Editorial Correspondence
By William W. Prescott
OAKLAND, CAL., March 23, 1903. The meeting of the General Conference is an occasion of much interest to all believers in this message. The representatives of the work in the different fields come together to recount the progress of the work, to compare experiences, to counsel concerning the burdens which weigh on their minds, and to seek a fresh inspiration for future achievement in the rapid spread of the truth. At every conference there are those present who have just returned from years of absence “in the regions beyond,” and there is thus a reunion of long-separated members of the Lord’s family,—a little foretaste of the great reunion when the redeemed will come to Zion. It is but natural that the attendance at this conference should be much smaller than at Battle Creek two years ago. The reorganization of the General Conference and the representation by union conferences upon a large numerical basis, instead of by State conferences upon a smaller numerical basis, would in itself reduce the list of delegates. But in addition to this, the location of the gathering in the extreme West has tended to reduce the delegation from the East, and furthermore it was not deemed advisable to call our missionaries from their fields so soon after they had returned to their work. The next conference will doubtless be a world’s missionary conference, with a full delegation from the whole field. All are thankful that the Lord has spared his aged servant, Sister White, to meet with us again in General Conference. Until within about two weeks she has been greatly weighed down by the heavy burden laid upon her concerning some features of the work, but just recently she has been especially strengthened, and some of the terrible pressure has been lifted from her mind. She has taken a furnished house in Oakland for the use of the family during the conference, and has already come from her home near St. Helena. Those who were present at the last General Conference will remember how much influence her testimony had in shaping the work of that meeting, and we confidently expect that the Lord will still give messages of instruction for his people through his servant. The friends in Oakland and vicinity are doing all in their power to make the visitors to the Coast welcome. Their homes are opened freely, and a Christian hospitality is shown. The brethren who have charge of general arrangements for the conference are providing everything necessary. The Daily Bulletin will be printed at the Pacific Press office, where their complete equipment will greatly facilitate the work. Brethren W. A. Spicer, M. C. Wilcox, and C. P. Bollman constitute the editorial committee, and they will be supplied with suitable stenographic and editorial assistants. The first party of delegates and friends arrived in Oakland on Thursday evening, March 19. This week there have been daily arrivals, including some from Australia and the islands of the Pacific. Daily meetings of the General Conference Committee are being held for the auditing of accounts and the necessary preliminary work. The time allotted to the conference is only thirteen days, exclusive of the three Sabbaths, and the time must be used to the best possible advantage in order that proper attention may be given to the various important questions demanding consideration. We believe that many faithful believers are bearing this conference on their hearts, and that many earnest petitions are being sent up to the Father in heaven for special blessing upon this meeting. This is the Lord’s work, and we must “give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.” W. W. P.