The Lake Union Conference
By A. G. Daniells
THE third biennial session of the Lake Union Conference was held in Berrien Springs, Mich., May 8 to 18. About one hundred and forty delegates were in attendance. Besides these, one hundred or more workers connected with the various institutions and lines of local work were present. In addition to the laborers of the union conference, Elders W. W. Prescott, I. H. Evans, G. B. Thompson, and the writer were present during the latter part of the meeting. It was a matter of deep gratitude to all that Elder Moon had so fully recovered from his operation and illness as to be able to attend and preside at this meeting. He was unanimously chosen as president for the coming term. The session from the beginning to its close was marked with deep spirituality, and the utmost harmony prevailed throughout. In some respects this meeting was in marked contrast with the one held at this same place two years ago. The spirit of courage and hope was very marked in all the deliberations, and all lines of the work were given the most careful and prayerful consideration. Plans were formulated to push the message the Lord has committed to our hands with renewed vigor, and to finish the work in this generation and bring the coming of our divine Lord which has been so long delayed. The needs of the mission fields of the world, where millions are yet waiting for the advent message, were not forgotten, and after responding to some of the calls for help from needy local fields, a resolution was passed appropriating all their surplus tithe, amounting to several thousand dollars, to the extension of the work “in the regions beyond.” Various other steps of an aggressive character were also taken. The leaflet written by Elder A. T. Jones dealing with the General Conference organization and the reliability of the Testimonies, and now being widely circulated, was in the hands of the delegates, who asked the officers of the General Conference what explanation could be made of the charges it contains. In response to an invitation from the Lake Union Conference Committee, the writer took some time during the last two days in making a reply to the charges against our denominational organization and administrative work, and against the Testimonies of the Spirit of God. Elder Jones himself was present during a portion of this time. A large part of the pamphlet which has been prepared by the General Conference Committee in reply to Elder Jones’s leaflet was read. The Spirit of God was present in a marked manner during this time, and the mist and fog which have enveloped many minds were cleared away, new hope sprang up in hearts, and faith and confidence in the integrity of this message and in the divine source of the Testimonies were strengthened. Ministers and people reconsecrated themselves and all that they have to the carrying forward of this message. The power of God was manifested in our midst, and the impressions made on hearts will not soon be effaced. At the close of these meetings, Elder W. J. Stone, president of the Indiana Conference, said he wished to read to the delegation a statement which the executive committee of the Lake Union Conference had adopted, expressing their attitude regarding the charges preferred by Elder Jones in his leaflet. He then presented the following statement:— In view of the fact that a leaflet entitled “Some History, Some Experience, and Some Facts,” prepared by Elder A. T. Jones, of Battle Creek, Mich., is being widely circulated throughout this6union conference, and is, in our judgment, calculated to do great spiritual harm, we deem it proper to make the following statement of our position:— 1. We very deeply regret the unwise course Elder Jones has taken in thus making most serious charges against our General Conference administration, and in attempting to establish the claim that the instruction professedly given through the spirit of prophecy is unreliable. 2. Our own experience in connection with the administration of General Conference affairs leads us to disagree wholly with the charges preferred by Elder Jones. During our entire connection with the message we have not seen manifest the spirit of domination here alleged, but have always had most friendly co-operation, and have experienced the fullest freedom in carrying forward our work. 3. We have the fullest confidence that Elder Jones’s conclusions concerning the Testimonies rest upon no sufficient basis, and we wish, while most kindly, yet most earnestly protesting against the charges preferred, also to assure our brethren and sisters in the local churches throughout the Lake Union Conference, that they need be in no way disturbed or unsettled by the groundless assertions being circulated among them by means of this leaflet. 4. We take great pleasure in declaring our confidence in the administration of affairs of the General Conference, and in extending to it our earnest and loyal support in carrying forward and fostering the message in all its phases in the various portions of the wide harvest-field. 5. We regard Elder Jones’s assertions concerning the unreliability of the Testimonies as having no weight when considered in the light of the history of this denomination, and we deem it a privilege to again express our thankfulness to our Heavenly Father for the gift of the spirit of prophecy manifest in our midst, and renewed confidence in its integrity, and to pledge greater faithfulness in the future to the instruction which comes to us through this instrumentality. ALLEN MOON,
WM. COVERT,
W. J. STONE,
A. G. HAUGHEY,
E. K. SLADE,
H. H. BURKHOLDER,
C. MCREYNOLDS,
S. E. WIGHT,
W. D. PARKHURST. As soon as this statement was read, the delegates stated that the sentiment expressed in it was in exact harmony with their feelings regarding the matter, and they requested that they be permitted to vote upon it, and that it be published as an expression of the attitude and feeling of the Lake Union Conference. Requests then came from the large congregation present, outside of the delegation itself, that they, too, be allowed to express themselves upon the question. These requests were granted, and by a rising vote the above statement was unanimously adopted as expressing the views of all present. We feel exceedingly thankful to God to see this decided protest entered against the charges being circulated in our churches everywhere by means of this leaflet. Never were we more profoundly impressed with the power and energy contained in this message. It is its own defense. Its truths are what have given it its strength. They are very dear to the hearts of our people throughout the world, and they expect to stand loyally by them and enjoy the final triumph of the message so near at hand. The Lord greatly blessed his servants at this meeting, and we believe that it marks a new era in the work of the Lake Union Conference. We pray that this may be so.