ANOTHER CONFERENCE AT WORK
Oklahoma Joins the Debt-Destroying Army
And now Oklahoma has joined the ranks of the Conferences which are actively campaigning for “Christ’s Object Lessons” and the Relief of the Schools. The laborers are vitalized for their mission, and are going forth with sanctified energy and much prayer to carry forward “the heaven-born plan.” There is a feeling that the King’s business demands haste, and many have gone out, “being hastened by the King’s commandment.” The Oklahoma Conference recently convened at Oklahoma City. By unanimous vote, its laborers are to spend the time until General Conference in canvassing for “Christ’s Object Lessons,” and getting the members of the churches everywhere stirred up to engage in this work. The Oklahoma Conference has decided to conduct the work for “Christ’s Object Lessons” on the cash plan. In each church a fund will be raised with which to pay in advance for the books taken from the tract society office. Wealthier brethren will advance money for the poorer ones. In this way all the books taken from the tract society will be paid for in advance. This is a right move, and one which God will bless. It will inspire our people with confidence in this great work; for all will realize that there is a burden resting upon the leaders to get rid of debt,—the thing itself,—and once and forever to put the denominational work on the pay-as-you-go plan. We must pay our school debts, and not simply transfer them to the tract societies. The majority of the brethren in Oklahoma are poor. They are a sturdy, hard-working company, who have come to a new country to make homes for themselves and their families, and have settled on land upon which white men have never before dwelt. They are “not slothful in business,” neither in their own affairs nor in the Lord’s. In the past these brethren have given liberally for the support of the Keene Academy. A beautiful and commodious church, built of stone and brick, with a good basement for church-school purposes, has just been dedicated at Oklahoma City. Word has been received that the gold prospect at Keene has not materialized. But we thank the Lord that He has a people who are loyal and true to His work in the earth, who will not see His holy name disgraced by debt, and whose pledges to pay gold do materialize. The faithful sons and daughters of God are the best hope for money that the Third Angel’s Message has. As with the blessed Master, so let it be with us—we will not fail nor be discouraged. At the Conference the following sums were paid in cash to the Relief of the Schools fund, and pledges itemized beneath were also made:— C. F. Haffner .................................... $ 5 00
S. W. Wilson ..................................... 5 00
F. Riffer ........................................ 2 00
C. Ordner ........................................ 1 00
J. H. Buel ....................................... 1 00
J. J. Schiffner .................................. 1 00
C. Myer ........................................... 1 00
C. B. Wilson ..................................... 1 00
C. W. Miller ..................................... 1 00
E. G. Graves ..................................... 1 00
James Butka ...................................... 1 00
F. C. McIlvain ................................... 5 00
C. Uhrig .......................................... 2 00
T. R. Smith ...................................... 1 00
Peter Heinze ..................................... 1 00
Miscellaneous contributions ..................... 13 00 Anna L. John ................................... $ 2 00
J. A. Burky ...................................... 5 00
H. E. Bartholomew ............................... 1 00
J. A. Malone ..................................... 5 00
Jesse S. Fillman ................................ 2 00
Thos. Baker ...................................... 1 00
Enoch Baker ...................................... 2 00
D. L. Roser ...................................... 90
Carrie W. Roser .................................. 90
J. D. McCoy ...................................... 5 00
A. S. Combs ...................................... 1 50
C. McReynolds .................................... 5 00
C. Shafter ........................................ 5 00
S. W. Wilson (conditional) ...................... 50 00
L. R. Waterman ................................... 1 00
Nora L. Shields .................................. 5 00
A. J. Faucher ..................................... 2 00
H. A. Phillips .................................... 1 00 Cash ............................................ 42 00 Total ........................................... $137 30 ALTONA, O. T., Dec. 2, 1900. DEAR BROTHER: I received your letter with pleasure last evening. In reply, will say that I am indeed glad that you are having success in the sale of “Christ’s Object Lessons.” I expect to sell some of the books myself. Yes, we need unifying as a people. The discord that has existed has turned many a soul back into the world, and now, as the Lord is about to reveal great things to us, we ought to be in a condition to receive them; and if we as a people can not get right now, when can we? I shall not need any of the circulars now; and if I do when I start out again, I will let you know. I am glad that the Review and Herald is able to run day and night, printing these good books, and I hope that the institutions will soon be lifted up out of disgrace. If all the States in the General Conference would do as well as Iowa and Michigan have done, it would be a grand thing, not only for the schools, but for the advancement of the truth in all parts of the field. Thanking you for the many favors received, and for those to come, I am, Yours in truth,
[Signed] R. H. THOMPSON.