p. 18 | The Chesapeake Conference

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 10, 1902

The Chesapeake Conference

By O. O. Farnsworth; Chas. D. Zirkle

The third annual session of the Chesapeake Conference of Seventh-day Adventists was held in Eareckson's Hall, Baltimore, Md., May 9-19, 1902. Each of the ten churches in the conference was represented by delegates. One new church (Cambridge, Md.), which was organized April 12, 1902, and which has a membership of sixteen, was added to the conference.

Elder S. N. Haskell, Professor Griggs, and Elders J. S. Washburn and L. C. Sheafe (the last two have just come to our conference to assist in the work in Washington, D. C.) were the laborers from outside the Chesapeake Conference who attended our meeting. Services were held twice a day for the public, and the attendance was excellent.

During the year fourteen laborers were in the field, eight of whom remained during the entire year. The work accomplished by these laborers is as follows: Days of labor, 3,252; Sermons delivered, 1,271; Bible readings held, 1,255; other meetings, 574; visits made, 7,118; pages of literature distributed, 90,407; periodicals distributed, 21,707; Subscriptions for periodicals taken, 3,219. Ninety persons were baptized and added to the different churches. Two church schools were conducted. Six entirely new fields were entered with the truth, and four of them were more or less fruitful.

Financially, the conference has prospered, yet our force of laborers being more than at any time since the organization of the conference, we run behind a little during the year. The amount of tithe received was, $5,477.40; first-day offering, $550.43; Haskell Home, $127.08; annual offering, $368.28; Scandinavian field, $195.16; relief of schools, $1,000.25; Skodsborg Sanatorium, $134.97. The blessing of the Lord was with us, and we were able to settle with our laborers at the end of each month.

We thank God for his guiding hand in our work; and it was resolved that we do all we can to get our literature into the homes of the people, and encourage competent canvassers and colporteurs to enter and remain in the work; that we encourage proper persons to engage in work with the Signs of the Times, taking subscriptions for the paper, and delivering the same by hand each week; and that all the resolutions passed by this conference since its organization be published in neat and durable form.

A new constitution was formed for the conference, in harmony with the plans of the General Conference.

The following named officers were elected: President, O. O. Farnsworth; Secretary and Treasurer, Chas. D. Zirkle; Executive Committee, O. O. Farnsworth, Dr. J. H. Neall, F. M. Bradford, Charles Judefind, Harry S. Weaver; Secretary of the Missionary Department, Mrs. Myra Davis Zirkle; Secretary of Sabbath School Department, Miss Helen V. Price.

Credentials were granted to O. O. Farnsworth, V. H. Lucas, J. F. Jones, F. W. Mace; ministerial licenses were given to F. H. Seeney, Chas D. Zirkle; and missionary licenses to Mrs. M. A. Baker and Miss L. M. Slocum.

Much valuable instruction was given during the conference, and the delegates returned to their respective churches cheered and strengthened for their work in the church and in their homes.

Four tent efforts will be in operation as soon as the weather is favorable to begin such efforts. Two tents will be conducted in Washington, D. C.,—one by Elder Washburn and one by Elder Sheafe. Elder V. H. Lucas will pitch a tent in Cambridge, Md., and Elder Jones in Oxford, Md.

The office of the Chesapeake Conference for the coming year will be at 903 Woodley St., Baltimore, Md.

O. O. FARNSWORTH, President.

CHAS. D. ZIRKLE, Secretary.