Greater New York Conference by W. B. White

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

Greater New York Conference

By W. B. White

THIS conference held its annual session January 18-23 in the hall of the American church in The Bronx. About fifty delegates were present from the several churches of Greater New York, and those present from outside the conference were Elders W. W. Prescott, of Washington, D. C.; O. O. Bernstein, of Philadelphia; H. W. Carr, president of the Western New York Conference; H. C. Hartwell, of Central New England; O. Montgomery, of Maine; R. J. Bryant, field missionary agent of the Atlantic Union Conference; and the writer.

From the first, the presence and power of God were present in the conference, and the greatest unity and harmony prevailed in all the sessions. We do not remember of any action that was taken with a divided vote, and all present seemed desirous of co-operating in every way possible to make the work in this great center a success. As reported in the 1909 Year Book, the Greater New York Conference has a membership of 944, with twenty-three churches. These paid, during 1908, $19,774.42 tithe; in 1909, $18,897.43, a falling off of $876.99. A number of things contributed to bring about this loss the past year, and it is hoped that during 1910 a good increase in tithe may be seen. In 1908 the conference contributed $4,997.08 to the work of foreign missions, and during 1909, $5,267.75, a gain of $360.67. The report of the Sabbath-school and Missionary Volunteer secretary showed substantial gains, and was very encouraging. At a mass-meeting held in the Y. M. C. A. auditorium during the conference, $1,758.43 was pledged on the $300,000 Fund, $706 on the tent fund, and about $540 on the South Lancaster farm fund, making, in all, about $3,000 raised at the meeting.

Elder Prescott, on the recommendation of the General Conference, is now connecting with the work in this field, as is also Elder Bernstein, of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference. They are receiving a very hearty welcome, and plans are being laid for broad, aggressive work the coming season.

Elder M. L. Andreasen has now started a Bible school at the Fourteenth Street chapel for those speaking the foreign tongue who desire to better prepare for the work, and as soon as possible the conference will open a Bible training-school for English-speaking workers.

By an arrangement made between this conference and the Western New York Conference, Elder and Mrs. L. H. Proctor will in early spring make the Western New York Conference their field of labor. Long and faithfully have they served this field, and God has given them precious souls, and they certainly will be missed in the Greater New York Conference.

On Sunday evening at the close of the conference, Brother J. J. Kennedy, who has fully proved his gift in this field, was ordained to the gospel ministry. The presence of God was manifested in a marked manner during the service, and all felt that God had set his seal to the work done.

Elder R. D. Quinn was elected to the presidency of the conference, and associated with him on the committee are L. W. Graham, M. L. Andreasen, J. K.

Humphrey, A. V. Cotton, O. O. Bernstein, and L. Klebahn.

Prospects in the Greater New York Conference look bright for the coming year, and may the Heavenly Father abundantly bless the work in that great and important center.

W. B. WHITE.