Utah Conference by George A. Irwin

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 10, 1910

Utah Conference

By George A. Irwin

This conference was held in the Seventh-day Adventist church in Salt Lake City, October 4-9. Forty-seven delegates composed the voting part of the conference, while double that number were present as visitors, and manifested a lively and earnest interest in all the proceedings.

Two sessions of the conference and three preaching services were held each day. The statistical report gave the number of members as 235, a gain of thirty over last year. One new church of seventeen members was taken into the conference. The tithe paid during the year amounted to $2,781, an increase of $650 over that for the past year. Offerings for the general work amounted to $650, an increase of $160 over those of the year before. The sale of periodicals was more than double that of any previous year. The sanitarium relief campaign was presented, and books to the value of $320 were sold. It is the plan to sell one thousand more. Two hundred seventy-five dollars was subscribed on the $300,000 Fund. Three thousand copies of the Harvest Ingathering number of the REVIEW were ordered, and eight hundred copies were taken at the conference.

Considerable time was taken up in considering the need of a small sanitarium for this intermountain region, since there is none nearer than Boulder on the east, and Loma Linda on the west. After some caution and plain talk by those who had had some experience in this work, as to what is involved in

such an undertaking, the following resolution was unanimously passed:—

“Whereas, There is serious need of, and an increasing demand for, medical missionary work, embracing sanitarium advantages, in this field; therefore,—

“Resolved, That we petition the financial co-operation of the union conference to the amount of $5,000, or such part thereof as they may be able to give; that our local executive committee be and hereby is authorized to solicit funds at once for the establishment and operation of sanitarium work, such investment not to exceed $15,000; and that the executive committee, in consultation with the union conference committee, or its duly authorized agent, is also hereby authorized to establish and operate such an institution without undue delay, the amount of expenditure in establishment and equipment not to exceed the amount of bona-fide subscriptions.

A partial canvass of the brethren toward such a fund had been made prior to the assembling of the conference, which resulted in definite pledges to the amount of $2,267, and a conditional pledge of $1,000. A strong effort will also be made with “Ministry of Healing” for this purpose.

Just as the meeting was closing, a contract was entered into between the conference association and Dr. and Mrs. W. L. Gardner for the purchase of the treatment-rooms and good-will of the business that they have built up in Salt Lake City, and for some time to come the sanitarium work will be carried forward from this place. The private home of Dr. Gardner was also included in the purchase, since it is their desire to connect for a time with one of our large sanitariums to obtain a broader experience before taking up work again in some new and needy field.

Elder S. G. Huntington was re-elected president of the conference, with the following-named persons as an executive committee: E. Treganza, W. J. Felt, W. C. Willard, and W. L. Sims. Miss B. Winnifred Hunter was elected secretary and treasurer of the tract society. Ministerial credentials were renewed to Elders Huntington, Wolfe, and Sims; and Brother Charles E. Boynton was ordained, and given ministerial credentials. Missionary licenses were granted to E. Treganza, Leroy Scott, Mrs. L. McPherson, B. Winnifred Hunter, and Johanna Jensen. For the double purpose of relieving the treasury, and giving the canvassing work a start and prestige, it was agreed that the ministers devote their time from this on until after the holidays to the sale of some one of our subscription books.

The preaching and instruction given during the conference were of a practical nature, and designed to build up and establish the people in the faith. While in some respects Utah is a difficult field in which to labor, yet God has many jewels even in this field, and the workers and brethren in general go from this meeting with new courage to gather them in. May the Lord give them courage in their work, and crown their efforts with success.

GEO. A. IRWIN.