GENERAL CONFERENCE DISTRICT 2
By N. W. Aller
Twelve camp-meetings and one general meeting were held in this district during the last summer and fall. The attendance of our brethren at these gatherings was good, and the results of the labor bestowed were indeed encouraging. There is a manifest growth in numbers and spiritual life in this field. Every State in the mission territory, as well as in the Conferences, has made provision for owning large and small tents for camp and other meetings. According to their financial ability, the brethren here are as willing to give for the advancement of the work as in any place in which I ever labored. This is but the second year since the effort was made to hold camp-meetings in all the States in the district; but the value of these meetings as a means of advancing the interests of the great message of to-day seems as fully appreciated here as in the States where this method of service has been employed for many years. The volume of business done by the Atlanta branch of the Review and Herald Pub. Co. will fall but little below that of the banner year—1892. The canvassing work is advancing in most parts of the district, and an encouraging feature is the improved character of the work now being done. The canvassers labor not as mere business men, but as Christian men and women engaged in a sacred work, of which the financial phase is secondary. Another promising feature of the work is the establishment of small schools. A number of these are in operation, and the results are gratifying. In this great, needy field are room and welcome for hundreds of these schools, among the different nationalities represented here. There are hearts ready to receive the blessings brought by consecrated laborers. Information will be furnished gladly to those desiring it, as we are anxious to interest a large number of devoted Christian men and women in this work. The medical missionary work is a great blessing to the people, and gladly welcomed by them. The field is large, and the opportunities are many. The work can be more successfully carried on in connection with small sanitariums, under direction of competent physicians. Christian farmers and mechanics will find plenty of room and opportunities here, as do canvassers, teachers, and medical laborers. Much greater efforts should be made to get the message before the colored people. Seventeen laborers under pay of the General Conference worked almost exclusively for that race the last year, and eight or ten devoted part of their time to this work, besides several others who, with the exception of a small amount received as tuition, gave their services. A few words from the experience of those who are laboring among the colored people may be of interest to the readers of the REVIEW. Prof. B. E. Nicola writes as follows: “The Oakwood Industrial School has an enrollment of fifty students. None have gone from the school this year. There is a hearty spirit of work on the part of the students, and progress is being made. “There can be no doubt that a large per cent of these students deeply desire to become workers for the Master, and are earnestly laboring to that end. Last spring ten of our most promising and advanced students engaged in the canvassing work, fully expecting to resume their studies this year; but sickness prevented the return of all but four. This we regard as somewhat unfortunate, as it considerably increases the per cent of14young members in the school, and will to some extent extend the time in which more proficient laborers may be sent into the field. “The addition of a nurse to the teaching force is filling an important demand in the school, and a class of ten are receiving instruction. “The industrial work thus far introduced is performing its part in putting these students in possession of such training as will serve to better themselves and their race. The study of economy is not only a benefit and privilege with these students, but an absolute necessity. To figure out how to get through a year's schooling without a single dollar, or, as in some cases, with scarcely a cent, would be a problem for minds credited with more mathematical ability than is usually attributed to these people. I think we need a students' loan fund from which worthy persons who give evidence that they can earn and repay, could be furnished sufficient money to supply their necessities during their last two or three years in school.” Miss Nellie Patchen, of the Juniata School, says: “I do not have as large a school as last year, but it is more of a church school, and I can do better work with those who attend. The Spirit of the Lord has been in our school since the opening, October 1. Hearts were being softened and prepared to receive the message, so when Brother Woodford came and presented the truth more fully, every girl in the dormitory accepted it and was baptized, and a church of over twenty members was organized. “In two cases the parents had been brought into the truth by the children. The children of one of these families have been in school from the first. They accepted the health reform and began to keep the Sabbath, and as a result, the whole family of ten members, with the exception of three small children, united with the church. At the same time, another little girl, who has been in the school a long time, began to keep the Sabbath. She also brought her sister and her father into the truth. “Three of the older girls were baptized, and we hope will become good workers. One of these taught in the church school at Montgomery, Ala., last year. Her sister is now teaching in the same school. She did good work canvassing. “The students and new Sabbath-keepers have had good success in selling the Outlook Number of the Signs sent us by Brother Christiansen, and with the proceeds I have bought several more numbers, and have money left to buy tracts for our tract and missionary society. The people seem to enjoy the club of Southern Reviews that was taken for us at the camp-meeting last summer. I now have twenty-five enrolled, and am expecting a number more. “The following is a report from Jan. 1, 1900, to the present time: Number in the dormitory during the year, twenty-eight. Number in the school during the year, seventy. Received on board from students (including provisions), $66.23. Rent of books, $5.03. Contributions, $6.50. Expenses: food for dormitory, $76.35; other expenses, $67.63; total expense, $143.98. “I feel thankful for the blessing of God, which has thus far accompanied our school work.” F. R. Rogers and his wife write: “We find the school an excellent means of getting Bible truth before the people. When it is taught in the school, it will get into the homes through the children. We visit the home of every student, and it encourages us to hear the parents say: ‘We send our children to your school because you teach the Bible; for we want them to know about it.’ “It requires much patient work to instill in these young minds the principles of truthfulness, honesty, and good morals. This is the hardest part of our work. Severe discipline is sometimes made necessary in order to produce truthfulness. Yet with all this to contend with, and much more, we enjoy the work for Jesus' sake. We are teaching largely from a Scriptural basis, and it is taking well with the people. We are much encouraged, and do not think of leaving the field, but pray for others to come and engage in the work.” The other two schools under the Southern Missionary Society seem to be doing well. These are conducted at Yazoo City and Columbus, Miss. Elder W. L. Bird reports a successful school in Birmingham, Ala., where he has charge of the work. Another is being conducted at Montgomery, with a large attendance, and one, with day and night sessions, at Charleston, S. C. The one that was conducted at Chattanooga is now suspended for a time. We have several other reports, equally good and encouraging, but space forbids giving them now. We are exceedingly anxious to encourage many other consecrated laborers to engage in the work in this field. The best time to labor is now here. The Lord has said, “There is no more fruitful field.” We are encouraged with the prospect before us. Other interesting experiences may be given in a future report.