The Pacific Union -Conference
By W. B. White
THIS vast territory, stretching from Mexico to British Columbia and including the mission fields of Hawaii and Alaska, forms a very important part of the General Conference field. In this territory are centered many important interests of various kinds, and the development of the work in a healthy and symmetrical manner calls for devoted, consecrated men and women, who, with God's glory only in view, will press the battle forward with haste and energy. Having recently spent a few weeks on the coast immediately after the Healdsburg conference, possibly a few matters which have come under our notice might be of general interest. THE spring council of the Southern California Conference at Los Angeles, April 5-8, was an interesting occasion. A deep spiritual current ran all through the meeting, and all felt drawn nearer to God, and strengthened anew for the work committed to us. Interesting reports were read from the different branches of work in this field, and while some perplexities, especially of a financial character, are being met by those who have the work in charge, all seem of good cheer, and in no wise inclined to look at the situation with discouragement. The Southern California Conference has a good force of workers who are bringing people to the truth, building churches, and developing the different branches of the work as best they can under the circumstances. The school at Fernando has had quite a successful year, with a fair attendance, and a good class of students. Many have yielded their hearts to the Lord, and have found rest in believing. This school may be a great power for good in Southern California. A deeper spiritual life should pervade all our schools, and more heart-to-heart work be done for the students. There are times when the Holy Spirit in a special manner moves in the school, and works upon the hearts of all; then is the time for a special effort to be made which will bear much fruit to the glory of God. By the payment of the second tithe this conference is supporting its church-schools, twelve being in operation in their nineteen churches. The brethren are planning for a strong tent effort in Los Angeles this summer, and expect to hold their camp-meeting at that place. The restaurant in this city is having a good patronage, and of late Monday evening lectures have been given by Dr. Simpson in the dining-room, on questions of health and diet. These19have been well attended by the people of the city, and highly appreciated. The treatment rooms above could do better service with better facilities for work, and probably erelong steps will be taken to secure the facilities needed. IN Arizona the cause is weak in point of numbers, but an excellent spirit of courage and sacrifice seems to be in the hearts of the workers. Quite a number have been brought to the truth the past year, and considering the size of their working force, a good amount of general missionary work has been done. At the spring conference a legal association was formed under the laws of the territory, to the end that conference property may be held, and transactions carried forward, in a lawful way. The sanitarium at Phoenix has been having a good patronage, and evidently the Lord led in the opening of this institution. They have an ideal location, and Dr. Bond and his associate workers are laboring hard to make the institution what it should be. Better facilities, however, are needed for work, and a few hundred dollars could be used by the management to excellent advantage. Should any who read these lines feel disposed to assist this struggling and deserving sanitarium that really needs help just now, remittances could be made to the Arizona Sanitarium, 525 Central Ave., Phoenix, Ariz. The fall, winter, and spring climate at this place is ideal, especially for invalids, and we are glad that here God has raised a beacon light. The Arizona Sanitarium should have the hearty support of our people everywhere; for we are sure that it is doing a good work for God and humanity. Elder C. D. M. Williams and wife, who for years have been working in this field, will now assist the work in the Utah field. We are glad to see the work there strengthened, though the available field force in the Arizona Conference is now rather small. A danger exists in these small conferences, where institutional work is being done, that much of the energy of the conference which should be expended in extending the truth into new fields will be absorbed by the institution. This should be carefully guarded, or the interests of the conference will suffer. AT Mountain View, Cal., the new Pacific Press publishing plant is undergoing construction. No doubt the transfer of these interests to the country is timely, but those who are upon the ground, and those needed in the work of the institution, are quite sufficient to hold up the light of truth in that community. It is a farming section, land is very expensive, and we could not advise our people to locate at this place. Unless one has business which calls him there in connection with the work of God, he would better not go, but rather go into other places where the light of truth never has entered. It is hoped that the camp-meetings on the Coast this summer may be seasons of great refreshing and power. Certainly the time is here when this people should be so emptied of self, and filled with the spirit of might and power, that many souls may turn to the Lord and find the salvation of God. British Columbia, among other plans for the summer, hopes to open a campaign among the Indians in the Skeena River country. It is expected that Elder Watson, of the Western Washington Conference, will pitch a tent there this season, and carry on work among them. A little has been done to give them the truth, and the sound of it has gone through all the tribes in that region, and they are calling loudly for help. In the summer season from one to three thousand Indians camp along the Skeena River, and here, among this long-neglected people, will be preached the last message to the world. Pray for the success of the missionaries who go among them. Opposition of the most determined nature is being made by other denominations to keep out the truth, but God will give victory to those who trust in him. Three tents will be run this summer in this field, which is rapidly advancing toward a self-supporting conference. The conferences along the coast are assisting British Columbia in this Indian work, Upper Columbia having appropriated two hundred dollars of its conference funds at its spring session for this purpose. Walla Walla College is just completing another year of school work. Prof. J. L. Kay has been elected president for the ensuing year, to fill the place made vacant by the removal of Prof. C. C. Lewis, to take the presidency of Union College. Pray for the work on the Pacific Coast, that it may prosper, and that a people here may be made ready for the glorious appearing of Christ the King. 1059 Castro St., Oakland, Cal.