DALTON.—This is a place of about five or six thousand inhabitants, and is located one hundred miles north of Atlanta, Ga., and forty miles south of Chattanooga, Tenn.
Oct. 4, 1905, Elder W. W. Steward, his wife and little son, of Boise, Idaho, and my wife and I came to this place to introduce present truth. We began by canvassing the town and its vicinity for “Daniel and the Revelation” and other books.
Soon, however, Elder Steward began house-to-house work with The Family Bible Teacher, which has proved a very good way of presenting the three angels’ messages.
But, owing to poor health, Elder Steward and his family left us after about four months’ work, and then we took up the house-to-house work, which he had started. This was our first experience in this kind of work. The Lord has blessed us, and has enabled us to place a full set of The Family Bible Teacher in more than two hundred homes, and to make many friends. But before we had finished our course of readings, he had impressed two honest souls with the importance of keeping all the commandments of God. These two had bought and read “Daniel and the Revelation,” which helped them to take their stand for the truth.
About this time Elders R. M. Kilgore and Geo. W. Wells, and Brother and Sister M. L. Woodall pitched a tent for a four weeks’ meeting, which was well attended by an intelligent and attentive congregation.
We now have a Sabbath-school of eight, and are holding Bible readings with several interested families. I think some of these will soon take their stand for the truth.
Of course we have had some opposition from the preachers, there being about twenty white and fifteen colored ministers in and near this little town. But it has only caused the honest and thinking people to think more, and to watch as well as pray.
Just here I wish to thank those who have sent me literature for the work here. I could use much more, and hope to continue to receive good, clean copies of our papers, post-paid. These papers and tracts are doing good.
ARTHUR L. MANOUS.
Camp-Meeting in the Tennessee River Conference
By K. C. Russell
THIS camp-meeting was held from August 23 to September 2, in Nashville, Tenn. The ground upon which the camp was located was the same ground, and the meetings were conducted in the same pavilion, used by Elders J. S. Washburn and G. I. Butler during a series of tent-meetings which they conducted this season. The ground was of sufficient size for a goodly number of family tents, and also a dining tent. The meeting was quite a typical Northern camp-meeting. It was said to be not only the largest camp-meeting ever held in the Tennessee River Conference, but the largest meeting ever held in the Southern Union Conference.
In the main, the weather was ideal during the meeting. The work of the camp-meeting was well organized, every phase receiving its share of attention. There was perfect freedom in the discussion of the various questions that were brought before the conference. The attendance of the citizens in the vicinity was good, and such subjects were presented as were calculated to make them acquainted with the cardinal features of the third angel's message.
Arrangements had previously been made to report the meetings as fully as possible through the public press of the city, so each day the papers contained a report. Much, I believe, has been lost by failing to make use of this feature in connection with our meetings. The smaller the meeting, the greater the need that truths which are being presented be reported; in this way thousands can be reached when only a few would otherwise hear the precious messages of love which are being proclaimed. By exercising tact and wisdom in interviewing the leading newspaper men in the vicinity of the camp, arrangements can be made that will guarantee17the publication of any reasonable reports that are neatly prepared for them.
Nashville being the headquarters of our work in the Southern Union Conference, quite a large number of workers were present at this meeting. The following is a list of some of those who were in attendance: Elders Geo. I. Butler, R. M. Kilgore, J. S. Washburn, C. P. Bollman, and R. S. Donnell, Profs. J. E. Tenney, E. A. Sutherland, and Thomas D. Rowe, and Drs. Frank Washburn and M. M. Martinson. We also had with us Dr. R. H. Harris, of Battle Creek, Mich.
Elder W. R. Burrow was unanimously elected president of the conference for the ensuing year. Elder Geo. I. Butler spoke several times during the meeting, with power.
Both Sabbaths of the meeting were attended by manifestations of the Holy Spirit's power in the conversion of souls, especially the last Sabbath, when a large number responded to the call to surrender to the Lord, some for the first time. Twenty-two precious souls followed the Lord in the sacred rite of baptism.
A camp-meeting for our colored people in the Tennessee River Conference was in progress at the same time as this one, it being held in another part of the city. This also was a pronounced success. The outside attendance was very large. There were eight persons baptized as the result of this meeting. An impressive ordination service was conducted on the afternoon of the last Sabbath of this meeting, at which Brother M. C. Strachan was set apart for the gospel ministry.
I took occasion to visit our publishing house in Nashville after the meeting, and was gratified to find such an extensive plant, and one so well equipped for all kinds of publishing work. Surely the Lord has been preparing the way for an effective work to be done soon in the Southland.
The Nashville Sanitarium and its location I consider to be ideal, and I bespeak for it an excellent patronage in view of its being located in a place so accessible to the city.
I can report that my first visit to Nashville was a most pleasant and satisfactory one, and I feel sure that it has resulted in deepening my interest in the work in that needy field.
K. C. RUSSELL.
W. H. ZEIDLER, State Agent
By W. H. Zeidler
Virginia
MUCH has been said in history regarding Virginia as a colony and as a State. In both conditions it has been kept prominently before the world. In the great closing work of the third angel's message, Virginia will have a part to act, and we believe it will be quite a prominent one, as it is so situated that nearly all traffic and travel from the North to the Southern States passes through it; thus it becomes a natural gateway to a vast section of territory which awaits the sound of this message. A number of inquiries have come to us, which have been answered the best we know how. Several persons have come and settled among us, and are determined to do what they can to give the message to all with whom they come in contact. Brother Wirth, one of these brethren, expects to help scatter the literature containing the message wherever he goes. There are others who are looking for places where they may do good, effective work for the Master. To such we wish to say, Virginia offers a large territory. Write to us, and learn what you can before you start; then come and work till the Lord comes.
W. H. ZEIDLER, State Agent
1312 North Twenty-eighth St., Richmond, Va.
British Central Africa
By Thomas H. Branch
NYASSALAND.—Some of our boys have been with us nearly three years, and they are striving hard to learn to read the English Bible, as there are only parts of the New Testament translated, and those are very faulty. A few of our boys, with a little help, translate very nicely. One has translated several songs from the “Gospel Song Sheaf.” One of the songs is “Would you know why I love Jesus?” I wish you could hear them sing it. I am sure it would do you good, for they sing it heartily, and with deep feeling.
The work for the people is moving slowly; but I am encouraged, for I can see the hand of the Lord in it in many ways. I have a large class studying for baptism. The women are beginning to read the Bible, and are interested as they have not been before. A goodly number of them are in the baptismal class. They are so delighted that they can read the Bible that they often sit up far into the evening, a thing not common for women. True, in the villages, when there is a dance or beer-drink, they sit up all night; but at a mission they retire early.
We have three little girls who were the slaves, but ran away from their masters, and sought protection at the mission. We are caring for them and teaching them to work, and they attend school. I believe that God is sending many of these young people to be trained for his service; for erelong, in this dark land that has waited so long, God will do a great work in breaking the bands of sin, and letting the prisoners go free, through the belief and faith in the blood of Jesus. Then we shall see the lost ones, who are now in the dark corners of the earth, coming to the light. I am glad to hear of the onward march of the message, and of its taking hold of the people in German East Africa and other remote portions of the earth. Praise the Lord! This is, indeed, his doing.
At this writing we are all well, and are pushing on with the work. We need your prayers that God will give us wisdom to carry forward his work, to the blessing of many, and the glory of his name.
THOMAS H. BRANCH.
Tsoan Chiu and Kulangsu, Amoy, China
By W. C. Hankins
Once more the hand of the Lord has been plainly manifested, guiding the work in this province. When Elder Keh began observing the Sabbath, a former pupil of his, residing in the city of Tsoan Chiu, heard of the stand he had taken, and obtained one of his Sabbath tracts. After carefully investigating the matter for himself, he, too, began to obey.
His father and a young brother bitterly opposed his keeping the Sabbath; but he remained firm until his death, which occurred more than a year ago.
Although the fact of his keeping the Sabbath was known to but few, and was not known here at Amoy until after his death, yet to-day the results of his faithful adherence to the truth are clearly seen.
A deacon in the Presbyterian church at Tsoan Chiu learned of the Sabbath from this brother a while before his death, and has been down to Amoy a number of times, inquiring about the truth. About the time Elder B. L. Anderson arrived in Amoy, we received a letter from this man and nine others, asking us to come to that place and begin work. We could not go just then, but last Tuesday Elder Anderson, Elder Keh, Brother Tan Khi, and myself went to Tsoan Chiu. Elder Anderson and I came back before the18Sabbath, but Elder Keh and Tan Khi stayed over Sabbath and Sunday. As the result of this trip, the deacon of the Presbyterian church went to his pastor, and gave notice of his intention to sever his connection with that church, and to keep the Sabbath. Then on Sabbath an aged elder of the same church came to hear Elder Keh preach at the home of this brother. At the end of the service, this old man told Brother Keh that on Friday he had asked the Lord to help him to know whether or not the Sabbath was right. He told the Lord that he was going the next day to hear Elder Keh preach, and asked that if the Sabbath was right, he might be given a clear mind to hear and understand what was preached; while if it was wrong, his mind might be confused so that he could not understand. The result was that he left the service happy in the knowledge that the Sabbath was right; for his mind had been clear, and the sermon had been very plain.
Besides this, the man who was so bitterly opposed to his brother's keeping the Sabbath now believes it, and asked Elder Keh to come to his house and preach the truth to his father.
There are between ten and twenty who met last Sabbath to hear Elder Keh, and who are now looking for some suitable empty building which they can use as a chapel. We shall probably go to this place again in about two weeks.
August 7 I had the privilege of baptizing Elder Keh's wife, Tan Hu's widow, and a former Bible woman of the Presbyterian mission, who united with us about a year ago, and who has been doing Bible work among the women at one of our country stations.
We hope to organize a church here at Kulangsu in a week or two. There are a number of interested ones both here and in the country, who we hope eventually will be ready for baptism. We feel that God is guiding the work here, and that to him belongs all the glory. We are happy in our labors, and are glad that God has called us to this place. Pray for us, that the work here may grow, and that we and our native helpers may have wisdom to direct its growth in the right channels. We are all well, and are standing the heat much better than we did last year, thanks to our pleasant quarters by the seaside.
W. C. HANKINS.
CHAS. T. EVERSON
By Chas. T. Everson
Italy
ROME.—We shall soon open up the guns on Torino, the ancient capital of Italy. Already Brother Benezet has been there for some weeks, getting things in shape for a vigorous campaign this winter. The Professor will leave for Torino the first of next week. He has not been able to get away from his place until now. The heads of the institution would have him stay at any cost, as they had been counting on him as director of a larger institution that they intend building this fall. But he told them it was impossible, and they would have to think of providing a successor for him, as he was determined to go. Finally they have decided to release him, and have appointed a successor, who will occupy the place until a permanent director can be found. The Professor is enthusiastic about the work, and is entering into it with his whole soul. We hope for good results from the work at Torino.
I am working diligently again at Rome. I am giving three studies a week on the truths of the message to the canon of whom I wrote, and he seems very much impressed with the beauty and force of this truth. He told me the other day that he is beginning to feel a peace and a tranquillity that he has never known before, because he has learned to know God as a father.
CHAS. T. EVERSON
Celaya
By W. C. Fattebert
Mexico
CELAYA.—We are still getting on nicely. Medical work has been nearly as good as last month, while collections were much better.
Mrs. Fattebert has gotten along well with school work. She has two adult classes in English; general work, two and one-half hours daily, with some American girls. A new class of two Mexican girls begins Monday. These latter are more satisfactory, as the enrolment from among this class will increase, and thus openings will be made for teaching the gospel. Although the American girls are all Catholics, they enjoy the Bible study most of all, I believe. W. C. FATTEBERT.
JAMES BELLENGER
By James Bellenger
Mississippi
We are glad to report that after a two months' absence from Mississippi, we are again in our field of labor. We were obliged to leave this State and seek a little rest on account of Mrs. Bellenger's poor health. We enjoyed a change of climate, the association of old friends and relatives, and we especially thank our dear Heavenly Father for the restoration of health and strength, and for the privilege of again engaging in our work.
Sabbath, August 18, we enjoyed a good meeting with the Hatley church. One was baptized. We also visited the church at Greenbrier, and found the brethren and sisters of good courage. One precious soul awaits baptism at this place. It makes my heart rejoice to see these dear young people giving their hearts to Jesus.
Sabbath, the twenty-fifth, I enjoyed a good meeting with the Ellisville church. I am now on my way to Picayune, Miss., where we expect to conduct a tent-meeting.
Our church-school question is one of intense interest to us here this fall. We shall need about three more good, self-sacrificing teachers by the middle of October. Is not some one's heart touched with sympathy for the thousands of perishing souls in this needy and destitute field, and especially for our little ones? Now is the time to work the Southern fields. Our courage is good; and we are glad we can have a part in the great work.
JAMES BELLENGER
C. E. RENTFRO
By C. E. RENTFRO
Portugal
CARCAVELLOS.— Some time ago I received a few copies of the special earthquake number of the Signs, second edition. I sold a few copies to English and Portuguese friends, turning the money over to our printing fund. One copy I sent to a daily paper of wide circulation. In the number of July came out engravings of the Stanford University, library, and arch, also city hall of Santa Rosa, accompanied by the statement by President Jordan, and comments upon the editor’s sermon preached in Oakland. It says:—
“The interesting American weekly, The Signs of the Times, printed in Mountain View, Cal., published a second edition of its number of May 23, entirely consecrated to the frightful earthquake of San Francisco. The four hundred thousand copies that constituted the first edition were exhausted promptly. It is a publication principally religious, and that consigns as signs of the times all the disasters that happen throughout this world, attributing them to celestial choler. In this special number, in an article entitled ‘There Is No Sure Refuge,’ it says that in this land of perdition, in this cursed world, there is nowhere to flee, and adds: ‘We can not flee to Oakland, neither to Chicago, nor New York, nor London. The first great convulsion of the earth may devour one or all of these cities; and the most solid towers, the proudest constructions of steel built by men, may be in a moment reduced to heaps of scraps.’”
“And after various convenient Bible quotations, it concludes, therefore, that in the earth there is no possible refuge, and ends inviting every afflicted soul to find the heavenly Jerusalem his only refuge.”
“The counsel will not be very consoling to humanity, evidently surrounded with perils, and to whom the classic terra firma is as solid as the revolving waves of the ocean; but nevertheless it is a counsel; and as a last recourse it is efficacious so far as possible, ‘given to the miserable life that man wastes upon earth.’”
“We record this curious and extensive article of The Signs of the Times to show the Puritanic disposition of the American periodical, published in this land of Quakers, of Positivists, of Puritanism, and of trusts, true Babel of modern times.”
In this experiment I see possibilities for the future in getting truth before the people. With the help of Elder Schwantes, I shall see if they will publish an outline of our faith, with something on religious liberty; for I see the people are earnestly seeking for liberty—of course it is civil liberty, right of free speech, free press, etc. There is on foot a Sunday-closing movement, with plans to formulate a law upon the meeting of Parliament. I am sure that some of the papers will publish something on liberty.
C. E. RENTFRO
Report From Elder Loughborough
By John Norton Loughborough
It has been some time since I reported in the REVIEW. It was my lot to be in the great California earthquake of April 18, being then at my home in Mountain View. Although our house is only three blocks from the Pacific Press, the walls of which were shaken down, all the damage we received was made whole for less than one dollar. While the chimneys round us were toppled over, not even a crack could be found in ours. After the earthquake a clerk for one of the merchants in Mountain View whose damage was about five thousand dollars, said to me, “And how much were you damaged by the earthquake?” I replied, “One dollar will cover all the property injury we received.” With a peculiar look, and with great earnestness, he said, “Well, God must smile on you.” In response I said, “I am no better than others, but these are the facts in the case.”
During the earthquake we calmly trusted in God, but for several days after the shock there was a strong electric pressure in the atmosphere which was very debilitating to feeble persons. The astronomer in charge of the Mount Hamilton Observatory, near San Jose, said, “In a scale of ten the electric pressure is nine and one-half, and if it goes half a degree higher, I do not know what will happen.” As we began to rally from the electric pressure, I received a request from Elder Santee, president of the Southwestern Union Conference, to attend their annual camp-meetings in Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. I told the Lord if my health improved, I would take that as an evidence that I should go. So much better in health was I at the end of one week, that I responded that I would comply with the invitation. This promise I fulfilled by attending, from August 2 to September 2, these camp-meetings.
It had been ten years since I had visited those conferences, being at that time superintendent of district number five. I could see a marked growth in numbers in all three of these States, and also a good showing in their finances. Especially was I pleased to find Arkansas free from the heavy financial embarrassment of ten years ago; then they hardly saw how their obligation could ever be canceled. The spiritual interest in these meetings was good. I enjoyed the opportunity of speaking of the hand of God so manifest in the rise and progress of the great second advent movement.
It was a pleasure to be associated again in labor with Brother Irwin as he attended all three of these camp-meetings. So also I was again with Brother Santee, whose society I had formerly shared in other States. At the Oklahoma meeting, Elder Thompson,19from the General Conference, and Elder Porter, from the Kansas Conference, were present, and I had opportunity to renew and form pleasant acquaintances with the local laborers in these States.
As I looked upon the great number of young people, both youth and children, assembled on those camp-grounds, and thought what a power they might be for the advancement of the truth in the world if fully consecrated to the Lord. I could but pray that the Lord would keep them from the follies of this world, and that he would bless the efforts of Brethren Hughes, Giddings, and others who have labored so earnestly in their behalf.
As others have reported particulars respecting these meetings in the Southwestern Union Conferences, I need not repeat. September 7 found me again safely at home in Mountain View. Although weary with much travel and almost a month of constant meetings, with a few days’ rest I found myself really in better health than before I went to Texas; so much so that, in response to a call to come to Michigan for a few weeks’ labor, I am on the way, writing this as our train glides rapidly through Missouri. For all these mercies I praise the Lord. Brethren, pray for me that God may still give me strength to speak of those things I have seen, and heard, and known, and handled in the rise and progress of this great second advent movement. J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
West Africa
By David C. Babcock
FREETOWN, SIERRA LEONE.—Our boys are making a road up to our house, from the main way, so that we can get up and down more conveniently. The reason for building so far from the road was to be at an elevation. When we were erecting the stone work of the house, I saw more than one hundred native Africans—men, women, and children—in a desperate fight, just in front of our Elder building, and if I had not been on a high elevation, I do not know just what I would have done.
You can scarcely imagine the disposition of these heathen people until you have had some experience with them. A few days ago two of our own boys came rushing up to our bedroom, all ready for a fight. I told them they must not come up in that way to get me to settle their difficulties, but to go down and I would come at once. I went down as quickly as possible, but before I could reach the bottom of the stairway, I heard pounding and beating such as I never heard before. When I got outside, they were clinched like tigers. The Lord gave me strength, and I soon had them out at arm’s length, and held them until they agreed to stop. In just a few minutes they were as good friends as ever.
Such experiences are not very encouraging, but we can not stop because the way looks dark. I believe that we can soon have a good school of these Mendi boys, and I have great hopes of seeing much good accomplished through them. We are planning to start a school in the basement of the mission house by the first of next January.
Until about the first of November I will do what house-to-house work I can, and then begin a tent effort in the city. We can have about seven months of good weather for tent work, and I am sure that a strong effort will result in much good for the work here. I hope that the Board can see their way clear to send me some good help by that time. I am going to ask you to send a tent. I will endeavor to get everything fitted up about our property before tent season begins, so that we shall be free to carry on aggressive work. There is a demand for our books, as well as for meetings. I was out to-day and sold books to the amount of $7.32.
D. C. BABCOCK.
WALTER G. BOND
By Walter G. Bond
Spain
BARCELONA.—Our work is meeting with encouragement. Hardly a day passes but some new opening comes for Bible readings. We are not able to answer half the calls.
Last week an intelligent young man began to obey the truth. We had had but one or two personal talks with him. He became convinced by attending a few Sabbath evening meetings in the city of Sabadell. In El Mensajero de la Verdad he read of the evils of wine and tobacco, so gave them both up. In the face of great opposition, he accepted the truth, his wife and other relatives doing all in their power to keep him from taking the step. But Christ gained the victory, and he is now rejoicing in the light. Two or three days after making his decision, he lost his position, because of the Sabbath. But his courage is good. Last Monday he walked twenty miles to spend the day in study with us.
On the second day of this month [August] three souls were buried with their Lord in baptism, and four or five others are planning to be baptized next Sabbath.
Times are hard in Spain at present, and as provisions are dear, there is much suffering. We are anxiously watching the signs of the end about us, and are determined to be instruments in God's hand for hastening that glad, yet solemn day. Pray for this needy field.
WALTER G. BOND
J. GERSHOM DASENTE
By J. Gershom Dasente
Barbados
ST. JAMES.—Since my last report, I have attended our conference in the island of Trinidad, and returned.
The work recently opened up in The Garden is onward. Prior to my leaving for the conference, eleven precious souls—all adults, and varying in age from twenty-one to fifty years—were buried with our Lord in baptism, and received into church fellowship. Later these new members were organized into a tract society, and are doing good work with our literature. Since my return, many who were halting have begun the observance of the Sabbath, and are preparing for baptism, while others are on the verge of decision. This is indeed encouraging. Last month we organized a Young People's Society, and it is working admirably. We meet every Sunday afternoon at four o'clock.
The work in Speightstown and St. Lucy is also moving on, but slowly. We have a small company of believers in each of these districts, who see a minister about once a month, sometimes less than that. On visiting these companies last month, we found them all moving forward, in spite of the workings of the enemy. Each company presented a candidate for baptism, which took place at Crab Hill, St. Lucy, on August 23. We had quite an orderly attendance, and many realized the importance of the occasion. One of these newly baptized members is a brother who lives on the borders of an unentered parish, St. Andrew. He sells the Caribbean Watchman, and uses The Family Bible Teacher quite successfully. Thus the work is opening up eastward. The Lord is working mightily with his people. It is only about two years ago that a systematic effort was made in behalf of the people to the north of Barbados, comprising five parishes, by the living preacher; to-day we have believers in three of these parishes, with a total membership of about forty, and the fourth is calling for a laborer. The greater number of these members pay tithes and offerings. In spite of their poverty, they endeavor to meet their church dues, and send donations to other missions, quarterly.
We are now putting forth strenuous efforts for a church building of our own. At present the only place we can hire for our meetings is a room in a dwelling-house, or possibly a local friendly society might let or sublet its lodge to us. Very many people, especially those of the better class, have a prejudice against attending divine services in such places. Consequently, a church building of our own would assist us materially, for it would be the means of helping some to accept the truth who could be of some financial benefit to the cause.
We have distributed quite a number of Contribution Cards, but what the harvest will be we know not; but this we do know, unless we obtain some help outside of our efforts, we may not be able to begin operations just now. We are praying that the Lord will come to our assistance, by touching the heart of someone20with whom he has entrusted his goods, and bountifully blessed in temporal things, to give to this noble cause. We are greatly in need of a church building. There is only one such building in the whole island, consequently we labor under the circumstances that are spoken of by the servant of the Lord when she says: “In many places where the message has been preached and souls have accepted it, they are in limited circumstances, and can do but little toward securing advantages that would give character to the work. As persons become interested in the truth, they are told by the ministers of other churches [and these words are echoed by the church-members], ‘These people have no church, and you have no place of worship. You are a small company, poor and unlearned. In a short time the ministers will go away. . . . then you will give up all these new ideas which you have received.’”
May the Lord hear our prayers and answer them, and may the day be not far distant when we shall have in northern Barbados a humble house of worship as a sign, a memorial, of God's Sabbath, a light amid the moral darkness.
J. GERSHOM DASENTE
H. H. VOTAW
By H. H. Votaw
Burma
INSEIN.—Our work is encouraging. We only desire grace to be able to rightly represent our Lord. I am more and more convinced every day that Burma will be a fruitful field. As the days go by, and our work advances, we shall find it absolutely necessary to give the responsibility into the hands of the Burmese themselves.
Brother Maung Maung has recently been out into the districts, and he found a company of Karen Christians, who own their meeting-house, and they said, the very first thing, “Now you preach what we do not already know. Preach to us about the Sabbath.” He preached, and one of the men who came to Rangoon said, “Maung Maung is the best man,” and the people said, “This is truth!” Two or three men seemed to have seen the Sabbath before our brother went there.
We are making good progress in language study now. We can read quite a little. Mrs. Votaw will be able to speak before I can. In fact, she can make herself understood in household matters quite well. It is said that the women invariably learn to speak before the men do.
H. H. VOTAW
Canadian Union Conference
By B. B. Noftsger
The third biennial session of the Canadian Union Conference was held at Paris, Ontario, Aug. 23 to Sept. 2, 1906. This union conference comprises the conferences of Ontario, Quebec, and Maritime, and the Newfoundland Mission Field. Each conference and mission field was represented by at least one delegate. There were six meetings held during the session. The first three meetings were largely given to the address of the president, Elder W. H. Thurston, and the reports of the local presidents and the superintendent of the Newfoundland Mission.
Resolutions were passed as follows:—
“Whereas, There is great need for a faithful work in the city of St. John, New Brunswick, therefore,—
“1. Resolved, That Elder J. O. Miller, of Academia, Ohio, be invited to enter that field; and that we petition the Ohio Conference to release Elder Miller for this work, and to continue his support for one year.
“Whereas, There is a pressing demand in all branches of the third angel's message for more laborers to enter the field, therefore,—
“2. Resolved, (a) That we urge our young people to seek a preparation for taking up some line of work in connection with this message; (b) that we urge upon parents and students the advantages offered by our denominational schools in acquiring the necessary preparation for successful work in connection with the third angel's message; (c) that a great effort be put forth to educate our people to realize the importance of giving their children an opportunity to receive a thorough education that they may become master workmen in this cause.
“Whereas, The book business in our territory could be greatly increased by a competent and energetic district canvassing agent, therefore,—
“3. Resolved, That this Canadian Union Conference secure a good, competent man to take up the work of circulating our literature in our territory.
“4. Resolved, That institutes for the training of workers be held at such time and place as the general agent and the local conference committee may mutually arrange.
“5. Resolved, That the general agent canvass such time as his services are not needed in general field work, turning over the proceeds from his sales to the Canadian Union Conference.
“6. Resolved, That we urge the people everywhere to co-operate with our Canadian Union Conference to revive the circulation of our denominational literature (a) by selling as many books as possible, (b) by circulating our periodicals, (c) by urging their sons and daughters to engage in the canvassing work.
“Whereas, Ottawa, the capital of Canada, is a city of some ninety thousand inhabitants and a city of vast importance to the Canadian field, therefore,—
“7. Resolved, That we invite Elder O. F. Butcher, of Detroit, to make that city his field of labor; also that we petition the East Michigan Conference to release Elder Butcher for this work, and to continue his salary for one year.
“8. Resolved, That we encourage our people to honesty and faithfulness in paying tithes, and in bringing in offerings, that the work of God may prosper, and the promised blessing be received.
“Whereas, Experience has proved that tent work in Newfoundland can not be carried on successfully on account of climatic conditions, and,—
“Whereas, It is impossible to hire halls and other like places, therefore,—
“9. We recommend, That a portable tabernacle be provided for work in Newfoundland.
“Whereas, It has been planned by religious bodies in Newfoundland to have a representative of the Lord's Day Alliance of Canada go to that country at an early date, in behalf of Sunday observance, and,—
“Whereas, It is essential that the people should be given the opportunity of knowing the evil underlying such work, therefore,—
“10. We recommend, That steps be taken at once to provide suitable literature, and that such other steps as may be thought advisable be taken with a view to properly warn the people of Newfoundland of the danger impending.
“Whereas, The book ‘Ministry of Healing’ has been set apart by the author for the relief of, and the establishment of, sanitariums,—
“11. We recommend, That our workers and people everywhere purchase the book, and also sell as many as possible for the advancement of the sanitarium work in the union conference.
“Whereas, The Bible clearly teaches that the spirit of prophecy will continue in the church till the end, therefore,—
“12. Resolved, That we urge all our people to study the spirit of prophecy in connection with the Bible, that it, the spirit of prophecy, may be confirmed in the church, so that we shall come behind in no gift, waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
“13. We recommend, That as a conference we approve of the recommendation of the General Conference to raise the sum of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, and that we co-operate as far as consistent with the needs in our own field, in raising the money.”
Officers were chosen for the next biennial term as follows: President, W. H. Thurston; Vice-President, Wm. Guthrie; Secretary and Treasurer, B. B. Noftsger; Conference Committee, W. H. Thurston, the presidents of the local conferences, superintendent of the Newfoundland Mission Field, T. H. Robinson, E. Leland, E. E. Gardner, and Geo. H. Skinner; directors of the Newfoundland Mission Field, C. H. Keslake (Superintendent), J. R. Johnston, G. H. Morgan, W. H. Thurston, and Wm. Guthrie.
Ministerial credentials were granted to W. H. Thurston and C. H. Keslake, and ministerial license to Fred Johnston.
The financial report of the treasurer showed receipts amounting to $12,938.43; disbursements, $12,569.05; and cash on hand, $369.38.
B. B. NOFTSGER, Secretary.
Central America
By A. N. Allen
LA CEIBA, SPANISH HONDURAS.—We need a Spanish-speaking minister, one of experience. My hands are more than full in the book work, and, in fact, I am not doing one third of what I could do if we had some one to instruct the interested ones. There are nine adults who have begun to keep the Sabbath here on the mainland since we began work here. None of them are baptized yet, and all need good, thorough work done21for them, to bring them up to the standard for church fellowship. This Elder Goodrich could not do, even if he were not overburdened already, for he can not speak Spanish.
We must have help, if the work continues to advance. We are doing what we can to keep things going forward, but a minister could do so much better. We now have a Sabbath-school with both a Spanish and an English division, and quite a large class of children.
Brother Peebles is faithfully pushing the printing work, the expenses of which are entirely paid by Brother Moncada. Mrs. Allen has a day-school of seventeen children, and more will soon come. In my work as colporteur, seeds of truth are continually being sown, which I hope will not be in vain.
A good start has been made, but we feel that the time has come for a greater effort in behalf of the Spanish people. I believe God never opens a door unless he has some-one prepared to fill it. May there be such a movement on the part of God's people that each one may soon find himself where God would have him, and the chosen people soon be gathered out, and the Saviour appear, to take his people home.