The South American Union Conference
By J. W. Westphal
THE South American Union meeting was held, according to appointment, at Parana, Entre Rios, Argentina, March 15-25. Two representatives from Brazil, Elders H. F. Graf and F. W. Spies, and two from the west coast, Elders F. H. Westphal and E. W. Thomann, besides the laborers and many of the brethren of the River Plate Conference, were present. Elder W. A. Spicer, of the General Conference Committee, arrived in good season, and rendered inestimable assistance in preaching and in organizing and planning our work. There was an average attendance of about one hundred and twenty-five, but many went home during the progress of the meeting to give opportunity for others to come. The Entre Rios Railway gave half fare to the meeting, as did also the Buenos Ayres and Rosario line. The evenings were devoted to the preaching of the message in the Spanish language, and the meeting being located in the very heart of the capital of the province, a city of about thirty thousand inhabitants, many had an opportunity to hear the truth for this time. The attendance was fair, and some became very much interested, and requested that the work might continue. This is being done by house-to-house work. This, as well as other efforts made in new places in these fields during the last two years, shows that everywhere there are honest souls waiting for the truth. Evidently this is a time specially favorable to giving the third angel’s message in South America. The superintendent’s report showed an increase in every part of the work. In the two years the tithe had practically doubled, increasing from $6,316.01 to $12,382.62. The increase for 1905 was $4,535.96. The Sabbath-school offerings gained $533.64, from $763.88 to $1,297.52. Other regular mission donations had increased from $897.62 to $1,496.23, or a gain of $598.61. Thus the total increase in these funds during the two years was $7,198.86. There was even a larger increase in donations for local and special enterprises. This increase was not entirely due to increase in membership, for the tithe was raised from $4.28 per capita in 1903 to $6.10 in 1905. The church-membership during the two years increased 560, the increase during 1905 being 435. The beginning of 1906 finds us with a church-membership of 1,873, the total number of Sabbath-keepers being 2,029. With this foundation it was thought best to organize a South American Union Conference, a resolution to this effect being unanimously passed. A constitution was adopted similar to other union conference constitutions. Complete harmony prevailed throughout the entire proceedings. The usual committees were appointed, and their reports were unanimously adopted. The writer was elected president, and Elder N. Z. Town secretary and treasurer. Credentials were granted to eight persons, and Brother Emil Hoelzle, of Brazil, was15recommended for ordination and credentials. Five were given ministerial licenses, and ten received missionary licenses. Other cases that might come as the result of subdivision of our field were referred to the committee. The West Coast field was divided into three parts, to be known as the organized Chile-Bolivia Mission and the unorganized missions of Peru and Ecuador. Elder F. H. Westphal was elected superintendent of the Chile-Bolivia Mission, Elder Frank Perry director of the Peru Mission, and Elder Geo. Casebeer of the Ecuador Mission. Uruguay, and Paraguay and Missiones, were recommended to be set off from the River Plate Conference as two mission fields, the former as an organized mission, and the latter as an unorganized one. A special meeting of the River Plate Conference was called, and the plan was at once carried into effect. Elder John McCarthy was appointed director of the Uruguay Mission, with a committee of five, and the Alta Parana (Upper Parana), embracing Paraguay and Missiones, has Elder Luis Ernst as its director. It was also recommended to divide Brazil into two conferences, Rio Grande and Santa Catharina, and one or more mission fields. This arrangement will undoubtedly be carried out in our coming Brazil meetings. In this arrangement we can see much light. It will divide responsibility, bring the directors of the fields into closer touch with the constituency (a thing that will mean much in these countries of magnificent distances and slow and expensive means of travel and communication), will save much wearing travel and expense, and will enable the laborers to do more active work in the field. We had often discussed this matter, but no clear plan had suggested itself without materially increasing the expense. Elder Spicer’s experience in the advanced plans of organization among us flashed light and cheer into our counsels, and difficulties gave way to beauty and harmony. Resolutions were heartily adopted, proposing that the River Plate, Rio Grande, and Santa Catharina Conferences and the Uruguay Mission make an earnest endeavor to become self-supporting, that the Sabbath-school and annual offerings go to the South American Union Conferences, that the three missionary papers continue to be the organs of the same territory as in the past, and that the publishing and school interests already begun be developed, and that others be not started before the development of the work will warrant it. After an interesting discussion, in which three of the first Sabbath-keepers of South America took part, the following resolution was heartily adopted:— “Whereas, Under God, we are indebted in a large measure to our brethren in the United States through the General Conference and Mission Board for the great truths of the threefold message for this time, therefore,— “Resolved, That, on the occasion of organizing a union conference, we thank them for their kind interest in our behalf, and for their spirit of sacrifice in sending us men and means to establish and carry it forward in our field, and assure them that we will carry it forward in the spirit and for the purpose for which it was begun.” This, the first South American union meeting, closed with hope and courage in the hearts of all present. Probably never have the prospects been so bright for the work in our great field. The laborers go out with courage and zeal to press the conflict into the regions of darkness.