The General Conference.
By John Nevins Andrews
Our Conference which has just closed has been a very precious and blessed season. From the commencement to the close, it was specially attended with the blessing of God. The preaching has been of a very solemn and heart-searching character. The devotional meetings have been seasons of earnest seeking after God. First-day morning, Bro. Butler preached a very pointed and instructive discourse from Isa. 58. He set forth our sins as a people, and showed the nature of that repentance which God will accept. The afternoon was devoted to Conference business. The subject of establishing a school as a special auxiliary in our work was very fully considered, but not definitely acted upon. In the evening, Bro. Haskell preached a close, practical discourse concerning the deceitfulness of the human heart. Second-day was mainly devoted to the business of the Publishing Association. The old board, with some changes, was re-elected. The business proceedings were marked with great unanimity of feeling. The assets, as shown by the auditor’s report, are $82,000 against $68,000 last year. Religious services were held during a part of the day, which were of the deepest interest; and these have been continued each afternoon and evening till to-day (Nov. 20) with increasing interest and solemnity, and the most cheering results. These are most precious days in the history of the church in Battle Creek. Business proceedings have been confined to the forenoon of each day, and have continued thus till concluded at noon to-day. The remainder of the time has been devoted to the business of seeking God. We have never had a more precious Conference; in some respects we have never had its equal. The hearts of the servants of God are more closely united in the bonds of Christian love, and probably there has never been a time when such perfect unanimity of feeling and of judgment has existed as at the present time. It does seem that in an eminent sense the set time to favor Zion has come. We believe that God is about to bless the preaching of his truth as never before; and we solemnly purpose to give ourselves to his work in an unreserved consecration of all to God. We were disappointed in the non-arrival of Bro. Rogers, the delegate from the S. D. Baptists.