Western Pennsylvania Conference
By C. S. Longacre
The semiannual business session of the Western Pennsylvania Conference convened in Pittsburg at the call of President E. J. Dryer. The executive committee had some very important matters to decide, and therefore solicited the counsel of our brethren throughout the conference. All our ministers, Bible workers, and quite a number of our canvassers and leading brethren were present. The meetings began on Tuesday, January 12, and adjourned on Monday, January 18. The business sessions were interesting, profitable, and determinative of progressive undertakings. Every phase of the message received careful consideration, and definite steps were taken to put the medical, educational, canvassing, and evangelical work upon a better footing. The conference decided to equip and open treatment rooms in or near Pittsburg, as soon as sufficient capital has been secured. The institution and workers will receive their support from the conference. The conference committee will have the general direction of the welfare of the institution, but a local board elected by the conference committee will manage the details of the institution. It was the sense of the conference to put every feature of the message, together with all the workers connected with it, upon the same basis. The city of Pittsburg presents very favorable conditions for the promulgation of the medical and health principles, and we look forward to the building up of an extensive work in the near future in this place. We will make strong efforts to solicit as many donations and use as little borrowed capital as possible. We will proceed on a small and safe basis, and enlarge according to the needs. Another important step was taken in the work of reorganization, by dividing the conference into five districts. Elder I. N. Williams was given charge of District No. 1; Elder C. F. McVagh of No. 2; Elder E. J. Dryer, president of the conference, of No. 3; Elder C. S. Longacre of No. 4; and Elder W. F. Schwartz of No. 5. These leaders will look after the interests in each district, keep in close touch with the churches, and give more attention to their welfare than they have received in the past. It was also decided to transfer the headquarters of this conference from Williamsport to Corydon. The change is to be effected not later than next June. Elder I. N. Williams was elected to act as treasurer, as soon as the transfer is effected. It was recommended that the Western Pennsylvania Conference Association be incorporated as soon as possible in order to establish new enterprises, and hold property and legacies. A conference association constitution was drawn up, pending ratification. The constituency consists of ten members, comprising the present conference committee, and a representative of each of the five districts. The stately steppings of an unseen Guest were distinctly recognized by all in all the meetings. The Lord came especially near to his people in the Sabbath services. The Allegheny church united with the Pittsburg church in all-day services, and the large hall on the corner of Fifth Avenue and Stevenson Street, was well filled. Elder E. J. Dryer gave a stirring discourse in the forenoon on the distinctive features of the third angel's message, and the dangers of being side-tracked. Elder I. N. Williams spoke in the afternoon, after which an earnest appeal was made to the young people. Twenty-six young people came forward, some to consecrate themselves anew to the work of the Lord, some to be reclaimed from a backslidden condition, and others made the start for the first time in the Christian life. It was cheering and reviving to the soul to behold the promising and touching scene, and all felt that it was an earnest and precursor of the outpouring of the latter rain. The Pittsburg church contemplates the erection of a church building in the near future. This new conference, with its new plans, has a bright prospective future. It has added to its list of workers five new laborers since last June, and is planning to add a few more.19The brethren departed with glad hearts, fresh courage, bright hopes, and new zeal to press the battle to the gates.