SOUTHWESTERN UNION CONFERENCE.
By C. McReynolds
The camp-meetings of the season are now past. They have been occasions of much interest. Five of the Conferences composing the Union Conference have held their annual Conference meetings in connection with the camp-meeting. The attendance at some of the earlier meetings was much hindered by the drought. However, a goodly number came, and the Lord gave especial blessing as we entered upon the work of re-organization in Conference, tract society, and Sabbath-school plans. In all the Conferences those separate organizations were made departments of the Conference, and in most of them some minor changes were made. A more liberal method of choosing committees was adopted, and all members present were recognized as delegates. Wherever this method was adopted, the most perfect freedom prevailed. The messages borne by the ministry were of such a nature as to stir deeply and in a practical way all who attended, and in every meeting a goodly number responded to the call of the Spirit of God, gave their hearts to the Lord, and followed their Saviour in baptism. The Texas camp-meeting was the largest one held in the Union Conference, there being about thirteen hundred people camped on the ground. In every place the interest demanded the continuance of the meetings, and in some cases excellent results followed. The various interests of the work were considered, the mission work receiving much attention. In almost every Conference the ten-cent-a-week plan was adopted with such an enthusiasm as gives good promise that it will be carried out in the weekly practice of the people. The canvassing work was made a specialty everywhere. No second place was given it in any of the Conferences. As a result a goodly number entered that branch of the Lord's work who had never canvassed before. The medical missionary work was taken hold of more intelligently and earnestly than formerly. The camp-meetings in Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, and Colorado were favored with the services of the Drs. Paulson, whose labors were much appreciated, and will, I am sure, prove valuable to many who will make the instruction practical in the home life. The health work in the Union Conference is encouraging. The Keene Sanitarium has not sufficient room to accommodate all who wish to enter that institution, some having been recently refused admission on that account. The Boulder Sanitarium has had a splendid year. That institution also has insufficient room to accommodate its patrons. Its condition has been much improved in every way the past year, repairs having been made, improvements added, and facilities increased. The debts have been encouragingly reduced. Kansas and Texas voted to pay the second tithe, and other Conferences will do likewise in the near future. Since the close of the annual camp-meeting in Arkansas, the Lord has signally blessed the work there. Four new churches have been organized by the Conference workers. The Union Conference has undertaken the work for the colored people in Arkansas, and employed Brethren S. S. Ryles and Sidney B. Scott (colored laborers). These brethren went to a place near Van Buren and began house-to-house work. Later they opened public services. They distributed much reading-matter, and Brother Scott sold a good many books. They found a church which excludes tobacco, and holds the truth on the second coming of the Lord. A recent letter from Elder Field states that the whole church has accepted the Sabbath, and some will become students of our school at Huntsville, Ala. Thus we see how the Lord is blessing the colored laborers in their efforts to bring the truth to their own race. Plans are being laid to take up the German work in St. Louis under the direction of the Union Conference. There are three hundred thousand Germans in that city, and no work has been done for them. As means comes into the Union Conference treasury, we shall enter other missionary fields according to the amount of funds within our reach, but no debts will be contracted in establishing great missions. There are many openings within the borders of the Union Conference for missionary operations; and when you have faithfully paid the ten cents per week into the general mission fund, besides liberal Sabbath-school donations, and all your tithes to the church, and the Lord has blessed you abundantly, remember the work for colored people in the Southwestern Union Conference. There are hundreds of thousands of these people in this Conference, and many of them will yet rejoice in the truths of the message, and be ready to meet the Saviour. May the Lord roll upon us a burden to save them. C. McREYNOLDS.