The Local Meetings in Great Britain
By E. E. Andross
Our meeting for the Scotch Mission field was held in Glasgow, beginning January 2 and closing January 6. Preceding the annual business meeting, we held a workers’ meeting at which the canvassers in Scotland, as well as the ministers and Bible workers, assembled for study and counsel. The Lord came very near in this meeting, and all felt that it was profitable. Brother Joyce, the general canvassing agent for the British Union Conference, was present from the first, and rendered valuable assistance. Later Brother MacLay, president of the North England Conference, and Brother Meredith, chairman of the Welsh Mission field, joined us, and rendered efficient service in the general meeting. The attendance of our people was very good indeed. We had representatives from Wick, in the far north, to Mauchline, in the south. All the business of the mission was conducted in the most satisfactory way, and it was evident from the first that the Lord was present to guide in the plans for the work the coming year. Elder Haughey was re-elected chairman of the mission committee. Sabbath was a blessed day for all present. The Lord came in in a special way, and cemented hearts together. Difficulties that had formerly existed in the church were removed, and all felt that the Lord was preparing the way for a greater work to be wrought in that field than had yet been accomplished. During the year 1906 twenty-three were baptized, and seven were added by vote, making an increase of thirty in all. The present membership of the field is 152; tithe, $1,448, an increase of $161 over 1905; offerings, $370, or an increase of $87 over the previous year. The field begins the new year with six workers. They have sixteen canvassers, reporting book sales to the amount of $8,466 for the year. The British Union Conference Committee met March 4-8, for the purpose of auditing the accounts of the past year, and laying plans for the work of the coming year, and especially to give careful consideration to the work in our British East African Mission. Two more workers were selected for this field, who will doubtless be sent out early in June. We are glad to report progress in the mission work in Africa. Brother Carscallen states that he has erected a permanent mission home at the station near Kisumu, and that he has secured three hundred and twenty acres of land at a very reasonable rate. They have had thirty natives in their employ in the erection of buildings, and such work as is necessary in getting the place into suitable condition for missionary operations. Thus far they have not suffered serious illness, although Brother Enns, from the German East African Mission, was taken ill of black water fever; but he is rapidly recovering. Brethren Carscallen and Nyambo have escaped illness thus far. The members of the General European Committee who were in London voted to appropriate nine hundred dollars of its surplus funds of 1906 to the British East African Mission. This gift is greatly appreciated by our brethren in this field. While the Lord has greatly blessed us in raising funds for the establishment of this new station, yet with the small constituency that we have in our field, it would have been almost impossible for us to collect sufficient money to get the work started without assistance. We are glad to say that thus far we have been able to meet all the expenses with the assistance received from the General European Conference, and we hope that hereafter we shall be able to meet the entire expense from British Union funds. Plans were laid for the beginning of our work on the new property where the headquarters of our British Union institutions are to be located. The South England Conference convened March 8-12 for its annual meeting, in North London. A goodly number were present from the beginning, and the blessing of the Lord was very manifest. Preceding the conference, a workers’ meeting was held especially for the benefit of the canvassers in the field. Brother Joyce conducted this, with the assistance of the workers that were in attendance at the British Union Committee meeting. Brethren Conradi, Dail, MacLay, Haughey, Altman, and Meredith were present throughout the meeting, and gave most valuable assistance. Elder W. H. Wakeham, the president, in his annual address was able to report fifty-nine received by baptism, bringing up their membership to 642. Their tithe was $8,842; their offerings amounted to nearly $1,300, and their book sales to $8,120. They have thirteen conference workers in the field, and twenty-one canvassers. Elder Wakeham was re-elected president of the conference. Among the resolutions unanimously adopted, we mention the following:— “Whereas, The Lord in his kind providence has opened the way for the British Union Conference to secure a very suitable property, well located, for our union institutions, and,—17 “Whereas, Quite a large sum is still needed to complete the payment for this property, and for the erection of the necessary buildings, therefore,— “Resolved, That we, as members of the union conference, express our gratitude to the Lord, by each personally giving a liberal thank-offering, as far as possible in cash, otherwise in pledges to be met during the current year. “Whereas, The Review and Herald keeps us informed with regard to the progress of the work throughout the world, and the Missionary Worker, our own local field,— “Resolved, That we urge all our conference workers and church officers, to interest our people in these papers, with a view to getting a copy of each into every Sabbath-keeping home. “Resolved, That our Sabbath-schools be asked to supply their teachers regularly with the Sabbath School Worker, and their children’s classes with the Youth’s Instructor and Little Friend; these to be supplied from funds other than the regular Sabbath-school offerings.” Perfect harmony prevailed throughout the meeting. When the resolution concerning our new institutions was under discussion, $608.75 was raised from among those in attendance at the meeting toward the building fund. There was also considerable interest manifested in the discussion of the resolution concerning the Sabbath-school work, and it was unanimously decided that all supplies should be provided for outside of the Sabbath-school offerings, thus leaving these wholly free for mission work. All in attendance at the meeting returned to their homes greatly encouraged, determined to devote their lives more fully to the advancement of the third angel’s message in the future, and thus hasten the coming of our dear Lord. Workers’ Meeting in North England
A workers’ meeting was held in the North England Conference March 11. This was conducted by Elders MacLay and Haughey and Brother Joyce. On Wednesday, the thirteenth, Elder Conradi, Brother Dail, and I joined them. We found a large number of workers assembled, and the presence of the Lord very manifest in all the services. Thursday evening, March 14, the annual conference of North England began, closing the nineteenth. From the first, the attendance was very encouraging, it being larger than last year. The business of the conference was conducted expeditiously and harmoniously throughout. Elder MacLay was re-elected president of the conference. The report of the president was very encouraging. Three new churches were received into the conference—one located at Manchester, one at Darby, and one at Wallsend, near Newcastle-on-Tyne. One hundred and seventy-six new members were received in 1906, or thirty-eight more than the previous year, making its membership 662. The tithe for the year was $8,990.73, an increase of $2,379.99 over 1905. The offerings came to $1,735.79, or an increase of $73.10 above the previous year; the book sales to $10,121.78, representing an increase of $2,885.84 over 1905. They have twenty conference workers, and eighteen book canvassers, besides a large number of paper workers. From this it may be seen that the growth in this conference has been very substantial, both as to membership and as to means. Undoubtedly the people in this part of the British Union field are more easily reached with the truth than in any other portion of the British Isles. They are not so reserved in their manner as in other parts of the country, and are more ready to investigate. One very encouraging feature was the fact that throughout the year but one had apostatized from the faith. The meeting closed with a most excellent praise service. The brethren and sisters return to their homes full of faith and hope for the future. Wednesday evening, March 20, Elder Conradi, Brother Dail, and I left Birmingham, en route to Ireland. Thursday morning we arrived at Rostrevor, where Dr. Bell, with a small corps of workers, has recently opened a new sanitarium, a continuation of the one formerly conducted in Belfast. The equipment of the institution is not yet quite complete, but when it is finished, they will have a very thoroughly equipped sanitarium, although the accommodation for patients will be limited. However, if the patronage increases so as to build up the institution, additions to the present building can easily be made. The location is certainly ideal, it being situated about four hundred feet above the sea, overlooking Carlingford Lough, with the Mourne Mountains in the rear, sheltering it from the cold winds, and making it an ideal health resort. It can be reached from Belfast in about two hours’ ride on the railway, and is about two and a half hours from Dublin. We spent Thursday at the sanitarium, looking over the place, and counseling with the local board concerning future plans for the institution. Friday morning we went on to Belfast, where the general meeting for Ireland was held. The attendance was not large, but the blessing of the Lord was manifest. Reports of the various workers showed that substantial progress has been made during the year. The tithe for 1906 was $2,074.79, showing an increase of $902.99 over 1905, an average of $23.57 per capita. The offerings were $331.81, an increase of $171.20 over 1905. The book sales were $4,557.77, or $1,894.61 more than for the previous year. Brother Altman was re-elected chairman of the mission, and the seven workers and eight book canvassers, besides a few who are devoting their time to the paper work, all start out with good courage for the coming year. As yet we have made little progress in the Catholic portion of Ireland. During a portion of the year two Bible workers have been located in Dublin, and a few have accepted the truth as the result. They report a good interest among some, but they have not yet been able to reach the Catholic district. It was decided to pitch a tent in Dublin during the summer, provided the Lord opens the way for them to secure a suitable location. Brethren Mussen and Whiteside, located near Coleraine, have been meeting with good success in their labors; but more recently very bitter opposition has been aroused. One night a mob assaulted the house, breaking nearly all the windows; but this effort of the enemy only resulted in creating sympathy for the workers, and greater interest on the part of a number of people. The workers are planning on following up this interest with a tent effort during the summer. The brethren are very grateful to our people in America for having furnished them with two new tents. They plan to use these during the summer months to the best possible advantage.