C. E. KNIGHT by C. E. Knight

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Feb 16, 1911

C. E. KNIGHT

By C. E. Knight

Argentina

C. E. KNIGHT

The annual conference of Argentina was held in Florida, a suburb of Buenos Aires, Nov. 2–12, 1910. This was about one month later than is customary, but it was thus arranged to permit the attendance of Elder L. R. Conradi, of Europe. No regrets were expressed on account of the change in time, and the attendance of our brethren was all that could be expected.

The conference was preceded by a five-days' workers' meeting, in which sessions were held twice each day. About twenty different topics were studied relative to plans and methods for more effectively presenting the truth. These were supplemented by forcible addresses by Elder Conradi after his arrival. His valuable suggestions on methods of labor were much appreciated, and will be helpful in prosecuting our future work.

Several important departmental meetings were held, which were full of interest, and served to demonstrate the growth of the various branches of the work and the possibilities before us. November 9 the new publishing-house was dedicated. Although the new machinery was not fully installed, a marked contrast was observed between our former facilities and what has now been provided to publish our periodicals and tracts.

November 10 an educational meeting was held, with an exhibit of industries which reflected much credit to both students and instructors. On the last day of the meeting, a Sabbath-school convention was held, a live interest being taken in the discussion of helpful papers and discourses upon different phases of Sabbath-school work. In all these various interests Elder Conradi was ready to aid with his wide experience and observation, and we were sorry that his stay was necessarily very short.

We were also favored with the presence of the following laborers other than those of the Argentine Conference: Elder J. W. Westphal, president of the union conference; Elder J. V. Maas, from Uruguay; Elders Julio Ernst and Luis A. Rojas, from Paraguay; and Elder Ignacio Kalbermatten, under appointment for the Bolivian Mission, and who has since started for that field. The conference officers were re-elected, with an executive committee of five.

The canvassing work was shown to be an effective method of reaching the people with the truth, and was made very prominent throughout the meeting. Brother Max Trummer, director of this work in the River Plate fields, was present, and organized a band of twenty canvassers, the larger part of whom are students who will work until school opens in March.

After the conference, a general meeting was held at the school near Diamante, for the benefit of the brethren in that part, who could not attend the conference in Florida. Elders Conradi and Westphal were present, and there was a good attendance and interest. After this meeting the sanitarium and school work received attention before these brethren left for Brazil to attend general meetings.

The year has been a prosperous one in the financial affairs of the Argentine Conference. In comparing the fiscal years ending June 30, 1909, and June 30, 1910, the gain in tithes and offerings is seen to have been fifty per cent for the latter year, the Sabbath-school offerings alone being one thousand dollars gold, and the tithe nearly ten thousand dollars. The severe drought and failure of the harvest this summer will no doubt affect our funds for the coming year; but we are broadening our plans in faith, and believe that the means will be forthcoming.

In Buenos Aires tent-meetings are in progress, the first of their kind in the city. Some interest is already shown, even though the meetings have just begun. Interested families are being discovered in other parts of the city, and we expect to develop the work so as to organize a second church in this great city during the coming year. Our brethren here are becoming aroused concerning the needs of the large cities; and at the conference, pledges and cash were received to the amount of six hundred fifty dollars gold for a city mission fund.

Buenos Aires.