p. 63 | Review and Herald, Vol. 87, No. 24. (6/16/1910)

Earlier text: South American Union Conference

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH, KINGSTON, JAMAICA

West Indian Union Conference.

WITH the narrowing space at our command, we must summarize very briefly the report of this union conference, which, nevertheless, represents a large and active union. The territory comprises all the West Indian Islands, including Cuba and Porto Rico, Central America, British Guiana, Colombia, and Venezuela. Round this circle of the Gulf and the Caribbean Sea we have about four thousand Sabbath-keepers. Elder U. Bender, president of this union conference, says:—

These islands and the coast of the mainland contribute an interesting chapter to the history of the New World. Having been discovered by Spain, the banner of the Roman Church was unfurled at every point. While settlements were made in the interests of mission work, history reveals the fact that the church gathered wealth and increased in power, while the simple Indian people were wasted until at the present time but few remain. With the turning over of many of the islands to the English, Protestant customs and institutions came as a blessing to the people.

We have two million French-speaking people, four million English-speaking, and ten million Spanish in our field. At the present time no island of importance except Guadeloupe and Martinique (French possessions) are without a living representative of this message. Panama and all the Central American republics have been entered except Salvador. Venezuela and Colombia are unentered save by our literature.

We have a well-equipped printing-office at Cristobal, Canal Zone, where monthly issues of a Spanish and an English journal are printed. The union training-school is at Riversdale, Jamaica. Nearly all of the students work their entire way on the farm. They are an earnest, devoted band of students. At the time of the week of prayer, one of the girls having a desire to give to missions, but no money, offered for sale a penny postage-stamp to one of the teachers, and put in the price as her offering. It was all she had. I am sure the penny thus secured and given as an offering was as precious in the Lord's eyes as the widow's mite.

Haytian Mission

The director, Elder W. J. Tanner, of Cape Haytien, writes:—

Though the year has been spent in strengthening places already occupied, over thirty-five adults have professed

conversion to the truth during the year. With one or two exceptions, all of these came from the Roman Catholic Church, which makes the number all the more significant. That which brings us greater joy, however, is the spirit of progress we have noted in our three churches and four companies.

Wherever we go, we get a good hearing, the interested ones being made up mainly of those who are anxious to find something that can successfully combat the two great systems of superstition, Catholicism and voodooism, the latter being a tremendous power in the island. At present our native preacher, M. Nord-Isaac, is holding a series of meetings in Port au Prince, the capital, with a good interest. We are in great need of another French worker.

Porto Rico and Santo Domingo Mission

On the removal of the Spanish publishing work from Porto Rico to Panama, Porto Rico was left without a worker until August, 1909, when Elder William Steele and wife, formerly of Ecuador, landed to take up the work. Elder Steele says:—

Many in a way hold to the Catholic religion, but the greater number are indifferent to truth. We located in Mayaguez, on the western coast, and have done some house-to-house work. At Arecibo we have held a few meetings with very good results. Several are desiring baptism, and others are interested. In order to demonstrate what can be done in the canvassing work, I have spent a month at it with excellent results, and trust that the scattering of our Spanish books may lead to further investigation. I am planning soon to visit Santo Domingo, where we have some believers, but no workers. We are expecting some canvassers in 1910, and hope another year to have more to report.

Cuban Mission

Elder E. W. Snyder, superintendent of the Cuban Mission, has reported encouraging results during 1909. There are churches at Omaja, in eastern Cuba; San Claudio, fifty miles from Havana; and in Marianao, a suburb of Havana, where the mission headquarters is located. The two former churches are composed of brethren who have moved in from the States. Of the quarterly meeting with the Marianao church, held just after the end of the year, Elder U. Bender, who was present, says:—

It was an all-day meeting. Sabbath-school was followed by examination of candidates for baptism. Seven were then baptized, and on returning from the river quarterly services were held until sundown. All the speaking was in Spanish or by interpretation. This church is almost entirely composed of Cubans, who have embraced the truth during the year.

Elder Snyder reports many others interested, and calls coming from various parts of the island. He has been the only ordained minister in the field. Several schools are being conducted, one at San Claudio by Brother S. H. and Sister Carnahan, and one at Las Tunas, by Brother J. E. Anderson. At Minas, in eastern Cuba, where Brother Guy Holmes has been working at his trade of carpentry, at the same time distributing literature and teaching the truth, ten or twelve are keeping the Sabbath. The year has been a good one in Cuba.

Central American Conference

The work in this conference, which includes Honduras, Guatemala, and Salvador, has been much broken into, owing to the fact that the president, Elder E. L. Cardey, was compelled to return early in the year on account of his wife's health. A new president was not found until 1910. In the meantime Brother C. E. Morgan has been keeping in touch with the field as well as conditions allow from the Guatemala office, and Brother W. E. Hancock and his associates have been conducting an English school in Guatemala City. Elder L. E. Wellman joined the staff during the year, locating in Guatemala. Most of the believers in this conference are in the English-speaking Bay Islands, with others on the mainland of Honduras and in British Honduras. There are a few Spanish believers at La Ceiba and in the interior. The workers appeal earnestly for more laborers and the means with which to open up work among the million and more Indians of Central America almost untouched by any missionary effort.

General Word

We must pass, in a word, the reports from other portions of the West Indian Union Conference field. There have been additions to the believers, churches completed or newly erected, and a good sale of publications reported from the West Caribbean Conference, the South Caribbean Conference, and the East Caribbean Mission. British Guiana, by Elder O. E. Davis, reports a new church organization one hundred sixty miles up the Barama River, a new district for our work. Another mission site has been purchased one hundred miles up the Demerara River. There are more openings than the workers can possibly fill.

Other Mission Fields

· (Under Mission Board or American Unions)

West African Mission

THE headquarters of the mission is at Freetown, Sierra Leone. This mission is at the western doorway of the most populous region of Africa.

Thanking God for his care over the little band of workers, Elder D. C. Babcock, the superintendent, says:—

While there has been some sickness, yet the lives of all have been spared, and that in one of the most unhealthful climates on earth. This one manifestation of God's tender care has become a living epistle to the people, and is spoken of in wonder.

THE WORK GROWING

The superintendent's report shows a growing work at Freetown, in church and school, with the usual trials and triumphs of a mission field. He adds:—

In January a church was organized at Waterloo. They are completing a concrete church building, with schoolrooms in the basement.

In February, Brother C. E. F. Thompson began meetings at Axim, on the Gold Coast, eight hundred miles from Sierra Leone. In October a church of seventeen members was organized.

A little over a year ago Brother C. A. Ackah opened work at Kickam, near Axim, and as a result of this effort a church of thirty-four was organized (during a visit from the superintendent), and since then about fifteen have been added. At another village, near Kickam, a company is awaiting baptism.

At Axim and other points the enemy has been quite open in his attacks, the power of the civil arm being appealed to to stop the work of our young men. But the message moves on, and the work is widening.

PIONEERING IN THE INTERIOR

About the last of September, Brother R. P. Dauphin was sent on a missionary tour into the hinterland of Sierra Leone. He was away eleven weeks, visited

many native chiefs, and found quite an interest among them. He came across one chief over three hundred miles in the interior who could read and write, and who had in his possession a good supply of our books, and was fully convinced of the truth. I have been informed that far into the Sudan our books and tracts are found. The Lord is preparing the way. Shall we enter the wide-open field?

Last week I received a letter from a man who visited us nearly two years ago, professed to accept the message, bought some books, and left. We had heard nothing further from him. He has been sick during the entire time, far in the interior, and has prayerfully studied the message during that time. His letter is full of hope and courage, and reveals the spirit of a genuine Sabbath-keeper.

Good word comes to us from Brother Randall, our canvasser at Sherbro. He has sold many books, and three have embraced the message there.

EDUCATIONAL WORK

Prof. T. M. French and wife, with their associates, have been working hard to train missionary workers. The past year's experience has been a good school for all of us. We believe our training-school work is now placed upon a good foundation. We have secured a little farm at Waterloo, well suited for farming and gardening. A stream flows through the entire length of the farm, and a good stone building affords a home for teachers and a limited number of students, while the new church and school building in Waterloo provides ample room for our boys' school. Mrs. Babcock will conduct the girls' department of the training-school in Freetown.

We have nothing but courage to report, and we expect a great ingathering of souls in West Africa during 1910. Our young men in the ministry, developed in the field, are full of hope and courage, and are learning to push the work.

Mexican Mission

The Mexican Mission has the brightest year in its history to report. The new time has come to our work in that republic. Elder G. W. Reaser, superintendent, says:—

FRUITAGE OF THE YEAR

A part of the visible result from past seed sowing and recent evangelistic effort is seen in the baptism, during the year, of forty-three persons, a number equal to half of our total former Mexican constituency; and fully thirty-five more are awaiting baptism.

Three new evangelistic workers entered the field from Southern California, and a Mexican minister also joined our little force. The mission yet feels its

poverty for help, and pleads for more laborers. New interests have been developed at Torreon, Visnaga (where a school is being started for the children of a new company), Santa Barbara, Chihuahua, and elsewhere. There is a breaking up of the fallow ground in Mexico.

PUBLISHING WORK

The impression had long prevailed that it would be very difficult to sell our larger books in Mexico. But our canvassers have had good success in this first full year of effort in the book work. During the year, $5,265 worth of books and papers were sold, and in December the sales were $1,542. An average of 6,417 copies monthly of our Spanish paper have been sold through the various states by our colporteurs. One of our faithful book canvassers, Brother Arthur Reinke, was called to rest from his labors.

Our printing-office in Tacubaya, Mexico City, has been doubled in size during the year, and never has there been such pressure upon this department. We are now printing a child's paper, El Amigo de los Niños (The Children's Friend).

Bermuda Islands

In the mid-Atlantic, in this “land of the lily and the rose,” the light of the advent message is glowing. Early in the year Elder J. A. Morrow, who had labored in Bermuda for some years, returned to attend the General Conference, and was retained in the States. Brother M. Enoch, church elder, who is in business in Hamilton, on the islands, writes:—

There are about fifty Seventh-day Adventist believers in Bermuda, thirty-six in full membership in our one church organization. Regular meetings are held in Hamilton, the capital, and in Crawl, six miles away. Meetings are held in other places, but not regularly.

An act for the enforcement of Sunday rest was brought into the Parliament in September, through the efforts of a society organized by Methodists and Presbyterians. A motion to table the act for six months failed, and the measure came up again for discussion; but as there was no second to the motion, there was no discussion, and it was supposed that the measure met its death. However, the mover of the measure recently made another motion, but it was ruled out of order, and thus this Sunday measure died. It is but just to state that the Church of England, which claims about two thirds of the population, not only had nothing to do with this Sunday measure, but, as a people, opposed it.

In December Miss May Cole, appointed by the Mission Board, arrived in Bermuda to take up church-school work.

Hawaiian Islands

HERE, at the “Cross-roads of the Pacific,” we have a foothold. The company in Honolulu have this year added improvements to their church and mission home erected a year ago. Elder C. D. M. Williams, minister in charge, says:—

While not many have been added to the church, we feel that the work has now taken on a permanent form, and that there is a stability about it that it has never had before. We have secured quite a number of subscriptions to the Chinese and Japanese papers, so that on three of the islands many families have been reading the message in these languages. We have two brethren on the island of Hawaii, two hundred miles from Honolulu, and a Korean there reports himself a believer through Bible readings sent by his brother in Korea.

Alaska

THE work in Alaska is under the North Pacific Union Conference, which has maintained a laborer or two in the English work. A lone sister at Cape Nome reports that a number of the Eskimos are keeping the Sabbath as best they know. The leader of the number is an ivory carver called “Happy Jack.” This sister says:—

Most of them, even Brother Jack, used to go to the Catholic Church. But Brother Jack told the priest that he must “go one day back,” meaning the seventh day. Brother Jack told me, “Priest very mad.” But he seems not to mind that. The Eskimos sing “Happy Day,” with me, or “Sweet Promise, I will Come Again.”

The Bahama Islands

THESE British islands are a part of the territory of the Southeastern Union Conference, as they lie just off the Florida coast. During 1909 Elder W. A. Sweany and family settled in Nassau, and found two widows, who had for years been keeping the Sabbath, as the result of work done fifteen years ago by Brother C. F. Parmele. Elder Sweany has secured a hall and begun public meetings, with a good interest.

Camp-Meetings for 1910

ATLANTIC UNION CONFERENCE

Maine, Waterville ...... June 23 to July 3 Northern New England, Burlington ...... Aug. 25 to Sept. 4 New York ................ Sept. 1-10 Western New York, Rochester .... Sept. 9-

CANADIAN UNION CONFERENCE

Maritime ................ Aug. 18-28 Quebec .................. Sept. 1-12 Ontario ................. Sept. 15-25

CENTRAL UNION CONFERENCE

Nebraska, York .......... Aug. 25 to Sept. 4 Western Colorado, Grand Junction, Sept. 15-25 North Missouri, Hamilton, July 28 to Aug. 8 Southern Missouri, Springfield ..... Aug. 4-14

COLUMBIA UNION CONFERENCE

New Jersey, Trenton ..... June 23 to July 4 Virginia, New Market ..... Aug. 4-14 Ohio, Marion ............. Aug. 11-21 West Virginia ............ Aug. 18-28

LAKE UNION CONFERENCE

East Michigan ............ Aug. 11-21 West Michigan ............ Aug. 18-29 Wisconsin ................ Sept. 1-11 North Michigan ........... Aug. 25 to Sept. 4 Indiana .................. Aug. 25 to Sept. 4 Southern Illinois ........ Sept. 8-18 North Michigan, Ishpeming ..... June 20-26

NORTHERN UNION CONFERENCE

North Dakota, Jamestown .. June 23 to July 3 North Dakota, Dickinson (local), July 13-18

PACIFIC UNION CONFERENCE

California, Napa (local), June 23 to July 3 California, Humboldt County (local) ..... July 21-31 California, About the Bay (general) ..... Aug. 18-28 California, Visalia (local), Sept. 29 to Oct. 9 Southern California, San Diego (general) ..... Aug. 4-14 Arizona, Phoenix (conference only), Nov. Utah, Salt Lake City (conference only) ................................ Oct. 4-9

SOUTHEASTERN UNION CONFERENCE

Georgia, Griffin .......... July 21-31 South Carolina ........... Aug. 4-14 North Carolina ........... Aug. 18-28 Cumberland ............... Aug. 25 to Sept. 4 Florida .................. Oct. 13-23

SOUTHERN UNION CONFERENCE

Louisiana, Alexandria .... July 21-31 Alabama .................. Aug. 4-14 Tennessee River .......... Aug. 18-28 Kentucky ................. Aug. 25 to Sept. 3 Mississippi, Enterprise ... Sept. 8-18

SOUTHWESTERN UNION CONFERENCE

South Texas .............. July 7-17 Texas .................... July 21-31 West Texas ............... Aug. 4-14 New Mexico ............... Aug. 18-28 Oklahoma ................. Aug. 25 to Sept. 4 Arkansas (local), Ravenden ..... July 20-24 Arkansas ................ Sept. 1-11

WESTERN CANADIAN UNION CONFERENCE

Manitoba ................ June 23 to July 3 Saskatchewan (South) ..... July 6-12 Alberta .................. July 15-24 Saskatchewan (North) ..... July 26 to Aug. 1 British Columbia (Eastern), Vernon ..... Aug. 24-31 British Columbia (Western) ..... Aug. 12-21

European Division

BRITISH UNION CONFERENCE

British Union, Watford ... July 28 to Aug. 2 Scotland .................. June 16-19 Wales ..................... Sept. 29 to Oct. 2 North England ............. Oct. 6-9

EAST GERMAN UNION CONFERENCE

East German Union Committee, Friedensau ..... July 25, 26

WEST GERMAN UNION CONFERENCE

German-Swiss .............. July 5-10 West German Union, Friedensau .... July 15-24 Holland .................... Aug. 4-7

LATIN UNION CONFERENCE

French-Swiss Conference, Gland .... Aug. 10-15 Southern France ........... Aug. 17-21

Annual Meeting of the Manitoba Conference

By WM. C. YOUNG

THE annual session of the Manitoba Conference will convene at Gladstone, Manitoba, June 23 to July 3. The first meeting will be held Thursday, June 23, at 8 P. M. Each church is entitled to one delegate, irrespective of numbers, with an additional delegate for every seven members or fraction thereof.

We would urge a full attendance at this meeting of all members and interested ones. The election of officers, and other business of importance to the work in this province, will be considered during the early part of the meeting, and special attention will be given throughout to the importance of the message for these times. WM. C. YOUNG, President.

North Missouri Conference Association

By A. R. Ogden

THE annual meeting of the North Missouri Conference Association of Seventh-day Adventists, a corporation, will be held on the camp-ground in connection with the camp-meeting at Hamilton, Mo. The first meeting of the association is called for Monday, Aug. 1, 1910, at 9 A. M., at which time officers will be elected for the ensuing year, and such other business will be transacted as may pertain to the interests of the association.

A. R. OGDEN, President.

The Message Returns to Thessalonica

ELDER L. R. CONRADI reports that he has just received word from the Levant that Brother Scior of that field has settled in Salonika, the old Thessalonica of Macedonia; so the message is going to Thessalonica again.

Scandinavian Union Conference

ATTENDING the European camp-meetings, Elder W. A. Spicer reports an excellent meeting of the Scandinavian Union Conference. He says: “The work is going forward most encouragingly in old Christiania. The publishing house, treatment-rooms, and vegetarian restaurant are all earning money.” The brethren in conference enjoyed a rich refreshing from the Lord.

Brother Osborne Sails for Panama

On June 11 Brother John Osborne, wife, and two small children, sailed from New York to Colon, Panama. Brother Osborne is under appointment for Ecuador, but, on account of the recent war-cloud hanging over Peru and Ecuador, his sailing has been delayed a little. They go on to Panama; and if, on reaching Colon, it is thought best for them to proceed to Ecuador, they will do so; otherwise they will remain a while to labor on the Isthmus.

May-June Christian Education Number

In three leading departments, General Articles, Editorial, and Among the Schools, the May-June number of Christian Education presents a veritable feast in the field of education in the home and the school. Students, teachers, and parents will find in it much that is helpful. Many practical suggestions, which may be applied to personal need, or in the training of others, are made in this number. It should be found in every Seventh-day Adventist home.

Death of Sister Prescott

By Editor

We are deeply pained to announce the death of Sister Prescott, wife of Prof. W. W. Prescott, so well known to our people throughout the field, which occurred on the morning of June 10. Sister Prescott has been in failing health for several years, and has made a persistent fight for recovery; but all that the most skilful medical attention could do, has not availed to arrest the progress of her disease. Many earnest prayers have ascended in her behalf from brethren and sisters in various parts of the world, but it has seemed to be the will of the Great Physician that she should rest from her labors. She died with a bright hope in God, and with complete resignation to his will. She rests from a life of devotion to this cause, and of efficient labor in connection with the many responsibilities borne by her husband. To Brother Prescott, his son Lewis, and other mourning relatives in their bereavement, our sympathies are extended in this deep hour of affliction. Further particulars will be furnished later.

Story of Missions Number

By Editor

We are glad to present to our readers this special Story of Missions number of the REVIEW AND HERALD. As will be observed, the regular departments are omitted, and all the matter is placed in one general department, that of World-Wide Missions. The thrilling experiences of our missionaries will be read with the deepest interest. Their earnest calls will awaken a response in every heart. The needs existing in the fields they represent will bring a ready response in mission offerings. Let each reader consider the earnest appeals contained in this number, and then respond to the call for help as the Spirit of God may impress his heart.

DeVinney Appointed to Japan Mission

LAST week Tuesday, June 7, F. H. DeVinney and wife left San Francisco for Japan. Brother DeVinney goes to take the superintendency of the Japan mission field, relieving Prof. F. W. Field, who has desired to devote himself to school work and the training of native workers. Brother DeVinney leaves the presidency of the New York Conference to answer this call. Two younger children remain in the States to pursue their studies, an older daughter being married. Elder I. H. Evans sailed at the same time for the Orient.