p. 14 | Australasian Union Conference by Ole Andres Olsen

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Dec 27, 1906

Australasian Union Conference

By Ole Andres Olsen

O. A. OLSEN

THIS meeting was held at the Seventh-day Adventist church in Coorambong, New South Wales, Australia, Sept. 13–23, 1906. The attendance was large, the various divisions of the field and departments of the work being represented by ninety-two delegates; there were also a goodly number of visitors. It was the largest gathering of believers at a union conference in Australia up to the present, and this is what we may expect at every such meeting in the future.

The occasion was both interesting and profitable. The blessing of the Lord and the presence of the Holy Spirit were very manifest from the beginning, and as the conference progressed, the meetings grew in spirit and power. The harmony experienced was a marked characteristic.

We had a heavy program to carry through, as there were so many interests calling for careful study and planning that ten days was thought too little time; but the unity and hearty co-operation on the part of those present not only made the work easy, but also enabled us to accomplish much in a short time.

It is not possible to give any just idea of the nature and spirit of the meeting on paper, nor of the subjects that were considered and passed upon. The reports from the different conferences, and the missions as well, were all of an encouraging character.

The present membership of the Australasian Union Conference is 3,999, showing an increase of 1,228 for the three years since the previous conference. There is also a gain of fourteen ministers, fewer licensed ministers by two, and an increase of twenty-three Bible workers. We now have twenty-nine ministers, thirteen licensed ministers, and forty-nine Bible workers; or a total of ninety-one laborers.

The total amount of tithe received from the conferences and missions is £19,823 13s. 2½d., or an increase during the past two years of £6,180 15s. 10½d.

Our one hundred and seventy-eight Sabbath-schools have a membership of 4,405, while the contributions to missions from this source have amounted to £1,849 9s. 5d. The annual contributions have increased £488 5s. 8d., while the miscellaneous gifts have reached £1,315 9s. 4½d. The total amount given to missions equals £4,302 2s. 7½d. Two years ago we had thirty-two canvassers less in the field, and since that time our sales have increased to the value of £15,236 7s. 2d.

Another feature of interest was the presence of Brother Pauliasi Bunoa, of Fiji. He was among the first to accept the truth under the labors of Brethren Fulton and Parker. For many years he had been connected with the Methodist denomination, laboring as a minister with good success for thirty-two years. When the truth came to him, he gave it careful consideration, saw its genuineness, and obeyed. It was very interesting to learn of his experiences, and to note how similar they were to others of like circumstances. He seems to have a very intelligent idea of the truth and nature of the third angel’s message. This was the first time he had been away from the islands; and what he saw and experienced on arriving in Australia was of great interest to him; but he adjusted himself to the whole situation in a very consistent manner. While he could not understand anything that was said, Brother Parker, or some other one, translated to him the leading points, and he enjoyed the conference very much.

Since accepting present truth, he has been a licensed minister in Fiji for seven years. The Lord has blessed his labors, and given him souls as a seal of his ministry. The brethren felt free to recommend him for ordination, and this took place the last Sabbath afternoon of our conference. Both the forenoon and afternoon of that day will be a time long to be remembered on account of the presence and power of God’s Holy Spirit and gracious blessing. The Lord witnessed with power to the word spoken, and his signal blessing attended the ordination service. After a few introductory remarks by the writer, Brother Gates spoke of the work in the island field, and especially of Fiji, and of Brother Pauliasi’s connection with the message.

Brother Parker also spoke very feelingly; then Brother Pauliasi arose and in a very clear and intelligent statement presented his position and relation to the work of the last warning message, Brother Fulton translating. All this was listened to with the deepest interest, and the Spirit of God witnessed to the work. Then as we gathered upon the platform, bowing in prayer, and consecrating our first native brother from the island field to the gospel ministry, the power and presence of the Holy Spirit seemed to fill the house; and many testified to the fact that it was the greatest occasion of their lives. After this, we had a general testimony and praise meeting in which the whole congregation took part. So many wanted to speak at one time, that we found it necessary to separate the congregation into five divisions. It was a refreshing season.

The Lord has greatly blessed the work among the islands, and the conference felt a special burden to extend the labors in the island field. The conference recommended that Brother and Sister Teasdale, and Sister Skadsheim—a Bible worker—go to Java. An urgent call had come from that field during the conference, and the way seemed providentially opened just now. They will sail from Sydney about November 1. Brother and Sister Wantzlick, who have been laboring in North Queensland for a time, were recommended to make Sumatra their field of labor, thus supplying the place that was made vacant when Brother Munson and his family came away from there. Two young men, Brethren J. Mills and W. W. Fletcher, go to connect with Brother Jones in Singapore as teacher of the school and general missionary worker. On account of the failing health of Sister Piper, it becomes necessary for Brother and Sister Piper to leave the work in Rarotonga for a time. Brother and Sister W. H. Pascoe, of New Zealand, will go there and take up the work. Two young men—Gordon Smith, a nurse from the Wahroonga Sanitarium, and George Marriott, from the Avondale School—will go to connect with the work in Fiji.

The conference has planned the publication of a small paper in the Society group and the Cook Islands, in the Tahitian and Rarotongan languages, respectively; also at an early date to begin the publication of a small monthly in the Malay at Singapore.

We would have been glad to be

able to re-enforce the beginning that has been made in the Philippines, but could not see our way clear to do so at present. Indeed, the opening providence of God is going ahead of our ability to meet it; but we shall continue to pray and labor to the end that more laborers may be prepared to go forth to fill the many earnest calls for this time, when the Spirit of the Lord seems specially to work upon the hearts of the people.

In the general program, the hour from 6 to 7 A. M. was given to devotional meeting every day, and from 9 to 10 to Bible study. These morning meetings were especially blessed. We had received a number of communications from the pen of Sister White, bearing upon our time and the work in which we are engaged, and these were read from time to time in these early morning meetings. The Spirit of the Lord witnessed to these Testimonies in a very special manner. I think that I was never before connected with a meeting where there seemed to be such a signal blessing come with the reading of the communications from God’s servant.

In the Bible study we took up the responsibilities of ministers, our high calling as a people, and the form of organization that the providence of God has specially developed among this people. As these lines of thought were taken up day after day, a better understanding was gained as to our relation to the work, both individually and collectively.

The hours from 10:15 to 12:30 and from 3:30 to 5:30 in the afternoon were devoted to conference matters; and instead of these being dry business meetings, they seemed more like revival services. The large attendance day after day testified to the continued interest in the study of the work and plans with reference to its progress.

The evening services were devoted to reports from the field, including both conferences and mission fields; and these were listened to with the deepest interest and sympathy. As our missionaries from the distant islands related their many experiences, our people were greatly encouraged and blessed by noticing the leading providence of God, as brought to view in such a very marked manner.

The conference was a great blessing to the school. Arrangements were made so that many of the students could attend most of the meetings, and they improved the opportunity to the best advantage.

We were able to close all our business and recommendations in good time, and the last evening was spent in a general testimony and praise service. We would be glad to make mention of many expressions that came from the lips of the brethren and sisters generally, and also the laborers. There was a determination on the part of all to profit by the instruction received, the blessings experienced, and to unite in pushing forward with great earnestness to the final triumph of the message; and with the hope that as we have been together here, we may also share the blessings of salvation in God’s kingdom.

But it would be injustice if I should not mention a very interesting experience the day after the closing of the conference. The president of the school had kindly invited all the delegates and friends to visit the school in the class work, and also in the industrial departments. Many of the delegates availed themselves of the opportunity. At 11 A. M. they all gathered in the chapel for the dedication of the new school building. This proved a very interesting occasion. After some remarks by the president, Prof. C. W. Irwin, concerning the work and cost of the building, the amount of student labor that had been put into it, and many other interesting items, he stated to the congregation that he felt it a privilege to show the appreciation of the blessing of the Lord and the prosperity of the work by a donation from the school to the missionary work, and handed a check to the president of the union conference to the value of one hundred and five pounds. Thirty pounds of this was a direct contribution from the faculty to pay the traveling expenses of Joseph Mills to Singapore and of George Marriott to Fiji; and seventy-five pounds was a donation to the Mission Board of the union conference.

This donation was appreciated not only for its money value to the missionary work, but because it shows a binding influence and hearty co-operation in connection with the other branches of the work. At the close of this service, the school invited the entire delegation to dine with the students in the school dining-room. Three long tables had been arranged, capable of seating one hundred and sixty persons at one sitting. It was a most happy occasion indeed, and was much enjoyed by the visitors of the school.

A marked feature of the conference from beginning to end was the unity in all departments. Whether the subject under consideration was the educational, the medical, the publishing, or some other phase of the work, every one fully appreciated that he was part of one great work.

Thus closed our good conference, with the wish on the part of all to be faithful to God’s truth, to his work, and to be earnest in our calling, dedicating every power of our being to the forwarding of the great and glorious work of the third angel’s message to all the world in this generation, and with the earnest desire that all might have a part in the great meeting and in the final consummation.

Strathfield, N. S. W., Australia.