Northern Illinois Conference Session
By G. E. Langdon
THE forty-first annual session of the Northern Illinois Conference closed Jan. 19, 1913. It was held in Chicago, with ninety-seven delegates in attendance. The last Sabbath there were over one thousand persons present. Stirring Bible studies and sermons were given each day. One brother who had lost his hold upon God for the past two years, made a new start for the kingdom. The husband of one sister took his stand for the truth, and many others surrendered to the Lord. The Spirit of God was present from the first, to carry conviction and courage home to the heart. We were favored with the help of the following-named workers, which was greatly appreciated: Elders A. G. Daniells, W. T. Knox, G. B. Thompson, O. A. Olsen, K. C. Russell, and S. N. Haskell and wife, and Dr. D. H. Kress, of the General Conference; Elders Allen Moon, O. Montgomery, and C. A. Russell, Prof. O. J. Graf, Brother J. B. Blosser, and Miss Myrta Kellogg, of the Lake Union Conference. During the session over $675 worth of books and periodicals was sold. The Sabbath-school collections amounted to $155. One quilt made by pupils in the Aledo church-school brought twelve dollars; the money was donated to Africa, and the quilt to the Chicago Bible Training-school. The conference voted cheerfully to raise $10,500 for missions the coming year. During the year 1912 we raised $8,760.00, against $6,335.22 for 1911, a gain of $2,424.87, or twelve and one-half cents a member a week, but still $1,697 less than our apportionment. All seemed determined to reach the mark this year by the blessing of God. The offerings in the Sabbath-school increased $1,219.49 over last year. The tithe for 1911 was $28,186.09; for 1912, it was $29,506.15, a gain of $1,320.06. Subscription book sales for 1912 amounted to $10,692.20, a gain of $34.31 over last year. The following officers were elected for the coming year: President, G. E. Langdon; secretary and treasurer, H. E. Moon. Executive committee: G. E. Langdon, Allen Moon, O. A. Olsen, J. W. Cummings, P. E. Broderson, J. A. Applegate, Wm. Marsh, Jr. Educational, Sabbath-school, and young people's secretary, Miss Edith Shepard; field missionary secretary, J. A. Applegate. A church-school teachers' institute was held in connection with the conference. All the teachers were present, and a profitable time was spent in studying methods and future plans. The school exhibit was excellent. A very successful colporteurs' institute was also held during the last days of the conference, and continued up to the twenty-third of January. The Master of assemblies was in our midst during the entire session. A spirit of consecration and a desire to hastily finish the work God has given his people to do, characterized the dispersing believers.