NOTES ON THE CONFERENCE.
By Editor
WE can not attempt in these notes to present statistics. These must be gathered out of the official reports and presented by others in our home offices. We are attempting to give general impressions of the conference, general features, and incidents which show the decided trend of this gathering. In fact, it is impossible to give details and statistics now, as the work of nearly every department is as yet in an unfinished condition, and will be till nearly, or quite, the close of the conference. The work has grown to such an extent during the last two years that the time and program plan has been too short and insufficient to accomplish what has been desired. THERE have been what have been called three "surprise parties" at this conference. And thus they have been from the beginning, not from the character of the meetings, but from the results. A quiet little chapel service one morning in the Pacific Press presented a voluntary offering for foreign missions and the work in Washington. About the same time an earnest appeal was made in the Review and Herald. AS STONES cast into the great calm lake send forth their impulses wave upon wave to the farther shores, so the influence of this offering and this appeal swept either way across the continent from church to church, from conference to conference, and the delegates came to Washington bringing their gifts for the beloved work. Many more gifts came through the mail. The result of the three "surprise parties" to the present has since May 1, for the Washington work, amounted to $25,586.28, and for this we thank God, and take courage. The exact amount for foreign missions we have not yet learned. It is about the same. This has greatly cheered our overburdened brethren in Washington, and our missionaries from abroad. THE last Sabbath of the meeting was the best of the three. The early morning meeting was a recounting of God's special leadings and marked providences in connection with this work in the home and foreign fields, and in individual experiences. President A. G. Daniells and Prof. W. W. Prescott spoke briefly of the wonderful working of God in moving from Battle Creek, Mich., to Washington. They told of how the way was opened, how God led, how His providence was manifest at every step, and finally, what a hearty, encouraging response came from the brethren throughout the whole great field. The meeting closed with many on their feet anxious to speak. This meeting was continued in the afternoon. IN the morning after an excellent Sabbath-school conducted by Elder Geo. B. Thompson, head of the Sabbath-School Department, Elder George I. Butler, president of the Southern Union Conference6and for many years, in his prime, president of the General Conference, gave a powerful sermon on unity among brethren and in the home, basing his instructions on John 17, and the figures used by the apostle Paul in Ephesians 5 and 1 Corinthians 12. It was a grand, sweet sermon from one of the grand old patriarchs of the cause. IN the afternoon Mrs. E. G. White gave a powerful address in clear, ringing tones on vital, uplifting, practical religion in the home, among parents and children, and in the church. In these days of the perversion of truth by every form of sophistry and error, it behooved the Christian to stand true to his God and to every principle of truth. Children are to be taught so to stand. While laboring for others, while kind, considerate, and broad minded in such labor, no part of truth was to be compromised. Loyalty to Christ and the Bible must be maintained. It was a grand appeal from this aged servant of the Lord, and presented as clearly, as strongly, as anything we ever heard from her lips. Appeal was made to them to be faithful to baptismal vows. It was asked how many would take their stand for Christ and His kingdom, and nearly all in the great congregation arose to their feet. It was a blessed, impressive service.