Editorial Correspondence by Francis M. Wilcox

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 2, 1912

Editorial Correspondence

By Francis M. Wilcox

PITTSBURGH, PA., April 18, 1912.

APRIL 2 we left the Pacific Coast on our return East. We stopped two days in Colorado, speaking Sabbath evening to the workers at the Boulder Sanitarium, and holding two services with the brethren and sisters of the Denver churches. The work in Denver is making splendid progress. Elder G. M. Alway is in charge of the West Denver church, and Elder H. M. J. Richards of the Capitol Hill church. It was our privilege to spend several hours with these brethren and with Brother Ralph Emery, the secretary and treasurer of the Colorado Tract Society.

At this writing we are at the Columbia Union Conference, which convened in Pittsburgh, April 9. This union embraces the conferences of Ohio, Eastern Pennsylvania, West Pennsylvania, New Jersey, District of Columbia, Chesapeake, Virginia, and West Virginia. A good delegation is present. The meetings are held in the Carnegie Library Auditorium, in the Homewood suburb. The reports from the conference presidents show an encouraging gain in the membership of each conference. From every quarter comes the cry of the greatness of the work to be accomplished, and the need of additional laborers, especially to carry on work in some of the great cities in this union.

The city mission work is one of the most important problems with which this union has to wrestle at the present time. The question is not one of openings for the presentation of the message, but one of demand for messengers to answer the increasing calls. Pittsburgh itself, with nearly seven hundred thousand people; Philadelphia, with more than one million; Baltimore; Washington, D. C.; Richmond, Va.; and scores of other populous cities are demanding that strong, aggressive city work shall be carried forward. In some of these centers an excellent beginning has been made, but with the changing population and with the thousands yet unreached, a great work remains to be done.

This is true not only of the English-speaking people, but also of those of other tongues. The very world has been brought to the doors of Seventh-day Adventists in this country. If one desires to be a foreign missionary, he does not need to delay his labors until he reaches another shore, but in nearly any one of our large cities can begin labor for almost any tongue spoken by earth's inhabitants. What an opportunity is offered us! The demand of the whitened fields should appeal to our sympathies and to our liberalities. Many coming into this country will receive a knowledge of the truth, and returning to their own land, will be the means under God of hastening the spread of the gospel message to earth's remotest bounds.

It has been decided to inaugurate another active campaign in behalf of “Christ's Object Lessons,” for the benefit of the schools in this union. We believe that the inauguration of this new campaign expresses the deep interest which our people feel in these enterprises.

Especially has a hearty interest been shown in the Mount Vernon College. This school, through the blessing of the Lord, has been the means of sending forth many workers into the gospel vineyard. There are many to-day laboring in the home land and in foreign fields, in various positions in the work, who look back to this school as the source of their inspiration, and the place where they obtained a preparation that has enabled them to work successfully for the saving of lost humanity. Our people throughout the Columbia Union should acquaint themselves more fully with the excellent work being carried on by this school, and should heartily rally to its support. Brother S. M. Butler, the president, and his faithful associates are laboring earnestly, and in the fear of God, to make the college a rich blessing to the cause of truth. As expressed by one of the delegates, the question is not only the

school's need of the support which is its due from our brethren and sisters, but the need of the cause of truth for the help which the school can afford. The relation is mutual.

Excellent progress is reported in the several departments of conference work. The last two years have witnessed a gain of forty thousand dollars in the tithe of the union. The gross business of the union office, representing all funds, has increased from sixty-one thousand dollars two years ago to over one hundred forty-six thousand dollars. There has been an increase in literature sales in the union of twenty-six thousand dollars during the last biennial period. Many will be interested to learn that the large indebtedness of eighty-five thousand dollars on the Philadelphia sanitarium has been reduced, through the earnest efforts put forth, to a little more than ten thousand dollars at the present time.

Pastor B. G. Wilkinson has been re-elected president of the Columbia Union, with E. R. Brown secretary, treasurer, and auditor.

Several other institutions located in this union have held meetings in the interest of their work. The constituency meetings of the Washington Sanitarium, the Foreign Mission Seminary, and the Review and Herald Publishing Association have been held. Reports of these meetings will be furnished the REVIEW later by their respective secretaries.

Pastor A. G. Daniells has conducted a very practical line of study on the improvement of the ministry, dealing with some of the more practical details of a minister's preparation in the way of deportment, dress, etc., details small of themselves but important factors in determining the success of his work. Valuable lessons were given in studies and sermons by Pastors W. T. Knox, F. C. Gilbert, and G. B. Thompson, and other workers.

At meetings of this kind the bookmen are always in evidence. Under the direction of Brother I. A. Ford, aided by Pastor N. Z. Town and other workers, those interested in the sale of our publications meet for an hour every day for the study of better methods in the promotion of this work. Twenty-five or more earnest, energetic workers representing the different State conferences are in attendance. The conference of these workers is one of inspiration, and will prove of practical benefit we are sure in the prosecution of this line of work in the future.

An excellent spirit prevailed at the conference, and a spirit of harmonious action in all the business transacted. The closing meeting of the conference was a consecration service. In answer to the call for renewed dedication of life to God six persons not of our faith arose for prayers, and some of these have since taken their stand with us and have begun to observe the Sabbath. The interest of a goodly number in the city has been deepened in our work, and it is believed that excellent results, in a local way, will follow the holding of this conference in this great city.

This meeting at Pittsburgh completes our round of attendance at union conferences, and our visits to institutions for the last three months. We have appreciated this personal touch with the field and the workers. We have rejoiced in the general progress we have seen attending the work. God's work to-day is running in no narrow mold. Many agencies have been created. There is a place for the employment of all talents, however diversified.

This movement is swelling into the loud cry of the third angel's message. Its triumph in the near future is assured. May we so permit the principles of truth to permeate and sanctify our lives that the triumph of this work will be our triumph in the coming kingdom of our God. We shall see then that we have not followed a delusive hope or labored in vain in the Lord. F. M. W.