Earlier text: The One Hundred Thousand Dollar FundGeneral European Conference
By L. R. Conradi
ON Thursday evening Elder L. R. Conradi, the president of the General European Conference, presented his report to the delegates as follows:— As we consider the past, God’s wonderful providence over his work stands out the brightest. Europe, as well as North America, had its 1844 movement, but the seed sown slumbered for many years before men felt called upon to water, foster, and reap it in the last and final movement—the third angel’s message. Throughout Europe we find even to-day some aged members, who, with joy, testify to their 1844 experience, and one family in southern Germany even date their first observance of the Sabbath of Jehovah back to that time. As early as 1860 a number of sincere believers near the beautiful Rhine valley were led out independently of any human agency to observe the true rest day. But not until 1864 did some one feel impressed to leave the United States, of his own accord, and plant the Sabbath truth in French-Switzerland. He tried to hide its true connection, but it gradually became known that there was a distinct, well-organized body of believers in North America who taught and lived out the truths presented. This caused the few believers in Switzerland to send Elder J. Erzenberger as a delegate as early as 1869, but he arrived too late for that General Conference. It was not until 1874 that our first missionary, Elder J. N. Andrews, was sent from the States. Thus the great European field was our first mission field, and the result reaped since justifies in every way the wisdom of that move. The first general meeting of the few believers in Switzerland was held in November 1874. In January, 1875, at a still larger gathering, it was decided that Elders Andrews and Erzenberger should visit the Sabbath-keepers in Rhenish Prussia. It was in 1875 that we first began to print in this field, three French tracts. At the conference held that fall, there were seventy-five Sabbath-keepers in French-Switzerland, and these, with the fifty in Germany, made a total of one hundred and twenty-five. In January, 1876, the first believers were baptized in Germany. July of that year saw the beginning of our first European paper, printed in French. In 1877 Elder Matteson responded to a call from Scandinavia, some two hundred dollars being sent without solicitation on our part, for his travelling expenses. June 6 he began his work in Denmark, where he found some already keeping the Sabbath, as the result of reading publications furnished by some Scandinavian brethren in America. In 1878 Brother Ribton began work in Italy, and Brother Matteson went to Norway, and Brother Ings and his wife first visited England, and, on account of his appeals, the General Conference sent Elder J. N. Loughborough that year to take charge of the work there. In January, 1879, our first Scandinavian paper appeared in Christiania, and in February of that year our first building association in Europe was formed. In 1880 the first small conference, the Danish Conference, was organized, and the first number of any of our European health papers appeared at Christiania, and, further, the work was begun in Sweden. The first baptism also took place in England that year, on February 8. It was in 1881 that the countries of Europe were first visited by a representative of the General Conference, Elder Haskell. In connection with his visit was the first general council meeting held in Europe, at which delegates from Scandinavia, England, and Switzerland were present. In 1882 a conference was organized in Sweden; a British supplement to the Signs was published, which was supplanted by Present Truth the following year. The statistics of 1882 show that there were, in Scandinavia, 338 members, with seven evangelical workers, and a tithe of $534; in Great Britain, two ministers, two churches, with sixty members, and $379 in tithe; in Central Europe, two ministers, sixteen churches, 223 members, with a tithe of $442; or, in all Europe there were 621 members, with a tithe of $1,356, while in the entire world there were only 17,169 believers, with $84,261 tithe,—a little more than we received in Europe last year,—and the total increase that year, throughout the world, was 253 members, or about as many as are now received in some of the small local German Conferences. In 1883 the publication of the German Herold der Wahrheit began in Basel. In 1884 the president of the General Conference, Elder G. I. Butler, visited Europe, and attended the second General European council, held at Basel, beginning May 28, and assisted in organizing the Swiss Conference, and, in harmony with the decision taken at that meeting, the site for the Basel house was purchased, for six thousand dollars. At that gathering, nine different nationalities were represented. It was decided that year, to erect the Christiania publishing house, and the canvassing work in Scandinavia was begun, one laborer in Norway reporting his earnings for January as ten dollars, while in February he had earned only half that sum, as he had been three weeks on a journey. Aug. 19, 1885, Sister White arrived in Europe; in September following, the third European council was held, at Basel. In 1886 the membership of the European field had reached one thousand; six hundred of these were in Scandinavia, three hundred in Switzerland, and the other hundred in Great Britain. It required seventeen years after the visit of Brother Erzenberger to America for us to secure the first thousand members in Europe, while seventeen years later it had reached ten thousand. In 1886 the speaker organized our first church in Russia. In 1887 there was a general meeting held at Moos, Norway, where the Norwegian Conference was organized. Sister White was present at this meeting. In 1888 we find that not less than thirty-six thousand dollars was appropriated for the work in Europe,—mostly for building enterprises. Central Europe received fourteen thousand dollars; Scandinavia, twelve thousand dollars; Great Britain, ten thousand dollars. In 1889 the work was permanently taken in hand in the German empire. We opened our mission at Hamburg that year. In 1891 the membership of the General26 European field had reached 2,263. There was a division in the Central European Conference, and Germany reported 111 members, with $752 tithe; and Russia had 308 members, with $370 tithe; Great Britain then had 199 members, with a tithe of $2,700; and Scandinavia had 1,132 members, with $3,780 tithe. In 1893 our mission property in Hamburg was purchased. In 1895 the German publishing work was moved to Hamburg. In 1898 the first German Conference was organized. It embraced all the territory now in the German Union, save Russia. Its membership was 1,422, and tithe $9,880. About the same time the European Union was organized, with a membership of 6,000, and a tithe of $38,000. In 1901 the General European Conference was organized at Friedensau, with a membership of 7,000, and a tithe of $48,600. The German-Swiss, the South Russian, and the German Union Conferences were organized the same year, and also the Scandinavian Union Council. The year following saw the organization of the British Union, the South England, and the North England Conferences. In 1902 we held the second session of the General European Conference, at London. It was attended by Elder Daniels, and a number of other American delegates. The third session of this conference was held at Friedensau, last summer. Present Status of the Work
During 1903 and 1904 our tithe in the territory of the General European Conference was $146,274, or $38,600 more than during the two previous years; we had 4,057 additions, or a net increase of 2,754, 1,562 more than our net increase for the years 1901 and 1902. We now have 285 evangelical laborers in our field, or ninety-eight more than at the close of the previous biennial term. The gifts, such as Sabbath-school donations, First-day offerings, annual offerings, etc., amounted to $24,324; the book sales to $235,371. The missions we have opened during this time are as follows: Flemish Belgium, Trans-Caucasus, and German East Africa, in the German Union; and Spain and Portugal in the Latin Union. The Rhenish and Prussian Conferences have been organized during this time; and the Scandinavian Union Council changed to a Scandinavian Union Conference. To-day the territory of the General European Conference includes all Europe, Siberia, Northern Africa, Western Asia, an area of eight and a quarter millions of square miles, with a population of 490,000,000,—one third of the inhabitants on the face of the earth. We have three union conferences,—the German, the British, and the Scandinavian Union Conferences,—and two union mission fields,—the Latin and the Oriental Union Missions. We have thirteen conferences and twenty local missions, in which we are actively engaged in spreading the message. Of local conferences we have the following: The East German, the German-Swiss, the Prussian, the Rhenish, the South German, the West German, the South Russian, the North England, the South England, the Danish, the Norwegian, the Swedish, and the Roman-Swiss; of missions, the Austrian, the Balkan, the German East African, the Holland and Flemish Belgium, the Hungarian, the Middle Russian, the North Russian, the Trans-Caucasian, the Irish, the Scotch, the Welsh, the Finnish, the Icelandic, the French, the French-Belgium, the Italian, the Portuguese, the Spanish, the Egyptian, the Syrian, and the Turkish. We publish in English, Welsh, German, Dutch, Danish-Norwegian, Icelandic, Swedish, Finnish, Esthonian, Letonian, Livonian, Slavic, Russian, Polish, Bohemian, Hungarian, Servian, Bulgarian, Roumanian, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Grecian, Armenian, Turkish, and Arabian—twenty-seven languages in all. Since the General Conference two years ago, it has been my privilege to visit German East Africa, where I spent about three months with our workers on the field; and to make a short stay in Spain and Portugal, where one week was spent with our workers (March 14–21, 1905). I have revisited Russia and Finland, attending their meetings in the autumn of 1903; and also made a second trip to Egypt and Palestine, and revisited Turkey, the Balkan States, Austria-Hungaria, France, Switzerland, Scandinavia, and Great Britain,—some of these fields several times,—aside from doing a large amount of work in connection with our local meetings in the German Union and in the Latin Union, the presidency of which was again turned over to me, on the departure of Elder Wilkinson for the States. There have been advanced steps taken in all departments of the work during the last two years. One of the most important moves we have been called upon to make, was the transfer of the sanitarium and food factory from Basel, to Gland, on Lake Geneva. Doubtless most of you have read something of the beginning of our work there. We held our French school last winter at Gland. The sanitarium and the food factory open this summer. Our Latin Union publishing work has been transferred from Basel to Geneva, in a French-speaking territory at the very border of France. We have also begun the erection of a health institution in Constantinople, where Dr. George has been laboring since the fall of 1903, and he has successfully passed the Turkish examinations in French, so that he has full rights as a physician in that country. We have added to our Friedensau plant, the dormitory for young men, the chapel, underneath which are commodious schoolrooms, a new air-bath, and now are erecting a new steam laundry. We have also installed electric lighting. In Denmark, the old Fredrikshavn high-school building, which had been used as a branch of the Skodsborg Sanatorium, has been purchased by the Danish Conference, lately, and will be operated under this management from now on. The financial standing of our publishing work in Finland and in all Scandinavia has greatly improved of late. In Great Britain we have opened the sanitarium work at Caterham and Leicester and Belfast. We are now doing our best to secure a place where we may have our own quarters for school, publishing house, and food factory. I do not often refer to difficulties, and yet that my fellow workers who are having a hard time in other lands, may know that our fields are also beset with difficulty, it may not be amiss to refer to some of the things with which we have to contend. We do not feel to set ourselves up against the government nor the laws in any country, for we believe that nowhere are the laws much more unfavorable to the advancement of the third angel’s message than were the laws of the Roman empire to the progress of the gospel in the first few centuries of the Christian era. Even at that time, and under those laws, the wise apostle wrote: “Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work.” Titus 3:1. But do the best we may, some of the laws are such that they give us trouble. In Turkey, for example, we are not recognized as Protestants, for some of our former Protestant friends would not grant us that favor. As a result, five of our brethren are in prison at Ourfa, where they have been waiting for their verdict for months. Only recognized sects are allowed to preach their faith in Turkey. In one kingdom of southern Germany, our people are fined fifteen dollars a member for attending meeting. They dare not have the Lord’s supper, nor even meet peaceably for any sort of worship. In Russia, as all our brethren will remember, we have had much difficulty with the Russian censorship, and also with the persecution from those opposed to the message. Throughout Germany, we are constantly liable to trouble in our colporteur work; for it is in the power of any German citizen to take exceptions to anything he may find in any of our books or papers, and make complaint to the authorities, and the local authorities notify the central government, and if no protest is made within two weeks, the book or paper may be forbidden in all Germany. Our enemies frequently make use of this law to cause us annoyance. There is also the trouble with the military and the school laws in many parts of Europe,—these are real troubles, and not merely possibilities. But in the midst of all these disadvantageous circumstances, God finds people who hear his voice, and who obey—people who are as true and as loyal as can be found in any place on the face of the earth. They go through hardships for Christ. They deny themselves for him, and they take great joy in his service. They give of their hard-earned means for the proclamation of the gospel. They pay an honest tithe, averaging $7.31 a member. Our organized conferences, so far as possible, pay two tithes of the conference tithe, for missionary work, and give the whole of their Sabbath-school, First-day, and annual offerings to be used in their mission fields. We need the right kind of men, and we need money. However, we feel that with us the greater need is for men who are fitted by nature, education, and the endowment of the Spirit, to act as well-disciplined leaders in the field of active hostilities against the enemy. We have no place for the worker who can not be successful where he is, in the home field. The men who volunteer ought to be well seasoned, so that they can stand the strain which will surely come to them.27 They should be men of education and natural ability; but most of all, they ought to be thoroughly converted, and able to teach others the way of salvation. We ask your careful co-operation and prayer in the consideration of the needs of our field, and hope that ere the conference closes, God’s mind may be revealed with reference to who shall help us, and what we can do to help other parts of the field. L. R. CONRADI,
President. The First Day
By G. B. Thompson
THE opening day of the conference will not soon be forgotten by those privileged to be present. At no conference in recent years has the very beginning been attended with such a marked manifestation of the Holy Spirit's presence. A spirit of solemnity pervaded the large assembly as they gathered in the large pavilion to begin what is one of the most important gatherings of God's people ever assembled on the earth. For days the prayers of God's people have been ascending to the throne of power, that this meeting might be attended by the power of the Holy Spirit, and that there might be given such an impetus to the work as would hasten the message to all parts of the earth, and bring to an end the prolonged controversy between truth and error. And the Lord did not disappoint his people. As our laborers from all parts of the world gathered on the platform with a number of our aged brethren whose hairs have grown gray in the message of the third angel, every heart was touched, and as Elders Loughborough and Farnsworth, in brokenness of heart, invoked the divine blessing, the signal presence of God rested upon us. No special business was transacted. The joy occasioned by the presence and power of the Lord filled all our hearts, and the time was devoted to a praise service, in which many expressed their confidence in the speedy triumph of the message. The afternoon was equally marked by the presence of God. The review of the progress of the work during the past biennial period, and the opening providences now before us in every land, for the extension of the work, presented by the chairman, and the secretary of the Mission Board, caused us all to rejoice. It was indeed a good day, and all were deeply impressed that a new era in the work had dawned, and that in very truth there should be delay no longer. Third Meeting
By G. A. Irwin; W. A. Spicer
The third meeting of the session was called May 12, at 9:30 A. M., G. A. Irwin being in the chair. A. T. Jones led in prayer. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved. The following additional delegates answered to the roll-call: N. W. Kauble, R. C. Porter, H. M. J. Richards, M. E. Cady, W. A. Westworth, Charles Khalstrom, A. F. Ballenger, C. W. Weber, C. P. Bollman, Dr. G. A. Hare, Dr. D. C. Ross, Dr. W. S. Swayze, Dr. J. H. Neall. A partial report on standing committees was presented by the executive committee, as authorized the previous day, and was unanimously adopted, as follows:— On credentials and seating delegates: A. J. Breed, S. H. Lane, J. M. Rees. On nominations: G. A. Irwin, R. M. Kilgore, O. A. Olsen, W. S. Hyatt, G. F. Watson, Allen Moon, P. A. Hansen, W. H. Thurston, H. S. Shaw, Dr. A. J. Hoenes, N. P. Nelson, M. C. Wilcox, F. Griggs. The executive committee further placed in nomination the name of Elder L. C. Sheafe as a delegate from the District of Columbia. The conference unanimously voted, accepting Elder Sheafe as a delegate. The chairman then stated that the order of the morning would be the report of the Washington “Surprise Party,” by which is indicated the spontaneous movement which sprang up in California and extended to all parts of the field, with the idea of having the delegates come to the General Conference with gifts in their hands for the Washington work and for the mission fields. W. C. White led out with a statement that this had truly been a surprise in the heartiness and rapidity with which the idea had been acted upon by our people. He called for reports first from those who had brought less than one hundred dollars, and laid upon the table ninety dollars from a brother and sister of St. Helena. Then the brethren came forward with cash and checks, while the treasurer and his assistants took names of individuals and churches making the gifts, together with the amounts. Delegates from Maine to California, and from the South to the North, brought in the money, with reports of the interest and enthusiasm and blessing with which this enterprise had been taken up. Hearts were stirred, and eyes were dimmed, as special incidents were related concerning individual and church efforts. One of the most touching gifts was that presented by Brother O. R. Staines, of $87.55 from the Colored Training-school in Huntsville, Ala. The conference recognized that it was indeed out of deep poverty and need that the young people and workers in that place had joined in this offering. Similarly Hildebran, N. C., presented additional gifts, in continuance of monthly offerings in the past. A substantial sum came in from a company of widowed sisters in Oklahoma, as the widow’s mite. From various States came amounts raised by special efforts in selling articles and literature, and missionary garden produce, the reports showing that aged people and little ones, persons in the church and out of it, were moved by one common impulse to do quickly what they could. The meeting broke over the bounds of the gifts of less than one hundred dollars, and those having larger offerings were constrained to report. L. R. Conradi laid down six hundred dollars from believers in the German Union Conference. They had not heard of this surprise party effort, but had been impressed to send this gift as a token of their interest in the common work. The entire congregation sang, at this point, “Praise God, from whom all blessings flow.” Elder Graf brought in four hundred and fifty dollars from College View, and reported a surprise of blessing in that community as the fund was made up. Brother Adams, of Manitoba, brought in two hundred and twenty-four dollars for missions, and said the Washington fund would follow. Brother Reinke brought one hundred and thirty-five dollars from the Brooklyn German church. E. H. Gates laid down a five-dollar gold piece, given him for the Washington work as he passed through one-time cannibal Fiji, where now nearly two hundred Sabbath-keepers rejoice in the truth. G. F. Haffner reported an increasing surprise on his own part at every one of the eight churches which he had time to visit. He received five hundred dollars in cash, and twelve hundred dollars in pledges. A. E. Place brought a check for $348.37 from New England. Dr. Swayze brought in two hundred dollars from Mexico; M. C. Wilcox laid down three hundred and five dollars from Mountain View, Cal., where this movement first started. Brother E. R. Palmer spoke of the origin of the movement. A sister in California who had once been abroad, had sent in to the General Conference an application to be sent to the mission fields. In response to this application, sent in through Brother W. C. White, Elder Daniells had written Brother White fully regarding the straitened condition in mission finance. This letter was read to the brethren at Mountain View. All hearts were stirred that it should be necessary to cut down appropriations and hold back workers. A collection was taken locally, with such surprising results that the idea of extending the movement took shape. J. O. Corliss reported that he had only three Sabbaths in which to visit California churches, but he brought in over a thousand dollars. It is impossible to mention in these minutes further reports of gifts piled up before the platform. I. H. Evans, the treasurer, reported that the hasty count showed $5,015 presented during the meeting. Every heart was stirred with fresh inspiration at the splendid result of the hasty effort, and the knowledge that still the work was going on, and the fields were by no means heard from. It was the fitting climax of a happy idea. W. C. White recounted again the manifold blessing of God in this effort, as a token that by a strong and a quick pull, even before this conference closes, the Washington fund might be lifted to the full one hundred thousand. Then all hands would be free to turn toward the next work to be done for unentered fields in the South and abroad. He moved the following resolution, which was unanimously adopted:— “Resolved, That we undertake this afternoon to send out a large number of personal letters to individuals who can help, reporting the response in this morning meeting, and asking for a special effort to close up this fund before the conference closes.” J. S. Washburn reported that there was now very nearly seventy-five thousand dollars in the office, leaving about twenty-five thousand dollars more to be raised. It was unanimously— “Voted, That J. S. Washburn, J. O. Corliss, E. R. Palmer, act as a committee to prepare a brief statement regarding the results of this meeting, and the amount still needed, in such form that it may be sent out in the personal letters to be written this afternoon.” G. A. Irwin, the chairman, spoke of the deep sympathy throughout Australia with the Washington effort. J. L. Shaw, of India, said that while the believers in that country were pressed with the tremendous need in the field, they had felt, after all, that if they joined in meeting the needs of the Washington work at this time, God might even more abundantly supply their own need. As a result over four hundred dollars had been raised in India and Burma, and sent in to the Washington work. A number of delegates spoke of some who had longed to attend this General Conference, but who had felt constrained instead to remain at home and pray for it, giving to the Washington fund the money that would be required for the journey. Elder A. G. Daniells spoke of the world-wide inspiration which this Washington effort had been to our people. “The unifying influence, the binding of heart to heart by this effort is worth far more than all the money that is given. There is something in this that means a mighty power in the proclamation of this message to the world. It is preparing this people to rise unitedly as one man to finish this work in all the earth, and to stand together as one in the time of trial that is coming. I thank God for this unifying influence that is working among the people throughout all the field.” This was a meeting long to be remembered. Inasmuch as it continued through the hour assigned to the Bible institute, it was voted that Elder E. W. Farnsworth, who was to lead out in the institute, on the topic, “Our Message,” should be requested to present this topic at the eleven o’clock service to-morrow (Sabbath). G. A. IRWIN, Chairman,
W. A. SPICER, Secretary. Impressions of Takoma Park and the Conference in Camp
THE following brief expressions of opinion indicate in a general way the feeling entertained by some of the brethren who are now making their first visit to the new location of the headquarters of the denomination. Taken together, these statements constitute a limited testimony meeting upon a topic of general interest throughout the denomination. Elder W. S. Hyatt, the president of the South African Union Conference, expresses himself thus:— “I arrived in Washington the evening of May 9, after seven years’ labor in South Africa. It is impossible to express my feelings as once again I meet with the laborers from all parts of the great harvest-field. We have often heard of Takoma Park and the work at that place, but we find that we had very little realization of what it is. Truly God has directed in the selection of this place so near to the capital of the nation, and yet in a quiet country place surrounded with the scenes of nature. The work here is prospering, and I believe God’s hand is directing to his own glory.” Elder J. W. Westphal, the superintendent of the South American field, tells how he was “agreeably disappointed:”— “I had supposed that the ground purchased for school and sanitarium purposes at Washington was in a village, not so isolated as might be desirable for the school. After passing along a sparsely settled street for a mile, and then entering a forest for nearly another half-mile before reaching the school buildings, I concluded that my impressions were not correct, and was agreeably disappointed. The location is beautiful, and with the tents pitched in this natural grove, the sight inspires a spirit of devotion. If surroundings can help to make a good conference, the one of 1905 ought to be a good one.” Elder Geo. A. Irwin, the president of the Australasian Union Conference, expresses his view as follows:— “Nature has done much for the site chosen for the school and sanitarium near Takoma Park, and when the buildings are completed and the grounds are laid out according to the original plan, the place will be very beautiful. Having a General Conference in a place where the delegates are surrounded with natural scenery, and where the early morning hours are made vocal with the happy songs of numberless birds of different species, is a new departure, which will, I trust, be not only pleasing to all, but will be for our spiritual blessing, and will result in heaven-born plans for the rapid advancement of the work throughout the entire field.” Elder S. N. Haskell, whose appreciation of nature is well known, says:— “It is a pleasant, retired location. The tents and buildings are among the trees, without the annoyance of the city traffic. Nature has done her best to make the spot one of seclusion from the world, permitting us to be shut in with God. This is my impression of the place for the General Conference. We shall pray and hope for a large outpouring of the Spirit of God on this occasion.” ELDER J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH, who has known this work from its beginning, finds his expectations fully met, and testifies as follows:— “When I heard that the conference was to be held in a park, I said it was a fine thing, and since coming, my expectations have been fully met by the grandeur of the place.” Elder J. L. Shaw regards Takoma Park as “an ideal spot for a conference,” and is reminded of Nehemiah’s time. He says:— “Arriving from India, we find Takoma Park a delightful change. The cool, refreshing breeze and the genial sunshine of this oak-covered spot, make it an ideal spot for a conference both with God and with man. The kind hand of Providence has surely provided us with a place for this General Conference that should tell in making it an occasion in keeping with the times in which we are living, and with the mighty problems that confront us in the evangelization of the world. We are reminded of Nehemiah’s time, when the people met in booths to seek God and study his Word. We wish the missionaries in the hot places of the earth could plan and pray with us among these quiet, cool, refreshing oaks, that we might more fully see the work before us in the dark corners of the earth.” Elder D. T. Bourdeau describes his satisfaction in the following words:— “I am deeply penetrated with a conviction that a right choice has been made for the location of the present General Conference. In this choice wisdom has been displayed from the triple standpoint of reason, the testimonies of God’s Spirit, and the wants of the people at the capital of our nation. It will inspire new faith and life and courage in the delegates, as well as in all our people who shall attend. I regard the grounds, and the work of construction already begun upon them, as in perfect consonance with our high profession, and the testimonies of God’s Spirit, as well as with principles clearly shown in God’s Word.” Elder L. R. Conradi, the president of the General European Conference, is pleased both with the time and with the location of the conference. He states his feelings thus:— “In past years delegates from abroad have had to make their trips across the water at a most unfavorable time of the year. We already highly appreciate the choice of season, and the voyage has been a rest to us. This favorable impression still increased as we saw the beautiful green of spring, and still more as we saw the beautiful camp at Takoma Park. This place is certainly a beautiful one,—one in every way suited for a large gathering like this, where we can be refreshed not only by meeting our brethren and sisters and counseling for the great work, but also by inhaling the pure air; and in the groves every one has a splendid opportunity to seek the Lord. I am pleased with what I see of the buildings.” Elder O. A. Olsen, the president of the British Union Conference, expresses his own satisfaction, and the interest of the believers in Great Britain, in the following words:— “When I first learned of the plan for holding the conference in a camp, I was much pleased with it. As to the location at Takoma Park, it appears in every way favorable; and from the developments which have taken place since first establishing the headquarters at Washington, it is evident that the providence of God is directing the work in a very marked manner. I do not know what more could be asked for in the way of natural surroundings, and I can say as for our people abroad, especially Great Britain, that this movement is followed with the deepest interest, and their hearty sympathy is with it. They firmly believe that the move has been made in the providence of God, and it has their hearty support.” Elder E. W. Farnsworth, who has preached this message for many years and in many fields, gives his impression of the place in these words:— “As I was crossing the grounds, a friend said to me, ‘I wish I could take you to paradise.’ I replied, ‘This is about as near paradise as I ever expect to be in this present world,—the air so balmy, trees so green, and the melody of birds filling the air.’ Everything indicates that no mistake has been made in locating the General Conference in this place.” Elder W. H. Wakeham, superintendent of the work in Syria and Egypt, notes the contrast between Africa and Takoma Park. He says:— “Coming from the burning sands of Africa and cosmopolitan Cairo, the first sensation experienced on entering Takoma Park is the enjoyment of the delightful coolness and refreshing atmosphere. Then, too, meeting the old friends and fellow workers of former years is always refreshing, and the soul is filled with a foretaste of the spiritual blessings which await us at this gathering. We surely have abundant reason for praise and thanksgiving. Special evidences on every hand convince us at once that29 some one has been hard at work here, and the blessing of God surely has attended the efforts. We confidently hope that this place will be one from which influences will go out to permeate not only this country, but to be carried to the ends of the earth.” THE following delegates have been appointed, in addition to those named in the list which was printed in the last REVIEW:— ATLANTIC UNION: H. C. Wilcox. CANADIAN UNION: A. O. Burrill, H. E. Rickard, Wm. Guthrie, Dr. W. H. White, Eugene Leland. LAKE UNION: J. O. Miller. GENERAL EUROPEAN: W. A. Westworth, B. G. Wilkinson, Miss Bertha Severin, A. F. Ballenger, Wm. Hutchinson, C. W. Weber. DELEGATES AT LARGE: D. C. Babcock, E. A. Sutherland, Miss F. M. Dickerson, Mrs. L. Flora Plummer, G. B. Thompson, Mrs. Flora L. Bland, Estella Houser, K. C. Russell, W. A. Colcord, C. P. Bollman, D. W. Reavis, J. S. Washburn, S. N. Curtiss, James Cochran, E. R. Palmer, S. D. Hartwell, Dr. G. H. Heald, Dr. W. C. Green, Dr. J. E. Froom, Dr. G. A. Hare, Dr. D. C. Ross, Dr. B. E. Fullmer, Dr. C. P. Farnsworth, Dr. Emma H. Perrine, Dr. W. S. Swayze, Dr. J. H. Neall, F. M. Wilcox. Fourth Meeting
By G. A. Irwin; W. A. Spicer
THE fourth meeting was called to order by the chairman, G. A. Irwin, at 2:30 P. M., May 12. L. C. Sheafe led in prayer, and the minutes were submitted. The following delegates were present at roll-call for the first time:— Wm. Hutchinson, H. W. Carr, C. J. Hermann, L. C. Sheafe, I. F. Thorne, J. H. Wheeler (I. F. Thorne being alternate delegate in the place of I. A. Crane, and J. H. Wheeler alternate in place of C. C. Lewis, both of the Central Union). The executive committee made a further partial report on standing committees, placing in nomination the following:— Committee on plans and recommendations:— L. R. Conradi, W. A. Colcord, H. H. Hall, J. W. Westphal, L. A. Hoopes, W. D. Salisbury, W. C. Sisley, G. B. Thompson, Dr. J. E. Froom, E. W. Farnsworth, W. A. Spicer, I. H. Evans, W. S. Hyatt, J. L. Shaw. The report of the committee was adopted. The chairman called for the report of the Educational Department, which was presented by F. Griggs, the secretary. (The report appears in this issue.) The meeting then adjourned to give all time to prepare for the Sabbath. G. A. IRWIN, Chairman,
W. A. SPICER, Secretary.