The Work in the Southern Union Conference
By George I. Butler
PERHAPS it may be of interest briefly to review the progress of the message from the time the Southern Union Conference was organized, about three years ago. Previously to that time this portion of the Southern field was mainly “a mission field,” under the watchcare of the General Conference. This union conference is composed of nine large States — Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Kentucky. Each of these States is now a State conference, with the exception of South Carolina, which is a mission field under the direction of the Southern Union Conference. When it was thought best to organize all this territory into a union conference, there were only three State conferences in existence in this territory — the Tennessee River Conference, the Cumberland Conference, and the Florida Conference. The States of Kentucky and Tennessee being very long east and west, it was more convenient to unite the eastern and western portions of each into a conference, so they were named after the great rivers which run through them. These three State conferences, organized previously to the formation of the union conference, have ever paid their own bills, and have supported their own work without any help from the General Conference. The other six States were organized so as to become State conferences when the union conference was formed. The number of Sabbath-keepers in each of these States being too small to carry on conference work as it should be, the General Conference laborers who organized this union conference promised them financial help, the same as if they had still remained mission fields. Hence it is that the General Conference is honorably compelled to assist these weaker conferences, while those that were stronger — Kentucky, Tennessee, and Florida — support their work without financial assistance, as they were organized before the union conference was formed. As the cause in this large Southern territory was composed of small churches, scattered here and there, far apart and but little acquainted with one another, there was but little unity and coherence at the time of its organization. There had been but little association up to that point. There were disagreements and differences of opinion between certain prominent places, causing some measure of dissension at times. The work of harmonizing and unifying the conflicting elements was a matter of some difficulty and perplexity. I am happy to say that such difficulties have been largely obviated, and all express the opinion that the greatest degree of union and harmony exists now that ever has in this field. I know of no disturbing elements of any great importance. There is an earnest desire, as far as I know, in every part of this union conference, to push the work into new fields, and bring souls into the truth. Many difficulties meet us at every turn. The Southern field is a hard one in which to make rapid progress. I think, however, greater relative progress has been made in the Southern Union Conference the last year than in the more favored Northern fields. We have comparatively few laborers here, and our financial strength is very small, considering the largeness of the field and the greatness of the work that ought to be accomplished. However, nearly all the conferences received some new churches into their body of believers. Two of them received four churches each. One small conference, with only one or two laborers, young men of little experience at that, had fifty or sixty conversions in a little over a year. Another had fifty or sixty colored believers added to their membership. This, of course, was far short of what we hope to see accomplished the present season. To give the reader a clearer insight into the condition of this field, it may be proper to speak of the following subdivisions, or departments, of our work here; namely, the Educational, the Medical Missionary, and the Publishing Departments. I will not endeavor to give the exact statistics, but only a general statement. At the head of our educational work stand our two training-schools,—one at Graysville, Tenn., for the white students; the other at Huntsville, Ala., for the colored. The first has had a yearly attendance of nearly one hundred, the second of nearly fifty. The prospects for prosperity at Graysville never seemed more promising than they do at the present time. The colored school has struggled under the greatest difficulties; but the present season the faculty report good progress, and an excellent influence in the school. Both these schools have been greatly hampered for lack of means, especially the colored institution. Both deserve the assistance and encouragement of our people. Great interests center in them, and both ought to be made flourishing and important institutions. In the intermediate grade of our school system little has yet been accomplished.20The Tennessee River Conference has had a good school of this kind, at Hazel, Ky., under the charge of Brother Stone. In other State conferences efforts are being made to create this grade of schools; but our poverty seems to present an insuperable barrier in most cases. All our conferences, I believe, have one or more church-schools; but there is great need of improvement in them. We are struggling hard to bring about better facilities for the proper education of our children. Our people live long distances from one another, and are poor, so the difficulties are great. We have three sanitarium buildings nearly ready to receive patients. Possibly a few may be already entertained in some of them; but they are in an unfinished condition. A few hundred dollars each would start them in their work of mercy and blessing. These are located at Graysville, Tenn., Hildebran, N. C., and Atlanta, Ga. These were called into being by the testimony of the Spirit, which has over and over declared that small sanitariums should be established at important points all over the South. We have been earnestly seeking to carry out this instruction, and shall still do our best to accomplish the task set for us. But our poverty hinders. The council held last winter took action that another should be established at Nashville. Special light has been given over and over, that such an institution should be placed here, both for white and for black. A feeble beginning has been made. Buildings have been rented for both, and patients are being treated. Dr. Hayward, and Brother L. A. Hansen, and several nurses are already giving treatments to a number of patients in a building in the city, and also in another comparatively in the country. Dr. Isbell and Brother and Sister Young are treating the colored people in their rented house. It would be very desirable and important for the upbuilding of the cause if means could be secured for sanitariums for the white people and for the colored people in the vicinity of Nashville, Tenn. Our publishing house in Nashville, established about three years ago, seems to be entering upon a career of remarkable prosperity. Two years ago at this time it was apparently almost in the throes of dissolution. There were weeks, and even months, when it seemed problematical whether it might not have to be shut up almost any day for lack of means to keep it running. Those were days of great anxiety and much prayer. But the skies have been clearing. Through the help of Sister White’s encouraging letters, means began to flow in. Things have providentially taken a favorable turn. We have our office fairly well equipped with new machinery, of the best quality in the market. The old second-hand machinery has all been sold. We have plenty of work to keep fifty or sixty employees busy. Very often we have to run far into the night with our three presses. They are loaded down with printing our special number, and we are considerably behind in our orders. Our office, since January, has been more than paying its way. We have reached that happy period where we are no longer running behind. The last year our business fully doubled in volume. We have every reason to thank God and take courage. Our work is very largely denominational work. To do that work is the purpose for which this institution exists. We do commercial work, in very moderate volume, and of the best quality, when the church work is slack. We need money to pay for our machinery, though over half of it is paid for already. In conclusion, I would say that our courage here in the South is excellent. Finances are very low in all directions. One prominent conference has been able to pay ordinary laborers only three dollars a week for many months. The president has received only five dollars a week for half a year past. Several other conferences are in nearly the same condition. Yet these laborers work away the best they can. We are struggling to the best of our ability, expecting God will care for us. We know his Spirit is with us. His work will go forward. We dislike to be considered professional beggars. God lives and reigns. ‘The foundation of God standeth sure. . . . The Lord knoweth them that are his.’ His cause will prevail, money or no money. We are about to begin our lectures in Nashville, and hope for success. May all God’s people pray for us.