Report of Biennial Council of the General Conference Committee
By William A. Spicer
WHEN the General Conference term was made four years it was understood that midway of the term, a biennial council should be held, for review of the two years' progress and experience, and consideration of plans for the ever-growing work. Four years ago the biennial council was held in Europe, with general attendance of the conference presidents in that division of the field. At this meeting in Loma Linda, Cal., beginning Nov. 5, 1915, a goodly number of the presidents in the North American Division are meeting with the council, the General Conference and the North American Division Conference dividing the time. The daily program of the council is as follows:— |
|
|---|
| Committee work |
6:00 to 7:30 A. M. |
| Breakfast |
7:00 to 8:00 A. M. |
| Bible study |
8:45 to 9:45 A. M. |
| General Conference Council |
10:00 to 12:00 A. M. |
| Dinner |
12:30 to 1:30 P. M. |
| Committee work |
1:15 to 2:15 P. M. |
| North American Division Council Committee work |
2:30 to 5:00 P. M. |
| Committee work |
5:00 to 6:30 P. M. |
| Supper |
6:00 to 7:00 P. M. |
There are present at the council:— Members of General Conference Committee: A. G. Daniells, I. H. Evans, L. R. Conradi, R. C. Porter, W. A. Spicer, W. T. Knox, R. D. Quinn, R. A. Underwood, B. G. Wilkinson, M. N. Campbell, L. H. Christian, Chas. Thompson, C. W. Flaiz, E. E. Andross, O. Montgomery, S. E. Wight, G. F. Watson, H. S. Shaw, W. J. Fitzgerald, J. E. Fulton, A. J. Haysmer, H. R. Salisbury, Mrs. L. Flora Plummer, N. Z. Town, F. Griggs, M. E. Kern, G. I. Butler, W. C. White, S. N. Haskell, C. H. Jones, J. L. Shaw, E. R. Palmer, G. B. Thompson, H. W. Miller, C. S. Longacre, W. W. Prescott. Out of forty-nine members of the committee in all the world, thirty-six were present. Among these the council was glad to greet Elders Conradi and Fitzgerald, of the European Division, Elders Porter and Salisbury, of Asia, Elder Fulton, of Australasia, and Elder Haysmer of the West Indian Union. As appears in the list of others present, a number of missionaries are with us from various fields, those from over the sea being in this country on furlough, while Elder G. W. Caviness was invited to come up from Mexico to attend the council. General and Division field: J. N. Loughborough, F. M. Wilcox, A. O. Tait, W. W. Eastman, C. B. Stephenson, G. F. Haffner, P. E. Brodersen, S. Mortenson, F. W. Paap, B. E. Miller, W. L. Burgan, L. A. Hansen, Miss E. M. Graham, R. F. Cottrell, G. F. Enoch, H. E. Rogers, Miss P. Tunheim, G. W. Caviness, S. A. Nagel, J. J. Ireland, H. W. Barrows, F. E. Stafford, Meade MacGuire, W. J. Stone. Atlantic Union: Allen Moon, H. C. Hartwell, H. W. Carr, W. R. Andrews, R. J. Bryant, J. E. Jayne. Central Union: A. T. Robinson, J. S. Rouse, E. A. Curtis, W. D. MacLay, D. U. Hale, N. T. Sutton, J. H. Morrison, F. F. Byington, C. A. Thorp. Columbia Union: M. C. Kirkendall, M. J. Richards, E. K. Slade, F. H. Robbins Harter, A. R. Sandborn, W. C. Moffett, J. W. Hirlinger. Eastern Canadian Union: A. V. Olson. Lake Union: Wm. Guthrie, W. A. Westworth, A. J. Clark, P. A. Hansen, E. A. Bristol, C. F. McVagh. Northern Union: A. R. Ogden, S. E. Jackson, G. W. Wells, E. T. Russell. North Pacific Union: U. Bender, T. G. Bunch, H. W. Cottrell, L. Johnson, H. W. Decker, J. J. Nethery, C. A. Burman. Pacific Union: J. E. Bond, B. E. Beddoe, W. F. Martin, C. L. Taggart, J. L. McElhany, W. M. Adams, J. A. Stevens, N. P. Neilsen, J. O. Corliss, E. W. Farnsworth, H. G. Childs, Dr. N. G. Evans, J. H. Rogers, M. C. Wilcox, Sydney Scott, C. Santee. Southeastern Union: W. H. Branson, N. V. Willess, J. L. Shuler, W. H. Heckman, J. B. Locken. Southern Union: A. L. Miller, R. W. Parmele, W. R. Elliott, B. W. Brown, C. S. Wiest, P. T. Magan. Southwestern Union: W. E. Baxter, J. I. Taylor, J. E. Leland, R. B. Coberly, John Isaac, C. J. Buhalts. Western Canadian Union: H. H. Humann, E. M. Chapman, J. G. Walker, A. C. Gilbert. General Agents and Publishing House Representatives: V. O. Cole, I. D. Richardson, C. E. Weaks, F. E. Painter, J. W. Davis, I. A. Ford, H. H. Hall, L. D. Randall, L. W. Graham, J. H. McEachern, W. R. Beatty, D. W. Dillen, A. F. Harrison, R. L. Pierce, S. N. Curtiss, J. F. Beatty, J. W. Mace. In joint session of the General Conference and North American Division councils the following actions were taken:— Inasmuch as “it is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord,”— Resolved, That we place on record our thanks and gratitude to God for the providential care and bountiful blessings bestowed upon this cause during the last biennial period, as shown by a larger ingathering of souls than ever reported in a like period before, and by the faithfulness of the believers in bringing into the storehouse both tithes and offerings in large excess of any former biennial period; we acknowledge God's blessings, with heartfelt confession that it is all of his mercy and not of any worthiness of ours; and with gratitude we consecrate our lives anew to his service. On the death of Elder Olsen. Whereas, Since we last met in committee council, one of our committee members, of lifelong service in the cause of God, Elder O. A. Olsen, has been laid to rest in the blessed hope,— Resolved, That we place on record our sorrow in this personal loss to all of us, and our deepest sympathy with his bereaved companion and with the family and relatives of our deceased brother; we further place on record our appreciation of the strong and efficient service which6the Lord enabled Elder Olsen to render in this cause, as minister and evangelist, as a missionary administrator and leader in North America, Europe, South Africa, and Australia, and for years as president of the General Conference, beloved and respected by all for his abounding faith and eminent personal Christian qualities, as well as for his gifts of leadership in the work of God. On this resolution the following-named brethren spoke, telling of personal regard for Elder Olsen, and of experiences in the work through the years: A. G. Daniells, R. A. Underwood, S. N. Haskell, Allen Moon, Lewis Johnson, L. R. Conradi, J. N. Loughborough, I. H. Evans, G. F. Haffner, S. Mortenson, and G. B. Starr. The resolution was adopted by rising vote. On the death of Sister White. The following further resolution was presented:— Whereas, Death has removed from our church councils one who, since the early beginnings of this movement, has been closely identified with its growth and development, and who by voice and pen, in the spirit of sacrifice and devoted labor, through the exercise of the special gift of the spirit of prophecy bestowed upon her, has contributed much to the extension of the gospel message throughout the world; therefore,— Resolved, That we express our sincere sorrow for the great loss which has come to us as individuals, and to the entire church, in the death of our beloved sister, Mrs. Ellen G. White; that we express anew our appreciation of her ministry to the church, and of the great value of the instruction which has come through her ministry as represented in her published works; and, further, we express to the family and relatives our deep sympathy in the loss of a faithful mother and kinswoman. This resolution was spoken to by Brethren G. I. Butler, S. N. Haskell, J. O. Corliss, G. B. Starr, Sydney Scott, J. N. Loughborough, C. H. Jones, and A. G. Daniells. The resolution was adopted by rising vote. Early in the council the proposed reorganization of the fields of the Far East was introduced, the chairman, Elder Daniells, briefly reviewing the general consideration which led the representatives of the field during his recent visit to petition the General Conference for the uniting of the Australasian Union Conference, the Asiatic Division Mission, and the India Union Mission in one division conference organization. H. R. Salisbury, of India, stated that the India Union favored this plan. In the magnitude of the work of evangelizing the Indian Empire, with its one out of every five persons in the world, the workers felt it necessary to have, if possible, more opportunity for frequent counsel from those of experience. Such counsel he believed even more important in the great heathen fields, with their special problems, than in the homelands. J. L. Shaw, formerly of India, stated that he believed the Far East had common problems, as that of Buddhism, Mohammedanism, etc., and that a common basis for counsel and cooperation between the fields would be of advantage to all. J. E. Fulton, of Australasia, read a memorial from the Australasian Union Committee, favoring the plan. He read also from the Testimonies that had come during Sister White's long residence in Australia, stating that the Australasian field was to be a base for rendering help to the great Asiatic and Malaysian fields lying near its borders. Apart, however, from any help the Australasian Union might be able to give, it was felt in the union that organic connection with that great field beyond them would be a missionary inspiration to the churches and to the young people. R. F. Cottrell, of the Central China Mission, presented facts from his field with its 138,000,000 people, arguing for the establishment of a strong administrative center within easy reach of the growing field. In the three provinces of his field already entered there were from forty to seventy workers in each province, counting the colporteurs; but in one province there was but one foreign worker available for administering the province, and in the other two, at best only two for the direction of the work. His field has about seventy-five periodical colporteurs, with no leader as yet to direct them. With competent leadership, he believed that within two or three years there might be several hundred colporteurs in the field. Already the Chinese Signs of the Times has a larger circulation than all the other religious papers in China combined. All this rapid growth surely calls for a closer supervision and more frequent counsel. When Elder Cottrell stated that the believers in Central China were about 1,000 in number, the question was asked as to the percentage coming directly to us from heathenism. He answered: “In Honan, 80 per cent; in Hunan, 83 per cent; in Hupeh, 50 per cent.” R. C. Porter, president of the Asiatic Division Mission, followed with a brief survey of the Far East. He spoke of the regions of north China, with 35,000,000 people, with not a worker nor a Sabbath keeper. West China, with 95,000,000, has two foreign evangelists, Brethren Allum and Warren, who have just landed on the border, with their families and two native helpers, and already report converts. It is, he said, as if two men had settled in San Francisco, with the burden of carrying the message to all the United States. Other fields were described, all alike undermanned, yet with Sabbath keepers springing up, and the work enlarging. Elder Porter said he would let the facts of the situation constitute the appeal for the increased force of laborers who simply must be secured. But with the increase of laborers, and with the rapid growth of believers, there was ever-increasing need of close and strong supervision. Therefore his division felt that the time had come to take the advance step proposed in the plan to enlarge the organization of the Far East, and to place more men in the field for administrative work. Following this presentation of the situation, the following action was taken:— In view of the growth of our work in the Far East and in Australasia, and recognizing that the many large, difficult problems of those fields can be best dealt with by those who are on the ground, and in response to the memorial sent to the General Conference Committee by the brethren of those fields,— Resolved, That we effect the organization of a Far Eastern Division which shall include the present Asiatic Division, the India Union, and the Australasian Union fields. The following were appointed a committee for the new Far Eastern organization: R. C. Porter, J. E. Fulton, H. R. Salisbury, W. T. Knox, W. W. Prescott, L. R. Conradi. On nomination of officers for Far Eastern organization: W. T. Knox, I. H. Evans, R. F. Cottrell, J. L. Shaw, E. E. Andross. The treasurer of the General Conference, Elder W. T. Knox, rendered his report, which was accepted by the council. The financial tables cannot be given here. The revenue statement of the General Conference for the year ending Jan. 20, 1915, showed an income of $643,556, with an expenditure of $632,130, leaving a surplus of $11,426. The statistical secretary, H. E. Rogers, presented a report, of which the following are some of the main features:— The total number of church members throughout the world at the close of 1914 was 125,844, an increase of 11,287, or 9.85 per cent, during the year. Total tithes and offerings received during the year for all purposes was $3,000,484.80, an increase over the amount received during the preceding year of $223,757.40, or 7.80 per cent, and constituting a per capita of $24.56. Including the increase in valuation of church buildings, and the support of and the investment in institutional work during 1914, there was secured a grand total of $4,461,202.86 as the expenditure for evangelistic and institutional work for the year 1914, an average of $35.45 for every church member throughout the world. The average in the North American Division was $45.81; in all other countries, $21.58. The report showed that since the organization of this work there has been contributed for evangelistic work alone, $31,675,894.76. Attention was also called to the Financial Statement for 1914. This shows the total investment in all the organizations, institutions, and church buildings of the denomination to be $14,039,279.39, an increase during the year of $1,226,495.78. The secretary of the Educational Department, Prof. F. Griggs, presented his report, which we abridge as follows:— The report of the statistical secretary for the year 1914 reveals the following concerning our school work throughout the world: There are in the North American Division a total of 565 schools, with 16,176 pupils, taught by 1,054 teachers, and having a property and equipment valuation of $1,943,999. In the European Division there are 7 schools, with an enrollment of 423, employing 65 teachers, and having a property valuation of $154,054. Outside of these two divisions there are 356 schools, with an enrollment of 14,297, employing 614 teachers, and having property to the value of $251,706. We have a grand total throughout the world of 928 schools of all grades, with an enrollment of 31,896, employing 1,731 teachers, and having a property valuation of $2,349,759. The increase during 1914 is 162 schools, 3,517 in enrollment, 159 in teaching force, and $11,533 in property value. Our mission school interests are assuming large proportions. According to this 1914 report, we have 248 mission schools and outschools. This is an increase of 57 schools over that of the previous year. These schools have an enrollment of 11,156, an increase of 1,546 over that of the previous year. In them there are employed 401 teachers, an increase of 39 over the previous year. These schools are, of course, scattered throughout all mission lands, and are conducted in connection with our other mission enterprises. I am unable to speak in a statistical way of the returns from their work in soul gathering. But the reports which we receive from those in charge are truly encouraging. Two short extracts may not be out of place. Prof. R. B. Thurber, who for some time was principal of the Meiktila Technical School located at Meiktila, Burma, says, concerning that school:— “The ages of our Meiktila pupils range from twelve to twenty years. About half of them we must support by getting donations for them and having them work at the trades. Our trades are in cane, leather, and wood, and we manage to get quite a good market for our wares. The leather work is about self-supporting, the others are not.” “So far we have baptized eighteen boys in the school, and they are remaining faithful as far as we know. We are taking one of the older boys into the mission work this year, and expect to send two to the new training school at Lucknow. A number of the boys have done well at canvassing.” Later, from the same school, Brother D. C. Ludington wrote:— “Our school is a mission school. Only one boy has Adventist parents. We carry work corresponding to the eighth grade at home. Both English and Burmese are taught. In connection with the literary training, carpentry, sloyd, shoe and all leather work, and cane furniture making, as well as agriculture, are taught. Two hours a day are required in trades. The average yearly enrollment is about sixty, and the average age of the pupils is twelve to twenty.” “The boys are beginning to accept Jesus. Eight have been baptized this year so far. A number of boys will soon be ready for work. Four are actively engaged at present, while a number will enter the canvassing work during vacation. Some of the students pay fees, some are supported by friends either here or in America, while a few earn their fees by working at the school.” All phases of our work in China are progressing by leaps and bounds, and the educational undertakings are not behind. Those in charge of the work in this great country recognize that its advancement depends in a very material way upon our schools. At the recent division meeting, held in Shanghai, at the time of Elder Daniells's visit, steps were taken to organize the educational work throughout the division in as thorough a manner as in the United States. An educational secretary who should devote his entire time to this work was called for, and the following recommendation was adopted:— “That we urge the introduction of uniform courses of study, a uniform grading system, and the preparation of such additional textbooks as are needed in the various languages.” This council should respond to this request for an educational secretary, and to the other requests for educational workers coming from the Asiatic Division. Our school work in Australia has lain at the very heart of our great accomplishments in Australasia; so likewise must the development of the work in the different lands of the Orient depend upon the thoroughness, efficiency, and consecration of our schools. And what is true of the work in the Orient is true of all mission fields. There is also a call from the South American Union for an educational secretary. The Educational and Missionary Volunteer Council and the conventions following, while held primarily for the North American Division Conference, will have a far-reaching influence upon our schools throughout the world, and will be of lasting benefit to them; for the general principles of work which obtain in the homeland must govern those of all lands. However, it must not be lost sight of that success in our educational endeavors in any land will depend in a large measure upon our adapting our plans of work to the customs and needs of the land in which we are working. In more than one instance has our educational work been hindered in foreign lands and mission fields because it has been made to follow the course of our school work in the United States. Adaptability is one of the laws of success in school work as well as in all other enterprises. We have one school of world-wide enrollment—the Fireside Correspondence School. This school was authorized by the General Conference of 1909, and was established the following summer. It has a present enrollment of 150 students, with a total enrollment since it was started of 1,056. The work of this school is thorough, and is accepted by our other schools. It enables our busy workers and our young people in all lands, to pursue definite lines of study in connection with their other work, and thus to strengthen their efficiency in service. It should receive the heartiest support of our conference and mission leaders, and should have a great increase in enrollment. By action of the last General Conference and subsequent councils, the Ministerial Reading Course has been established. It is now closing its second year. We have approximately 1,500 ministers, of whom 700 enrolled in the course last year. The enrollment for this year is not definitely known, but it does not vary largely from that of last year. Those who have taken the Reading Course have spoken of it in high terms, and of the advantages which they feel have come from the systematic reading of the books prescribed. The importance and advantages of this Reading Course are so apparent as not to need special emphasis, and it is the purpose of the department to strengthen it further, and to secure a far larger enrollment of our ministers. Elder Daniells, on his return from the Orient, in speaking before the Educational and Missionary Volunteer Council at St. Helena, said: “Our schools and our school-teachers, the men and the women who are training the youth for the finishing of this work, hold the key to our great foreign missionary problem.” While these words were addressed primarily to the teachers of the North American Division Conference, they apply just as fully to our teachers in the mission fields. In these lands large numbers of mature persons should be given a short, enthusiastic course of training in school, that they may become efficient evangelists and Bible workers. The children of our brethren and sisters in these lands need the benefits of Christian schools for exactly the same reasons that the children of our people in the United States need them. The rapid increase in our school interests during the year 1914 bears strong witness to this, and to the necessity of our laying far broader, stronger, and more efficient plans for the development of our school interests throughout the world. The secretary of the Sabbath School Department, Mrs. L. Flora Plummer, presented her report. It will be noted in the summary that the question as to the next goal to be set by the schools for missionary giving was introduced for consideration. While no formal action has been taken, the council evidently is in hearty accord with the suggestion that the schools, after reaching a million dollars within three years and a quarter, would be justified in taking as an aim, the third million in two years. The report as abridged is as follows:— It is now sixty-three years since Elder James White sat by the roadside, and, using his lunch basket for a table, wrote the first series of Sabbath school lessons for this people. The work thus humbly begun has grown, and today its influence extends to the uttermost parts of the earth. Wherever the Sabbath is known and loved, one will find the Sabbath school7with its Bible study adapted to the child and to the adult. During the last two years the Sabbath school work has been greatly strengthened in fields abroad. Speaking of the field as a whole, we can praise God most heartily for the manifest evidence that this work is reaching a higher standard. Week by week the lessons are taught with the power and effect that come from patient, faithful effort. Little children of every land are learning to love the Saviour, many among the youth are being bound to this message with bands stronger than iron, and through the Sabbath school influence believers in all countries are encouraged, strengthened, and established. In heathen lands, as well as in civilized countries, the Sabbath school is one of the leading factors in molding, building up, and making permanent and sure our denominational work. At the close of 1914 there were 4,936 organized Sabbath schools in all the world, with a membership of 133,815. Of this number, 2,169 schools and 57,064 members were in countries outside the homeland. Since the close of 1912 there has been a gain of 486 schools, and an increase of 18,918 in membership. Of the gain in schools, 220 were in foreign fields, as were also 9,768 of the members gained. Thus we see that a little less than one half of the total gain in the number of schools and a little more than one half of the gain in membership are in fields outside the homeland. In connection with the membership there is one item that is of special interest. For many years the Sabbath school membership was about one fourth less than our church membership, while it should be considerably greater, as such a large proportion of the Sabbath school membership is made up of children. We can now compare our Sabbath school membership with our church membership without any embarrassment. The figures for 1914 show the Sabbath school membership to be about 8,000 more than the church membership. The successful development of the Home Department plan has materially contributed to this result. By this plan not only the isolated, the feeble, the aged, and those unable to attend the school have been connected with it, but the efforts put forth in behalf of the non-attendants have materially increased the regular membership. The Home Department membership now numbers a few more than 7,000, of whom about 1,400 are in foreign lands. The giving of the Sabbath school offerings to the work in mission lands has been a blessed inspiration in all the world. Our schools are now depended upon to raise a large percentage of the funds required to support and extend the mission work. And they are responding nobly. The Sabbath school is the place where we can reach all our people all the time. It is only in this service that all ages and all grades can be touched by the same appeal. Just as the Sabbath school lesson may be adapted to the comprehension of the child mind, and at the same time the same topic be made to afford strong meat for the mature in thought, so the varied needs of mission lands can be presented effectively to the child and to the man. As a result, the jingle of the pennies dropped from baby hands, unite with the tune the dollars sing as they journey round the circle of the earth. The total Sabbath school offerings to missions in the last biennial period are as follows:—
1913 ............... $291,711.76
1914 ............... 344,390.23
Total .......... $636,101.99 Of this amount the fields outside the North American Division have given as follows:—
1913 ............... $ 62,773.52
1914 ............... 69,448.11
Total .......... $132,221.63 Twenty-five years of giving to missions ended in 1911, and netted a little over one million dollars for the regions beyond. Beginning with 1912, we started on the second million. The second million was reached in three and one-quarter years. How quickly can the third million be raised? The schools are now answering the question, but at this meeting we should drive down a stake to mark the new goal. Turning from the field as a whole, I will speak just a word with reference to specific countries. In the Australasian Union the Sabbath school work is exceedingly prosperous. Its secretaries are capable and devoted, and most of the plans followed in this country are successfully followed also in that field. Three Lesson Quarterlies are published,—senior, intermediate, and primary,—but the schools are one quarter behind us in the lesson study. They use the Sabbath School Worker as a lesson help, and Australia furnishes a fine list of subscribers. The schools of this union give liberally to missions. The first quarter of this year they gave all their Sabbath school offerings to the support of the European missions that were in desperate straits on account of the war. They had pledged $5,000 for this purpose, but the offerings for the quarter were a little over $8,000. During the first quarter of 1915, West Australia gave seventeen cents, and Queensland sixteen cents, a week per capita. Five other conferences in that union gave above ten cents a week per capita through the Sabbath school. One cannot look at China from a Sabbath school viewpoint without a feeling that the days of miracles are not past. When I first became connected with the general Sabbath school work, there was one Sabbath school in China, with a membership of one. The one member was our aged brother, A. La Rue, working all alone at Hongkong. The last report from China gives 93 Sabbath schools, with a membership of a little over 3,000. The majority of these schools are strictly up-to-date. Just before leaving the office, we received from China an order for one thousand sets of the Memory Verse Cards. The Commandment Cards used in this country were hailed with delight in China, and were at once reproduced in Chinese characters. The devices so popular with us for registering the amount of offerings, are equally popular in China. One of the best I have ever seen came to me from the school in Nanking. (A photograph of it is in the December Worker.) In Malaysia, Korea, Japan, and the Philippine Islands, this line of work is making rapid progress. In each of these countries the Sabbath school secretary is working to a definite purpose, and results are seen. There is no question but that the Sabbath school work is a strong factor in holding the native interest, and in giving the work stability and permanence. India reports 21 schools, with a membership of 710. The number of workers there seems so entirely inadequate that it has been difficult for a secretary to devote much time to this line of work. We hope that in the reorganization of the work in India, the need for a capable secretary to devote proper time to this work will not be forgotten. Cheering news comes from the Dark Continent. The mission schools in the interior have now reached the membership of a large conference, 2,706. The strength of our Sabbath school work and its far-reaching influence are well set forth in a letter sent to our department this last summer. The letter says:— “I must send you word about the thirteenth Sabbath at the Maranatha Mission. It gave me a new view of the solidarity of the Sabbath school work in all the world. There we were in Kafirland, but Malaysia was on every tongue. The envelopes had been given out the week before. Even in the huts of the Red Kafirs,—the raw heathen, who still dye their blankets and smear their bodies with red earth,—Malaysia was talked about; for children of these heathen come to school.” “When the offering was to be taken that Sabbath, a row of Kafir girls in white marched to the platform, wearing sashes inscribed, ‘Africa,’ ‘India,’ ‘Japan,’ etc. They held aloft a banner bearing the word Malaysia, and sang in English the song ‘Speed away! speed away, over mountain and sea.’ It would have touched your heart deeply if you could have heard those Kafir girls, with clear, full voices, singing that good missionary song for Malaysia's sake. Then the offering was taken. It amounted to $11.45, the largest Sabbath school offering Maranatha had ever had, they said. Some of the Red Kafirs who could not come sent their offerings.” This is but an illustration of the spirit of the heathen, when fully converted to the message. No opposition can stop it, no barriers can turn it aside, and the voice of the native in heathen lands will quickly swell the volume of sound into the loud cry of the third angel. For many years the Sabbath school work lagged in South America. Reports were meager and unsatisfactory, and it was difficult to give help to remedy conditions, for the secretaries were largely native workers who did not understand the English. Now that there are two union conference Sabbath school secretaries who can cooperate with the General Department, conditions have materially changed for the better. The last summary gives 176 schools with a combined membership of over 4,000. The union Sabbath school secretaries have been very faithful in translating from the Sabbath School Worker and from the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering Leaflet, that which they thought would be helpful to their schools. Their correspondence indicates that there is a growing interest in the lessons, and that the missionary spirit is rising. In the West Indies and the North8Spanish American Missions no union conference secretary is provided, and the secretary of the General Conference Sabbath School Department deals directly with the conference and mission field secretaries. In the last two years a great hindrance has been overcome in the West Indian Union by the publication of a neat little Lesson Quarterly for the children. It is quite impossible to promote Sabbath school interests without Sabbath school lessons, and since these have been provided, the interest has greatly increased. Most of the plans used in this country have been adapted to that field and used with success. Porto Rico does especially well in mission offerings. During the first quarter of this year the schools there gave twenty-three cents a week per capita. Guatemala gave ten cents a week per capita. Far apart in point of distance, but yet properly grouped together, are Europe and Mexico. I can say but little of the Sabbath school work in either. A little time before war was declared in Europe, we received a letter from the Hamburg office, giving the different languages in which the Sabbath school lessons were translated and printed in that field. The total number was ten. We hope that the time may speedily come when the work in Europe may be reorganized, and it will then be seen that God's hand has been over his people and his work in all these troublous days. The work in Mexico has been greatly interrupted. Not only have the schools in Mexico been disturbed, but the inability of the Mexican Publishing House to get mail service out of Mexico, has prevented the Northern Spanish American Missions and the Spanish schools in South America from receiving the Spanish Lesson Quarterlies during a portion of the present year. This of course has caused much perplexity and embarrassment. We are hoping that conditions there will continue to improve, as they have of late, and that the work may develop without further interruption. The Sabbath School Department needs your prayers, your counsel, your cooperation. The importance of the Sabbath school in a world-wide work cannot be overestimated. It pioneers the way in all lands, and lays the foundation for an organization which establishes our work everywhere. It is a school with 133,000 pupils of all ages, of all degrees of education and training, and gathered from all the tribes and nations of earth. The entire denomination comes under its influence. It is a school without vacations, a school from which none are ever truly graduated, a school which the spirit of prophecy says “should be one of the greatest instrumentalities, and the most effectual, in bringing souls to Christ.” Thus the first days of the council are opening in a most encouraging manner. Further report must be left to another time.