Editorial Correspondence.
By Editor
OUR last letter reached to the time of our arrival in Battle Creek, where we found a good home at the Sanitarium. If anything can compensate for the discomforts of a cold winter, it is a home in a place so well appointed as this. But I would not be understood as decrying a moderately cold climate. These climates have always produced a vigorous, thrifty type of manhood. But at our age, and with our experience on the Pacific Coast, we have learned to love the genial climate of California. The Sanitarium has quite an army of patients. The whole number of inmates during this meeting, patients, employees, and guests, is about 330. THE S. D. A. GENERAL CONFERENCE.
The General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventists met November 18. Over seventy delegates are present, representing twenty-seven Conferences. Never, since our work has spread from ocean to ocean, have the Conferences been so thoroughly represented. Brother C. M. Andrews, son of Elder J. N. Andrews, represents the Central European Mission. One of the most interesting points on this subject is the presence of Brother R. L. Jeffrey, a colored man, who came to represent a company of Sabbath-keepers in British Guiana, South America. Brother Jeffrey was converted to the Christian faith under the missionaries of the Lutheran Church, and was employed as a teacher under the Government. A copy of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES came into his hands, by what means he does not know, which produced an entire revolution in his faith and his plans of life. Others embraced the truth as readily as himself, and the company, at last advices—for he has received a letter since coming to the United States informing him that more have embraced the faith—is twenty-two. He is delighted with his association with us as a people, and we sincerely hope that he may not be suffered to return alone to his people. He desires to remain here for a reasonable time to receive instruction; and a good, devoted man, possessed of the true missionary spirit, should return with him. The work is fast increasing both in amount and extent, so that besides the regular committees, quite a large number of special committees have been appointed, this being the only manner in which the very large amount of business coming before the body can be disposed of in the brief time allotted to the session. Most of the committees are yet standing, and the variety of topics introduced is so great that they can only be gathered from the detailed report. The committee to whom was referred the consideration of the arrests of the brethren for laboring on Sunday, reported and was discharged, November 23. This report was in part a vindication of the position and practice of the persons arrested, and partly advice to such persons how to proceed when prosecuted; and its reading produced a great sensation in the Conference. The idea was strongly expressed by many delegates, the President being of the number, that the time has come to take such a stand before the world. The issue is being pressed upon us, and we should not hesitate to meet it. The report was unanimously adopted by the Conference, and the large body of people present, men and women, who were not delegates, indorsed it by a rising vote. The officers were elected November 25, being nearly the same as those of last year, the only material change being that Elder R. A. Underwood was placed on the Executive Committee, which now consists of Elders Butler, Haskell, Olsen, White, and Underwood. To many, the location of laborers is one of the most interesting items of business. The votes already passed call Elder R. Conradi to Europe, to labor among the Germans; J. M. Rees, to East Tennessee; G. G. Rupert, to devote as much of his time in the South as his duties in his own Conference, Kentucky, will permit; J. D. Pegg, to labor in Colorado; E. W. Farnsworth and J. B. Goodrich, in New England; O. A. Olsen, to go to Europe to labor among the Scandinavians; D. T. Fero, in Upper Columbia Conference, especially in Idaho; a recommendation that Wm. Ings go to England was laid over at the request of the California delegates; but the recommendation was adopted that the present editor of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES go to Europe to assist the publishing houses there. The calls to go to Europe are not expected to be carried into immediate effect, unless it be in the case of Brother Conradi. The subject of city missions has been under the consideration of a committee for several days. The most important business transacted is the arrangement for the reconstruction of the mission in New York City, by the abolition of the reading room, and the placing of a corps of efficient workers there; and the organization of a mission in Washington City, for which a choice company of workers has been selected. Mission work has been done there in the past under the patronage of Brother Wright, of Virginia, who has done nobly for this and other city missions; but it was never organized and directed by the General Conference. At Brother Wright's earnest solicitation, the Conference has taken it in hand, and arranged to establish an efficient mission. We are glad to report that our people are becoming awakened to the importance of having educated or trained workers in the missions. We have long advocated the idea in our local missionary societies that the members ought to be instructed in their work; and we have wondered that some who profess deep interest in the work have opposed the idea. It is folly to suppose that every individual, whatever his calling and however lacking his opportunities, can write a suitable letter to send to all classes of people, without any instruction or aid from those whose opportunities and experience qualify them to afford the aid needed. Brother Starr, the superintendent of the Chicago mission, has proved his efficiency in training and instructing missionary workers, and several Conferences are now sending their devoted young people, male and female, to receive instruction there. We greatly rejoice at this, and hope the time will speedily come when all our local societies may receive such instruction as will greatly add to their efficiency. That they are doing a great deal of good now, by sending out our periodicals, is well known, and acknowledged by all; that they are not doing nearly the good they might and ought to do, is also acknowledged by all. Various questions on points of theology have come up; how to treat the subject of trine immersion was referred to the committee on resolutions, who reported that it is inconsistent and inexpedient to recognize trine immersion as Christian baptism, inasmuch as we believe it to be unscriptural, and its introduction into our churches must necessarily lead to confusion; they also reported a recommendation that a work on that subject be prepared in the German language. Both were adopted. Many points of church order or discipline have been raised, and we must express our surprise at the practices which still prevail among our churches, notwithstanding the errors have so clearly been pointed out in our publications. This would not be so very surprising if the matters rested with lay members; but in most of the cases to which reference has been made the fault lies with church officers and ministers. Evidently a more thorough instruction in "faith and practice" is much needed in the ministry. There have also been meetings of the Missionary Society, the Publishing Association, the Health Reform Institute and Sanitarium Improvement Association, and the Educational Society, but not much business has yet been transacted in any of these. How long the Conference will remain in session cannot now be told. Battle Creek, Nov. 26, 1885.