The Sabbath-School and Young People's Convention
By G. B. Thompson
THIS convention is over, and I have been asked to write a report of it for the REVIEW. I do not feel qualified to tell the story of the deep, spiritual, refreshing experience which those who attended the meeting passed through from the beginning till the close. Reporting such a meeting is like trying to gather up and carry to others the sunbeams which fall across our pathway. This convention, the first of the kind ever held in the history of our work, was held at the Mount Vernon (Ohio) Academy, July 10-20. The Ohio Conference and the managers of the academy did much to make the session a success by entertaining all the delegates who were present. A large tent was pitched on the campus for the use of the convention. The attendance was excellent. Over two hundred regular delegates were present, besides a large number who came in from the surrounding churches from time to time. The delegation was gathered from all parts of the United States, and from Canada as well, and consisted of ministers, Sabbath-school and young people's secretaries, principals and teachers in our schools, and representative workers in various lines of our work. Elders Daniells, Irwin, and Spicer, and other members of the General Conference Committee, also the most of the members of the Lake Union Conference Committee, were present during the greater part of the meeting, and rendered good service in behalf of the convention. We were also glad to have Elder M. C. Wilcox, editor of The Signs of the Times, with us during the greater part of the time. All who attended the meeting were conscious of the special presence of the Holy Spirit. It was the most spiritual meeting, devoted largely to the study of difficult and perplexing problems, that the writer remembers of ever attending. The program was one requiring hard work, and a close study of important questions connected with the organization and work of the Sabbath-school and Young People's Departments, which are such important factors in our cause. But a spirit of deep earnestness, sobriety, and Christian dignity was seen in all the deliberations, and the interest in no way waned till the close. The papers read showed careful and thorough preparation, and were helpful in throwing light upon the various questions before the convention. The convention was in every sense of the word a missionary gathering. The key-note was the training of our children and youth for service in home and foreign fields. The mission fields of the world were studied. Elder Irwin placed before us the needs of Africa from the standpoint of his recent visit to that needy field. Dr. H. W. Miller, who is home on a short visit, gave some interesting talks on the needs of China and the progress of our work in that field. The writer spoke of India, and the work to be accomplished in that land. The requirements of other needy mission fields were also studied. It is evident from the spirit that characterized this convention that the Lord is laying a burden upon our young people for all these fields, and that they are turning their faces as volunteers to the work in these lands as never before. The Young People's Department, recently created by the General Conference, was fully organized at this convention. Concerning the name the following was passed:—
Resolved, That the young people's organization in the General, union, and local conferences be known as the Young People's Missionary Volunteer Department, and that the organization in the local churches be known as the Seventh-day Adventist Young People's Society of Missionary Volunteers. This name is expressive of the purpose and work of the department. Careful consideration was also given to the question of who should be members of the local Societies, and the following recommendation was adopted:—
We Recommend, That as soon as consistent, our conference young people's secretaries reorganize their Societies under the new name, and that only those who are members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and are willing to engage in active service for Christ, be asked to join the new Society. From this it is seen that only consecrated members of the church are to form a part of this great Missionary Volunteer Movement. These persons are to be set to work for others, both in the church and in the world, and at the same time to be trained for service. We feel confident that this convention marks a new era in the history and development of our work. No such gathering of young people, and those who are especially interested in this work, has ever before been called together in connection with our work. This means much, and will help greatly in solving the problem of providing help to carry forward our work which is expanding so rapidly in the “regions beyond,” and reaching to the uttermost parts of the earth. The Young People's Department will be a strong factor in our work from now till the close of time. A strong, representative departmental committee has been chosen, with Prof. M. E. Kern as chairman, and Miss Matilda Erickson as secretary. Let all pray that the Lord will greatly bless those who carry the responsibilities of this work. All who attended this convention, and entered into the true spirit of it, were profoundly convinced that we are near the end of the world, and that the Lord is preparing to do a quick work in the earth, and to finish the work of the third angel's message. God has given us a priceless heritage in the twenty thousand or more youth among us, and plans are now well under way by which these will be rapidly trained and sent into the field to do volunteer service till the work is finished. The following well-known words from the pen of Sister White are significant at this time: “With such an army of workers as our youth, rightly trained, might furnish, how soon the message of a crucified, risen, and soon-coming Saviour might be carried to the whole world! How soon might the end come,—the end of suffering and sorrow and sin!” A deep spiritual work was done in many hearts during this meeting. Many were drawn nearer to God, and renewed their consecration to him, and gave themselves for service. Some who attended this meeting are under appointment to foreign fields, and will soon be on their way. Many others volunteered for service in any place to which they might be called. Our hearts were made glad many times during this meeting, and we rejoice with joy unspeakable for what the Lord wrought, and for the encouraging prospects we see in the work in all parts of the field. The following text was read at the closing service on the Sabbath, and was given to those who attended the convention as a motto: “And the man said unto me, Son of man, behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears, and set thine heart upon all that I shall show thee; for to the intent that I might show them unto thee art thou brought hither: declare all that thou seest to the house of Israel.” Eze. 40:4.