Mississippi Conference Session
By F. R. Rogers
The third annual session of the Mississippi Conference convened at Vicksburg, Miss., Feb. 7-10, 1904. This was a very profitable season, and the first time in the history of the conference when all the churches were represented. The spirit of the message seemed to pervade all hearts. Plans were discussed whereby, with the small corps of workers, all openings for the truth might be filled, whether in court-house, school-house, meeting-house, hall, or private home. Success must be planned for and expected, and the conference voted that only those who were successful in bringing souls into the truth should receive support from the conference funds. Four new churches were admitted to the conference; namely, Vicksburg No. 2, Eschol, Greenville, and Columbus. The educational work is advancing. Encouraging reports were received from every school and Sabbath-school in the State. Five new Sabbath-schools have been organized within the last quarter, and are in a thriving condition. One very encouraging feature of the school work is that in every place where a mission school has been started, a church organization has been the result. Since Elder H. G. Thurston came to this field only a few months ago, he has not only talked aggressive work, but has demonstrated the fact that such work can be done, by bringing companies into the truth in each place where he has held meetings. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year: Conference President, H. G. Thurston; State Agent, H. H. Johnson; Superintendent of Church and Mission Schools, also Secretary of Sabbath-schools,18F. R. Rogers; Assistant Secretary of Sabbath-schools, Mrs. L. V. Crawford; Conference Secretary and Treasurer, F. R. Rogers; Conference Committee, H. G. Thurston, F. R. Rogers, H. H. Johnson, R. S. Owen, W. H. Sebastian. The new committee laid plans whereby the work may not cease while the conference debt of about twelve hundred dollars is being paid. The fields are white for the harvest, only waiting the tireless worker to gather the golden grain. As we saw the advancement that the work was making here, we could but think,— “Lo, the scenes of verdure brightening!
See the rising grain appear;
Look again! the fields are whitening.
For the harvest time is near.”