Fifth Session of the Southwestern Union Conference
By Arthur G. Daniells
The Southwestern Union Conference was organized in 1901. The constituency of this union conference is Arkansas, Oklahoma, Indian Territory, New Mexico, and Texas, containing a population of about seven millions. The fifth session of this conference was held at Keene, Tex., February 2-9. There were forty-seven delegates in attendance, representing all parts of the union conference, and all phases of the work being carried forward. The presence of a large number of visitors from different parts of the field bore witness to the growing interest of our people in the biennial sessions of the union conferences. The faculty of Keene Academy arranged the program of the school so that the students could attend the most important meetings. The presence of a large number of students who manifested a deep interest in the proceedings added very materially to the interest and value of the conference. The proceedings of the conference consisted of the presentation of reports by the officers of conferences and departments, the discussion and adoption of resolutions outlining the plans to be followed during the next biennial term, Bible studies, and the election of officers. In most respects, all the reports were very encouraging. During the biennial period just closed, two new conferences were organized. These were New Mexico and West Texas. The tithes paid during the last term amounted to $102,169, an increase of $25,282 over the preceding term. The annual tithe of this union conference has increased from $20,439 in 1902 to $55,530 in 1909. There has been a corresponding gain in the offerings for both the home and the foreign work. The publishing department presented a very encouraging report. The sale of literature for 1908-09 was $75,139, a gain of $29,722 over 1906-07. Keene Academy is the only conference institution in the Southwestern Union Conference. The academy has resources amounting to $45,000, and is free from debt, except the current accounts which it carries in its working operations. At the time of the conference there were 175 students in the academic department, and 140 in the preparatory grades, making a total attendance of 315. Three industries are being operated by the academy at the present time. These are the broom, tent, and food factories. The broom factory gives employment to about twenty-five young men, who are thus enabled to almost wholly pay their way through school. This department has worked up a large, profitable trade. With its present capacity and equipment, the factory can not fill the orders offered to it. The tent factory is small, but it turns out a good grade of work. It supplies the conferences in the union conference with the most of their tent outfits. The food factory is just being started. In addition to giving students an opportunity to work their way through school, these industries make it possible for many to learn useful trades which will enable them to render the cause and their fellow men helpful service when they shall have left school to devote their lives to the work of the Lord. From these items culled from the reports of the various departments, it will be seen that in many respects the outlook in the Southwestern Union Conference is very encouraging. It is to be regretted that the reports do not show a larger increase in membership and the development of a stronger and more efficient ministry. These are most important considerations, to which all the union conferences in the United States should give earnest, prayerful consideration. While we have reason to rejoice that our people are paying a larger tithe, making larger offerings to missions, and are more freely consecrating their young people to home and foreign work than ever before in the history of our cause, yet we can not be satisfied without seeing our fellow men being led to take their stand for the truth. We need greater efficiency and power in our work, and for these we should all earnestly pray. The delegates were disposed to adopt broad, progressive plans for the future. The southern part of the Texas Conference was cut off from that conference and made a mission field, with the expectation of organizing it into a conference in another year or two. The presidents of local conferences cheerfully accepted their share of responsibilities of the general work. They are making earnest efforts to raise the contributions for foreign missions to an amount equal to ten cents a week for each church-member. They pledged their best endeavors to raise their share of the $300,000 Fund, and to press the "Ministry of Healing" campaign to a successful issue. The conditions in the Southwestern Union Conference all appear favorable for the rapid growth of the work. There are no really serious difficulties in the way. Now is the time to press the battle. But little change was made in the official staff of the conference. Elder G. F. Watson was elected president of the union conference. This places upon Brother Watson new responsibilities, for which he will need added wisdom and strength, and both are freely offered by the Master.