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In the British Union

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park, Washington, D. C. · Sep 26, 1912

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 89, No. 39.

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In the British Union

By Louis Richard Conradi

L. R. CONRADI
THE British Union and the North England Conference held their joint session at Birmingham, August 1 to 6. On my way from Friedensau with Elder J. T. Boettcher, I spent a few days in London and Stanborough Park. I had a very interesting interview with Dr. Kilgour, editor for the British Bible Society, and have since received notice that this society is prepared to publish the Gospels for us as soon as the translation is completed.
In Stanborough Park I was much pleased to find the new sanitarium open, in charge of Dr. C. H. Hayton. Although it had been operating only a short time, there were seventeen patients, and everything promises well for the future of the institution.
Arriving at Birmingham August 1, we found a good attendance of our own people. A large hall had been rented in a good part of the city, seating about six hundred persons. On the Sabbath it was well filled by our own people, and during the evening lectures it was crowded. As the weather was cold and rainy, all our people seemed to be well satisfied with the change,—having the meeting in a hall rather than in a tent. In addition to the hall, there were also good dining-rooms, kitchen, etc., which made it possible to provide the people with good food at cheap rates.
All were interested to hear the good news Brother Boettcher brought from Russia, as well as to learn of the general growth in the European Division. On the other hand, we were all happy to hear of the progress of the work in Great Britain.
During the last four years, fourteen American laborers have returned to their homes, so that in reality Great Britain has no more laborers in 1912 than it had in 1907. But the gap has been filled by native workers, who seem to be developing in a strong way. Four or five were able to report at this meeting that they had been out lecturing since New-year's, and that from twenty to forty persons had taken their stand for the truth in each case.
Especially marked was the progress of the British Union District, which has been a separate field since Jan. 1, 1912, and comprises the city of London north of the river Thames, and neighboring counties, including the county of Hertfordshire, in which Watford is located. The net gain of the union for the last quarter was ninety-five, with a number still awaiting baptism.
Our British institutions have also enjoyed a good year, and their reports were very encouraging. A number of students have had remarkable success selling our books and earning scholarships.
Sabbath was a very good day. In the afternoon Brethren D. Armstrong and H. E. De'Ath were ordained to the gospel ministry, and Brother Philipps, who has attended the Livingstone College during the winter, was especially remembered in our prayers, as he leaves with several of our German brethren the last of August to join the workers in British East Africa.
Our people seemed to take a keen interest in the deliberations of the union, and Elder W. J. Fitzgerald was unanimously reelected union president. The sessions of the North England Conference were interesting also, and Elder W. H. Meredith was again unanimously chosen as president.