The West Michigan Conference
By A. G. Haughey
Report of the President at the Lake Union Conference
By the action of the delegates assembled at the annual session of the Michigan Conference, which was held near Alma, Mich., in August, 1902, the West Michigan Conference was formed. It has for its territory nineteen counties in southwest Michigan. As a separate conference, West Michigan dates its existence from Oct. 1, 1902. This report therefore covers the time from that date to May 1, 1904, or one year and seven months. Seven general meetings have been held; also two session of the conference, two laborers' councils, one medical convention, one local camp-meeting, and one young people's convention. Early in December, 1902, the first session of the West Michigan Conference convened in the chapel erected and used by the Wright church, which is located near Coopersville, Mich. At that meeting West Michigan was more perfectly organized, and four general departments of work were planned—the educational, missionary, medical, and evangelical. Arrangements were also made for the formation of a legal corporation, which organization has since been incorporated. At the organization of the West Michigan Conference there were seventy-four Sabbath-schools within its borders. Since that time, through the labors of the ministers and faithful workers in the Sabbath-school Department, six schools have been organized, making eighty Sabbath-schools, having a membership of about four thousand. In the Home Department there are fifty-seven members. There has been a steady increase in contributions to missions and to the Orphans' Home. The interest awakened among the young people of the conference is most healthy. A number of young people's bands have been formed, and these are doing excellent work. The outlook is most encouraging. At the organization of the West Michigan Conference in the fall of 1902, fifteen church and family schools were being carried on within its boundaries. About three years prior to that time the Michigan Conference had asked one of its laborers to lead out in the educational work throughout the State, and a healthy sentiment in favor of church-schools had been continually growing, so that at the time of the reorganization there were in the whole State about five hundred youth and children in our church-schools. Since the reorganization additional schools have been added to the original fifteen, until the number reached twenty-three for the school year of 1903-04. The superintendent's report for the month of February, 1904, shows an enrolment of five hundred and thirty-six pupils, under the instruction of about thirty faithful workers. The average church-school numbers a little more than seventeen; the average family school, five; while in the Battle Creek school each teacher cares for from thirty to forty-five students. Thus far practically all the work in these schools has been confined to the first eight grades, fully ninety per cent of the enrolment being below the eighth. Few, if any, teachers are carrying more than six grades of work, even though they have the eighth grade, as in the smaller schools one or more of the intervening grades are usually not called for. Cedar Lake Industrial Academy
The past two years have been seasons of growth and development at Cedar Lake. While this academy has the word “industrial” attached to it, we would not do justice to Cedar Lake if we did not say that the main industry, aside from farming, is stumping. At Cedar Lake we have a small farm of eighty-two acres, upon which is erected the academy building, capable of accommodating not only the academic students, but also the church-school, as well as the Cedar Lake church, and a dormitory capable of accommodating thirty-six students and the necessary teachers. About one half of the land is under cultivation. It is well supplied with barn and farming tools, also with a goodly number of horses and cattle. Twenty-two hundred dollars has been expended in improvements during the past eighteen months. The income from tuition, dormitory dues, and the farm has been more than enough to pay the total salary of all the members of the faculty. The most successful spring term of the Cedar Lake Academy is now in progress. From the opening of this institution it has had a healthy growth. In all, the educational work in the conference is making gratifying progress, and next year will doubtless see still greater numbers of our youth in our schools. There have been a few faithful persons who have done regular canvassing. No special effort was made by the conference to develop regular canvassers until January, 1904. Since then there has been a gradual growth in this branch of the work, until now there are ten persons devoting their time to canvassing. There are excellent prospects for doubling this number during the spring months. To those who are willing to take up the canvassing work in a rational way, and build up a business by working and re-working the territory, our field secretary says, “West Michigan affords as good territory as can be found in the Lake Union Conference,” and he extends to all who desire to do successful work, an invitation to come and help. It is upon this rational basis that the work is being built up. In January, 1903, we were greatly blessed in a campaign for the sale of “Christ's Object Lessons,” in which the faculty and students of the Emmanuel Missionary College united with our laborers, spending ten days with our membership in a house-to-house canvass, the result of which was gratifying to all interested. In November, 1903, a special effort was made by the conference through all its departments to build up the missionary interests throughout the conference. This effort proved very successful. The West Michigan Conference has given material help to fields outside its territory, having supported one ordained minister for one year in the Canadian Union Conference, two laborers for one year in New Mexico, a number of laborers in the North Michigan Conference, and also a number in the Superior Mission Field. Beginning with January, 1903, the West Michigan Conference has published a four-page weekly paper. This has been a source of considerable encouragement to our membership, as we have had more than six hundred paid subscriptions. The West Michigan Conference has ever recognized the importance of the medical missionary work, and has had in its employ four doctors and one nurse. Three of its doctors have been employed as teachers of science in the Emmanuel Missionary College, and have given almost their entire time to that work. In December, 1902, a doctor and a nurse were asked to locate in Grand Rapids, under the direction of the conference. During this time many doors have been open for them to do medical work, both with our own people and with others. The work was opened in Grand Rapids by holding health clubs and giving demonstrations, which proved to be a very practical way of gaining patients. Early in 1903 a medical missionary convention was held in Grand Rapids, and was attended by nearly all the West Michigan laborers. It has been said that this was the first medical convention that had ever been convened by a Seventh-day Adventist Conference. The medical superintendent has had many invitations to lecture before the Y. W. C. A. clubs and W. C. T. U. conventions, besides many calls to lecture before our own people in their various houses of worship. More than three thousand patients have received medical help by way of consultations, examinations, and treatments. The medical work is indeed a very important factor in breaking down prejudice, and in helping to make Christianity appear practical in the eyes of the world. Very many interesting cases might be given in connection with this, but our report must be too general to deal with them. Six series of tent-meetings were held during the summer of 1903, also short lecture courses were given at a number of places during the winter months. During the winter of 1902-03 considerable time was given to the spiritual upbuilding of our membership. Our laborers in all the different departments have been encouraged to foster the evangelical work. During the winter of 1903-04, a special effort was made in the city of Battle Creek, which resulted in a bountiful harvest of souls, as well as materially raising the spirituality of the members of the Battle Creek church. We held no general camp-meeting in the summer of 1903. This gave us an opportunity to spend the entire tent season in new fields. As a result of the evangelical effort that has been made by the West Michigan Conference during the past nineteen months, six churches have been organized, and five companies formed, and more than five hundred persons have been taken into our fellowship. Our corps of Bible workers has been small, yet the labor of these few faithful workers has been blessed with a harvest of souls.18 The Educational Department has a present worth of $9,500, mostly invested at Cedar Lake, Mich. This department has liabilities to the amount of $300. The Missionary Department has a present worth of $1,000, consisting of cash, office fixtures, books, and accounts. It has no debt. The Medical Department has a present worth of nearly $800, consisting of medical supplies, bath-room equipments, and accounts. It has no debt. The Evangelical Department has a present worth of $4,000 invested in tents and equipments, office fixtures, and cash, with no liabilities. The Conference Association has a present worth of $1,000. This does not include the value of houses of worship nor church-school buildings. There is a small liability of less than $200 against this department. Thus it is seen that the West Michigan Conference has a present worth of more than $16,000, while its liabilities are less than $500. The West Michigan Conference has seventy-two organized churches and eight companies, with a total membership of forty-seven hundred. It has had in its employ fifteen ordained ministers, ten licensed ministers, thirteen licensed missionaries, and four laborers without license—a total of forty-two, thirty-two being the most employed at one time. Of this number one has been regularly employed at Berrien Springs, one at Cedar Lake, one at Battle Creek, and part of the time an additional laborer has been supplied at Berrien Springs, and also at Cedar Lake. Three of the ordained ministers have been unable to perform any labor, owing to their physical ailments due to advanced age. Two others for similar reasons are unable to withstand the hardships of pioneer work. Thus it is seen that with from three to five of our laborers connected with educational institutions, and from three to five unable for service, our active staff of laborers is small. The total amount contributed by the Sabbath-schools has been $3,319.72; the total earnings of the Medical Department have been $2,000; the total tithe for nineteen months has been $44,496.52; the total offerings to various mission enterprises have been $13,384.85; the total receipts from all the departments have been $66,875.15. For the support of laborers outside of the conference, $5,167.04 has been paid; $26,103.66 has been expended in the conference; and nearly $41,000 has been given to the support of the work in other fields. There has been a marked growth in the spiritual condition of the conference. So far as I know there is perfect harmony and unity of action among all the laborers. In all the decisions thus far made by the executive committee of the conference there has been a unanimous vote. At all our general meetings there has been a spirit of freedom, liberty, and unity. This spirit is quite generally manifested among our membership. West Michigan is indeed a very fruitful field. What we have reported is a part of what God has wrought, and to him we give the honor, praise, and glory. A. G. HAUGHEY, President.