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Review and Herald, Vol. 81, No. 27.

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Earlier text: A Safe Prescription

South Carolina

By E. W. Webster

Eleven years ago last April Mrs. Webster and I came to Spartanburg, S. C., to give the third angel's message to the people of this State. At that time there was not another Sabbath-keeper in the State that we knew of, and no one had ever before been sent into this field to carry on this most important work.
Soon after, Brother J. O. Johnston came to Greenville, where he carried on a similar work. We made a vigorous effort to supply these places with our literature, visited and held readings with the people, and held some meetings. A few accepted the truth in both places, and in Spartanburg a church was organized by Elder R. M. Kilgore in the fall of 1893, or the spring of 1894.
During the next summer we held a tent-meeting at Brushy Creek, and a church was organized there. Soon afterward we were called to Trinidad, West Indies, and the work here fell into other hands. Not long after this some of the other laborers left the State, and Elder Johnston joined us in Trinidad, and the work in South Carolina was left almost without help. For the last two years no help was provided for the work here, and the believers were becoming somewhat discouraged. Through the faithfulness of those who had accepted the truth, and of those who had moved here to help these new believers, the work has not entirely stopped. Some have lived lives of sacrifice and devotion, and have done much to scatter our books and papers.
At the meeting of the Southern Union Conference last February it was decided to make South Carolina a mission field under the direction of this union conference, and I was asked to connect with this work again as director, but was not able to come here until June 14.
After five years spent in Trinidad, and four years in Arizona and Oregon, we are glad to unite with this work once more. It was inspiring to meet these dear people again, and we are filled with the hope of seeing something more accomplished in this needy field. Elder R. T. Nash had the tent pitched at Campobello, in the northern part of the State, and I at once joined him. Seven meetings have been held, and the interest seems to be deepening, and the congregations are increasing. We can not foresee what will be the results, but hope and pray that something will be accomplished here.
South Carolina to-day is the most needy field in the United States. Less work has been done and less money spent here than in any other State. Fewer laborers have worked here. There are now three laborers in the State, Brethren Nash and Carey having come here in February and March. There are about seventy-five or eighty Sabbath-keepers in the State, paying an annual tithe of about two hundred dollars. I have not learned what is the amount of the annual appropriation of the Southern Union Conference to this mission field, so have no way of knowing the amount of money for paying the laborers here; but it can not be more than one thousand or twelve hundred dollars all told. You can readily see, dear brethren, that that would amount to $6.40 or $7.67 a week to each laborer, and with this he must support himself and family, and that in a place where there are not so many and cheap provisions as in some of the more favored conferences. I mention this simply to give our conferences that are so prosperous, so well stocked with laborers and members and the good things of this world, an opportunity to carefully consider the conditions existing in the South. The laborers gladly sacrifice in order that the means provided may go further and accomplish more.
Perhaps it has been from a feeling of modesty, or for fear that they would be thought to be complaining, that the true conditions of this field have not been publicly stated. I hear of some of our faithful laborers who are not getting so much as the rate estimated above. Will those in our conferences that are able to pay their laborers twice as much, think on these things? Will some of our good brethren who are receiving the larger amounts, under much more favorable conditions for living, think about it, and follow the noble example of some of the conferences in sharing their help in laborers and means with this needy South, and with this most needy field of all?
I have not heard a word of complaint or discouragement since I came here, and we enter upon the work with these sacrificing brethren with courage and good cheer. We are glad we are here again; but we would like to have our dear people who love this message, and who want to see it pushed hastily to a close, know what is needed here. Will they take this before the Lord, and ask him their duty in regard to it?
I would like to correspond with those who have a burden to settle in a needy mission field to be a help to those who accept the truth. If any have such thoughts toward South Carolina, I would be glad to correspond with them before they come. I would also like the names of all Sabbath-keepers, and of all others who are interested in the truth. I would also be very thankful for clean copies of all our periodicals and tracts sent to us postpaid. We wish to fill the State with literature. We are in great need of faithful, consecrated canvassers, but before any come here to engage in this work, we would be glad to correspond with them.
Remember to pray for the work and the workers in this most needy of all fields in the United States. Our address is Spartanburg, S. C.
E. W. WEBSTER.

The Indiana Conference

By J. W. Stone

Report of the President at the Lake Union Conference

I HAVE not prepared a report of our work in Indiana, and did not expect to be called upon at this early date to give a report of the work in our conference. My connection with the work in Indiana dates back to the first of last September. About eight months have elapsed since I began active work in that conference, and I shall not attempt to give a report covering more than this period of time.
As many of you are aware, I was in feeble health when I came to Indiana, having passed through a severe siege of typhoid fever, and my restoration to health was very slow. I took up the work of correspondence the first of September, and as soon as I was able, began to visit the churches. During the winter I visited about one third of the churches in the conference, and by the assistance of other members of the committee, about three fourths of the churches in the conference have received some ministerial help. In our visits to the churches we have tried to build them up and strengthen their faith in the message for this time, and have also tried to assist them in getting their church records in better condition, and in doing this have greatly lessened our church membership. We found that in many places where we formerly had a large enrolment of church-members, their numbers have been greatly reduced through removals and apostasy, but the records have remained about the same, and therefore do not show the real membership of the conference at the present time. If our membership was properly pruned, I feel certain that our numbers would be reduced about twenty per cent below the report last published. Or, in other words, instead of a membership of two thousand we would have not over sixteen hundred. Because of our inflated membership, we have a large number of “Object Lessons” yet unsold; although our brethren in Indiana, that is, our active membership, have taken much interest in this work.
The school work in our conference is in a prosperous condition. Our industrial school at Boggstown was finished last fall, and a very successful school, with an enrolment of over fifty students, has been conducted there thus far during this year. There have been quite a number of conversions, and we believe that we have a school second to no other in the Lake Union Conference. We also have fifteen church-schools. In almost every instance these schools have been a success, and have been a great benefit to our churches as well as to the children. Most of these schools will be continued the coming year, and we hope to establish others.
Three new churches have been organized since I came to the conference, and about one hundred souls have accepted the faith. There are fair prospects of organizing other churches before our annual conference next August. We are now preparing to erect three new church buildings in the conference. Two of these are to be erected in Indianapolis, the lots having already been purchased, and work begun upon one of them.
We believe that our people during the last winter engaged more actively in missionary work than for some time in the past. Quite an interest was taken in the circulation of the special Signs, over twenty thousand copies being sold and distributed in our conference.
I feel that I could not give a true report of the work and condition of affairs in our conference without mentioning the matter of finances. As soon as I was able to give this matter some attention, having a desire to know the exact condition of the conference financially, we arranged for the auditing of our laborers' accounts, which were audited up to the first of last September. We found that the audit of 1902 had not been settled, and that we were owing our laborers all the way from five dollars to one hundred dollars each, making a total of about one thousand dollars. There had been no tithe paid to the Lake Union Conference since 1902, and thirteen hundred dollars had been borrowed with which to pay our laborers. This, with the amount due our laborers on their audit, made a sum total of four thousand dollars that we were behind on our tithe fund. We at once began to plan to reduce this indebtedness, and God has greatly blessed our efforts, so that up to the first of May we had reduced this indebtedness about twenty-five hundred dollars, and during this time had paid off about fifteen hundred dollars on other indebtedness, making a total of four thousand dollars paid upon our indebtedness. While this is very gratifying and encouraging to our brethren throughout the State, it leaves us with a debt still upon our hands in the Indiana Conference of about sixteen thousand dollars; however, we are not discouraged, as the Lord, who has abundantly blessed us in the past eight months, is able, if we are faithful to him, to assist us still in reducing this indebtedness, and we believe there are better days for the work in Indiana. From the many expressions that I have heard, and from the letters I have received, I am certain that confidence and courage are being restored in the hearts and minds of our brethren and sisters throughout the conference. As far as I know, our laborers are in perfect union, and harmony has characterized every move of our committee. Many times we have felt the special leading and guidance of the Spirit of the Lord in our work, and we have no words of discouragement to bring; the future looks hopeful.
We are preparing to place four or five tents in the field the coming summer. These will be located in entirely new territory. We have thirty-five counties in the State of Indiana in which there is not a Sabbath-keeper so far as we know. We desire to enter this unworked territory as rapidly as possible. We expect to hold our annual camp-meeting in one of these counties where the message has never been preached. We desire the prayers of our brethren and sisters that God may direct all our labors, and that the cause in Indiana may arise and make greater progress than ever before.
J. W. STONE.

Proceedings of the South England Conference

By Glen Wakeham

In Session, May 20-29, 1904
The regular annual session of the South England Conference of Seventh-day Adventists convened in the Albert Hall, Southsea, at 10:30 A. M., May 23, 1904.
The first meeting was devoted largely to the hearing of reports from the representatives of the other divisions of the British Union Conference, including Elders E. E. Andross, from the North England Conference; A. F. Ballenger, from Wales; Wm. Hutchinson, from Ireland; A. Ritchie, from Scotland; and Dr. Geo. W. Thomason.
Before the close of this meeting, a committee of twenty-four members, including the visiting brethren, was nominated from the floor. To this committee was assigned the duty of appointing the working committees of the conference. At the second meeting the names of these committees were announced, and approved by the conference.

The Health Work

was taken up at the second meeting. Dr. A. B. Olsen gave a very encouraging report of the work at the Caterham Sanitarium. Our brethren and sisters in America who donated so liberally to this institution, will be gratified to know that it has been liberally patronized from the very day of opening, and, although some very necessary appliances have been purchased from the earnings, the first year's work will show a financial gain. The religious influence at the sanitarium has been greatly appreciated by the patients, and several persons have been brought into the truth directly through this means.
The following resolutions were then presented:—
“Whereas, The signal blessing of the Lord has attended the efforts put forth by the churches generally in raising the means for the endowment of the Caterham Sanitarium, and the Lord has blessed the work there most abundantly, there having been a liberal patronage during the past year,—
“1. Resolved, That we express our gratitude to God for the blessings which have attended the institution, and every phase of the health work, and that we put forth greater efforts in the future to make the work of the institution more widely known to the general public.
“Whereas, A training-school for nurses has been started at Caterham for the education of our young people in the medical missionary work,—
“2. Resolved, That we encourage suitable young men and women to enter the training-school with a view to fitting up for that work; and,—
“Whereas, The Duncombe Hall College has provided a special preliminary course for prospective medical workers,—
“3. We recommend, That such young people avail themselves of this preparatory training before taking up the nurses’ course.
“Whereas, The Good Health magazine is proving to be a very effective means of disseminating the principles and carrying to the people the gospel of health,—
“4. Resolved, That we encourage all our Sabbath-keepers, both young and old, to build up among their neighbors a small permanent list of a dozen or more subscribers to the magazine each month, these papers to be delivered personally; and, recognizing the favorable opportunities now presented for carrying forward this branch of the work, we will put forth our best efforts to materially and proportionately increase the circulation of the Good Health in the South England Conference.
“Recognizing the importance of the principles of healthful living which the Lord in his mercy has sent to this people,—
“5. We recommend, That our churches and companies meet together once a month, or oftener, for the purpose of studying these principles, and of becoming better acquainted with the laws of health concerning physical culture, diet, dress, and simple treatments for the sick; and for the purpose of promulgating these principles by visiting among their neighbors and friends, holding cottage meetings, establishing Good Health Leagues, etc., where these subjects can be presented in a simple, practical way; and that in these leagues, earnest efforts be made to engage in Good Samaritan work, visiting the sick, the afflicted, and the discouraged, and endeavoring to brighten their lives by ministering to their physical and spiritual welfare as far as lies in our power.”
These recommendations were heartily approved of in the discussion that followed, and unanimously adopted.
The third meeting of the conference was devoted to—

The School Work

In his report, Prof. H. R. Salisbury, principal of Duncombe Hall College, stated that the enrolment for the past year had been fifty-three, and the average attendance about forty-five. There are now twenty-six former students of the college in direct connection with various branches of our denominational work in different parts of the world, in addition to several of last year’s students who will enter the work this summer. The financial report of the college shows a small surplus.
It is interesting to note that twenty-two young men and women entirely supported themselves last year in the college by canvassing in London, taking full school work at the same time, and that the average scholarship of these students was much above the rest of the school.
Professor Salisbury announced that suitable buildings had been secured for a students’ home, and this feature will accordingly be added to the school work next year.
The following resolutions were read and unanimously adopted:—
“Whereas, There is an urgent call for trained workers to enter fields both at home and in foreign lands,—
“1. Resolved, That we consider as one part of our missionary work during the coming summer to search out promising young men and women, and encourage them to enter our missionary training college in September.
“Whereas, A good library is indispensable for the proper carrying on of the work of our training college,— “2. Resolved, That we do our part, before the first of August, toward raising a fund of sixty pounds (three hundred dollars) for this purpose.”
A collection and subscription was taken up on the spot for this purpose, whereby the sum of twenty pounds and ten shillings (one hundred dollars) was realized.
The financial statement for the year 1903 was presented at the fourth meeting, a summary of which appears below.
£ s d £ s d
Net Tithe Received ..........
1078 19 8¼
Appropriations .............. 164 18 4
Earnings and donations ...... 105 2 11
Wages of workers ............ 1101 11 3½
Total expense ............... 321 4
Balance ..................... 73 10 8¼
1422 11 7½ 1422 11 7½
Deficit ..................... 73 10 8¼
The deficit is explained by the fact that last year was a very unfavorable season, heavy expenses being incurred, while the crisis which the South England Conference passed through had a depressing effect upon the income.
The following resolutions were adopted:—
“1. Resolved, That we hereby express our grateful acknowledgment of God’s blessing bestowed upon this conference during the past year, and so graciously manifested during the present session, and, recognizing that God has made us stewards of his manifold grace, consecrate our lives afresh to his glorious service.
“Whereas, The proclamation of the present truth in this field depends largely upon our faithfulness in returning to God his own tenth of all our income,—
“2. Resolved, That we will individually honor God by bringing all the tithe into his storehouse.”
The committee on credentials and licenses reported as follows:—
For ordination and credentials, Alexander Ritchie; for credentials, Wm. Knight; for ministerial license, C. C. Jensen, S. Aris, A. E. Bacon, W. A. Shafer, George Nickels, R. Mussen, and T. C. O’Donnell; for missionary license, Mrs. L. Whitgrove, Mrs. C. C. Jensen, Mrs. W. T. Bartlett, Mrs. W. Knight, Mrs. A. Ritchie, Miss F. B. Cude, and Miss E. Barnard.
The committee on nominations reported as follows: For president, O. A. Olsen; Secretary and Treasurer, A. Bacon; additional members of conference committee, H. R. Salisbury, W. T. Bartlett, E. W. Farnsworth, and C. Jessup.
These reports were unanimously adopted.

The Publishing Work

The time of the fifth meeting being devoted to the publishing work, Brother W. C. Sisley presented a report of the London Branch of the International Tract Society. The average weekly circulation of the Present Truth has been 18,400 during the past year, and the monthly circulation of the British Good Health 46,150. The book sales in the South England Conference for ten months amounted to £752 15s. 5d. ($3,750).
The following resolutions were read and adopted:—
“Whereas, The past year has brought continued evidence of the value of Present Truth in interesting men and women in our message, and opening the way for more personal work, and,—
“Whereas, This has proved true, notwithstanding the reduction made in its size, therefore,—
“1. Resolved, That we feel an individual responsibility to increase the circulation of Present Truth by every means possible,—encouraging local lists, the taking of yearly subscriptions, its use in missionary correspondence, etc.,—and, furthermore,—
“2. Resolved, That we especially ask our ministers and Bible workers to urge upon those among whom they labor the importance of giving all our literature the widest possible circulation.
“Whereas, Our Day has already been valuable in reaching people who will not buy Present Truth and Good Health, and,—
“Whereas, It is planned that this shall be the first number of a series of papers dealing with different phases of our message, therefore,—
“3. Resolved, That we give this series a wide circulation during the coming year, at the same time not allowing this to hinder in the circulation of Present Truth or Good Health.
“Whereas, The cash system adopted by our publishing house has proved a help both to the office and to the workers,—
“4. Resolved, That we reiterate our approval of the system, and support it by our influence and example.
“Whereas, The systematic loaning of tracts has proved a successful means of opening up new interests in new localities, therefore,—
“5. Resolved, That we recommend this work to those who desire to create opportunities for more personal work.
“Whereas, The selection of territory for canvassers who depend entirely upon their sales for support is an important part of the general canvassing agent’s work,—
“6. Resolved, That those knowing of districts presenting favorable conditions for book work, such as prosperity in business, religious interests, etc., be requested to send such information to the general agent.
“Whereas, Canvassing is self-supporting missionary work of the highest order, and some of those who engage in it are, through sickness or other misfortune, sometimes financially embarrassed, therefore,—
“7. Resolved, That we authorize our general agent to solicit contributions for a fund to assist such needy cases.”
At the last meeting, the president outlined to the conference the plans of work for the coming season, which include the carrying on of three tent efforts, two of which will be in London, and one in Bristol. It is encouraging to know that one of these tents will be entirely in charge of students from the school. The conference expressed itself as highly satisfied with these arrangements, and the following resolutions were unanimously adopted:—
“Whereas, We believe the time has fully come for a united forward movement in this conference, therefore,—
“1. Resolved, That we will faithfully support the effort to keep three tents in the field throughout the coming summer.
“2. Resolved, That the scattered members of the conference be organized into a conference church, to be cared for by the officers of the conference.”
In his concluding remarks, Elder Olsen expressed his gratitude for the abundant blessings that had attended the convention, and thanked the conference for their co-operation and heartiness in voting, and for their steady and regular attendance, after which the conference adjourned. GLEN WAKEHAM.

The North Michigan Conference

By S. E. Wight

Report of the President at the Lake Union Conference

THE North Michigan Conference comprises the twenty-seven northern counties of the lower peninsula of Michigan, and the islands near the shore are connected with the counties in this district. There are no large cities in this territory. The population of the whole conference is nearly three hundred thousand.
When this conference was organized, there was an enrolment of six hundred and fifty members. “Christ’s Object Lessons,” and our portion of the General Conference Association debt have led the elders of the churches to drop from their record many names, but our membership remains about the same, as between seventy-five and one hundred persons have accepted the truth within the last eighteen months.
It is interesting to note that our tithe has been gradually increasing. After the first nine months of our existence as a conference the books were audited, and the tithe receipts were found to be $4,235.91, or $470.65 per month. The tithe for the last nine months is $4,700.32, or $522.25 per month, making an increase of $51.60 per month.
How to reach the multitude of people who come to our doors every summer, is a problem with which we have wrestled for some time. Something should be done to arrest their attention. Some think it is almost impossible to present the truth to the people at a resort, but we are persuaded that it can be done. When the people are at their homes and busily engaged with the cares of life, they rarely stop to talk with any one regarding their soul’s salvation; but when they are leisurely living in their small summer homes, one can talk with them on this subject. The majority of people who come to Charlevoix, Petoskey, Harbor Springs, and other resorts in that vicinity are those of mature minds. Most of these have a literary education, which makes them easy of access. Last summer we conducted a hygienic dining-hall in Petoskey. There was a Bible worker giving her entire time to the Bible work, and Sister M. C. Kenyon, whose reputation as a leader and worker is well known, managed the cafe, and was always on hand at meal-time to speak a word which would lead people to Christ. The influence of this has been widely felt, and we are much encouraged by the reports that we receive. In Petoskey, nine have accepted the truth, and the interest is increasing. A railroad conductor, who is the husband of one of our sisters, buys tracts and scatters them among his associates along his run. We look for a great work to be done in Petoskey.
Statistics show that our book sales in this conference have been a little over three thousand two hundred dollars for 1903. Besides this we have done some commercial work. We have not entered into business that would take time, but there are some things which the people need that they can not get in their own town, and in answering this call we have been able to make some money for the tract society. The society began in 1902 with a stock worth about three hundred dollars. We had no safe, nothing but a desk that belonged to the old tract society. We did not at first furnish our office with any extras, but we have worked on steadily, and we now have a safe in which to keep our books, a few articles of furniture, an oscillating mimeograph to print our paper, and a stock of books worth about one thousand dollars. The present worth of the society is about thirteen hundred dollars.
There are ten church-schools, with an enrolment of one hundred and forty-seven pupils. Eight canvassers are now at work in the field. These departments, like the others, have prospered as we have each tried to help the other. We have twenty-one church organizations, eleven dedicated church buildings, and eight new buildings will soon be prepared for dedication. Four churches have been organized, and two others are waiting for organization. We have laid our plans to enter new fields where the country is just being settled. It is much easier to reach the people if we are the first in the vicinity.
Our portion of the General Conference Association Fund apportioned to the Lake Union was a little over fourteen hundred dollars. It was voted at our conference at Mancelona last fall, that this money should be divided into four parts, to be paid semiannually, each part to be divided per capita among the churches. We have now on hand of this money about three hundred dollars, and June 1 two hundred dollars more will be paid. We have already reduced our part to $1,336, so we expect that on July 1 there will be only about eight hundred and fifty dollars of this debt remaining. There have been times when we have knelt before an empty treasury and asked the Lord to send means to carry on his work, and our prayers have been answered every time. We have seen the Lord’s providence in many things, and not a worker can say that it has been anything more than the guiding hand of the Lord that has sustained us and prospered the work.
Union among our laborers, and loyalty to the third angel’s message, have enabled us to work with good courage, and in turn the brethren and sisters have caught the spirit, and so courage has gone from one to the other until we are pleased to see much more work being done than when we first began.
We have endeavored to teach the people to be loyal to the third angel’s message, pay their tithes, and donate liberally to those who are calling for help in foreign fields, and also in our own nation, the Southern field.
S. E. WIGHT.

Defeat of Proposed Sunday Law in Louisiana

By S. B. Horton

We feel glad to announce that the proposed Sunday-law amendment recently introduced into the Louisiana Legislature has received a setback. The judiciary committee, to whom the bill was referred, unanimously agreed to report unfavorably upon the same. The legislation proposed was not only very stringent, but one of its provisions for Sunday-law violation was significant, in that the punishment therefor was to be a forfeiture of license to carry on business (if the violator should be engaged in trading, etc.) for one year. Perhaps this measure was the nearest approach to the fulfilment of the language of Rev. 13:16, 17, that has yet appeared in the shape of a Sunday law. And we thank the Lord that through his providence this people are spared a little longer from the great issue which will sooner or later confront them.
This is the second attempt made by Sunday-law advocates to pass their measure in the last four years, and the second victory for the side of truth and justice. S. B. HORTON.
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