The Lake Union Conference Session by Milton E. Kern

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 13, 1916

The Lake Union Conference Session

By Milton E. Kern

BATTLE CREEK, Mich., long the central headquarters of Seventh-day Adventists, and still the location of the largest Seventh-day Adventist church in the world, was the place chosen for the eighth biennial session of the Lake Union Conference. This important gathering was held March 7-14, and was attended by nearly all the ministers, department secretaries, and Bible workers of this field.

The conference session was preceded by a four days’ meeting of the leaders of the various departments of the work. The programs of these departmental councils were well prepared; and from the very first meeting it was evident that these workers had come together for no other purpose than to increase their efficiency in the Lord’s work.

Prayer and praise were characteristic features of the conference. The morning devotional meetings were attended by all. The president of the union, Elder L. H. Christian, showed by words and actions that he considered the seeking of God the most important business of the meeting.

Elder I. H. Evans gave a series of studies on the victorious Christian life, to which there was a hearty response on the part of all. Elder G. B. Thompson gave a series of studies on soul-winning, which was also much appreciated.

The sessions of the conference were earnest, businesslike, and harmonious. The excellent reports of the progress of all departments of the work elicited many expressions of gratitude from delegates and visitors.

Among other things, the president in his biennial report said,—

“From 1860 our work made great strides in these central States. By 1892 our membership in Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Illinois was 9,060. At that time our entire membership in this country was only 30,254. In other words, in 1892 two sevenths of the membership in what is now the North American Division lived in the Lake Union, while today only one sixth are in this conference. It was, of course, unavoidable and fortunate that such a change should occur.

“Once more it may be well to remember that the Lake Union has passed through an experience that has come, and can come, to no other Seventh-day Adventist field. The largest institutions ever owned by this denomination, after having been situated in the Lake Union district for many years, were lost or removed. With this removal went many sturdy laborers and more than a thousand other brethren. The membership of the Lake Union Conference decreased very rapidly from 1905 to 1910. Since then we have been growing, until there are as many Adventists in this district today as there ever were. And now we are certainly ready for a strong forward advance.

“During the past biennial period we have baptized 2,559, and the membership has increased from 11,264 to 12,169, a net growth of 905. This compares favorably with other unions in America. Some have said that the work was about finished in this territory, and that we should do well to hold our own. Such an idea is utterly wrong and very pernicious. We firmly believe that the future experiences of the Lake Union will be as bright and aggressive as its past is glorious. There is every reason to hope that it will yet double its membership. This will certainly come if we plan and work like wide-awake men, and dedicate ourselves to the Lord for great things.

“If we are to advance God’s cause at home, and do our share of the great world-wide work abroad, we must train

more young men for the ministry. With a college of our own and a large tithe, we enjoy a rare opportunity to do this. During the last two years we have ordained twelve ministers and granted license for the first time to about twenty. But this is less than half of what we should have done. . . .

“The tithe is the foundation of all our finances. For the two years, ending Dec. 31, 1915, our tithe was $425,309, an increase during 1915 over 1914 of $22,168. While grateful for this, we believe that many are yet far from paying an honest tithe. Early in the year the different conferences sent out a new tract on tithing, and most of our ministers have agreed to preach on tithes and offerings every time they visit a church this year. During the past two years the Lake Union Conference raised $223,006.19 on the Twenty-cent-a-week Fund. There was an increase during 1915 over 1914 of $23,670.33. The increase of mission funds during this biennial period, over the two previous years, was $94,024.90. The Lake Union paid $6,692.62 more than its quota in 1915. This result is due to the self-denying devotion of our people, encouraged by our conference presidents, laborers, church elders, and other leaders. The per cent tithe to the Division Conference for the biennial period just closed was $68,935.13, and the union tithe was $42,530.90. In all, we have sent to the Division Conference during the past two years the sum of $326,464.51. The total amount of tithe and offerings, exclusive of donations for local conferences and institutions, was $748,012.52.

“We have made some progress in the Lake Union in reducing our indebtedness, though we are as yet far from the desired goal of freedom from debt. In the beginning of 1914, after the elimination of all duplications, the total liabilities of the union were $316,912.24. During that year this sum was reduced to $281,075.55. Thus we paid $35,836.69 on our debts. Since that time the college debt has been paid in full. The debt on the academy at Holly, Mich., which was the largest debt on any academy in the union, has been cleared. The Swedish Seminary debt of $15,000 is almost paid. We have every reason to believe that the last note will be redeemed by the close of this school year. The Madison (Wis.) Sanitarium has paid about $13,000 on its debt. The sanitarium at La Fayette, Ind., which formerly lost thousands of dollars a year, has been able to pay expenses the past eighteen months, and more than $6,000 has been paid on its liabilities. Not a few other liabilities have been paid. We are safe in saying that when our accounts for the year are worked out, our debt will be decreased $55,000, showing a decrease in liabilities for the two years of $90,826. We have more than $20,000 in pledges, and some annuities, but in this statement we do not figure either, as annuities do not pay liabilities, and pledges are not cash. . . .

“The world today is on the verge of moral bankruptcy. We shudder as we read of the millions killed, crippled, or captured in the carnage of Europe; of famine, of pestilence, and of nations literally bleeding to death. But the loss of money, of provinces and cities, of treasures of art, even the frightful loss of life and the wrecking of homes, is not the most serious feature of the present world storm. The appalling thing, the fatal thing, is the deathblow given to law and justice. Modern civilization has failed,—failed as utterly as did that of Babylon, Greece, or Rome, or that of infidel France. Once again has it been proved that human philosophy, empiric science, and mere social reform are barren of all spiritual force. The one hope of mankind is Christ. . . .

“The failure of civilization is the opportunity for Christianity. Seventh-day Adventists have the message needed by the world. The war is God’s means of preparing the honest in heart to accept his truth. We can give this message only as God grants us the power of the Holy Spirit. Our supreme needs today are a deeper spiritual life, more prayer, and holy living.”

All departments showed commendable progress. Very encouraging was the statement of the educational secretary:—

“According to the best statistics available, we have passed the halfway mark and are well on the other side. We have more than 4,000 children and youth of school age in the union conference. Twenty-five hundred of these are enrolled in our schools. This is encouraging; but where are the others? ‘All the children of all the churches’ is our goal, and we must never cease our planning and praying until the benefits of a Christian education are brought within the reach of every young person in our conference.”

The report of Prof. O. J. Graf, president of Emmanuel Missionary College, showed that 145 students had entered the work at home during the last two years, besides nine who have taken up work in foreign lands. Brother Graf stated that the biennial term had been a time of setting and reaching goals at the college. The four goals mentioned were: (1) 5,000 books in the library, which was more than realized; (2) the voting of Berrien County dry, the campaign for which was participated in very actively by the college students; (3) the $3,000 laboratory equipment; and (4) the raising of the college debt. For this last enterprise the students raised more than $5,000.

The reports of the conference presidents were a very interesting feature of the conference.

Elder A. G. Daniells was in attendance part of the time. He gave illustrated lectures on “The Great World War” and “Has Christianity Failed?” He also reported to the conference concerning the meetings which he had been holding in Portland, Maine, and the remarkable interest there.

There were present from outside the union, aside from those already mentioned, S. N. Curtiss, I. A. Ford, and the writer. There were also present for a few days several members of the Pacific Press Board, with R. A. Underwood, Charles Thompson, and others, who came to counsel with the members of the General and North American Division Committees concerning the International branch of the Pacific Press Publishing Association. The decision to move this work to Chicago was much appreciated by the Lake Union Conference; for it is expected that this move will be not only a great blessing to the work for foreigners all over America, but a special blessing to the work in Chicago.

All the reports and nearly all the studies and sermons given at the conference have been published in the Lake Union Herald, Vol. VIII, Nos. 10-12.

M. E. KERN.