The Southeastern Union Conference by George B. Thompson

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

The Southeastern Union Conference

By George B. Thompson

THE first biennial session of the Southeastern Union Conference since its organization into a separate union conference two years ago, was held Jan. 11-18, 1910, in the Seventh-day Adventist church in Atlanta, Ga. An encouraging number of delegates and laborers were present, representing the various conferences and institutions in the union conference. Also Elders A. G. Daniells, C. F. McVagh, A. J. Haysmer, Dr. W. A. Ruble, and the writer attended the meeting and shared with the workers in the burdens and blessings of the conference.

The reports rendered from the various conferences and institutions showed a good degree of progress, and that the formation of a separate union in this territory was a wise one. The tithe paid in the union in 1909 was about twenty-five thousand dollars, as compared with eighteen thousand dollars in the same territory two years ago. At that time the offerings to missions was about five cents a week for each member. In 1909 the amount given by the members in the field averaged about nine cents a week for each member. This compares favorably with some of our more wealthy conferences in the North. In the Georgia Conference the amount given for missions was sixteen cents a week per capita, and in Florida it was twelve cents. This indicates a deep interest in the progress of the work in fields outside their own territory. The book and periodical work showed encouraging growth, being about double in 1909 that of the sales of the previous years.

The business of the conference was marked with the utmost unity. Progressive plans of work were laid, and the outlook for the advancement of the work is very hopeful. Elder W. A. Westworth having gone to China to take charge of the work in that field, my brother, Elder Charles Thompson, who had been invited to take charge of the work when Elder Westworth left, was elected president, Brother R. T. Dowsett secretary and treasurer, and Helen Dowsett missionary secretary.

It seems to me that the openings for work in this Southland are especially encouraging at this time. Doors are open everywhere. The people seemingly show a greater willingness to listen to the message than in some other places. Now is the time to push the work in this field.

It is not more institutions that are needed so much as aggressive, evangelistic work to establish churches in the cities and villages. This field is in need of more experienced laborers. By supplying these, believers can be multiplied, and the work strengthened.

Omens of progress and business activity are seen here in the South. The cities are growing, factories are springing up, and the country is rapidly coming to the front. The outlook is favorable that the work in this field will soon become self-supporting, so far at least as the white population is concerned.

At the close of the conference, I visited Graysville, Tenn., for the first time, and was favorably impressed with the neat, comfortable institutions located there. The sanitarium in many ways has an ideal location, and should be filled with patients. I found an excellent class of students in the academy. About eighty are in attendance, omitting those from the primary grades. But they have room for more. If all our people in the territory within reach of these institutions rally to their support as they should, both of these training institutions can be filled with our young people to be trained for service. I enjoyed the privilege of speaking twice to the students. I trust that from this center many will go out to labor in the fields, both near and far off.

G. B. THOMPSON.