Pacific Coast Conference.
By S. N. Haskell
It is necessary for those intimately connected with the work of God to have frequent consultations together. Sin has marred the faculties of all so that the judgment of no one person is perfect. To supply this defect, God has placed in the church various gifts, not all to any one person, but divided severally as he would, so that these gifts can be brought together to supply the deficiencies caused by sin. The more the different features of the cause are canvassed by a multitude of counselors, and contemplated moves are looked upon from different stand-points, the more safe will be the conclusions arrived at. God made man a social being and to a certain extent dependent upon his neighbor. The apostles felt the need of this. They met in an upper room and spent much time in prayer and consultation. The apostle to the Gentiles was instructed by the Spirit of God to visit Jerusalem and confer with the brethren. The first General Conference of Christians was held at Jerusalem in the year 51. It was at such times that God in a signal manner gave his Holy Spirit to enlighten the minds of his people and sanctify their judgments. Individuals living alone become one-sided in their experience, and odd and singular in their ways. The moulding influence of society is necessary upon each other. These are self-evident facts; and the same principle is true in churches and Conferences. While in Germany last year we found a company of Sabbath-keepers very conscientious. They sang upon one strain only. They did not raise or lower the voice at all. They used no verses, but simply sang psalms as they read in prose. Could they have mingled with other brethren in Europe, they would readily have learned that it was not sacrilegious to sing poetry according to accepted tunes. It is the blending of habits and of ideas that gives light and knowledge. Churches which have no connection with others often entertain notions that are inconsistent in the extreme. Yet they may be conscientious and God fearing, but their usefulness to others is greatly crippled by their peculiarities. Our church and Conference organizations are simple but are designed to bring together representative men from all parts of the field, so there may be unity of action. This avoids extremes and gives correct views of the Word and work. While at the North Pacific Conference the propriety of having a general meeting, where the three Conferences of the Pacific Coast, and also Nevada, could be represented, was freely discussed. Upon this coast there is every feature of the work that exists in any part of the field. We have a school, a Publishing Association, the Ship Missionary work; the cause presents every phase, and every class of people is represented here. Hitherto the Northern Conferences have been more by themselves. There are many reasons why it would be well for our brethren on this coast to associate more, and receive ideas from one another. The people of the North Pacific and Upper Columbia Conferences are situated in many respects similar to the California Conference, and while they labor to a greater or less extent under the same circumstances, having to meet the same influences, it must be admitted that in some things the California Conference is far in advance of the others. This must be attributable largely to their having the benefit of different laborers from the East. Could the brethren north have had the same advantages, they would have been far in advance of what they are now. The people are as willing, and are not lacking in ability and means in proportion to their numbers. But as they are on account of their situation deprived of many privileges, all can see that it would be for the mutual advantage could the friends on this coast meet at least once a year in a general council. Each Conference needs the benefit of others in order to learn of the work as it progresses in other portions of the field. The cause is one, and oftentimes a change of laborers is beneficial to any Conference; and were there more of a connection this might be brought about many times. The geographical position of the Pacific Coast is such that it never will derive that amount of benefit from the Conferences east of the Rocky Mountains that they will from one another. This makes it more important that the Conferences on this coast have consultations among themselves, and each part of the332field have the full benefit of help the General Conference may send from time to time. It will send help to the coast to be present at least once a year at the annual meeting, and not only would these Conferences be benefited by this labor, but the General Conference would be able at this meeting to receive a knowledge of the work throughout the entire coast. It cannot be expected that the General Conference can furnish laborers to visit each of these fields and spend the time with them that would seem to be necessary if taken separately. Then the cause upon this coast would be better represented at the General Conference, at each annual session; whereas at the present time it would be inexpedient for Upper Columbia Conference, and even the North Pacific Conference, and also the brethren in Nevada to always be represented by delegate at the General Conference. Again, it would be a source of encouragement for our brethren in the northern part of the State could their Conferences be well represented by a number of delegates at the next annual meeting of the California Conference, and no less encouragement would it be for California to have our northern Conferences well represented here. We hope, therefore, at the coming camp-meeting in California to see a representative from Upper Columbia and North Pacific, also from the brethren in Nevada. Then one year from now perhaps in the North Pacific Conference there might be a good representation from California and these other fields; and then the year following Upper Columbia might receive delegates from each of the other Conferences. It would be for the spiritual prosperity of each of these different fields thus to meet in counsel. We therefore cordially invite our brethren from the North and from Nevada to meet with us, by a good delegation, at our camp-meeting at San Jose. While we have our respective fields to care for, we have some interests which are mutual. The school located in California should receive support by way of students and means from this entire coast. Then in return it should qualify laborers to go to each of these fields as ministers, canvassers, colporteurs, and teachers of schools. From the nature of the work, no institution of Seventh-day Adventists can be local in its operation. May God hasten the day when it can be truly said that the Pacific Coast school has sent laborers to the islands of the Pacific Ocean; that Australia and New Zealand have received the word of God from those institutions which are nourished and supported by the friends of the cause up and down this coast. There are fields west of us stretching out their arms for help. What shall be done for them? and, How soon can we do it? are questions that interest the friends of the cause in Nevada, Oregon, and Washington Territory as much as California. These questions should be considered by the representative men of each of these fields. We want larger and more unselfish ideas concerning the work before us.