Western Canadian Union Conference by I. H. Evans

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 19, 1914

Western Canadian Union Conference

By I. H. Evans

ThIS meeting was held at the time appointed, February 11-22, at Lacombe, Alberta. Being unable to secure a suitable meeting place without paying an exorbitant rent, the brethren concluded to hold the session in the Lacombe Industrial School chapel. This room can seat comfortably only about one hundred and fifty persons. The committee thought that the limit of its seating capacity, when crowded to the utmost, would be two hundred and twenty-five, but at times throughout the convention they often crowded into this space more than three hundred and fifty. I think I have never seen any building so packed with humanity when the congregation was seated, as this one. However, the order preserved was remarkable.

Although the congregation were cramped and uncomfortable, and the weather was often very cold, there was scarcely any coughing, and no whispering or annoyance on the part of any. All this added greatly to the interest, and assisted the speakers in their work. Generally, the entire congregation were in their seats before the meeting opened. It was impossible for one to leave the building without creating a disturbance, and, therefore, with but few exceptions, the people remained quiet throughout the service.

Nearly every worker was present at the opening meeting, the evening of the eleventh, and no one left the place until the conference adjourned. The institute lasted seven days, with one or two meetings each day during the conference in addition to the preaching service.

There was a hearty response on the part of the workers to the instruction given, and nearly every one found a new experience in the Lord. Many testimonies were borne giving evidence that the workers had a new vision and a more earnest desire than ever before to press the work with greater perseverance in the years to come. The students and the visiting brethren also received rich blessings. Some thirty to forty who were not church members gave themselves to the Lord during this meeting, and desired baptism. Arrangements were partly made to have this ordinance administered during the conference session, but it had to be postponed on account of the inclemency of the weather.

After an earnest sermon one evening by Elder Meade MacGuire, more than two hundred and fifty of the congregation gave themselves to the Lord without reserve. This meeting continued in two divisions until after midnight, the younger members of the congregation separating to receive personal assistance from Elders Thompson and MacGuire. The workers and others of the congregation remained to seek the Lord in prayer and testimony, and not a few received a rich blessing. This meeting was followed later by other services, when many persons made a surrender to the Lord for the first time, or sought for a fuller and more complete consecration.

On Saturday night following the last Sabbath of the session, the congregation was treated to a symposium in the shape of scriptures read, hymns sung, and testimonies borne in seventeen different languages spoken by the various nationalities present. It was both inspiring and encouraging, when every man present heard praises to God spoken in his native tongue. It made one think of a European general meeting where a large number of different nationalities were present.

The last evening of the meeting Elder Thompson gave a stirring talk on perseverance and victory in the Christian life, which was followed by a testimony meeting in which more than one hundred took part.

The Lord came very near throughout the meetings, and not only gave great blessings spiritually, but healed some who were afflicted with physical disease. The time seems to have come when God is giving his people a definite blessing, and this places upon them a tremendous responsibility, which means much for the future advancement of the cause of God.

The business part of the conference passed off pleasantly, without one discordant note being sounded by any speaker. Practically all the old officers of the union were reelected, Elder H. S. Shaw being president for the ensuing term.

The brethren showed great hospitality in entertaining, and made the stay of the visiting workers as pleasant as possible. Every convenience for the comfort of those from abroad was accorded, and our stay in that field will be long remembered.

The workers return to their respective fields with great courage, and we believe there will be a large ingathering of souls in this union during the coming year. Many testimonies were borne showing that a new era in the lives of the workers had begun, and that they never could go on with the old methods of work, nor be satisfied without greater results from their labors. Surely the Lord will bless this corps of earnest workers as they go out into these new fields to preach the message. The time has come when God has set his hand to the finishing of his work.

I. H. EVANS.