A New Union Conference by George A. Irwin

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 14, 1907

A New Union Conference

By George A. Irwin

The West Canadian

Of late years western Canada has been rapidly growing into prominence. The rich grain and cattle-growing districts have attracted the attention of home seekers both from the United States and from eastern Canada, and land is being rapidly taken by sturdy and industrious people. Towns and cities (not of the mushroom type), well and substantially built, are springing up in many places. A constant surprise awaits the traveler who has formerly thought of this field as a cold, desolate, and uninhabitable country. As far north as we went (four hundred miles from the southern boundary) vast fields of wheat, barley, oats, and flax, with thrashing-machines in active operation, could be seen from either side as the train rolled rapidly onward over those beautiful prairies. It is said that hundreds of miles farther north the land is equally good, and the climate even better.

Capitalists are waking up to the importance of this field as a cattle-raising and grain-growing country, and two more trunk lines, the Canadian Northern and the Grand Trunk, are being built from the Atlantic to the Pacific through the central and northern portions of the provinces. Both of these new lines are well along toward completion.

We have in this field about one thousand believers, three of the provinces—British Columbia, Alberta, and Manitoba—having been organized into conferences, leaving only Saskatchewan still a mission field. The work in this field has heretofore been under the direction of the Northern and North Pacific Union Conferences.

Believing that the third angel’s message should keep pace with the rapidly advancing civilization and progress of this country, it was thought that an organization composed of believers in the field, who were familiar with the conditions and in touch with the spirit of the times and country, could do more effective work than one operating from the States at long range. The following action was taken by the General Conference Committee at the session held in Gland, Switzerland, in the month of May:—

“That the Northern and North Pacific Union Conferences be requested to release the territory they now hold in Canada, and that it be organized into a union conference, to be known as the West Canadian Union Conference.”

Later each of these unions, through the action of their executive committees, acceded to this request, and after being notified of this action, the officers of the General Conference issued a call to the men having charge of the work in the four western Canadian provinces to send delegates to a meeting appointed to convene October 18-22 in Leduc, Alberta, for the purpose of carrying the foregoing recommendations into effect by the formal organization of the conference.

Later it was voted that the writer should attend as a representative from the General Conference, and that the presidents of the Northern and North Pacific Unions be requested also to attend, inasmuch as this field has hitherto been a part of these conferences, and will still be intimately related thereto.

By previous arrangement I joined Elder Underwood in Minneapolis, October 14, and together we journeyed on to Leduc, the place of meeting, arriving there late Thursday afternoon, October 17. During the night Elder Breed, vice-president of the North Pacific Union Conference, arrived to represent that field. Later Elders Adams and Kunkel arrived from Manitoba, and with them came delegates from Saskatchewan, consisting of Elders H. S. Shaw, F. H. Conway, C. Sulzle, and Paul Curtis. Owing to delay of the train, Elders Stewart and Young, delegates from British Columbia, did not arrive until the afternoon of Friday, so the first meeting was held at 3 P. M., Friday, October 18.

At this meeting a temporary organization was effected, with the writer as chairman and Stella B. Lowry as secretary. A voting basis of representation was agreed upon, which gave to each field one delegate at large and an additional delegate for each twenty-five members. This made a voting delegation of thirty-seven, divided as follows: Alberta, twelve; Manitoba, ten; British Columbia, seven; Saskatchewan, four; delegates at large, four.

The forming of a temporary organization and the appointing of three committees,—one on constitution and by-laws, one on nominations, and one on plans and recommendations,—occupied the time of the first session.

Inasmuch as most of the brethren of the Leduc church live in the country and have no place of meeting near their homes, the Methodist church in the town was secured in which to hold the meetings. In addition to the business meetings, public preaching services were held each evening and on Sabbath and Sunday. When our people first went to Leduc, the minister then in charge of

the Methodist congregation circulated a petition to have the Adventists driven out of the country, but instead the preacher himself was compelled to leave in a few months, and the Adventists still remain, having the respect and good will of the citizens, including the present Methodist pastor.

The Alberta brethren have purchased a farm of one hundred sixty acres three miles west of the town, upon which they are preparing to locate buildings in which to conduct a school for the young people in the conference. This school was carried on in a rented building in the town last winter, but temporary buildings have been erected on the farm, and the school will be carried on there the coming year, which means a saving of nearly four hundred dollars in rent, besides keeping the pupils where they can do work on the farm and be free from distracting influences. The greater part of the farm is under a good state of cultivation, one hundred acres being well set in timothy grass, which brings a good price. Thus, if well managed, this farm will become a source of income from the start. Elder C. A. Burman and wife will live in the home and have charge of the school for a time while in this formative period.

At the second session of the conference a constitution defining the boundaries, fixing the basis of representation at future conferences, and recommending as a name the “Canadian Western Union Conference” was adopted. Following the adoption of the constitution, verbal reports were given of the work in the different provinces.

Alberta

Of the work in the Alberta Conference, Brother Burman, its president, said that there had been a healthy growth in the finances the past year, as well as in the membership. The tithe paid during 1906 amounted to $2,848; and for the nine months of 1907, it was $3,523. There are at present eight churches, with a membership of two hundred thirty. He also said that there had been received in cash and pledges for the Alberta Industrial Academy, over $4,000, and that the plan is to conduct a school the coming winter on the school farm in the buildings already erected on the ground.

British Columbia

Of the work in British Columbia, the following is the substance of Elder E. L. Stewart’s report: At the organization of the conference in 1902 there was a constituency of about fifty members. At present there are one hundred sixty-seven members. There are nine organized churches. Owing to the lay of the country, it has been necessary to divide the conference into four districts. The conference laborers consist of four ordained ministers, one licentiate, and four Bible workers. A school farm of two hundred acres has been donated near Hammond, where an intermediate school is being conducted with good results. The present enrolment is thirty.

An effort is being made in behalf of the Indians in the northern part of the province. A farm of two hundred forty acres has been purchased, upon which a mission school is being established. The tithe receipts of the conference for 1906 were $3,232, and for the nine months of 1907, $3,100, showing a healthy increase. Five camp-meetings were held during the year, which were a source of great encouragement to the brethren. The conference is practically free from debt.

Manitoba

At the third conference session Elder W. M. Adams gave a report of the work in the Manitoba Conference, of which he is president. After speaking of the vastness of the field and its great needs, he mentioned the fact that there were, in addition to four hundred thousand white people representing various nationalities, forty thousand Indians. At the time of the organization of the Manitoba Conference in 1903, Saskatchewan was included within its boundaries. The Manitoba Conference has now ten churches, two hundred sixty-one members, seventeen Sabbath-schools, and six family schools. Twenty-six new members were added during the year, making a total membership at the present time of three hundred two. They have a school farm located at Portage la Prairie, fifty-eight miles west of Winnipeg. Their indebtedness on the school and farm is about twelve hundred dollars. The building is equipped to accommodate about thirty-five students. Brother Adams made a strong appeal for the establishment of mission schools among the Indians. He gave a number of interesting incidents of a visit that he made among them, showing the interest they have in the study of the Bible.

Saskatchewan

At the conclusion of Brother Adams’ report, Brother H. S. Shaw spoke relative to the work in Saskatchewan Mission field, of which he has charge. He said there were about one hundred members. It was his belief that the time had not yet come for the field to be organized into a conference. The tithe received to Sept. 30, 1907, amounted to $2,100, and the donations to $397. There are four ordained ministers and one licentiate laboring in this field.

At the fourth meeting resolutions were adopted expressing gratitude to God for his prospering hand which has made possible the organization of a union conference in western Canada; and thanking the General Conference union and local conferences, and certain brethren for help rendered.

The new union conference voted its hearty approval of the establishment of the schools now operating in that territory, and recommended their continuance. The work of establishing schools and missions for the Indians will be taken up at once. They ask the General Conference to appropriate annually, until the work can be supported by local means, a sum equal to the Sabbath-school donations from this union conference for this purpose. They also request the General Conference to give to this field the sum of seven thousand six hundred dollars annually until the conference is strong enough to meet its own expenses.

At the fifth meeting the following officers were unanimously elected: President, Elder E. L. Stewart; Vice-President, Elder H. S. Shaw; Secretary and Treasurer, Mrs. H. S. Shaw. No definite vote was taken regarding location, but the probabilities are that the headquarters of the union conference will be at Regina, Saskatchewan.

The following-named persons were granted credentials: E. L. Stewart, H. S. Shaw, F. H. Conway, C. Sulzle, and A. C. Gilbert. Ministerial license was granted to Paul Curtis, and missionary license to Mrs. H. S. Shaw.

After extending a vote of thanks to the Methodist Church for the use of their church building, and to the citizens and press of Leduc for their kind consideration and accommodation, the meeting adjourned sine die. G. A. Irwin.