lands, stirred the large gathering present, and many from this field will doubtless be chosen from time to time to strengthen and enlarge the work in the regions beyond.

The annual meeting of the Review and Herald Publishing Association was held during the conference session. This brought to the meeting for a few days, among others, Elders F. M. Wilcox, E. R. Palmer, B. G. Wilkinson, and L. H. Christian, and Brethren I. A. Ford, E. L. Richmond, and R. Hook, Jr. We were all glad to have these brethren with us, and their presence and counsel, together with the uncommonly interesting and encouraging report of the work of the Review and Herald Publishing Association during the past year, gave new impetus and strength to the work of the conference.

The business deliberations of the conference were marked with the utmost unity. The reports rendered from the various conferences and departments were interesting, instructive, and encouraging. In the midst of many obstacles, and with a population crowded into large and wicked cities, the work has made most encouraging progress. A large number has been brought into the truth and the sale of literature shows a marked increase. Their greatest need is more strong, consecrated workers to push the work in the cities. The reports from the different conferences seemed of an especially encouraging nature. This is especially true of some conferences where the work for some years has seemed to go slowly. But in some of the older conferences, where the message has been established the longest, the greatest progress is being seen, showing that the time has come when the work of the message is returning to the East with power.

Elder R. D. Quinn was reelected president, and C. L. Kilgore secretary-treasurer. The other officers chosen were practically the same as formerly. A keynote of courage was sounded throughout the entire meeting, and all returned to their work with strong courage and hope for the future, notwithstanding the fact that the dark clouds looming up above the horizon indicate that a storm of unwonted power is soon to burst upon us, and that a work of great proportions must yet be done in the cities of this union.

The only thing that marred the joy of the meeting was the terrible news cabled to us that our much-loved brother and fellow laborer, Prof. H. R. Salisbury, was in all probability among those who perished when the “Persia” sank in the Mediterranean, while on his way home from the fall council. Many prayers were offered for those upon whom this sad blow will fall the hardest.

The outlook for the advancement of the work the coming year is good, and we hope more people will be brought to Christ than ever before in the history of the cause in this field.

G. B. THOMPSON.