The Autumn Council by Editor

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 23, 1913

The Autumn Council

By Editor

As we go to press, the autumn council of the General and the North American Division Conference Committees has been several days in session. The Columbia Union Conference is also holding its committee session in Takoma Park.

Besides those resident in the place, there have been present in the councils: L. R. Conradi (the one representative of the European Division), O. A. Olsen, Allen Moon, C. W. Flaiz, E. E. Andross, E. T. Russell, W. C. White, Chas. Thompson, M. N. Campbell, S. E. Wight, R. D. Quinn, G. F. Watson, O. Montgomery, C. H. Jones, L. H. Christian, Frederick Griggs, H. S. Shaw, O. J. Graf, R. A. Underwood, Dr. W. E. Bliss, E. K. Slade, A. R. Sandborn, R. T. Baer, W. J. Stone, F. H. Robbins, H. M. J. Richards, R. E. Harter, J. L. McElhany, S. Mortenson, L. C. Sheafe, J. M. Campbell, S. N. Curtiss, J. W. Mace, L. W. Graham, C. B. Stephenson, J. J. Ireland, L. M. Bowen, E. G. Salisbury, Meade McGuire, J. H. Schilling, G. F. Haffner, F. M. Burg, J. O. Miller, Dr. D. H. Kress.

In the division of time between the two organizations, the General Conference has occupied the forenoons and the North American Division the afternoons. The accumulation of business even since the recent General Conference bears witness to the continual progress of the cause. Very cheering reports as to the last season's evangelistic efforts are given by the presidents of union conferences throughout North America. Elder Conradi brings good reports from Europe, and Elder Daniells, who has been attending the European meetings this season, has again and again spoken of the pressure and power from above that we see driving the work forward over every obstacle. He found in Austria, for instance, eight hundred believers, where, on his visit in 1902, there were but eight or ten. And this work is done with laws and police authorities endeavoring to prevent any work.

Elder Conradi has occupied the morning chapel hour, in the Foreign Mission Seminary, where the council is held, with inspiring talks on missions. He tells of twenty-five hundred students in the German East African schools, with eight or ten new stations under way.

Enthusiastic reports of the Harvest Ingathering campaign have been given by union presidents. The campaign is opening strongly. Many reports of splendid gifts for missions and of blessed experiences in visiting the people have been given. All have testified to the great educational value of this effort to place this missionary document in the homes of the people. It is molding sentiment and winning hearts, besides bringing gifts to missions. One conference has set as its mark to gather an average of $50 per conference laborer and $5 per member.

The representatives of each union have voiced the sentiment, "Keep the campaign going this year, and work for the $100,000 mark." And as the possibilities in this work are seen, it is the conviction that another year a million copies of the Ingathering number should be planned for. This year 500,000 copies of the Ingathering REVIEW were first printed. The manager of the Office reported 16,000 copies left, with orders coming rapidly every day; and so another edition of 70,000 is coming at once from the press, and paper is in stock for yet further editions.

Of actions taken by the councils we shall hope to have reports from the secretaries in our next issue.