Maritime Conference by Wm. Guthrie

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Oct 6, 1904

Maritime Conference

By Wm. Guthrie

This conference is composed of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island, and has a population of 880,842. It is in its third year, and although there are many things of interest connected with its history, we must content ourselves with a consideration of its present conditions.

This near-by field, with its eight hundred and eighty thousand souls waiting to hear the message for this time, has had but three ministers giving all their time to its people, during the past year. And these have labored at great disadvantage. But notwithstanding all this, some results have been seen from the very feeble efforts put forth. One church has been built, and eleven members have been added to the membership, and some have been added at Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. The people are waiting for the message, but where are the reapers to harvest the golden grain?

As we look at the few laborers that we now have, we are forced to inquire, What has become of the noble youth that have gone out from the shelter of our Sabbath-keeping homes all over the land? The answer is one that causes us sadness. While some have gone to the States to receive their education, and have entered the work there, and thus been lost only to their home field, there are a great many who, being unable to go abroad to school, have drifted to and fro till they have adopted worldly ways, and been lost to the cause altogether.

It is for this class that we specially mourn to-day, and we earnestly pray that our Master may help us to prepare ways and means to save the present family of young people, and prepare them for usefulness in the Master’s cause.

With this object in view, we have endeavored to open a school where, at the lowest possible cost to each student, we can prepare them to work for their fellow men. We feel that the home talent should be encouraged to take up the work, and labor for the spread of the truth among their own people. At this time there are but two Canadian ministers east of Manitoba who are devoting their whole time to the spread of the message for this time. This is not as it should be, and we trust it will not long remain so.

When our field can be supplied with consecrated young men and women who are Canadians in fact, it will not only result in the saving of our young people, but they will be better able to labor in Canada than are our brethren from over the line.

God calls for native laborers to consecrate themselves to his work, that this generation in Canada may hear the message from the lips of their own countrymen, and it is our duty to so labor, in God’s appointed way, that his call may be speedily answered.

This can not be accomplished until we can train our youth at home. We are so firmly convinced of this fact that we are laboring with all our energy to prepare for this work. The General Conference has also recognized this fact, and has most gladly come to our succor in our time of need, and has promised to aid us in raising two thousand dollars to erect a small school building where we can accommodate from twenty to thirty young people while training them for service for the Master. Five hundred dollars of this sum this conference attempts to raise within its own borders. And although its members are few, and poor in this world’s goods, we feel confident that, like true soldiers, they will press the battle to the gates. The General Conference recommends that the other fifteen hundred dollars be raised in the States of Iowa and Missouri; and Elder Wm. Guthrie has been sent there in the interests of this work.

May God move upon the hearts of his people to assist their needy brethren in Canada. A special call is also made to our Canadian brethren who reside in the States to send in their offerings to help in this noble work.

All contributions should be sent to the treasurer, Miss Gertrude Williams, Farmington, Cumberland Co., Nova Scotia.

With our school building up, and our farm set partly in small fruit, we hope to give some work to worthy students who can not pay all their way, so that none will be shut out of the school.

At this writing our school is in session, with sixteen in attendance, but our room is so very limited that we can not do justice to our children. But we are praising God for the bright hope that we have of better things in the near future, when we shall have a place

where our dear children may learn to work for Christ.

I never labored for people who were more grateful for the light, or more faithful when won to the truth. They have trials of which our people in the States know nothing, and difficulties to surmount which only God can conquer, but, through his grace, those who love his truth are more than conquerors.

Brethren, I want to be at the battle’s front, and see souls gathered for the Master. Will you help me by your prayers?

WM. GUTHRIE.