p. 14 | Central American Conference by H. C. Goodrich

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 10, 1911

Central American Conference

By H. C. Goodrich

THIS meeting was held June 8-18, at French Harbor, on the island of Ruatan, Spanish Honduras. Elder N. V. Willess, president of the conference, and W. E. Hancock were the conference laborers.

The writer left Colon, Panama, June 1, to attend this meeting, but being hindered by poor connections and many calms, did not reach the place until June 12, four days after the meeting had begun. The conference business was then well advanced, and the spiritual interest was very encouraging, and continued to increase from day to day. This led to deep searching of heart, to putting away those things that had grieved the Spirit of God, and to a new consecration of all to him. Especially was this the case among the young people, of whom there is in this conference a large number—bright, intelligent youth of from fifteen to twenty-five years of age. Had every one of them been my own children, I could scarcely have felt more deeply burdened for their salvation, and in this burden all the laborers and some of the parents had a part.

A tender heavenly Parent heard the prayers of his children, and sent conviction to the hearts of these youth, and they gave themselves to him. We pray that the Spirit of God may touch many other hearts, till all that company of young people are united in God's service.

All the business meetings were pleasant and harmonious. Among the subjects discussed in the resolutions were tithing, the Sabbath-school, the young people's missionary work, and the canvassing work. One man who speaks Spanish well decided to make canvassing his life-work, and I believe others will soon follow his example. There is a large Spanish field here, and we must depend on the canvasser to pioneer the work among these people.

In the discussion of the young people's work, the question was raised as to whether it should be a matter of religious entertainment for the church, or an earnest study of Bible truths that we may become workers together with God. In this discussion I believe a new view was obtained of the mission and work of our young people's society.

In the discussion of the Sabbath-school work, all the schools and every delegate, so far as is known to the writer, voted to give all the donations to missions, and I believe it will be done. The first Sabbath the donations were twenty-one dollars, the second Sabbath the thermometer on the blackboard was set to register forty dollars ($16 gold), but the result was $43.60, making a total of sixty-four dollars, or nearly twenty-six dollars gold, with an attendance of 118, every church in the conference being represented.

The burden of the preaching fell upon Elder Willess and the writer, while Brother Hancock took the young people's meeting and the afternoon Bible study. Sunday morning we had a baptism, when twelve candidates were buried with their Lord by Elder Willess. After the Sunday night meeting three others decided to obey their Lord, and were baptized Monday morning. All then separated to their several homes, praising God for the good meeting they had been permitted to enjoy.

Elder Willess was again elected president and secretary of the conference, and Mrs. W. E. Hancock, treasurer. Brother Hancock will work with the Spanish people in Guatemala City. Sister Perry, a pioneer in the work of this conference and now nearly seventy years of age, returns to take up Bible work in Belize.

It has been pleasant for me to attend this conference meeting in a field where I labored several years ago, and while I so greatly enjoy meeting with those whom I have known in the past, even for a few days only, how much more shall we enjoy that other meeting where partings never come!

H. C. GOODRICH.