ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE MICHIGAN CONFERENCE.
By J. D. Gowell
We have come to the close of another year's labor, and the record has gone up before God. This calls upon us to carefully review the past; and wherein we have made mistakes, an opportunity is kindly granted us to amend, and to seek God more earnestly than ever, that entire consecration and true devotion may govern our lives in the future. In glancing over the last three-years' work, we see that this Conference has had to grapple with many trying and perplexing questions; but God in his mercy has graciously led his people through all these embarrassing places and circumstances. Many financial problems have come up for solution, and God has directed in those important matters. I am glad to say that, with few exceptions, there has been harmony in the committee, upon these questions. First, we found that we were carrying a heavy load in Ontario. We were paying out over eight thousand dollars a year, and receiving only seven hundred dollars in return. We were impressed that the time had come for them to organize, and we took steps to that end. That young Conference is now self-supporting, with a good corps of workers. Last year we helped them by nearly one thousand dollars. This burden placed where it should be, leaves us free to branch out in other directions. We then took steps for the advancement of the work in the northern part of the State, and the efforts of our laborers have been crowned with success. We expect, another year, that the interest in that field will demand a camp-meeting, thus saving the greater expense of traveling so far, to meet in holy convocation. There have been three companies raised up in that field this season. We found that we could support a foreign laborer. In harmony with the Testimony, we sent Elder Munson and his family to the East Indies, where the Lord is abundantly blessing them. He has given Elder Munson one of the most influential and best-educated men of the island. We are glad to have a letter from him to read to you to-day. Our outlay for establishing that work, so far, is about two thousand dollars, and now we are beginning to receive help. I am happy to report to this Conference to-day that we have satisfactorily settled the debt held against us by the Review and Herald, for matters in Ontario; also the Signs debt held against this Conference for reading-matter sold to the Ontario society years ago; and the widowed bed, an old standing account with the sanitarium. The Michigan Tract Society office has done remarkably well the last year. With its complete line of health foods, books, and Bibles, it is wielding a growing influence with the people of Lansing. The churches, generally, are of good courage, and happy to have the laborers go to new fields. This is pleasing to the Spirit of God. I am glad that this is the banner year for this Conference, in the paying in of tithe, which has enabled us to pay all our accounts, and give a large amount to the general work, besides several thousand dollars in the medical missionary work through the sanitarium. I am glad that God has made it possible for us to say to you to-day, that all the different departments of the work in this great Conference are now out of debt; and we are prepared to meet every obligation, including those of our school at Cedar Lake, where we have invested about ten thousand dollars. The institution is nearly complete. We expect to open our school in October, fully equipped for a successful industrial school the coming year. Time would not admit of entering into the details of the vast work in this great Conference; but suffice to say God has wonderfully blessed his people during the last year in many ways, for which we would render him praise and adoration. Over four hundred new accessions to the faith have been reported to me by the laborers, and many have returned to the Father's house. May we all press forward as one solid phalanx against the enemy, until victory shall crown our efforts, and the great Leader shall say, “Well done.” J. D. GOWELL.