‘Two Years’ Progress in Great Britain by William Ambrose Spicer

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

‘Two Years’ Progress in Great Britain

By William Ambrose Spicer

The recent meeting of the British Union Conference afforded opportunity to review the progress in our work in Great Britain during the last two years of war time. No one acquainted with the work in former years could fail to note the evidences of growth in the work generally, and, it seemed to me, a deepening experience and a growing love for the message. The believers in Great Britain are heart and soul with us in the one ambition to push this last message to all the world.

Having spent a little time in England a year ago on my return from South Africa, I could not fail to note the tightening down of the war situation. However, while everywhere it is apparent that a great struggle is being waged, it is surprising to the visitor how nearly life approximates to normal conditions.

Amid such times I was quite prepared on reaching England to find rather a small attendance at the Union Conference, which was held in the city of Derby; but the brethren and sisters came out in good numbers, staying from the beginning to the end of the conference. In his presidential report, Elder W. J. Fitzgerald spoke as follows of the experiences of the last two years:—

“Our work during the biennial period ending June 30 last, made very encouraging headway, notwithstanding difficulties arising because of the war. The showing is altogether more favorable than we dared to hope for when we separated from Battersea on Aug. 5, 1914. As we look back over the two years, we find very substantial reasons for thanking God and taking courage.

“Within the two years we received into fellowship 653 new members. Eighty-two members died in the faith, sustained by the blessed hope of the message. Sixty-four were transferred by letter to churches in foreign countries. On June 30, 1916, the Union membership was 2,879. We had hoped to have 3,000 members by the end of the biennial period, but we were disappointed to the extent of 121. However, it appears that a sufficient number of persons have been received into membership in July to bring us beyond the 3,000 mark.

“At the beginning of the period, we feared we should be called upon to suffer a great shrinkage in our income of tithes and offerings. In fact, so great was our fear that the Union committee definitely advised a considerable curtailment of expenditure by the various local conferences during the second half of 1914. That meant, of course, a weakening of our aggressive efforts; but to our great surprise, both the third and fourth quarters of 1914 made very large financial gains, and we are happy to report that from quarter to quarter ever since both tithes and mission offerings have been reaching higher marks. We have, therefore, been able to resume and continue aggressive work in all parts of the Union.

“The tithes for the two years ending June 30 last, amounted to $82,075, a gain of $13,435 over the two years just preceding the war. The mission offerings for the same period amounted to $23,465, or an increase of $6,840 as compared with the preceding period. Putting the tithes and mission offerings together, the two-year period shows a gain of $20,275 over the two years ending just before the war began.”

Passing on to the current year, it was gratifying to note that the increase of receipts for the first half of 1916 was still more marked.

Our brethren and sisters in Great Britain sent their greetings to the believers across the sea. They felt especially to respond with grateful thanks to the North American Division for the proposition made at the last autumn council to raise a fund of $10,000 to aid in establishing a suitable house of worship in London. The believers out in the different districts of Great Britain are rallying to help on this enterprise, and of course our people in London are reviving efforts which they have maintained for some years to work up funds for the enterprise, which seems to them within the range of possibility, now that their brethren in North America are taking hold to help.

Owing to the war situation, the care of the European Division missions in all the British portions of Africa (outside the South African Union Conference) has fallen to our British Union Conference. Loyally they are responding to this extra burden. Thus far the British Union offerings for missions have been able to carry the load, and even to plan some extensions in the work. All felt much gratified to hear the splendid reports from Elder D. C. Babcock, of the new Nigeria Mission. The conference selected a young evangelist and his wife, who are planning to go to Nigeria this autumn.

Naturally the publishing work has

been hardest hit by war conditions, both on account of the disarrangement of the canvassing ranks and by the great increase of the cost of paper and other materials. Yet Brother W. C. Sisley, of the International Tract Society, was able to report total sales during the last two years of $144,195, or $425 more than in the preceding two years. The sales of the large books, however, have fallen very low during these times; and while the printing house keeps the supply of smaller literature flowing into the field, the brethren will be pleased the present year if the publishing work comes through without showing loss. Many publishing houses have had to close, owing to the abnormal conditions.

The sanitarium work is truly prospering. Dr. A. B. Olsen, at Caterham, had an institution full to overflowing, with numbers on the waiting list. The new institution at Watford, under Dr. C. H. Hayton, was also full, and both these institutions are being made positive factors in the educational and evangelistic work.

The Union Conference training college resumes its work, under the principalship of Prof. Glen R. Wakeham, but with prospect of much-reduced attendance, owing to the war. The young men who otherwise would have attended, are scattered in various parts of France and Great Britain, engaged in various noncombatant occupations, but under conditions allowing them to witness for the truth. Again and again these youth have reported experiences showing unmistakably the Lord’s special blessing in giving favor with men. One young English brother who was laboring in Central Europe at the time of the outbreak of the war, and who was interned in a prison camp, has told of eleven persons’ beginning to keep the Sabbath as the result of his labors among his fellow prisoners. The full story cannot be told until after the war, and possibly will never be told until the records are opened above; but truly we have seen the delivering hand of God on every side amid the great troubles that come to a Christian people living amid the flames of war.

Three men were ordained to the work of the ministry at the conference,—John McAvoy, of England; Robert Whiteside, of Ireland; and David Morrison, of England; the latter, one of the young men whom Brother A. LaRue found years ago on the British battleship “Terrible,” then in Hongkong harbor. Brother E. Young, another one of the company on the “Terrible,” was present at the conference, and is an active and efficient worker in the cause.

Elder and Sister H. J. Edmed had just reached England from South Africa, to join our brethren in evangelistic work in the great cities. Elder Edmed’s ringing testimony at the conference was very much appreciated, and he and Sister Edmed have received a hearty welcome from our British brethren. They will engage at present in the work in London.

The district of London, and the northern and eastern counties about it, were organized as a conference, Elder W. H. Meredith, of the Midland Conference, being transferred to this new East Central Conference; while Elder J. D. Gillatt, president of the Scottish Conference, takes the Midland, and Elder R. Mussen, of the Irish Mission, takes the Scottish Conference. It is encouraging to see a band of young evangelists growing up in Great Britain, and the Lord is blessing their service. Elder W. J. Fitzgerald was reelected to the presidency of the Union, and Brother W. E. Read to the secretaryship.

Our brethren in Britain bespeak our prayers and our coöperation in their work. W. A. SPICER.