Natal-Transvaal Conference by Herbert J. Edmed

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 28, 1906

Natal-Transvaal Conference

By Herbert J. Edmed

The fourth annual session of the Natal-Transvaal Conference of Seventh-day Adventists was held in connection with a most successful camp-meeting, at Pretoria, the capital city of the Transvaal Colony, April 12-22, 1906.

Between eighty and ninety persons were present, including a few welcome visitors from our sister conference in Cape Colony. The camp-ground, with its twenty-one family tents and two large pavilions, surrounded with many trees, was both shady and very picturesque, as the accompanying picture will show.

THE CAMP-GROUND AT PRETORIA, TRANSVAAL COLONY

The weather was perfect throughout the meetings, which enjoyed a fair patronage from the citizens, and much interest was shown in our proceedings.

Assisted by a small mission company, the writer began a series of meetings about six weeks previously, and the camp-meeting came just as we were about to close, with the result that the company of nine who had decided to obey was increased to seventeen, most of whom seem very promising Christians and earnest workers.

Pastor W. S. Hyatt was the only minister besides myself present, and upon us fell the heaviest part of the spiritual work. Brother Hyatt had been traveling prior to these meetings, and came to us with a hard cold, and the writer was greatly fatigued from the heavy work that our small income forces upon him. But the Lord strengthened us both, and we rejoiced daily in the evidences of his blessing that rested upon our work. There was an entire absence of excitement and criticism, and many victories were gained, and we praise the Lord for the spiritual lift he has given us at this meeting.

The business part of the conference occupied but four hours, most of this time being spent in giving instruction along the lines of the resolutions presented, rather than in discussing them.

One church, consisting of twelve members, at Vryheid, the result of the faithful, self-supporting labors of Brother and Sister F. C. Ernst, and Sister C. Birckenstock (wife of a member of the Legislative Council of Natal), was added to the conference, making our number, five companies.

The following officers were chosen by unanimous vote, for the ensuing year: President, Herbert J. Edmed; Vice-President, J. C. Baumann; Secretary and Treasurer, Frank Macdonald (the latter was also elected to fill the office of Secretary and Treasurer of the local tract society); Sabbath-school Secretary, Miss M. E. Robertson; Conference Executive Committee, Pastor H. J. Edmed, Brethren J. C. Baumann, A. Biessner, W. F. Walters, and D. Sparrow.

Ministerial credentials were granted to H. J. Edmed, and ministerial licenses to F. C. Ernst and W. H. Haupt. Missionary licenses were given to Sisters M. E. Robertson, A. Edmed, and A. Strachan, and Brother F. MacDonald; teachers' licenses to Misses Olive Pote and Mary Lawrence; and colporteur's licenses to Sister C. Dixie, and Brethren H. Schmidt, G. Webber, D. Sparrow, and A. Tickton.

The reports showed that during the year about twenty-five members had been added, bringing our membership to about one hundred and fifty. The tithes received amounted to $2,801, the Sabbath-school offerings to missions to $387, the weekly offerings to $262, and the annual offerings to $124. The book sales for the year amounted to $4,201. This item would undoubtedly have been three times as large, had it not been for the loss we sustained in the death of Sister Howard, one of our most successful canvassers, last April. She was accustomed to bringing in from three hundred to four hundred dollars' worth of orders a month. Another very successful canvasser, Brother Spearing, now connected with the work in England, also contracted malarial fever, and had to leave us, thus weakening our canvassing staff very materially. The present worth of the conference was shown to be $1,927, besides holding the title deeds to all the local church property. The present worth of the local tract society is $1,991. Resolutions were passed to thank the Lord for his blessing during the past year; to revive the canvassing work; to continue the Pretoria Mission; to place on record our deep thankfulness to the General Conference for their generous gift of one thousand dollars to our tract society; to send a thoroughly representative delegation to the South African Union Conference meeting next January; to revive the sale of the South African Sentinel; to urge our laity to make a systematic study of the Testimonies of the Lord; to conduct all business on the cash basis; to devote all Sabbath-school offerings to mission purposes, and pay for supplies separately; to make a strong appeal for £150 ($750) to build a much-needed church at Vryheid; to co-operate with the South African Union Conference in establishing Young People's Societies in all our churches; and to continue issuing the local weekly circular letter.

Last, but not least, on the recommendation of Brother W. M. Crothers, we decided to establish a "stamp-collecting department" in our churches, to collect and sell stamps, and give the proceeds toward the work among the Zulus in this field.

After the camp-meeting closed, several workers stayed for a few days' study, and then left for their respective fields. We thank the Lord for the good results of this meeting that we see already, and we pray that grace and strength may be given us to carry the triumphs of the third angel's message into every home and heart in this great world. Our motto in this field is, “The gospel to the world in this generation.” May the Lord make it a living fact, as well as a motto.

HERBERT J. EDMED, President.