Fall Council of the North American Division Executive Committee
By George B. Thompson
The regular fall council of the North American Division Executive Committee, scheduled to be held jointly with the General Conference Committee Council, October 10-24, opened with nearly all the members of the Division Committee present. A few other brethren connected with our publishing houses or with the Loma Linda medical school board were present at the opening of the council. The council was preceded by a three days’ council of members of the Loma Linda medical school board with members of the council present, concerning the future of the medical school, and how the work being carried forward in connection with this large enterprise can be made to advance the message in the best way. The plans for meeting the large indebtedness which has been allowed to accumulate in connection with this school, and to provide for the annual interest, as well as the many other problems in connection with the school, required much taxing study. We trust the prayerful consideration given by the board to the future of the school will be of benefit to the institution. The abnormal and unprecedented rise in the price of printing material has created a most serious and difficult problem with which our publishing houses must wrestle. The situation is such that careful study must be given to the devising of plans by which the large deficit facing our publishing houses may be met. It has been found necessary to increase the price of our books, papers, and magazines to meet, in part, the loss which will be sustained. The details of the arrangements made will at the proper time be placed before us by the Publishing Department and our publishing houses. There was received, from the offering taken in our churches during the summer for the rural schools in the South, approximately thirteen hundred dollars. It was voted that the funds on hand for the rural schools be divided equally between the Southern and the Southeastern Union, this arrangement being mutually agreeable to both Unions. This offering doubtless will be of material aid to these schools. Publishing Department Conventions
The following recommendation was made in reference to the holding of conventions by the Publishing Department: “We recommend, That three conventions for the Publishing and Home Missionary Departments be held, one in each publishing house territory, and that the dates be as follows:—
“Southern Publishing Association territory, Jan. 12-21, 1917.
“Review and Herald territory, Jan. 23 to Feb. 1, 1917.
“Pacific Press territory, Feb. 6-15, 1917.
“It is understood that the publishing houses will pay half the transportation of field secretaries, home missionary secretaries, and tract society secretaries attending; and that the publishing houses will entertain those attending these conventions.”
The Next Quadrennial Session
As it seems best, for many reasons, to hold the quadrennial session of the Division Conference at the same time and place that the General Conference is held, it has been somewhat difficult to arrange definitely in reference to the time, on account of the terrible war which holds so much of the world in its grasp. After giving the question careful and prayerful study, it was, however, decided, as will be seen by the action published in the report by Elder Spicer, the secretary of the General Conference, to hold the quadrennial session in 1918, beginning about April 1, in Los Angeles, Cal., provided satisfactory arrangements can be made for this large meeting in that city. Let all pray that conditions in the world may be such by this time that we may have a gathering of some of our fellow workers from all parts of the world at this most important meeting. The council is in the midst of the session at this writing. These gatherings are yearly becoming of greater importance, and the problems which must be grappled with are more taxing. We must increase our funds for the work abroad; we must provide for the liquidation of our debts; we must press forward the work in our large cities; we must win souls as never before. These and many other problems weigh on our hearts. Let all pray that the Lord will direct.
G. B. THOMPSON,
Secretary.