Our Union Conference Papers by E. R. P.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 16, 1909

Our Union Conference Papers

By E. R. P.

A Model Number

OUR union conference papers are becoming a powerful factor in their local fields. Through these little journals our laborers in all departments can report interesting items and plans of work, which, for lack of space, can no longer find room in our church paper, the REVIEW AND HERALD.

As we look over these local papers, which come to our desk, we notice a wide difference in them. Some are filled with abstract subjects, which in their proper place would do very well, while others are brimful of interesting reports, which tempt one to read every number almost with the interest of a personal letter. To this last class belongs the Northern Union Reaper of Aug. 24, made up as follows:—

1. “The Secret,” a poem on the power of prayer to give a fresh, new life daily.

2. “Our Duty to the Missionary Work,” by Mrs. E. G. White.

3. “Closing up the Summer’s Work,” by W. L. Manful, the general canvassing agent.

4. “The Iowa Conference”—five brief encouraging reports from field laborers, and ten news items.

5. “South Dakota ‘Conference’”—an announcement, a brief report from the field, a quarterly report of home missionary work, and eleven news items.

6. “North Dakota Conference”—four reports from field laborers, and nine news items.

7. “Minnesota Conference”—three reports from field laborers, and seven news items.

8. An itemized summary of the book work for one week in the union conference.

9. A brief description of the September number of the Watchman Monthly, and the September number of the Signs of the Times Monthly, statistics concerning the circulation of Liberty, a note concerning the undertaking to place the REVIEW AND HERALD in every Sabbath-keeping family in Minnesota, and several pointed paragraphs.

Several other union conference papers come to hand which are of similar character, dealing, as they do, with living, progressive issues in their respective territories. To the writer’s mind, there is a wide difference between the value of such a paper as the one outlined above and another conference paper which we have before us. It begins with an abstract, argumentative article on “The Sleep of the Dead,” and closes with an obituary,—a rather lifeless affair. From the first page to the last no reference whatever is made to the progress of any department of the Lord’s work.

We enjoy the living papers which deal with living things, and the same is doubtless true of most readers.

Will not our conference presidents, ministers, canvassers, Bible workers, colporteurs, physicians, and other workers help the editors of these local papers to make them just what they should be? This can be done chiefly through sending them brief, live reports of the progress of the cause in its various departments. E. R. P.