SOUTHERN UNION CONFERENCE.
By A. G. Daniells
The first session of the Southern Union Conference has just closed. As this has been an interesting, important, and profitable meeting, and as many of the readers of the REVIEW are especially interested in the Southern field, I shall feel free to give a more extended report than would seem best under different circumstances. This Conference was held at Nashville, Tenn., January 3-13, in the chapel of the Southern Publishing Association building. There were about forty delegates present from the local Conferences. But there was a much larger attendance than this, owing to the presence of members of the General and Union Conferences, a large number of canvassers, and quite a number of interested friends who were anxious to take part in the first session of the Conference. We were especially pleased to have a good representation of our colored brethren. The entire delegation was entertained by our brethren and sisters in Nashville, and by the Southern Publishing Association. The managers of this association were the recipients of many hearty expressions of appreciation from the delegates and visitors for the excellent arrangements made for their entertainment, and for the warm, hearty reception given to every one in attendance. All united in the hope that the hard work and sacrifice of these brethren will be amply rewarded by earnest co-operation throughout the Southern field. Although Sister White remained in the South several weeks to attend this Conference, she was too feeble to be present at many of the meetings. At South Lancaster she contracted a severe cold, which affected her so seriously that she was too weak to bear any part to speak of in the Conference. This was a great disappointment to all attending the meeting, and especially to our people in the South who had not previously met her. The few words she was able to speak to the congregation were greatly appreciated. The many friends of Elder Geo. I. Butler will be pleased to learn that he not only attended this Conference, but that he took a very active part in all the proceedings. In many respects, Brother Butler’s sojourn in Florida has been a great blessing to him. Perhaps he would not have remained there so long had it not been for his afflicted companion. While she lived, he felt it to be his duty, as well as esteeming it a blessed privilege, to remain with her, and tenderly minister to her needs. Now that she sleeps, his mind turns to the needs of a lost world, and he responds to the call from his Lord to take up again the duties of the public ministry. All who met at this Conference rejoice that he comes forth from his retirement with good health, a clear mind, a tender heart, and a burning zeal. During the meeting, he manifested much of his old-time energy and thoroughness in Conference affairs. Although retired from public life, he has not been asleep to the trend of affairs. He appreciated the necessity for the reforms called for at the last General Conference, and heartily unites with the efforts being made to respond to this call. Because of his long experience in Conference management, and the great and perplexing burdens of the Southern Union Conference, Brother Butler was elected President. Elder R. M. Kilgore was elected Vice-President; Elder Irving Keck, Treasurer, and Brother C. L. Kilgore, Secretary. This is certainly a strong, efficient staff of officers. But the field is large, and difficult enough to require the full strength of all. With this statement regarding the general features of the meeting, I will now give some of the most important details of the work in the Southern field. The following portion of the president’s address to the Conference will be of interest. Speaking of the Union Conference, he says:— “It was organized as a Union Conference during the session of the General Conference held at Battle Creek, Mich., in the month of April, 1901. Its separate life began May 1, 1901, with three organized Conferences,—Tennessee River, Florida, and Cumberland,—the larger portion of the territory being unorganized mission fields. “The territory of the Southern Union Conference comprises the States of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee, with an area of 531,205 square miles, and a population of 14,908,768. Of these at least 8,000,000 are colored. “During the council of the entire committee at Graysville, Tenn., in the month of June and July, a legal association, known as the Southern Conference Association of the Seventh-day Adventists, was organized, with seven incorporators, and by-laws were adopted. The charter was granted by the State of Tennessee, and registration was made at Dayton and Nashville. A president, secretary, and treasurer were elected. “The past summer the States of Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia, North and South Carolina, and Alabama were organized into five State Conferences, the boundary line of each State being the boundary of each Conference, with the exception of the Carolinas, which were united, and compose the Carolina Conference. There is in the Conference a total of twenty ministers, twelve licentiates, and forty-six missionary workers. We have sixty-seven churches, with a membership of 1,460, and 460 isolated Sabbath-keepers. “The amount of tithe received during the period ending September 30 was $9,634.31. Thirteen camp-meetings have been held, and after-meetings have followed most of these, with good results. Some companies have been raised up, and in a few instances, church buildings erected. “We have five departments, namely, the Educational, the Publishing, the Medical, the Missionary, and the Sabbath-school. “The remarkable growth of the publishing work at Nashville is phenomenal. From nonentity less than a year ago, this institution has sprung into existence as if by magic, and has assumed large proportions. A legal association was organized and incorporated. The demand of the field which the publications of this association are to supply, call for all that is projected in the plant. Its promoters have succeeded in establishing the work on a basis which promises good results, and it is their purpose that the work in the future shall prove that it was the ‘planting of the Lord.’ Our people should rally to its support, both by a hearty co-operation in all that pertains to its work and object, by giving of their means, taking shares at five dollars each to increase its capital stock, and by a much larger circulation of its publications. It is important that all should unite in making this institution all that it should be. “That this may be accomplished, there must be a good understanding as to the relations existing between the workers in the publishing house and those in the field. Co-operation is essential to the accomplishment of satisfactory results in all branches of the cause. The makers of books, the canvassers, the ministers, and the people must be one in all that pertains to the advancement of the Third Angel’s Message. There can be no personal interest to serve where Christ is the controlling power, and reigns within the believers. The effort now being made to push the canvassing work is meeting with success, and the prospect brightens. New recruits are joining the ranks, and more experienced canvassers are engaging in the work. Our churches are called upon to unite their interests with this movement, and to select and encourage those who can, to enter the field, and go forth bearing the precious ‘seed baskets.’ “A large army of these faithful soldiers of the cross must be enlisted, organized, and trained for service.” Further details of the meeting must be reserved until next week. A. G. DANIELLS.