Greater New York Conference
By Arthur G. Daniells
It was my privilege to attend the second annual session of the Greater New York Conference held in New York City, November 12-16. The meetings were held in a very pleasant hall in the Merritt building. The churches were fully represented by delegation. The business of the conference was transacted during the day, and preaching services, which were well attended, were held each evening. The Greater New York Conference was organized two years ago. Previously Greater New York formed a part of the Atlantic Conference, which included New Jersey. In the reorganization two years ago, the name Atlantic Conference was dropped, and the Greater New York and the New Jersey Conferences were organized. The territory of the Greater New York Conference is Greater New York, Long Island, and the counties of Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Orange, Dutchess, and Ulster in the State of New York. Although the territory seems very limited for a conference, it has a population of about five millions. It is really a great field. Its population represents nearly all the nations of the world, and many of them in quite large numbers. The conference has ten churches, with a membership of six hundred and fifty. During the last conference year the membership was increased by one hundred and twenty-three. The tithe for ten months of 1903 was $9,146.32. The general offerings amounted to $1,675.65, and the Sabbath-school offerings to $341.58, making the total receipts $11,163.55. It will be seen that the average tithe per member is more than sixteen dollars. This, I think, is the highest tithe paid by any conference in the United States. There has been a most encouraging increase in the tithe in both the Greater New York and New Jersey Conferences since the reorganization. During the conference year ending at the time of the change, the tithe was about nine thousand dollars. As will be seen, the tithe of the Greater New York Conference this last year was as large as that of the whole field before the change. And I have been informed by Elder Jayne, president of the New Jersey Conference, that the tithe of that conference has very greatly increased during the two years. Elder C. H. Edwards was elected president, with a committee of eight good advisers. The conference is thoroughly organized, with Tract Society, Medical, Sabbath-school, and Educational departments. It has three ordained ministers, one licensed preacher, and twelve licensed missionaries. During the past year some of the brethren who are following their regular business vocations have done a large amount of gospel work, some of them having held public meetings all through the summer. The Lord has blessed their19efforts. They are earnest, loyal workers, who help to give life and zeal to the conference. I greatly enjoyed attending this conference, and feel encouraged regarding its future. It is certainly a great mission field of itself, but the members do not forget other great, needy fields.