Arizona Conference by H. W. Cottrell

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 2, 1907

Arizona Conference

By H. W. Cottrell

The fifth annual session of the Arizona Conference closed the evening of April 7, having been held at Phoenix. The denominational constituency in this conference now numbers two hundred and eight. About fifty of this number have been added to the churches during the last year, which is indeed encouraging.

The different little churches were fairly well represented at the session, and the necessary conference business was executed with dispatch. The spirit of the Master was manifestly present, and took charge of all the services, thus making it an agreeable and pleasant place for God's people to be assembled.

The spirit of penitence, Christian liberty, and consecration was manifest in those present; hence the business meetings were as spiritual as prayer, praise, and preaching services.

There were a number of Mexican brethren in attendance, two of whom, not having sufficient money to bring them to the place of meeting by train, walked one hundred and four miles. This, to my mind, was an evident manifestation of consecrated zeal for God. This is first love.

All the people returned to their homes much encouraged and strengthened, and with a determination to do what they can for the unentered districts of the conference.

We have had one Mexican minister in conference employ, and at this conference there were added to this department of our work, another Mexican brother, and two lady Bible workers who speak both the English and Spanish languages. So we are much encouraged in the outlook for the future of this work.

The meetings continued six days, and on Sabbath we celebrated the ordinances of the Lord's house, at which service there were nine youth and children who presented themselves for baptism and church-membership. Besides, there were presented the names of four Mexicans who desired to unite their interests with us as a people.

The conference books were audited by the union conference auditor, and the finances of the conference were found to be in good condition, the tithe receipts for the past year having increased more than fifty per cent.

The few who were present entered heartily into the general effort that is being put forth in behalf of a large circulation of the Signs of the Times.

We placed before the people the necessity

of a cheerful and liberal free-will offering for the helpless aged and orphans among us, and, as far as I could learn, all the brethren and sisters are in full harmony with the regular denominational work.

The question of the raising of the $150,000 fund was introduced; and with but a gentle and kindly effort the remainder of what would have been their pro rata share, had such an assessment been made, was readily secured in cash, or in pledges to be paid in three or four weeks, with an excess of twenty dollars. We are glad to announce that, so far as we are aware, Arizona is the banner conference of all the conferences in the United States, in this work, being “the head, and not the tail.”

All the laborers in the conference were in attendance, also J. J. Ireland and the writer from the Pacific Union Conference.

Arrangements were made for the conference to re-establish its tract society, and thus more closely direct the circulation of our books and periodicals.

We are sorry that Elder F. I. Richardson, the president, is gradually losing his hearing. On account of this he gave notice to the conference that he would not regard himself eligible to re-election, as he desires a change of climate, hoping that he may recover his hearing. However, he was finally re-elected to serve for a few weeks until the union conference can secure a proper man to fill the office of the chief servant of the people.

All are of good courage, and are anxious to return fully to the first love of the truth.

H. W. COTTRELL.