Organization of the South American Division Conference
By N. Z. Town
N. Z. TOWN
At 3 P. M., Feb. 6, 1916, Elder W. W. Prescott, the field secretary of the General Conference, and special representative from the General Conference to South America, called a meeting of the delegates present at the South American Union Conference, at La Plata, Argentina, for the purpose of taking the initial steps in the organization of a South American Division Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.
In introducing the matter of this organization, Brother Prescott traced briefly the history of organization among this people from the beginning, stating that the first local conference was organized in 1861, and the General Conference in 1863, with a total of six local conferences. In 1894 the first union conference was organized in Australia, and in the year 1901 the territory of the United States and Canada was organized into union conferences. In 1909 the European, the Asiatic, and the North American fields were constituted three general divisions of the General Conference, with a vice president of the General Conference in charge of each. At the General Conference in 1913 the European field and the North American field were each organized into a division conference, and at the same time the following action was taken in regard to South America:—
“We recommend, That the General Conference Committee be authorized to reorganize the work in South America, and to provide for the organization of a South American Division Conference at such time and place as they may deem advisable.”
At the autumn council of the General Conference Committee held in November, 1915, at Loma Linda, Cal., this matter was given careful consideration, and in harmony with the recommendation of the General Conference in session in 1913, the following action was taken:—
“We recommend, The organization of South America into a division conference, consisting of the South American Union Conference, the Brazilian Union Conference, and the Inca Union Mission.
“That the organization be very simple, providing at first for only division president and secretary-treasurer as additional laborers, and that the organization be effected on the ground. To this end we hereby authorize the representatives of the South American Union Conference, the Brazilian Union Conference, and the Inca Union Mission, to meet together at such time and place as may be agreed upon, to organize a South American Division Conference.
“That W. W. Prescott be invited to go to South America as General Conference representative, in inaugurating the new division.”
DELEGATES TO THE SOUTH AMERICAN DIVISION CONFERENCE
After reading these actions of the General Conference, Brother Prescott called attention to the plan of the General Conference in placing the responsibility of directing the work in the various fields on the fields themselves just as soon as they are sufficiently strong to bear the burden. But at the same time the General Conference continues to carry the burden of raising funds to support the work in those fields which have not become self-supporting. He told the delegates how the believers in the States cheerfully assumed the responsibility of raising the mission funds, which means to them fifteen cents a week for each member.
The appropriations to South America for 1916 are as follows: Brazil, $24,652; South American Union, $37,678; South American Division, $3,244; making a total of $65,574.
Following these statements by the chairman the delegates proceeded with the organization. W. W. Prescott was elected temporary president, and N. Z. Town temporary secretary. The following resolution, calling into existence this new organization, was then presented and unanimously voted:—
“Whereas, The General Conference Committee, acting on the recommendation of the General Conference in session, has authorized the organization of a South American Division Conference by the representatives of the Brazilian Union Conference, the South American Union Conference, and the Inca Union Mission; therefore,—
“Resolved, That we, delegates assembled, representing the Brazilian Union Conference, the South American Union Conference, and the Inca Union Mission,
do hereby organize ourselves into a conference to be known as the South American Division Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.”
In the discussion of this resolution, J. W. Westphal, who has now been in this field fifteen years, gave a brief review of the development of the work in South America from the beginning.
In brief he said: “The work in Brazil and in the River Plate and west coast fields began in each place independently of the other. Canvassers entered Argentina in 1891, Brazil in 1892, and Chile in 1894. The first organic connection between these fields was effected in 1901, when the South American Union Mission was called into existence and a superintendent appointed. That same year the River Plate Conference was organized, and the following year the Brazilian Conference.
“Early in 1906 the South American Union Conference was organized, during the visit of Elder W. A. Spicer, the first representative from the General Conference to visit this field. This union embraced all South America, except the
three Guianas and the republics of Colombia and Venezuela. In 1910 Brazil was separated from this union, and organized into a Brazilian Union Conference, leaving the remainder of the territory to the South American Union. In 1914 the Inca Union Mission, consisting of Bolivia, Peru, and Ecuador, was organized, remaining under the general supervision of the South American Union.”
The fields were represented by the following delegates: Brazilian Union, four; South American Union, thirty; Inca Union Mission, five; General, three, making a total of forty-two.
At a subsequent meeting a constitution and by-laws were adopted, similar to those of the Asiatic and North American Divisions.
The first two resolutions voted by the new division conference were as follows:—
“Whereas, Through the rich blessing of God, the work in this field has been developed to such an extent as to make possible and advisable the organization of a division conference; therefore,—12
“Resolved, That we publicly render to God our heartfelt thanks and praise, and that we pledge ourselves to renewed consecration for the finishing of the work in South America.
“Whereas, The General Conference, by means of the gifts of our brethren, has supplied this field with laborers and means during past years, and by additional appropriations is now making it possible to further enlarge our work; therefore,—
“Resolved, That we express our gratitude to the General Conference and to our brethren in North America for their interest in the work in this field; and that we promise by the blessing of God to do all in our power, by personal sacrifice and labor, to cooperate with them in the further advancement of the message, not only in South America, but throughout the world.”
In the discussion of these resolutions, touching remarks were made by several regarding the generosity of the General Conference and of our brethren generally toward these fields. Not only have our brethren in the States given of their means for the support of the work here, but they have given what has pulled much harder at their heartstrings, their sons and daughters. In response to the question as to how many present in the meeting had responded to a call from the Mission Board to connect with the work in South America, thirty-eight stood up.
Owing to the size of the Brazilian field, which is as large as the United States, and owing also to the rapid development of our work, the Brazilian delegates presented a request that consideration be given to the question of dividing Brazil into two fields. After listening to their presentation of the matter, the following actions were voted by the division delegates:—
“Whereas, The territory of the Brazilian Union Conference is too large for one man to supervise successfully, and—
“Whereas, The growth of those portions of the north where a beginning has been made, and the interests that are springing up, call for a closer supervision, and—
“Whereas, The rapidly developing work in the southern states of Brazil demands the whole time and attention of the union president and his committee; therefore,—
“We recommend, That that portion of Brazil lying north of the states of Espirito Santo, Minas Geraes, and Matto Grosso, be separated from the Brazilian Union Conference and organized into a mission field to be known as the North Brazilian Union Mission, and that we ask the General Conference to furnish a superintendent, secretary-treasurer, and field mission secretary, the wages and expenses of these to be included in the 1917 budget and appropriations for Brazil.”
This division will give 10,000,000 people to the northern mission field, leaving 12,000,000 still in the Brazilian Union Conference.
The following resolution created a lively interest and evoked a most animated discussion:—
“Whereas, There is great expense and often considerable risk involved in the bringing of workers to our fields from other countries, as they must adapt themselves to new conditions and learn new languages, and,—
“Whereas, The importance of our work and the times in which we live should constrain us to dedicate our lives to God’s service wherever he can use us, and,—
“Whereas, The present plan of conducting the work places the responsibility of financing the furloughs of workers in our field on the South American Division Conference, the expenses having to be paid from the appropriations made to our fields; therefore,—
“Resolved, That we as workers in South America, surrender the idea of returning to the homeland after a few years of service, and that we express our willingness to remain at our post of duty until God may call us elsewhere, or until the work is finished.”
Following are a few of the expressions taken from the discussion:—
J. W. Westphal: “My heart is in the work in South America. I have really feared that the General Conference might decide to change my field, but I do not want a change.”
F. W. Spies: “I feel that the home board can help us by being careful not to send us those who are expecting to return after a few years.”
R. H. Habenicht: “I did not come to South America with the idea of returning home again. I am not homesick, and my desire is to remain in this field.”
G. W. Gasebeer: “When I left the States, Elder A. J. Breed said to me, ‘Well, George, you must hang to it in South America like a dog to a root.’ This I am determined to do.”
Mary T. Westphal: “I wish to say, as did Ruth, ‘Thy people shall be my people.’ I love Chile and the Chileans, and desire to remain among them.”
F. A. Stahl: “When I had been in South America eight years, I had a desire to go home. But the demands of the work and the necessity of staying appeal to me. I wish to abandon for good the idea of going, for the good of the work and for the influence it will have.”
It did our hearts good to see this splendid spirit of consecration shown by the workers. Action was taken on the resolution by a rising vote, all except two or three voting in favor of it.
The officers of this new division conference are: President, O. Montgomery; Secretary-Treasurer, W. H. Williams; Executive Committee, O. Montgomery, W. H. Williams, J. W. Westphal, F. W. Spies, E. L. Maxwell, H. Meyer, and R. T. Baer.
This new division conference begins its existence with a total population of about 45,000,000. It has two union conferences and one union mission field. The Brazilian Union has two local conferences, Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catharina, and six mission fields, Parana, Sao Paulo, Rio Espirito Santo, East Brazil, Pernambuco, and North Brazil. This union has a total membership of
2,197. The Austral Union (South American Union) has two local conferences, Argentine and Chile, and three missions, Uruguay, Alto Parana, and Patagonia, with a total of 2,159 members. The Inca Union Mission has the three missions of Bolivia, Peru, and Ecuador, with a total of 542 members. These fields, with a grand total of 4,898 members, have paid a tithe during the last two years of $74,872.
There are two publishing houses, one in Brazil, where literature is published in German and Portuguese, and one in Argentina, which issues literature in Spanish; three training schools, in Brazil, Argentina, and Chile, respectively; one sanitarium, in which were received during the last biennial period 1,080 patients, and in which 293 operations were performed.
The workers throughout this new division are of good courage, and are expecting great things from God. They are also planning to do great things for God.
