Meetings in the Southern Union Conference
By George I. Butler
IMMEDIATELY after the close of the general meetings at Graysville and Nashville, Elder Brunson and I attended the State conference at Welsh, La. It was my first visit to that State, and to me at least it was an interesting trip. Welsh is situated in an interesting country—a large, open prairie, very level, of clayey soil, that was scarcely settled at all until a comparatively recent date. It was found that by boring artesian wells, the water rose almost to the top of the ground. Powerful pumps are employed, and small levees are thrown up to confine the water within certain bounds. Then rice is sown over a broad expanse of country, and at the proper time the powerful pumps are set running night and day, excepting Sabbaths, for months, flooding the rice from several inches to a foot or more in depth. The consequence is that great crops are raised, and when everything is favorable, large profits are realized. But alas! rice raising in this prolific field is not certain to bring a profit. There is much expense involved. Many have large tracts of land, and are badly involved in debt. The church at Welsh numbers about ninety, and has an excellent church school. I was much surprised and pleased to find, when all were assembled, a large number of my old friends, from Vermont and Dakota and other places, with whom I was well acquainted from fifteen to thirty years ago. The meeting seemed mutually pleasant. The conference continued for over a week. It was, on the whole, an excellent meeting. Perfect union prevailed. Elder Brunson gave a series of discourses on the grand foundation principles of our blessed religion, embracing the plan of salvation originated by the Father and the Son before the world was, involving the offering of Christ himself for the sins of the world; justification by faith; sanctification and eternal redemption. These grand themes I never heard more beautifully presented, nor more clearly and forcibly. Many expressed themselves as highly edified. Brother Brunson also held interesting and profitable Bible readings at eight o’clock each morning. On three occasions those desiring conversion or recovering from backsliding were called forward, and the Lord’s Spirit was manifestly present. Quite a number of aged brethren, who had been in the past successful canvassers, but who had become indifferent, were among those who came forward. On one occasion after an earnest discourse on the pioneer work of our glorious message, the Lord’s blessing came in with remarkable power. Many came forward for prayers, some weeping aloud, confessing their sins, and giving evidence of deep contrition. Tears flowed from many eyes. I do not recall a meeting for many years in which such deep feeling was manifest. It was good indeed to be there. The business meetings were very interesting. Elder S. B. Horton was re-elected president of the conference for the ensuing year. The conference has16prospered. Their tithe was over two thousand dollars the past year. The other laborers were paid, and all enter upon the new year with hope and confidence. A restaurant has been in operation for months in the business part of the great city of New Orleans. This is an enterprise that has been of deep interest to Elder Horton. It had not fully paid its way up to the time of my visit, yet it is hoped that it will do so in the future. In the largest cities of the South, enterprises are being started which it is hoped will finally result in the establishment of small sanitariums. Those who are well informed feel that the South is in great need of instruction in healthful living, cookery, etc. A desire is being felt in this great Southern field among leading, intelligent men and women for help in this direction. We as a people need to feel drawn by a sense of duty to help give the people the light on health and temperance which the Lord in his mercy has been giving us. This is not only a duty, but a great privilege. I hope to see the day not far hence when a sanitarium will be established in New Orleans, the great metropolis of the South. In all these Southern cities persons of intelligence of both sexes have been patronizing our sanitarium in Battle Creek. Let the good work go on, and light on this subject be disseminated everywhere in this great South land.