Southeastern Union Conference by Frederick Griggs

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 20, 1916

Southeastern Union Conference

By Frederick Griggs

The fourth biennial session of the Southeastern Union Conference was held in Atlanta, Ga., March 29 to April 5. This meeting was preceded by a bookmen’s convention, March 26 to 28. The convention was a success in every way. Those present were not only instructed in the details of their work, but were greatly benefited spiritually. Our colporteurs are carrying forward their work in the same devoted spirit as the ministry, and their efforts are resulting in a rich harvest of souls. During the past two years nearly $105,000 worth of our literature has been distributed in the five conferences of this union. This is an increase of more than six thousand dollars above that of the previous biennial period.

During the first part of the conference a ministerial institute was conducted by Elders I. H. Evans and G. B. Thompson. Elder Evans’s study on the victorious life, and Elder Thompson’s on soul-winning, gave a spiritual tone to the conference, and led to a deep consecration on the part of the delegates for the finishing of the work in this field.

The biennial period now closed has been a prosperous one. There has been an increase in membership of 596, and this in face of losses from various causes. The present membership of the union is 3,253. In 1908, when the union was organized, its membership was 1,424. It now has 140 church organizations and 80 meetinghouses. There are 140 Sabbath schools, with 3,671 members. These schools have given $21,114.27 to the mission interests during the last two years. There are 139 regular laborers in the conference. Nearly $84,000 tithe has been received from the membership. This is an increase of about ten thousand dollars over that of the preceding biennial term. Nearly $45,000 has been given to missions.

The Negro mission department of this union presents a very encouraging growth. At the time of its organization seven years ago, it had 232 members. At the present time there are about nine hundred. It has thirty-two church organizations and fourteen meetinghouses.

The school interests of the union received considerable attention during the conference session. The Southeastern and Southern Unions have a feature of school work that does not exist in any of our other unions. There is being carried forward by devout men and women a self-supporting work for the people of the rural sections. This is a needy work, for scattered throughout the mountain districts of the South are many communities of honest, earnest men and women who can best be reached by a teacher of the truth living permanently among them. This work was begun a number of years ago, quite independently of conference connection; but during the past two years there has been a careful study of the whole situation, and action was taken at the last fall council which has brought this work into a close connection with our organized work. The leaders of these rural schools in this union were invited to the conference, and seated as delegates, and one session was devoted to a study of the problems of their work. This study was an informal but a very profitable one.

The reports of the various departments and from the local conferences were highly encouraging. Our home missionary interests, by which the rank and file of our people are brought into working organization, are producing very substantial results in the winning of souls.

The conference voted to extend the length of its term from two to four years. There was but little change in the personnel of the officers. Elder W. H. Branson was reelected president. Brother W. E. Abernathy was elected secretary and treasurer, in place of Brother W. H. Williams, who has responded to a call to the secretary-treasurership of the South American Division Conference. A spirit of courage and devotion possessed the delegates as they closed the conference and returned to their fields of labor.

FREDERICK GRIGGS.