p. 18 | The Lake Union Conference

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 7, 1906

The Lake Union Conference

At the recent session of the Lake Union Conference held at Berrien Springs, Mich., May 8-18, the presidents of the conferences in the territory of the union conference presented reports of the work in their several fields. We present herewith brief summaries of these reports:—

Elder H. H. Burkholder, the president, stated that the Ohio Conference was organized forty-three years ago, and was represented at the organization of the General Conference, at Battle Creek, Mich., May 20-23, 1863. The conference shows a gain in tithes and donations over the previous term of two years; and one noticeable feature in the report was that on the cash basis of conducting the book department, they have a present worth of $2,992.97 against a debt of a few years ago of over $4,000.

Elder Wm. Covert, the president of the Northern Illinois Conference, gave a very encouraging report, especially of the work in Chicago and the unexpected financial support they are receiving, one person giving one hundred dollars, another five hundred dollars to help the work; also that a press had been bought, and some of the former hands of the old Review and Herald are printing gratis thousands of copies of Elder Luther Warren's addresses for circulation. The Moline Sanitarium was reported as full to overflowing, and a high regard was manifested for it by the public.

Elder W. D. Parkhurst, the president of the Southern Illinois Conference, gave an interesting report of that conference which was organized in the fall of 1902, giving a statistical table of all important points. The tithes and donations show a marked increase over the previous term.

Elder A. G. Haughey, the president, gave the report for the West Michigan Conference. He stated that there were five thousand Sabbath-keepers in that conference, with seventy-seven organized churches and twelve companies. The total earnings of the medical department for two years were four thousand five hundred dollars, and the total donations from the Sabbath-schools were $5,156.87; total tithes paid, $65,883.67.

Elder E. K. Slade reported as president of the East Michigan Conference. He gave a very encouraging statement of the present situation in that conference over what it was two years ago, when they had not enough funds to pay their laborers, and were in arrears in their tithe to the Lake Union Conference. Now from month to month there is a gradual increase. Their receipts of tithe for the past two years were $33,408.77.

Elder S. E. Wight, the president, spoke for the North Michigan Conference, reporting their added territory, members, and churches by annexing the Superior Mission Field since the second biennial session, and that all were pleased with the union of the two fields. Their total membership is now eight hundred and seventy. The gain in the tract society was $1,004.05. The book sales by canvassers amounted to $8,586.14. The prosperity of other days seemed to be returning to all of the conferences.

Elder W. J. Stone read a report of the work in the Indiana Conference, which shows a healthy gain in finances since 1903, of four thousand dollars in tithe for 1905, and in donations for conference work in a greater degree, so that a large debt on the conference has been reduced about fifteen thousand dollars, and a net increased value of real and personal property of four thousand, thus improving their financial condition nineteen thousand dollars. They have paid one thousand dollars on Indiana's proportion of the Lake Union Conference's share of the General Conference Association's debt, and expect to cancel the remaining thirty-five hundred dollars the present year.

Elder C. McReynolds gave the report for the Wisconsin Conference. He stated that that conference was organized thirty-eight years ago, and now has ninety-six churches, and a membership of over three thousand. The tithe for the two years was $49,009; the per capita for the last year being $9.01. A year and a half ago but fourteen hundred dollars of the six thousand dollars pro rata of Wisconsin on the General Conference Association debt had been raised, while at this time all but fourteen hundred dollars has been paid. The conference association is free from debt, and the surplus of tithe after their last audit was fifteen hundred dollars. They are paying fifty dollars a week for the support of workers in other lands, and the sun never sets on Wisconsin's laborers.

Elder W. D. Curtis, the educational secretary, gave a carefully prepared report of the school work of the Lake Union Conference, in college, academy, intermediate, and primary, or church-school grades. There are in this union two colleges, five academies, one intermediate, and ninety-three church-schools.

J. B. Blosser, the field secretary of the Lake Union, gave a report of his work for four years. For the last biennial term twenty-nine canvassers on an average were at work in 1904, for a total of 11,189 hours, making sales to the amount of $17,448.60, at an average of $1.55 an hour; and in 1905, thirty-one canvassers reported, putting in 11,427 hours and selling $13,464.40 worth of books, on an average of $1.17 an hour. The work represented many thousands of homes visited, and hundreds of books on the message placed in the hands of the people. An encouraging feature for the future of the book work is that in our schools there are many young people who have had a training in the canvassing work in vacations, who will soon be free to give all of their time to this important department of the Lord's work.

The report of the treasurer, W. H. Edwards, showed that the total receipts for the biennial term had been $58,345.58, and that the disbursements had aggregated $55,686.84.

Recommendations Adopted

Among the recommendations adopted at this session of the conference are the following:—

Whereas, Our union conference has so large a constituency when compared with other conferences, we should do everything possible to develop work for more destitute fields; and,—

Whereas, In all parts of the field there is urgent need of strong, well-trained leaders for the canvassing work, therefore we urgently,—

Recommend that our conference give especial attention to this matter:

By providing classes in our schools for the study of our large books in order that students may be better prepared to go out during vacation to engage in this work, thus enlisting a very desirable class of young people.
By encouraging young men who have capabilities to consecrate themselves to this work, with the definite object in view of remaining in it.
By placing the wages of field secretaries at a rate commensurate with their services, and the extra expense that their traveling entails upon them.
By holding at least one institute each year where all, both old and new canvassers, may gain a better fitting for work; and as far as advisable, pay the railroad fare and arrange for their board during the institute. We would,—

Recommend the following dates for such institutes in order that the Union Conference Field Secretary may be present, and unnecessary expense in his railroad fare be avoided:— Northern Illinois, January 10-23; Southern Illinois, January 24 to February 6; Indiana, February 7-20; Ohio, February 21 to March 6; East Michigan,

March 7-20; West Michigan, March 21 to April 3; Wisconsin, April 4-17; North Michigan, April 18 to May 1.

That in church and conference the old-time spirit of the tract and missionary work be revived; and to this end we further—

Recommend that the missionary secretaries be provided with competent help, so that it will be possible for them to devote some of their time in visiting churches and companies, to encourage and organize them for work.

That the educational department of the Lake Union Conference prepare annually a program to be carried out in all our churches, setting forth the principles of Christian education, the date to be designated by the Lake Union Conference Committee.

That all our workers, in co-operation with the missionary secretaries, encourage suitable persons to canvass for our papers, pamphlets, and forty-per-cent books.

That immediate steps be taken to connect sanitarium work with the other lines now in operation at Emmanuel Missionary College.

That a thorough follow-up work be done by securing at our conference offices a list of the names and addresses of those to whom our large subscription books have been sold, and then enlisting the co-operation of our brethren and sisters in taking up correspondence with these persons, and where an interest has been awakened, following it up with other literature; and that all our churches be urged to take clubs of the Signs, the Watchman, and Life and Health, to be used with the correspondence follow-up work.

That one thousand dollars annually be paid in quarterly payments from the surplus funds of the Lake Union Conference, for the next biennial period, to the Northern Union Conference, to aid in carrying on its work in the Northwest Territory.

That we express to the managers of the Pacific Press Publishing Company our deep sympathy in their experience, and pray that God will enable us all to learn the lesson that he designs we should by it; and further,—

That all our conferences earnestly co-operate with the efforts being put forth by the Pacific Press Publishing Company to place the Earthquake Number of the Signs of the Times in thousands of homes.

That we heartily endorse the plan of taking up a donation on May 19, for the benefit of the Pacific Press Publishing Company, and request all workers in the Lake Union Conference to lend their influence in securing a liberal offering in its behalf.

That the holding of Sabbath-school conventions in the various conferences be encouraged, embodying the various lines of missionary work, and that conference officers and laborers assist in these important gatherings, not only in counsel, but in providing talented help, that they may be made a strong educational factor in the important work of the Sabbath-school, and assist materially in building up the work of the gospel.

That we endorse the plan recommended by the Sabbath-school department of the General Conference, of setting apart the collections of one or more Sabbaths in the quarter for the purchase of supplies, the remaining contributions to be given to missions; and we hereby urge the adoption of this plan by the local schools.

That we give the Sabbath School Worker our hearty support.

That our young people, in their society meetings, follow the mission studies outlined in the Instructor, and that studies on the doctrinal points of our faith be given with the same.

That we favor the proposition of the Foreign Mission Board of giving the young people the responsibility of supporting the mission work of Barotseland or other mission field; and further, we urge our superintendents to take this matter under advisement as early as possible; all such funds to be sent through the regular channels.

That the Lake Union Conference appropriate one hundred dollars quarterly for the next biennial period, toward the carrying forward of missionary work among the immigrants in New York harbor.

That the plan of the General Conference to raise a considerable sum of money for the work in the South, and a further sum for the completion of necessary buildings for the work in Washington be commended, and that the support of the Lake Union Conference be given to the efforts of the General Conference brethren in this matter.

That each local conference be counseled to take immediate steps to warn faithfully its largest cities, and that strong conferences be urged to share their laborers and tithe funds with these conferences which have great needy fields and a small corps of laborers.

That all our members in the Lake Union Conference be urged to take up the work of selling “Ministry of Healing,” ordering the same through the usual channels, the profits of such sales to be handled by each local conference.

That the surplus funds in the Lake Union Conference Treasury, for 1905, be donated to the Foreign Mission Board.

That each local conference elect a medical secretary, or similar officer, in conferences where the medical work is not provided for, to look after the medical missionary work in their respective conferences.

That the duty of these secretaries shall be:—

To give our people instruction in the principles of healthful living and of home treatments.
To bring about a harmonious action of all medical missionary workers in the conferences.

That these medical secretaries be recognized as conference laborers, and receive a salary commensurate with their labors.

That the Lake Union Conference be organized, and all local conferences be urged to thoroughly organize for service, with the definite aim of bringing to every inhabitant of this Lake Union the true meaning of religious liberty, and the sure destruction coming on those who knowingly refuse to heed the warning of Rev. 14: 9-11.

That our local conferences be urged to relieve the superintendents of education as far as practicable, from all duties which will interfere with the definite work of the education and training of our children and youth.

That persons of proper devotion, age, and intellect be encouraged to enter the Bible work.

That this conference approve of the recommendation of the General Conference of 1905, concerning the constituency of the Seventh-day Adventist Central Educational Association, and that we ask the trustees to amend the Articles of Incorporation in harmony therewith; the details to be worked out by the college board and the Lake Union Conference Executive Committee.

That the Lake Union Conference assist in the establishment of an eight-page semimonthly paper for the Swedes in this country and Canada, to meet the wants in these fields, as do the Union Conference papers in their respective fields; and that the Lake Union Conference help to make up the deficit by paying one third of the same.

That the executive committee be authorized to appropriate two hundred dollars from the available funds of the current year to assist in placing the Christian Record in the hands of the worthy poor blind in the Lake Union Conference.

That each conference composing the Lake Union Conference put forth an effort to place the paper in the asylums, schools, and homes of the blind throughout the Lake Union.

The following officers were elected: President, Allen Moon; Vice-President, Wm. Covert; Recording Secretary and Treasurer, W. H. Edwards; Field Secretary, Book Dept., J. B. Blosser; Medical Secretary, Dr. S. P. S. Edwards; Educational Secretary, W. D. Curtis; Religious Liberty Secretary, J. G. Lamson; Auditor, W. H. Edwards. Lake Union Conference Committee: Allen Moon, W. H. Edwards, the presidents of Ohio, Indiana, Northern Illinois, Southern Illinois, Wisconsin, North Michigan, West Michigan, East Michigan, N. W. Kauble, S. M. Butler, J. B. Blosser, J. G. Lamson, S. P. S. Edwards.