Latin Union Conference and Camp-Meeting
By B. G. Wilkinson
The annual sessions of the Latin Union field and of the French-Swiss Conference were held at the French camp-meeting in the city of Lausanne. The union field was well represented on the camp-ground by brethren who had come from Belgium, France, Italy, and the French churches in Switzerland. The tents were pitched in the shade of a beautiful orchard lying in the higher part of the city, overlooking the clear waters of Lake Geneva, with the snowy summit of Mt. Blanc in view to the south. A rapid glance over the past year shows that God had blessed this field during that period. About one hundred had accepted the truth throughout the union, seventy-two of whom were already baptised and enrolled in the churches, while thirty were awaiting baptism. The tithe for the year was $4,329.80, and the membership of the field is 577. Field work had been done in Belgium, in Paris, and in three localities of South France, and in Italy. During the year the city of Rome was definitely provided for, by the coming of Elder C. T. Everson to that city. The work in Spain had been opened up by Frank and Walter Bond, in the city of Barcelona. The first matter which received attention at the camp was the constitution for the union. This was duly drawn up and accepted by the representatives of the different fields of the union. Resolutions were presented and accepted, to the end— 1. That French Belgium, with its 3,000,000 inhabitants, be set aside as a separate mission field, and that a director be chosen for that mission. 2. That a central house of publication be provided for the union, and that Paris be chosen as the place for its location. 3. That we hasten our steps to prepare workers to disseminate our printed matter throughout the fields of the union. 4. That we put forth special efforts to train young people from America, with a view to developing the work in Italy. 5. That we invite our brethren in America to furnish Italy with a doctor and with those nurses believed to possess ability to develop good Italian workers. In connection with this, the French-Swiss Conference passed resolutions, among others, to the effect— 1. That the headquarters and office of the French-Swiss Conference be located at Geneva. 2. That the committee of the Latin Union be invited to place in the same city a branch office of their house of publication. 3. That the French-Swiss Conference pay a second tithe to the Latin Union. 4. That the conference, in counsel with the Latin Union Committee, make it a special matter of prayer, of study, and of search to establish, in a proper place in its territory, a sanitarium, a health food factory, and a general missionary training school. The reports of the Committee of Nomination are as follows:— 1. Latin Union Mission Field: President, B. G. Wilkinson; Secretary and Treasurer, Jules Robert; Secretary of Sabbath-school and of Tract and Missionary Departments, Mrs. Jules Robert; Executive Committee, B. G. Wilkinson, L. P. Tieche, C. T. Everson, J. Curdy, J. Robert. 2. French-Swiss Conference: President, L. P. Tieche; Secretary and Treasurer, Amelie Eva; Secretary of Missionary Society, Bertha Pevun; Sabbath-school Secretary, Amelie Eva; State Agent, Henry Provin; Auditor, Jules Guy; Conference Committee, L. P. Tieche, Pierre Schild, A. Guenin, J. Robert, A. Borle. 3. France: Director, B. G. Wilkinson; Secretary and Treasurer, Jules Robert; Sabbath-school and Missionary Society Secretary, Mrs. Jules Robert; Executive Committee, B. G. Wilkinson, T. Nussbaum, G. Roth, J. P. Badaut, M. Roumajon. 4. Italy: Director, C. T. Everson. 5. Belgium: Director, J. Curdy. In the Union field credentials were granted to six persons, license to one, and missionary licenses to five. In the French-Swiss Conference, credentials were granted to one, licenses to two, and missionary licenses to two. Those who have attended the camp-meetings of this field in years past say that this camp-meeting was one of the best, if not the best of all. The spirit of God certainly did reign in all the business councils as well as in the preaching and devotional services. The labors of Brethren Irwin, Paulson, and Conradi were highly esteemed. The workers have all departed for their fields with good hopes for God's blessing this coming year. Two tents have been located, one of which will follow up the good impressions of the camp-meeting. The carrying out of plans laid at the camp will demand much courage and wisdom from God. We beseech those to whom these lines may come, to think of us now and then before the altar of grace, as for those who work in the Catholic fields of Europe.