Report of Philadelphia Council, November 13-18
By R. A. Underwood
All our laborers, except two, were present at this meeting. We had the assistance of Elder Daniells for one day, also that of A. D. Gilbert, who is agent for The Signs of the Times. Elders Jayne and Keslake were with us in counsel, especially relative to the health work. This meeting was attended with much of the blessing of God, the desire of all being to push the work in all departments as rapidly as possible. The two churches in Philadelphia took hold with commendable zeal in circulating the Capital and Labor number of the Signs. On Sabbath forenoon the North church subscribed for a little over three thousand copies, including some that had already been ordered. In the afternoon the West church sent in an order, thus increasing the number of copies to six thousand for the whole city. This makes about thirty-five copies for each church-member in the city. The brethren and sisters hope to circulate a much larger number before the campaign is over, and to follow the work with other literature. Brethren Fry and Painter were present, and in company with Brother Gilbert, worked earnestly to interest canvassers and colporteurs in the circulation of our literature, including papers, tracts, and books. It is the plan of the brethren there not to make the movement a spasmodic effort, but to continue thorough, systematic work throughout the entire winter. Our counsel meetings were attended by the Spirit of the Lord, and important steps were taken which will have a decided bearing upon the work in this conference. It was thought best by the workers not to attempt to have a camp-meeting in the spring, but to hold a camp-meeting in September, following some tent effort. It was arranged for five tents to enter the field as early in the spring as they can be located, not later than the latter part of May or the first part of June. Two of these tents will doubtless be located in Philadelphia. It was thought best that Brother Schilling, with an assistant, enter the city of Lancaster, and it was suggested that Brethren Smith and Hilton also enter Lancaster County, and pitch their tent in the country within reach of some town not a great distance from the city of Lancaster. Elder Shrock feels a burden to work near Wilkesbarre, and with an assistant will doubtless enter that place next season. Brethren Fitzgerald and Lukens will probably have charge of the tents in Philadelphia. In harmony with the action taken at the Atlantic Union Conference, recommending various conferences to organize such legal corporations to take charge of the health work in their territory as may be necessary, steps were taken at this meeting, with full counsel with the doctors and all present, to organize a corporation to be known as the Pennsylvania Sanitarium Benevolent Association of Seventh-day Adventists. This organization will doubtless soon take over the medical work now under the general direction of the International Medical Missionary and Benevolent Association. This is an important move for the medical work in our conference. While there has been united action between the medical work as carried on by Drs. Read and Bradford, and the conference, yet all felt that the time had come that the medical work in Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania should be broadened, and more attention be given to it by the conference. This will be an encouragement to the physicians and nurses connected with the work, and the steps taken to organize were hailed with a glad welcome by Dr. Read and his associates. Our brethren in New Jersey will join us in their influence and associations as far as possible to encourage this work. There were nine brethren suggested to act as the board of trustees, who will incorporate this organization. Two of these, Elders Jayne and Keslake, are from New Jersey; four are physicians,—Drs. Read, Bradford, Wilkins, and Christman; and Brethren Fitzgerald and Cook, and myself complete the number. When this organization is fully prepared to carry out its purposes, the health work and the sanitarium work in our conference will be organized as a department of the regular conference work. This is as the Lord indicated—that our work should be carried forward as a united whole. The work in Philadelphia presents encouraging features at the present time. The past season has been a successful one; a goodly number have been brought into the truth. The effort conducted by Elder Lukens on the West side added about thirty Sabbath-keepers, and the effort conducted by Elder Fitzgerald on the North side added about the same number. At the present time the North Philadelphia church has a very comfortable location for their meetings. This church has purchased a property on the corner of Seventeenth and Norris Streets, at a cost of six thousand dollars; besides this amount they have paid out about five hundred dollars in repairs, and in fitting up a chapel on the first floor, capable of seating about two hundred persons. It was in this chapel that our meetings were held. The upper part of the building is rented to workers, which brings in an income of about twenty-five dollars a month to assist in meeting the interest on the mortgage held against the property. One thousand dollars has already17been paid on the principal of this mortgage. All the brethren present were pleased with the location. By diligent effort the members of this church will be able to carry this indebtedness, and gradually reduce it. In the western part of the city the brethren have already taken steps to secure a permanent location for meetings, and a lot has been purchased at a cost of two thousand dollars, on 52d Street, near Walnut Street. It will require a strong effort on the part of the brethren here to build a suitable church with accommodations for a church school. This is needed very much, and an effort will be made to carry the plan into successful operation. Elder Lukens is working in the western part of the city, with other help to sustain the work. When we take into consideration the fact that Philadelphia has a population of about 1,250,000, not including the large population in its suburbs not included in the corporate city, we can readily see that this, the third city in the nation, demands a strong effort to hold up the light of truth. Our brethren in the city are not able to do all that should be done to sustain the work in its various phases. Possibly some who may read this report may feel an interest in the development of the work in the great city of Philadelphia, and may be led by the Spirit of God to render us assistance. We as a people owe to the vast multitudes gathered here the message which God has given to us. We have large conferences, with large numbers of workers in their territories, who have not so many to warn as we have in the one city of Philadelphia. We must have a meeting house in the western part of the city. How this will be secured we do not know, unless God sends us the means, as our brethren in the city are nearly all dependent upon their daily labor for their support. The health work needs at least ten thousand dollars immediately to put it into proper working order. There may be some who have a special interest in this branch of the Lord's work, who would feel it a privilege to give of their means to carry it forward. There may be others who could loan money without interest, to the medical work, which would be a help to us at this time. I would be glad to hear from any one who may be moved upon by God to contribute anything toward helping the work in the great city of Philadelphia. My address is Box 614, Williamsport, Pa. We have about four millions of people in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference, and have only five ministers and two Bible-workers, and one field secretary, who is laboring for the advancement of the canvassing work. This constitutes our force of laborers; so the readers of the REVIEW will see that we have plenty to do, with very few laborers to carry forward the work entrusted to us. We are grateful to God for the success which has attended our efforts during the past season. About one hundred and twenty-five believers have been added to our numbers during the last few months. Our laborers are all full of courage and faith. Several who have recently accepted the truth are now preparing themselves to enter some department of this gospel work,—as ministers, Bible workers, colporteurs, medical workers, etc. It was decided at our counsel that the laborers should do all they can between this and the closing days of the week of prayer to assist our brethren in the churches in missionary effort. Our brethren and sisters in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference were recommended to contribute monthly to the Conference Relief Fund for the poor. Wednesday following the first Sabbath in each month is to be known as “Benevolent day.” On that day something is to be rendered to the Lord, to be devoted to the fund for the relief of the poor and needy. Our laborers separated, feeling that the Lord had met with us, and that success awaits our faithful efforts in the large and needy field here in Eastern Pennsylvania. We crave the prayers of God's people, and we especially ask our brethren in the conference to be faithful in the payment of their tithes, and in offerings to the foreign missionary work. If there are those who feel a special interest in helping the work in the great metropolis of Philadelphia, either in securing a church or in developing the health work, we shall be glad to communicate with them.