The Next General Conference Session by A. G. Daniells

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 10, 1912

The Next General Conference Session

By A. G. Daniells

It has been decided by the General Conference Committee, which has just closed its fall council, to hold the next session of the General Conference at Washington, D. C., May 15 to June 8, 1913.

About one year ago the officers of the General Conference Committee started a search for some suitable place to hold this important meeting somewhere toward the Central West. It was hoped that we might secure some good Chautauqua grounds with auditorium, dining-halls, and furnished cottages, which

would save a large amount of labor and expense. We inspected places in Maryland, New York, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Tennessee, and Georgia. While some advantages were found in all the places we visited, yet none came up to what we had hoped to find, and none met our requirements.

When the council convened, full reports were submitted, with all the inducements offered in connection with each place under consideration. These were studied by the committee during the week we were together, with the result that, everything considered, a large majority felt that the aims of the coming General Conference and the interests of the cause generally could be met more fully at Washington than at any of these other places.

There was a general feeling on the part of the committee that the next session of the General Conference should be planned and conducted with the view of making it a great spiritual blessing to the cause. Delegates will come from all parts of the world. Many of them are working in heathen lands under most trying conditions and depressing influences. They will come to this gathering to place before the brethren the great needs of their fields, with the hope that time will be taken to give them the consideration they should have. The delegates will come with a great desire in their hearts for a spiritual uplift. These dear laborers must not be disappointed. They must not return to their fields without having their highest hopes realized. They must obtain what they need to go back with renewed courage and power.

But our missionaries in heathen lands are not the only ones who need this kind of help. Our laborers in civilized and so-called Christian lands everywhere need a deeper religious life. We must have a clearer vision of our world-wide work, and greater power from above to do our part. We need a spiritual, pentecostal blessing to fit us for more effective service.

A spiritual, instructive, administrative conference is called for. The groves about the Seminary and Sanitarium grounds will afford excellent opportunities for private prayer and meditation, and for groups to get together for prayer and counsel. All our people should begin now to pray the Lord to give us the kind of meeting we should have.

A. G. DANIELLS.