The Relief Campaign in the Southeastern Union Conference
By L. A. HANSEN
To judge from the manner in which the resolutions on the campaign were received at the recent session of the Southeastern Union Conference the work will go right forward in this union conference. They were first presented on Friday forenoon, and the hour was devoted to their consideration, they being spoken to by Elder A. G. Daniels and the writer. The meeting adjourned without adopting them, so that further discussion might be given. Sunday was “medical day,” and the forenoon program was considerably disarranged because the interest in the discussion of the relief work was such as to take the time. Dr. W. A. Ruble presented in general the benefits to be derived from the campaign, to institutions, our own people, and to the public. Financial benefit would result, not only from the proceeds of the sale of the publications, but from the added patronage that would be worked up through the interest aroused in sanitarium work. A blessing would come to the individuals engaged in the campaign, and great good to those purchasing “Ministry of Healing” and Life and Health. It proved so to our school work through the sale of “Christ’s Object Lessons.” Elder G. B. Thompson presented the urgency of our leaders assuming the burden. Union conferences and conference presidents and the executive committees must do their own share, and interest the people to do theirs. This is a part of the work, and falls upon those who have the work to look after. They can not do their duty and neglect this. The writer called attention to the fact that there is another phase of sanitarium work than that of indebtedness, that our sanitariums are doing a large amount of evangelical work which does not appear in conference reports, and for which no bills are rendered. Over twenty-five thousand persons spend, on an average, five weeks a year in our sanitariums. To reach this number of people by tent effort or other means would involve a considerable sum. Many of them are very influential persons, and work for this class is usually carried on at some expense. Yet this number of persons are in our sanitariums as guests, and will note the lives of our workers and hear the spiritual lessons given at worship hour, as well as receive the personal attentions of physician and nurse. Our institutions are proving the worth of the instruction given us about the health work being an entering wedge, and so forth. The importance of this branch is still what it has ever been presented to be. Elder T. H. Jeys stated that in the South Carolina Conference they would do their part. Taking lesson from some things that occurred in our “Object Lessons” campaign, they would not order books indiscriminately, to be laid up on shelves, payment for same to come into dispute. They would labor to see that the books were sold as ordered; some would not be able to sell their share, but others would sell more, to make up. Elder R. W. Parmele knew that as far as Florida was concerned, she could be counted on to do her part. He called attention to the fact that what appears in the financial report of a sanitarium as loss need not be necessarily so considered if we take into account the work that is done through missionary effort, that such items on a conference report, showing an apparent loss for salaries paid without compensating gains, are not really loss. Elder C. B. Stephenson, of Georgia, gave assurance that in his conference the campaign would be carried forward. He felt that the sanitarium work was one to merit our earnest attention. It has its important place in the giving of the message, and it has shown its value. Elder G. W. Wells, president of the North Carolina Conference, said that his conference could be relied upon to do its part. And they would not stop at two copies a member. In fact, he thought that we ought not to have it understood that persons are to sell only two copies a year, but to sell more than that. Elder P. G. Stanley, the new president of the Cumberland Conference, said he believed the move was one in which all should join heartily. He knew there would be a blessing in it to every one engaging in it. Movements of this kind call upon the whole force of our people. He assured them of his co-operation. Dr. C. F. Curtis felt “fire in his bones” when it came to discussing the advancement of the health work; he had seen such favorable results of it in his work in Atlanta. Prominent men had been benefited by treatment, and had become friends of our work as a result. He believed that with proper interest and effort on the part of our people, patronage could be worked up for our sanitariums that would make them self-supporting. V. O. Cole, general field agent, expressed his purpose to work in the interest of the campaign. He believed that the canvassers could do much in its behalf. They could interest our people in the work as they meet with them, could assist them by giving pointers on canvassing, and could themselves do their own share of selling the relief publications. Elder I. M. Martin, of the Asheville mission field, felt enthusiastic over the good that could be accomplished through the health work. He cited cases of special interest on the part of persons who knew of our sanitarium work and wished to assist in an enterprise of the kind at Asheville should one ever be projected. Elder Charles Thompson, the union conference president, said there was some disadvantage in being chairman of the meeting,—it did not give him a chance to talk as much as he might otherwise. He wished to speak to the proposition. He was interested in it, and proposed to do all he could. He thought he could do his personal share by putting two books into his satchel when going on a trip, selling them, and then doing the same on his next trip, and the next, and so on. He would also do his part as president. He realized that the responsibility was his, and meant to discharge it properly. As for the book, “Ministry of Healing,” he could certainly commend it to all. He said he would not take one dollar and fifty cents for the single chapter on Prayer and Healing. He thought that chapter to be most helpful to one who is asked to pray for the sick and needs instruction as to what is proper. He considered the rest of the book was equally valuable. He was in favor of every laborer in the field shouldering his responsibility of the campaign. The resolutions were adopted unanimously. It was certainly gratifying to see the project taken hold of with such manifest appreciation and zeal rather than with a sense of burden and regret. We look for good results in this union.