The Central Union Conference Meeting by I. H. EVANS

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 9, 1916

The Central Union Conference Meeting

By I. H. EVANS

THE seventh biennial session of the Central Union Conference was held in College View, Nebr., February 8-14. Nearly every worker in the Central Union Conference was present at the opening meeting. The interest continued unabated till the close.

The institute work occupied the forenoons, closing Sabbath, February 12. In the afternoons the Central Union Conference held regular sessions. This enabled the union conference to get its report from its presidents and departmental secretaries at an early date. All the business of the conference was completed, with time to spare.

According to the president's report, 1,623 were baptized during the last biennial period. The conference resolved to undertake to increase its church membership by 1,800 during the year 1916. This will mean a mighty work set in operation; but if every worker will carry his share of the load, there is no question but that, with the blessing of God, these results can be obtained.

There has been an increase of $44,666.36 in tithe during the past two years. The mission offerings have been increased $35,347.57 over those for the last biennial period. This tithe and these offerings were paid in, notwithstanding the fact that there had been considerable activity in the field in securing donations

for Union College and the Clinton German Seminary.

Concerning the debt on Union College, the president said, “I am glad to say that provision has been made so that Union College will be out of debt for the first time in its history, as soon as all the pledges come in and the notes can be paid. For this we are grateful to God. We wish to thank our loyal people for the manner in which they have given of their means to make this possible.”

The Clinton German Seminary occupied considerable time and attention, and it was hoped that plans would be set in operation that would minimize the operating expenses, and thus place the seminary on a paying basis. It is believed, by nearly all who spoke concerning the question, that this school would be able to pay off its debt the present year.

The president further said: “The Central Union Conference Association has lessened its obligations $73,915.31 during the past two years by collecting its notes, and in other ways. We believe this policy should be continued. State conferences also, in the aggregate, have paid off thousands of dollars. It is clear that the Bible not only warns against debt making, but it also warns against encouraging debt making by becoming surety for the borrower. The divine precept is, ‘Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.’ . . . He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it; and he that hateth suretyship is sure.”

Elder Underwood was reelected president of the conference. Elder J. W. Christian was elected secretary-treasurer, and most of the other officers were continued as before.

The meeting was a real blessing to many, and we believe the future will prove that the workers in the Central Union Conference are united in giving the message in a very definite form. Many spoke of the blessings they had received, and of their determination to work as never before. All in all, it was the best meeting we have ever had the privilege of attending in the Central Union Conference. I. H. EVANS.