Upper Columbia Conference by K. C. Russell

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 1, 1907

Upper Columbia Conference

By K. C. Russell

The annual conference and camp-meeting was held at College Place, Wash., May 30 to June 9. There was a good attendance of our people. The attendance from the outside was small, owing to the fact that the camp was so remotely located from the city of Walla Walla, and the street-car service not the most desirable. While we regretted that the attendance from without was no larger, we were nevertheless better able to study those features of the message that were especially adapted to our people at this time. The morning meetings were also largely devoted at this conference to the study of the spirit of prophecy and church organization. Special emphasis was placed upon the system of organization as held by our people, and we believe that as a result of these studies many were confirmed in the beautiful system of organization that the Lord has committed to this people. There was a spirit of loyalty manifested on the part of all toward our organized work and the spirit of prophecy.

The revival feature in this meeting was attended with most gratifying results, although at times it seemed as if the enemy would defeat the work that the Spirit of God was seeking to carry on in the hearts of the people. On Tuesday the Spirit of the Lord came in with mighty power, which resulted in a general response upon the part of those present; but the climax was reached at the early morning and Sabbath forenoon meetings, when a most remarkable response was made on the part of a majority of the large congregation in attendance. One of the encouraging features was that there were so many of the number that were giving their hearts to the Lord for the first time. A spirit of earnest confession on the part of both ministers and laity characterized the meeting. On Sunday there were sixty-two candidates who followed their Lord in baptism.

One important action taken at this conference was the dividing of the territory of the Upper Columbia Conference into two conferences. The Upper Columbia field has previously embraced the State of Idaho, and that part of the States of Washington and Oregon lying east of the main divide of the Cascade Mountains. The division resulted in setting off the southern part of the State of Idaho and four counties of eastern Oregon, to be organized into a new conference as soon as practicable. There was no opposition on the part of the members of the conference to this division. All were convinced that the territory could be more effectively worked as the result of such a division.

On the afternoon of June 3 those in attendance at the camp-meeting assembled on the lawn in front of the Walla Walla College, where the Walla Walla Sanitarium was dedicated. This institution is destined to fill a most important place in the work of the Upper Columbia field, as the patronage is already increasing under the supervision of its superintendent, Dr. I. A. Dunlap.

The Walla Walla College has just closed one of the most successful years in its history. Fourteen were graduated from the different courses, besides four members who completed work in the industrial department. Next year promises to be even more encouraging. This school is under the supervision of Prof. M. E. Cady, with Brother C. M. Christiansen as business manager. The industrial department is made a leading feature in the work of this college. The normal department, under the supervision of Miss Katherine Hale, has also been attended with very gratifying results during the past year.

Perhaps one of the most encouraging things in this conference, and in the union as well, is the marked success that has attended the work of raising the twenty-five thousand dollars' indebtedness on the college. Already there has been upward of twenty-two thousand dollars raised, and the limit of the time given for raising the remainder will not be reached until Jan. 1, 1908. The main burden of raising this sum has been placed upon Elder H. W. Decker, financial agent of the North Pacific Union Conference.

Elder G. E. Langdon was again unanimously re-elected president of this conference, and Brother T. L. Ragsdale vice-president. Brother T. L. Copeland was re-elected treasurer and secretary.

The aggregate of the tithe for this field for the past year was twenty-three thousand dollars, with a surplus of nearly six thousand dollars. Owing to the division made in the conference, and the added expense incurred in making it, only one thousand dollars was donated to missions from the surplus tithe.

Besides the regular conference employees, there were in attendance Elder A. J. Breed, vice-president of the North Pacific Union; Elder H. W. Decker, financial agent for the same union; Elder H. J. Dirkson, of the Western Oregon Conference, to assist in the German work; Carl E. Weaks, general missionary agent of the North Pacific Union; and the writer.

K. C. RUSSELL.