Missionary Volunteer Institute for the Southwestern Union
By C. SORENSON
The first of the series of Missionary Volunteer institutes was held at Keene, February 23-28. Elder Meade MacGuire came from Colorado several days before the time for the institute to open, and began to hold evening meetings in the church. The good impression continued to deepen until Friday night, when about eighty remained for the after-meeting. While a number of these had known the Lord in the past, and remained to seek a higher experience, others were coming to the Lord for the first time. The meetings partook of a deep spiritual nature from the very beginning, and many of the older members of the church came to the services held in the daytime. The chapel was filled, as were all the extra seats that could be placed. Elder G. F. Watson, the union conference president, with several of the local conference presidents, was in attendance, and took an active part in all the sessions of the institute. While we were disappointed in not having Prof. H. R. Salisbury with us, the Lord so abundantly blessed the labors of Elder MacGuire and Miss Erickson that it seemed as if there would not have been room for more in the time allotted us. At the meetings held during the day the topics considered were: The Purpose of the Work, the Spiritual Foundation on Which It Rests, the Plan of Organization, and Plans of Work. As an evidence of the desire to better understand the plans of the work, we might mention the fact that more than forty questions, covering all phases of the work, were placed in the question-box. That which gives the greatest hope for the future of this work is the spiritual basis on which it rests. The closing meeting Tuesday night was given to a consideration of the topic, What the Convention Has Done for Me. This meeting was open for all, and nearly every one present spoke words of appreciation and thanks for the blessings received. One of the leading workers said: “I am so thankful for the opportunity I have had of attending this institute. It gives me new courage to see that this great movement is not something aside from the work of the church, but that it is getting the strength of our young people turned fully into the lines of work in which the church is engaged. It speaks to me of progress and victory.” This expressed the sentiments of many of them present. The students who had engaged in prayer and labor for their companions were cheered as they saw them, from night to night, seeking God for his blessing. C. SORENSON.