THE AUSTRALASIAN UNION CONFERENCE.
By Edwin R. Palmer
The fourth biennial session of the Australasian Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists was held, according to appointment, July 11–29, 1901, at Cooranbong, New South Wales. A strong delegation was present from each of the Australasian States. In addition to the regular delegates, the following delegates at large were also in attendance: G. A. Irwin from the United States, E. W. Farnsworth, Drs. Caro and Kress, J. A. Burden, E. H. Gates, J. E. Fulton from Fiji, A. T. Robinson, C. B. Hughes, E. R. Palmer, E. M. Graham, Prof. C. W. Irwin, F. L. Chaney, W. A. Hennig, L. V. Finster, Geo. A. Snyder, and Wm. Woodford. The Australian brethren were glad indeed to welcome Elder G. A. Irwin, an experienced and tried laborer, to take the place of Elder A. G. Daniells, who had been transferred to America. A hearty welcome was also accorded to the last six delegates mentioned above, who arrived in Australia from America two or three days after the Conference opened. These delegates, together with many visitors, were very hospitably entertained by the Avondale school, the Avondale Health Retreat, and the few brethren and sisters who live in the neighborhood. Nearly all the meetings of the Conference were held in the Avondale school chapel. A portion of the school work of the older students was suspended during the two weeks of the Conference so as to enable them to attend the meetings of the Conference. From the beginning it was very noticeable that the meeting was characterized by a spirit of unity and devotion. Some parts of the Australasian work had been passing through a severe struggle during the preceding year, and the delegates, as they assembled, realized that they needed much of the help and blessing of God to enable them to deal wisely and strongly with the situation; and it was gratifying to observe how the brethren drew together, and sought the Lord in their time of need. During the opening meeting of the session, three new Conferences were received into the Union: South Australia was admitted with a membership of 235; Tasmania with a membership of 200, and Queensland with a membership of 226. Many encouraging features were presented by the Vice-President, Elder E. W. Farnsworth, in his report, which covered the past two years. From it we quote the following paragraphs:— “At the last session of the Conference our membership was 1,859; now it is 2,184, an increase of 325. There were then 36 churches; now 48, an increase of 12. There were then 85 Sabbath-schools; now 104. Their membership was then 2,085; now 2,896. The average attendance was then 1,391; it is now 2,147. At that time we had 12 ministers; now 15: 13 licensed preachers; now 12, a loss of one. The number of Bible workers is the same now as then. The number of canvassers is now 69, an increase of 16. The tithes of the colonies then was $37,020; it is now $55,035. While this report is a cause of gratitude, it is by no means an occasion of boasting. When we think of the privilege of every Christian to bring many others to the fold, and that it is the duty of every one to do so, the thought of our slow progress is somewhat sobering.” “Three Conferences have been organized since our last meeting. With these three there are six organized Conferences within the Union Conference. West Australia is still a mission field, but the Lord is blessing the labors of His servants there, and new Sabbath-keepers are being added constantly. We think a Conference will be organized there in the near future. There are now one hundred and fifty Sabbath-keepers in that field, and their tithe goes a long way toward supporting the laborers there.” Much attention was given during the Conference session to the tract and missionary work. Special meetings were held each day with the presidents, secretaries, bookkeepers, and general agents of the state tract societies. Special attention was given to the principles by which we ought to be guided in all departments of our tract and missionary work, and the methods by which each department may be most successfully carried on. Various items from this institute work will appear from month to month in the REVIEW AND HERALD SUPPLEMENT. The prosperity of our tract society work in Australia is a proper cause for thanksgiving. A few years ago only one organization covered the entire territory, and operated throughout the borders of the entire continent from Melbourne. Now we have seven well-organized societies, with secretaries and general agents doing efficient and successful work. If we divide the past six years into three biennial periods, the value of books sold during the first would be $78,805; for the second, $113,950; for the third, $162,855. Thus the work has more than doubled during the past five or six years. During the past year the cash system has been adopted by all these societies. Church societies and individuals are required to pay cash for their supplies, and the state societies send cash with all their orders to the Echo Publishing Company. This system was adopted after considerable hesitation, and after much delay, for it was feared that the missionary work would be crippled, but our difficulties had become so great through the credit system that it became imperative to do something definite, and finally the cash system was adopted by the societies. The movement was wonderfully blessed, and brought great relief to all concerned. During the first year of its operation, the Australasian tract societies reduced their liabilities to the Echo Publishing Company to the amount of $8,500, which was nearly one half of the total account. All our fears proved groundless, for in every state the missionary operations were increased. Definite steps were taken during this Conference for the relief of the Avondale school by the sale of “Christ’s Object Lessons.” It has been arranged that every organization and individual in Australasia shall take some part in this great enterprise. The Conference laborers in each state will devote at least one month during the coming year exclusively to the sale of this book. The Conferences will pay these laborers their regular salary during three weeks of their time, and the workers will donate the fourth week. When the proposition was made that a material fund should be raised, one of the delegates proposed that the question be voted upon in a practical way, and the brother cast his vote by paying $250 toward the fund. Other liberal donations rapidly followed, and in a few minutes the brethren present, numbering about one hundred and fifty persons, donated $2,310. The brethren were greatly blessed in the making of this liberal contribution, and a stronger spirit of unity and burden-bearing came into the Conference from that hour. This fact was illustrated a little time afterward when Elder George Teasdale presented a report of the Queensland Conference. The present severe troubles through which the medical work has been passing in Brisbane and Rockhampton touched the hearts of all present. It seemed that the good work begun in Rockhampton would have to be closed up at an early date unless immediate relief could be sent. One brother came forward and gave five dollars, and proposed that others who were willing to give the same amount should bring it forward and lay it on the table. The response was hearty and generous, and within ten minutes $515 was laid on the table for the relief of the Rockhampton work. Then the brethren united in singing “Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow,” and seemed to give it a special ring and a new meaning. These were the means by which the burdens of the Conference were lifted during the entire session, and a good, warm spirit of union and strength was the result. May the Lord always help His dear people in Australia to lift the burdens in connection with His work in this whole-hearted, effective way. A large portion of the time of the Conference was devoted to the medical missionary work. This department has been growing rapidly during the past two years. That feature of the work which received special attention was the completion of the sanitarium building at Wahroonga near Sydney. The delegates decided that this institution must be erected wholly by donations, and dedicated to its work free from financial embarrassment; they also decided to raise a second or sanitarium tithe during the coming year for that purpose, and proceed with the erection of the building only as funds might be secured. When the Conference broke up, and the delegates returned to their fields of labor, it was with a feeling that the Lord had presided in all the councils, and given victories according to His own mighty power.