The Southern Council at Nashville, Tenn.
By George I. Butler
It was thought by those who appointed this meeting that a meeting of the leading workers of the Union Conference to seek God, to counsel together in reference to every important interest, and to lay plans for the year to come, would result in great good to that field. It would unify the work, and give every department greater efficiency. Much excellent advice has been written out for the Southern field during the past few years—more perhaps than for any other one field. The peculiar circumstances existing in this field have doubtless made this necessary. When advice was asked in reference to the advisability of holding this meeting, the telegraphic wire flashed, “Go ahead at Nashville.” The word had before been spoken, “The cause in the South needs to be placed on a different basis.” It was hoped that this might be secured by such a meeting. The presidents, State canvassing agents, leading men in our schools and sanitariums, in short, in all departments of the Southern Union Conference, attended quite generally. It was a representative meeting. There were time and opportunity for a careful consideration of all matters of importance. The first week of the meeting was largely given to religious instruction and spiritual improvement. It was thought that if we could all draw nearer to God together, and be hewed and squared by his blessed truth, our spiritual perceptions would be greatly cleared, our hearts would be made tender, and greater unity would result. Then God would come nearer to us all, and we should be better able to do his work acceptably. The labors of Brother and Sister Haskell were greatly blessed of the Lord. They occupied a considerable portion of the time in giving practical spiritual instruction and in Bible readings relating to the great foundation truths of the message, and in a consideration of the work as it was in the early days of the message. The writer also participated in this labor. A sentiment has seemed to prevail in some quarters that this cause was going to be remodeled. The good old doctrines of the earlier days would gradually drop out, be ignored, and disappear from view, and new ideas take their place, not so unpopular as some of those were. These new views would be more acceptable to the intelligent classes, more consistent with new lines of thought now largely taking possession of the schools, the clergy, and the higher institutions of learning,—so-called humanitarian views, wonderfully elevating, many think, in their spiritual tendency; and peculiar ideas of the Deity, like an essence disseminated everywhere, in men,—good, bad, and indifferent,—in all creatures, yes, in the trees and all living vegetation. Not only were these new thoughts not accepted in this meeting, but the whole trend of the teaching and instruction given by the old pioneers was just the opposite. It was boldly said that the only salvation of this cause and people was in a return to the old landmarks of truth, to the grand doctrines which have made us a people,—the coming of the Lord in this generation; the glorious messages of the first, second, and third angels; the sanctuary, with its glorious search-light, making it clear and plain that the “hour of his judgment” had really come, and the books of record were being examined, the great God of the universe, a literal, personal being, sitting as supreme judge in the grandest assize that ever has been or ever will be. God has revived the spirit of prophecy in this world of darkness and unbelief. He is sending us precious messages of light and truth, in every way calculated to uplift, illuminate, and thoroughly establish every soul who will receive them. We were favored with Testimony after Testimony to be read in our early morning meetings. These were a feast to every soul present. Many, very many, prized them, and thanked God for them. Nothing can take the place of these grand messages and truths which lie at the very foundation of our work. The old pioneers propose to make them the platform upon which they shall stand as long as God gives them life. Many false and some foolish doctrines have been taught and accepted by some. These must be weeded out. And the pure, holy, grand old truths that made us a people must be everywhere revived. The battle is on, and will never end till Jesus comes. There can be no compromise, no halfway position, no faltering. The integrity of the work as proclaimed at the beginning, must and shall be maintained to the end. These thoughts took possession of those who were present. They were a constant theme of interest. As these truths were considered, accepted, and assimilated, God’s Spirit came into the meetings, and many hearts were aglow with new spiritual life. The spirit of union continued throughout the meeting. The publishing association appointed a special meeting in connection with the sessions of the council. This was changed into the annual meeting by a vote of the stockholders and a change of the by-laws. Committees on nominations and plans were appointed. A Board of Directors was elected, as follows: President, Geo. I. Butler; Vice-President, J. E. White; Secretary, C. S. Potts; Treasurer, I. A. Ford; other members, S. N. Haskell, N. W. Allee, and L. A. Hansen. The condition of the office and its prospects for the future were carefully considered. The business manager took all the delegates through the office, explaining the changes which have been made. Many expressed themselves greatly surprised at the remarkable improvements which had been brought about within a few months. All seemed greatly pleased and encouraged. A wonderful change for the better has been seen during the last few months in the quality of the help, and in the religious condition of the workers. The writer can not remember of ever seeing a more quiet, orderly, faithful class of workers than we have now in the office. They attend strictly to the business to which they have been appointed. They attend the religious services, and manifest interest in them. The management has made a determined effort to equip the office for doing a large amount of work. Owing to the breaking down of the last one of the old presses, we have had for the last few weeks only our one new Meihle press on which to print all our work. Within a week or two we expect two more new Meihle presses, the best in the market, to be in place. These three presses will save our running night and day, as we have had to do almost constantly since our breakdown. Our future prospects for plenty of work are excellent. Much book work of our own denomination must be rapidly brought out. Plenty of excellent jobs come to us unsolicited. Many of these have to be turned away. We fail to see how our prospects for plenty of paying work could be better. After looking over the past history of the printing business since the rise of this cause, it seems evident that there has never been a printing office among our people brought into existence that has made such rapid progress as our Southern office. The dear old Review and Herald office was nearly a score of years in reaching the state of efficiency this office has attained. The Pacific Press, now such a power for good, was six or eight years at least in becoming as well equipped as our Southern office is now with an existence of only three years. The writer had the good fortune to be present at the second camp-meeting ever held in California. It had an attendance of only about sixty or sixty-five believers. Over twenty thousand dollars was raised, mostly at that meeting, with which to found the Signs office. For six or eight years it struggled against great hindrances, till it finally entered upon its pathway of prosperity. Now it has become a power for good. The same is true of our Australian office. We see no reason in the world for being discouraged about our Nashville office. As far as we can learn, our people in attendance at the recent council went home much encouraged concerning the future of our Southern printing house. No great debts hang over it. The fullest confidence exists in the present management. It is careful and conservative. It hopes to be vigorous and progressive. We are in something of a pinch for ready money to pay for the improvements we have been making, which were absolutely essential if our office is to be equipped for the great work it has to do. If the friends of the cause will have confidence in its future stability, and will19donate means to help us in our present need, and will loan us money without interest or at a low rate of interest, and will make the office a place of deposit for money not required for immediate use, so as to relieve us from present difficulties, we shall soon be on our feet, and this new office will enter fully upon its important work. Let all remember this one interesting fact: in the fifty or sixty years of our history as a people, not a single dollar has been lost because of a failure among us of a single Seventh-day Adventist institution. Not one! Is not this a good record? Banks have toppled over. Rich corporations have failed. Great firms worth their millions have gone under. Millionaires have become poor men. But every Seventh-day Adventist public institution stands firm, and is solvent to-day. We need not be ashamed of our record as a people. Let all our friends therefore realize that our Southern publishing house is among the latest of these coming into prominence. It does not propose to disgrace the family record. Dear friends in this message, believe in us. With all our youth and poverty as a Southern Union Conference, the medical missionary branch of the work is receiving some degree of attention. The servant of the Lord sent us this message: “Small sanitariums should be established all through the South” at suitable points. We have begun to carry out this instruction. The first sanitarium of our people ever established south of the Ohio River is at Graysville, Tenn. Instruction was received that it should be built there. A structure four stories high, thirty-two by sixty-four feet, has been erected. A beautiful, clear, soft-water spring on the side of Lone Mountain abundantly supplies it with the very best of water. About twelve thousand dollars has already been expended in the purchase of land and the erection of the building. It has reached that stage where patients are being received. It is unfinished, and several thousand dollars more is greatly needed to equip it fully for its important mission. Let our Northern friends who are deeply interested in the medical missionary work not forget this new member of the sanitarium family. At Hildebran, N. C., another institution is in process of preparation. It also has the proper indorsement. A building with twenty-five rooms is already erected. About sixteen rooms are suitable for the reception of patients. The services of Dr. Carey, of Oregon, have recently been procured. It will soon be supplied with furniture. Several thousand dollars has been appropriated for finishing it, ready for occupancy. At Atlanta, Ga., thanks to the gift of the Review and Herald Office of the building formerly occupied by the Atlanta Branch of the Review and Herald, another member of this interesting family is now in process of being prepared for sanitarium purposes. The machinery and bath tubs and other furniture are being put in. This institution up to the present time is entirely out of debt. The location is a quiet, pleasant one in the outskirts of the beautiful city of Atlanta, Georgia’s proud capital, within a few minutes’ walk of the finest park of the city, containing quite a large collection of animals from distant parts of the earth. This institution will soon be in operation. The council became deeply interested in the matter of bringing into existence another sanitarium near the city of Nashville, Tenn. The Testimonies have spoken very strongly on the importance of locating such an institution here. Brother L. A. Hansen and others have been laboring most faithfully for six or seven years in preparing the way for such an enterprise. Already a fine building in the heart of the city is rented, where baths are given, and some patients are treated. A restaurant is also in operation. In a very pleasant place in the suburbs of the city, a large building with eleven acres of land is being used for sanitarium purposes. Dr. O. M. Hayward is associated with Brother Hansen in these enterprises. The union conference purchased the property used by Brother Hansen, to assist him in developing the sanitarium enterprise, and relieve him from embarrassment. It is hoped that a sanitarium may be secured or erected in the near future in the vicinity of Nashville. A Board to look after sanitarium interests was elected. S. N. Haskell, N. W. Allee, O. M. Hayward, L. A. Hansen, I. A. Ford, B. E. Spires, and Geo. I. Butler constitute this Board. O. M. Hayward was elected president, L. A. Hansen secretary and treasurer. The educational interests also received a good share of attention. They are fairly prosperous. The training-school at Graysville is having a good attendance. The school for colored students at Huntsville has also a fair attendance. The length of this article forbids that more should be said on these points. The canvassing interests are being cared for, and are prospering encouragingly. The corps of canvassers is already among the largest of our sister union conferences, and is rapidly increasing. We hope to have the strongest force of canvassers in the field of any of them not far hence. Our field is the most needy of any. God will surely bless our efforts here the coming year. We are all of excellent courage; union and love prevail. A far more earnest effort will be made the present year than ever before to bring souls to Christ. Our large tent, sixty by one hundred feet, will be manned and run in our large cities the coming season. Probably Elder Haskell and the writer, with a large corps of canvassers and Bible workers, will begin in Nashville as soon as the weather will permit. We must make a strong move on the enemy’s works this year without fail. May the prayers of our dear brethren and sisters ascend all over the field in our behalf.