The North England Conference
By E. E. Andross
OUR annual conference was held in connection with our general meeting at Leicester, from July 31 to August 9. Leicester is a town with a population of two hundred and eleven thousand, situated near the center of England, in what is known as the Midlands. It is a very beautiful place, surrounded by what are called “allotment gardens.” The residents rent a small piece of ground, and raise their own vegetables and flowers. The fields are laid off in allotments, and separated by hedges, for this purpose. Many varieties of beautiful flowers are grown in these gardens. The people spend Saturday afternoons very largely in their gardens, caring for them, etc., through the summer season. Nearly everything is closed at one o’clock Saturday, except the shops. We secured a beautiful field in the suburbs of the town for our meeting; and from the first, the Lord’s presence and guidance were quite manifest. Since others were to report the meeting, I will not enter into the detail of it, but will simply say that it was a source of great encouragement to all who were permitted to attend. The interest among those not of our faith was good from the first. There were more than a thousand persons from the town in attendance at our closing service. The tent furnished us by the California Conference was crowded to overflowing, while several hundred stood on the outside. Several of the brethren went out on the other side of the grounds, and held an overflow meeting. The meetings continued until the thirteenth of September. As a result a goodly number have taken their stand with us to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. The interest is still good, and we are expecting that the Lord will add to our numbers till we have a large church that will be a tower of strength to our work in this conference. Dr. Sisley rendered efficient help by giving health talks in the tent three afternoons in the week, also by visiting among the people. Brethren Altman and Marchus and Brother and Sister Castle and Sister Cousins, besides the writer, have carried forward the work since the general meeting. We have had another tent located in Manchester, with Elders Haughey and McCord in charge, assisted by Sister Bacon and Brother Ellis. About twenty-five have decided in favor of the truth. The tent has been taken down, as the tent season is past here. The meetings are being continued in a hall, and a good interest is reported. Brother Parsons has been located at Hull for several months, where he has been carrying forward the work with considerable success. During June and July Brother Altman assisted him in a tent effort, with some results. At the time of our general meeting at Leicester the tent was needed, so it was taken down. Brother Parsons has since continued the work in Hull, assisted by his mother, who joined him from Southern California about the first of July. As a result, we now have about nineteen new Sabbath-keepers to strengthen the church in that town of two hundred and forty-five thousand inhabitants. I have recently visited Leeds, where we have a good work started. Brother J. Brandt and his wife are working there, and the Lord is blessing their efforts. From there I went to Newcastle-upon-Tyne, South Shields, West Hartlepool, and Middlesborough. We have canvassers at all these places, and the Lord is blessing the labors of his faithful workers. Interests are springing up in all these places that demand Bible workers or ministers, but we are not able to furnish these laborers at present. The harvest is ripe, but the laborers are few. “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.” From Middlesborough I went to Hull, spending the Sabbath with the believers there; then I spent a short time in Grimsby and Ulceby, where there are a few faithful Sabbath-keepers. Brother Parsons will put forth an effort in each of these places during the coming winter, if the Lord wills. I am now spending a few days with our workers in Manchester. We hope it will not be long before the company here will be ready for organization. Brother McCord has returned to Birmingham, where he will carry forward aggressive work through the winter, assisted by Sister Sanders in the Bible work. Elder Altman has located his family in Nottingham, and with the assistance of Sister Bacon as Bible worker, will start aggressive work. The Lord is blessing Brother Gillatt and his faithful company of canvassers. Although they are but few in number, yet they are doing a good work. We have quite a number of faithful workers with the Present Truth and Good Health. Dr. Sisley is visiting among the churches and companies of the conference with excellent results. We are all of good courage, and are determined to do all we can to push forward this blessed message of salvation to a needy and glorious triumph. We solicit the prayers of all God’s people to this end.