Ten Years in the South by R. W. Parmele

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 28, 1916

Ten Years in the South

By R. W. Parmele

Just ten years ago the sixth of January, my wife and I came to Nashville, Tenn., to labor in the Southern field. The first year I was connected with the circulation department of the Southern Publishing Association, and my wife was on the medical staff of the Nashville Sanitarium. I was then called to the presidency of the Florida Conference, where we labored for five years.

During our stay in Florida, we had the pleasure of seeing the membership of the conference nearly doubled, and the funds for all purposes fully doubled. It was also our privilege to have an active part in founding the Florida Sanitarium, and to watch its growth for four years before our departure for another field. That institution has continued to grow, as has also the conference, and the future prospects of both are bright indeed.

We were called to like responsibilities in the Louisiana Conference, so we removed to New Orleans in 1912. Hereafter we remained for three and one-half years. During our stay in Louisiana five new church buildings were added, and one that had been purchased before our arrival was practically freed of debt. Of the five only one has any obligations against it.

A little less than one year ago, we came to the Cumberland Conference to take charge of the work in east Tennessee. Though this year has been filled with hard labor and with many perplexing problems connected with institutional work, it has been a most enjoyable one. We have become greatly attached to the field and to the people. We should be glad to continue in the work here, but we have been called to another field, and we feel that we should respond.

In harmony with the request of the General Conference, we shall soon be leaving for Cuba, to take up responsibilities in the general work of the Northern Latin American Mission; but before leaving, we felt that we should like to speak to our people through the columns of the REVIEW in reference to this field that has become endeared to our hearts by ten years of service.

I have attended meetings in every State south of Mason and Dixon’s line, and I am quite well acquainted with conditions in all these fields, and I know something of their needs. From my experience in the South, I have not found this field very different from those in the North, where I labored for fifteen years prior to coming here. In fact, the

line that once separated the North from the South seems to be rapidly vanishing, and we are fast becoming one people. To my mind there is no more difference between the North and the South than there is between the East and the West.

As we now disconnect with the work in this field, it is with very tender feelings for the South and for the Southern people. The progress in the work that I have noted above is but an index to the progress that has been made in all the conferences, and we shall continue to pray for the success of the cause in this great Southland. We desire also that our brethren for whom we have labored will follow us with their prayers, as we take up new duties in a new field and among a people speaking a language that is new to us.

R. W. Parmele.