THE second biennial session of the Lake Union Conference was held at Berrien Springs, Mich., May 17-26, and was attended by eighty-eight delegates and a large number of visitors.
Among the resolutions adopted are the following:—
“That the earnest sympathy of this conference be extended to Prof. P. T. Magan in his present deep bereavement, and that our prayers be offered in his behalf, that God will prove a comfort and stay in this trying hour.”
“That the educational secretary of the Lake Union Conference, the president of the Emmanuel Missionary College, the principal of the Mt. Vernon Academy, the conference superintendents of education, and the principals of the intermediate schools in the Lake Union Conference constitute a board to control the examination of teachers; that the board organize itself, and adopt regulations for the making of question lists for the conducting of all examinations, and for the grading and classifying of teachers.”
“That, wherever practicable, necessary changes in the office of superintendent of education be made at or near the beginning of the calendar year.”
“That as far as possible local conferences should defray the traveling expenses of the church-school teachers to and from such summer schools and institutes as may be chosen by the several conference committees.”
“That about Nov. 1, 1904, a special missionary effort be begun by each of our churches. That this be introduced by simultaneous missionary conventions in all the churches, which shall be followed by a judicious use of our literature, and that our people be encouraged, as far as consistent, to give their best energy to the circulation of both our special and regular literature.”
“That for the purpose of building up the spiritual interests of our canvassers and the training of new ones, canvassers’ conventions be held in all our conferences for at least ten days each year, this to be followed wherever practicable by practical work by those just beginning, for several weeks at the same place that the convention is held, and that a good Bible teacher be in attendance to conduct the Bible study.”
“That the Lake Union Conference Executive Committee establish headquarters in the vicinity of some large city, near the center of the Lake Union Conference, and that the president, secretary, treasurer, and heads of departments, as far as consistent, live at or near the headquarters.”
“Whereas, The Lord has called for the organization of our young people for work,—”
“We recommend, That all officers of the Educational Department of the various conferences in this union be urged to enter upon a vigorous campaign in response to this call.”
“We recommend, That as soon as practicable an institute be held, in which the workers in this line, and others who are especially interested, shall study this question, that the work may be carried forward harmoniously.”
“We recommend, All our people to become subscribers to The Southern Watchman, in order that they may become better acquainted with the situation in the Southern field, and that we approve of the issuance of a special number, and urge our people to do all in their power to give it a large circulation.”
“In view of the clear instruction given in Testimonies for the Church, Vol. VI, relative to the work and conduct of our camp-meetings,—”
“We recommend, That our camp-meetings be held where they can reach at least a proportion of the mass of the people in our cities and large towns.”
“That our people be urged to come to the meetings prepared to remain not only to the regular meetings, but as much longer as may be consistent, in order to study methods of work, and assist in missionary work in that locality.”
“That an abundance of ministerial help, to make a force as strong as possible, be connected with the meeting, and as many of these men should remain as will be necessary in order that there may be no letting down of the meeting.”
“That in matters of advertisement, sanitary arrangements, music, and business meetings, great care be exercised that the main object of the meeting may be more perfectly realized in the salvation of souls.”
“We recommend to all our people a hearty co-operation in the Missionary Acre Fund plan of raising money to pay the debts of the old Battle Creek College.”
“That the executive committee of this conference be authorized to continue its support of the medical missionary and rescue work in Chicago.”
“In view of the fact that there are in our industrial schools a desirable class of young people, many of whom should be entering the canvassing work,—”
“We recommend, That an earnest effort be put forth by our school men and conference officers to encourage these to enter this work, and that arrangements be made for their special instruction.”
“We recommend, That the religious liberty work be made a department in each local conference and this union conference, and that some suitable person be chosen in each local conference and this union conference as secretary of said department.”
“Whereas, There is a great dearth of laborers to advance this cause in the German tongue,—”
“We recommend (a) All our local conferences to urge men and women whom the Spirit of God seems to indicate, to consecrate themselves to, and prepare for, the German work; (b) that a German institute be opened at Berrien Springs during the summer, with a competent Bible teacher in charge, providing a sufficient number of German people signify that they will attend such a school.”
“Whereas, It seems to be needful that the German laborers in this cause should become unified in their teachings, and acquainted with one another,—”
“We recommend, That the Lake Union Conference Committee be authorized to call a German institute for two or three weeks each year, which all the German laborers may be permitted to attend, the expenses to be borne by the conferences in which the laborers have been working; and that notice of this institute be published in the Hausfreund at least three weeks prior to the meeting.”
“That the Lake Union Conference accept the Upper Peninsula of Michigan as the mission field of the Lake Union Conference.”
“Whereas, The Lord greatly blessed the Scandinavian Bible schools in Chicago last winter,—”
“We recommend, (a) That similar schools be held the coming winter wherever the interest may demand; (b) that suitable Scandinavian persons be encouraged to attend these institutes, that they may receive a better preparation for the canvassing work; (c) that we encourage the Scandinavian canvassers to work among their own nationality as far as practicable.”
“We recommend, That suitable families be urged to move to the Southern field, three or four families settling in a vicinity, to engage in self-supporting missionary work.”
Credentials were granted to Allen Moon, E. R. Williams, M. W. Lewis, E. A. Sutherland, W. S. Sadler, and P. T. Magan; ministerial licenses to R. J. Bellows and Mrs. E. R. Williams; missionary licenses to Florence Hutchinson, E. Fred Hutchinson, M. Bessie De Graw, Dr. D. Paulson, W. H. Edwards, E. B. Van Dorn, Mrs. H. W. O’Dell, Fannie Emmel, Mrs. Nina Crane, J. B. Blosser, Belle Campbell, and Bertha Bartlett. F. J. Harris was recommended for ordination and credentials.
The following officers were elected: President, Allen Moon; Vice-President, Wm. Covert; Secretary and Treasurer, W. H. Edwards; Field Secretary, J. B. Blosser; Educational Secretary, M. Bessie De Graw; training-school representative, P. T. Magan; Missionary Secretary, D. W. Reavis; publishing work representative, I. H. Evans; sanitarium work representative, Dr. D. Paulson; German work representative, C. J. Herrmann; Scandinavian work representative, L. H. Christian; Field Secretary religious liberty work, D. W. Reavis; auditor and business agent, W. H. Edwards; Executive Committee, Allen Moon, Wm. Covert, W. H. Edwards, H. H. Burkholder, J. D. Gowel, A. G. Haughey, S. E. Wight, W. J. Stone, Northern Illinois president, J. M. Rees, P. T. Magan, D. Paulson, I. H. Evans, C. J. Herrmann, L. H. Christian.
There were sermons and addresses during the conference by Mrs. E. G. White, Luther Warren, W. W. Prescott, A. T. Jones, G. I. Butler, S. N. Haskell, E. W. Farnsworth, and W. H. Anderson. Quite full reports were rendered by the presidents of the several local conferences, and the heads of the various departments and institutions. Some of these will probably be printed in the REVIEW.
The West Michigan Conference
By A. G. Haughey
Report of the President at the Lake Union Conference
By the action of the delegates assembled at the annual session of the Michigan Conference, which was held near Alma, Mich., in August, 1902, the West Michigan Conference was formed. It has for its territory nineteen counties in southwest Michigan. As a separate conference, West Michigan dates its existence from Oct. 1, 1902. This report therefore covers the time from that date to May 1, 1904, or one year and seven months.
Work
Seven general meetings have been held; also two session of the conference, two laborers' councils, one medical convention, one local camp-meeting, and one young people's convention.
Early in December, 1902, the first session of the West Michigan Conference convened in the chapel erected and used by the Wright church, which is located near Coopersville, Mich. At that meeting West Michigan was more perfectly organized, and four general departments of work were planned—the educational, missionary, medical, and evangelical. Arrangements were also made for the formation of a legal corporation, which organization has since been incorporated.
Sabbath-Schools
At the organization of the West Michigan Conference there were seventy-four Sabbath-schools within its borders. Since that time, through the labors of the ministers and faithful workers in the Sabbath-school Department, six schools have been organized, making eighty Sabbath-schools, having a membership of about four thousand. In the Home Department there are fifty-seven members.
There has been a steady increase in contributions to missions and to the Orphans' Home. The interest awakened among the young people of the conference is most healthy. A number of young people's bands have been formed, and these are doing excellent work. The outlook is most encouraging.
Church-Schools
At the organization of the West Michigan Conference in the fall of 1902, fifteen church and family schools were being carried on within its boundaries. About three years prior to that time the Michigan Conference had asked one of its laborers to lead out in the educational work throughout the State, and a healthy sentiment in favor of church-schools had been continually growing, so that at the time of the reorganization there were in the whole State about five hundred youth and children in our church-schools.
Since the reorganization additional schools have been added to the original fifteen, until the number reached twenty-three for the school year of 1903-04. The superintendent's report for the month of February, 1904, shows an enrolment of five hundred and thirty-six pupils, under the instruction of about thirty faithful workers. The average church-school numbers a little more than seventeen; the average family school, five; while in the Battle Creek school each teacher cares for from thirty to forty-five students.
Thus far practically all the work in these schools has been confined to the first eight grades, fully ninety per cent of the enrolment being below the eighth. Few, if any, teachers are carrying more than six grades of work, even though they have the eighth grade, as in the smaller schools one or more of the intervening grades are usually not called for.
Cedar Lake Industrial Academy
The past two years have been seasons of growth and development at Cedar Lake. While this academy has the word “industrial” attached to it, we would not do justice to Cedar Lake if we did not say that the main industry, aside from farming, is stumping. At Cedar Lake we have a small farm of eighty-two acres, upon which is erected the academy building, capable of accommodating not only the academic students, but also the church-school, as well as the Cedar Lake church, and a dormitory capable of accommodating thirty-six students and the necessary teachers.
About one half of the land is under cultivation. It is well supplied with barn and farming tools, also with a goodly number of horses and cattle. Twenty-two hundred dollars has been expended in improvements during the past eighteen months. The income from tuition, dormitory dues, and the farm has been more than enough to pay the total salary of all the members of the faculty.
The most successful spring term of the Cedar Lake Academy is now in progress. From the opening of this institution it has had a healthy growth. In all, the educational work in the conference is making gratifying progress, and next year will doubtless see still greater numbers of our youth in our schools.
Canvassing Work
There have been a few faithful persons who have done regular canvassing. No special effort was made by the conference to develop regular canvassers until January, 1904. Since then there has been a gradual growth in this branch of the work, until now there are ten persons devoting their time to canvassing. There are excellent prospects for doubling this number during the spring months.
To those who are willing to take up the canvassing work in a rational way, and build up a business by working and re-working the territory, our field secretary says, “West Michigan affords as good territory as can be found in the Lake Union Conference,” and he extends to all who desire to do successful work, an invitation to come and help. It is upon this rational basis that the work is being built up.
Missionary Department
In January, 1903, we were greatly blessed in a campaign for the sale of “Christ's Object Lessons,” in which the faculty and students of the Emmanuel Missionary College united with our laborers, spending ten days with our membership in a house-to-house canvass, the result of which was gratifying to all interested.
In November, 1903, a special effort was made by the conference through all its departments to build up the missionary interests throughout the conference. This effort proved very successful.
The West Michigan Conference has given material help to fields outside its territory, having supported one ordained minister for one year in the Canadian Union Conference, two laborers for one year in New Mexico, a number of laborers in the North Michigan Conference, and also a number in the Superior Mission Field.
Beginning with January, 1903, the West Michigan Conference has published a four-page weekly paper. This has been a source of considerable encouragement to our membership, as we have had more than six hundred paid subscriptions.
Medical Department
The West Michigan Conference has ever recognized the importance of the medical missionary work, and has had in its employ four doctors and one nurse. Three of its doctors have been employed as teachers of science in the Emmanuel Missionary College, and have given almost their entire time to that work. In December, 1902, a doctor and a nurse were asked to locate in Grand Rapids, under the direction of the conference. During this time many doors have been open for them to do medical work, both with our own people and with others. The work was opened in Grand Rapids by holding health clubs and giving demonstrations, which proved to be a very practical way of gaining patients.
Early in 1903 a medical missionary convention was held in Grand Rapids, and was attended by nearly all the West Michigan laborers. It has been said that this was the first medical convention that had ever been convened by a Seventh-day Adventist Conference. The medical superintendent has had many invitations to lecture before the Y. W. C. A. clubs and W. C. T. U. conventions, besides many calls to lecture before our own people in their various houses of worship. More than three thousand patients have received medical help by way of consultations, examinations, and treatments.
The medical work is indeed a very important factor in breaking down prejudice, and in helping to make Christianity appear practical in the eyes of the world. Very many interesting cases might be given in connection with this, but our report must be too general to deal with them.
Evangelical Department
Six series of tent-meetings were held during the summer of 1903, also short lecture courses were given at a number of places during the winter months. During the winter of 1902-03 considerable time was given to the spiritual upbuilding of our membership. Our laborers in all the different departments have been encouraged to foster the evangelical work. During the winter of 1903-04, a special effort was made in the city of Battle Creek, which resulted in a bountiful harvest of souls, as well as materially raising the spirituality of the members of the Battle Creek church.
We held no general camp-meeting in the summer of 1903. This gave us an opportunity to spend the entire tent season in new fields.
As a result of the evangelical effort that has been made by the West Michigan Conference during the past nineteen months, six churches have been organized, and five companies formed, and more than five hundred persons have been taken into our fellowship.
Our corps of Bible workers has been small, yet the labor of these few faithful workers has been blessed with a harvest of souls.18
Financial
The Educational Department has a present worth of $9,500, mostly invested at Cedar Lake, Mich. This department has liabilities to the amount of $300.
The Missionary Department has a present worth of $1,000, consisting of cash, office fixtures, books, and accounts. It has no debt.
The Medical Department has a present worth of nearly $800, consisting of medical supplies, bath-room equipments, and accounts. It has no debt.
The Evangelical Department has a present worth of $4,000 invested in tents and equipments, office fixtures, and cash, with no liabilities.
The Conference Association has a present worth of $1,000. This does not include the value of houses of worship nor church-school buildings. There is a small liability of less than $200 against this department.
Thus it is seen that the West Michigan Conference has a present worth of more than $16,000, while its liabilities are less than $500.
Statistics
The West Michigan Conference has seventy-two organized churches and eight companies, with a total membership of forty-seven hundred. It has had in its employ fifteen ordained ministers, ten licensed ministers, thirteen licensed missionaries, and four laborers without license—a total of forty-two, thirty-two being the most employed at one time. Of this number one has been regularly employed at Berrien Springs, one at Cedar Lake, one at Battle Creek, and part of the time an additional laborer has been supplied at Berrien Springs, and also at Cedar Lake.
Three of the ordained ministers have been unable to perform any labor, owing to their physical ailments due to advanced age. Two others for similar reasons are unable to withstand the hardships of pioneer work. Thus it is seen that with from three to five of our laborers connected with educational institutions, and from three to five unable for service, our active staff of laborers is small.
The total amount contributed by the Sabbath-schools has been $3,319.72; the total earnings of the Medical Department have been $2,000; the total tithe for nineteen months has been $44,496.52; the total offerings to various mission enterprises have been $13,384.85; the total receipts from all the departments have been $66,875.15. For the support of laborers outside of the conference, $5,167.04 has been paid; $26,103.66 has been expended in the conference; and nearly $41,000 has been given to the support of the work in other fields.
Spiritual
There has been a marked growth in the spiritual condition of the conference. So far as I know there is perfect harmony and unity of action among all the laborers. In all the decisions thus far made by the executive committee of the conference there has been a unanimous vote. At all our general meetings there has been a spirit of freedom, liberty, and unity. This spirit is quite generally manifested among our membership. West Michigan is indeed a very fruitful field. What we have reported is a part of what God has wrought, and to him we give the honor, praise, and glory.
A. G. HAUGHEY, President.
The Educational Work of the Lake Union Conference
(Concluded)
Methods of Building Up the Work
You will want to know what methods have been followed in extending the educational work in the Lake Union Conference. I think I am correct when I say that this was the first, or at least one of the first, union conferences to give definite organization to the educational work. As you know, the union conference has its educational secretary, and each conference in this union conference has an educational superintendent. It has been the duty of the conference educational superintendent to work as closely as possible with the individual teachers, to help in the organization of the various schools, to visit the churches where there are children, to encourage the fathers and mothers to provide for their children, to search out the young people who should act as teachers, and as far as possible to provide some means for them to obtain the necessary training.
The Lake Union Conference has been fortunate in having an energetic company of educational superintendents. Some, it is true, have been hampered in their work, because it has not yet been recognized in all our conferences that the educational superintendent should be free to devote his entire time to the upbuilding of that department of the work. In several instances ministers have been asked to act as educational superintendents, and they have been made to feel that their first work must be in other lines; if they had time, they could work for the schools. I think that this has already been recognized as a mistake. The work is great. The office should be filled by an individual thoroughly grounded in the principles of Christian education. A teacher can, of course, do more than one who has never taught: the superintendent should be able to go into the schoolroom, when that is necessary, and conduct an ideal Christian school. He needs to recognize keenly each individual teacher's needs, and be able to give constant advice and instruction to those who are actively working under him.
In the Lake Union Conference the efforts of the educational superintendents of the various conferences have been backed by the following well defined lines of work, which have necessarily had their center in the training-school: (1) the summer schools; (2) our educational journal, the Advocate; (3) the Missionary Training-school of Correspondence; (4) the publication of text-books; (5) an extensive correspondence by the educational secretary and the management of the training-school.
A word concerning each of these. The first summer school for the training of Christian teachers was held in the year 1897. You will see, therefore, that these summer schools are contemporary with the church-school movement. Have you watched the growth of any other educational system? If so, you will note that its strength has been in proportion to the definite effort put forth for the training of teachers. Our summer schools are, therefore, an integral part of the church-school movement.
Shall I say that they have strengthened because the school work has been extended, or vice versa? Take it as you will; so long as we attempt to provide for the education of the children and youth, we must have some definite means for the training of teachers. Fortunate is our union conference because it has within its borders a training-school which not only during a few months of the year, but throughout the year, is working in harmony with the principles which should be put into practise in every elementary Christian school, and in every intermediate industrial school. It is for this reason that a summer school can be conducted in connection with Emmanuel Missionary College to much better advantage than elsewhere in this union conference. There are being worked out in this school principles of co-operation and methods of teaching and discipline with which every teacher of the children should be perfectly familiar.
Our educational system calls for the co-ordinate training of the body and the soul. Teachers who attend the summer school not only receive theory, but here come directly in contact with the practical working out of this system. They mingle with the young men of the building department. They are offered an opportunity to work in the field, in the garden, in the orchard, and among the berries. They can go into the bakery, into the domestic science class. They can learn sewing or tailoring, printing, bookkeeping, commercial work, or whatever industry they choose, not in an abstract way, but under the direction of teachers who consider industrial work an integral part of the college curriculum. The value, therefore, of the summer school is inestimable.
The second item I mentioned was the Advocate, our educational journal. Scarcely had the church-school movement begun when the need was felt for an organ, a general means of communication, something which could give to others a reason for the movement. Year by year as teachers have gone into schools in different parts of the country, the Advocate has been their right hand companion. Again and again the Advocate has gone before the teacher, paving the way for him, showing parents what they should do, showing them how they could do it.
The Advocate also has another mission. It advocates a threefold education. Possibly you do not realize how eager people are for information on this subject. This has been proved in our own community. This year the students of Emmanuel Missionary College have put forth well-directed efforts to bring before those in this neighborhood the reason for the erection of such an institution in their midst. The Advocate has been the entering wedge. From ten hundred to fifteen hundred copies of this paper are now distributed in Niles, Benton Harbor, St. Joseph, South Bend, Dowagiac, Buchanan, and the country about Berrien Springs. I mention this because it is the beginning of a movement. The time is before us, and not very far, I am convinced, when every individual who grasps the truth of Christian education will make the same effort to place this truth before others that the most ardent Sabbath-keeper ever made to give his neighbors the Sabbath truth.19
I mentioned in the third place the School of Correspondence. Our teachers have been urged into the work. The demand for them has been so great that many have reluctantly begun teaching before their preparation was completed. Even the most competent teacher feels the need of making progress. For their benefit there has been established a course by correspondence. There is at the present time an opportunity to take instruction in Bible, in preparatory nurses' work, and in bookkeeping. A course in the various common branches, in pedagogy and philosophy for the teachers, and a course for parents, dealing with teaching in the home school, and in agriculture as it should be understood by every Seventh-day Adventist, will be added this fall.
Concerning text-books for Christian schools but little need be said. The need of text-books has been most urgent. Teachers have pleaded for them. There has been no hesitancy about recognizing this need. The drawback has been lack of means. A few books have already been issued. Others are in process of preparation, and will be published from time to time. I could give you what I think would be a most interesting history of the development of this work were not the time so limited.
Summary
It has been the policy of your educational secretary to leave the details of the organization of the various schools wholly to the State superintendents, striving in the meantime to lay a deep foundation for the growth of this work in the ways suggested. I believe that I have had the hearty co-operation of these superintendents. The work is still decidedly primitive, but I believe we have a right to look forward to the time, and that time is in the near future, when people everywhere will eagerly grasp the truths of Christian education which God is making known to his people. This presupposes the deepest interest on our part in the distribution of educational literature. I believe we shall see as the result of this conference a more decided policy in regard to the financial support of our schools. Let this question be once settled, and the condition of our schoolhouses will be improved. They should become as attractive as our sanitariums and other institutions.
Our teachers should be noted for their strength in correlating manual, intellectual, and spiritual work. Every church in the denomination should have a school for its own children and for the children of others. Need I tell you that already there are schools where the majority of the children are from homes outside our church? Of course this is an exception, but God gives us glimpses of what we may expect. He has said that the Gentiles shall come to our light; that their children shall be nursed by his people.
We shall see schools established in new localities. That means not only in our own country, but an army of teachers should go to foreign fields. That time is not far ahead of us.
I feel confident that we have reached the time when every educational superintendent should have his full time for this work, and when he should be able to do what has already been suggested as the duties of the superintendent.
The preparation of text-books must be continued until teachers and pupils are well supplied with books dealing with the truths upon which children's minds should feed. And there stands as the climax in this educational work that great movement from the cities into the country,—a movement which in trumpet tones heralds the coming of our Lord.
Briefly let me call your attention to the young people's work and the Sabbath-school. Possibly you will feel that I have overshadowed these subjects already, but I have not; for when I speak of the Christian school, I mean to include the training of every child on the Sabbath as well as during the days of the week. Our Sabbath-school is coming to be more and more an educational factor. For years we attempted to hold our children by giving them a half hour's desultory instruction one day in the week. We have come to see that no natural child, surrounded as the average child is in this world, can be held for God and his work on such meager feeding. It was a starvation diet. Let God be thanked that a better way has been opened to us. The Sabbath-school is an integral part of the Christian school, and more and more we are coming to realize this fact. There are young people here who could tell you of developments along this line better than I. I doubt not that every educational superintendent could also tell you of the growth during the past year or two.
The movement in behalf of the young people is also included in what I have said concerning Christian schools. The organization of bands for missionary work is according to God's plan. However, companies of young people will have but little strength unless those young people are in school preparing themselves for this work. Therefore, I say our schools can do the greatest amount of good when they give these young people a definite training. For the benefit of those who can not yet attend one of our schools, the correspondence school is recommended. I know of companies who have begun a definite line of study by correspondence, and the work thus conducted builds them up for active missionary work. This has also been the means of uniting whole families, in fact the members of whole churches, in the careful study of God's Word and the principles of practical missionary work. We are reaching out for the young people. The more we can do for the establishing of elementary Christian schools in every church, the more true we are to the principle that our youth should be in preparatory manual training-schools; and the greater our vigilance to place our young people in the training-school, the greater will be the success of the work which has previously been spoken of as Young People's Societies, and the Sabbath-school work.
I have but touched upon these various subjects. Reports will follow from the different educational superintendents, from the principals of the various intermediate schools, and from those connected with our other educational institutions which will give more definitely the specific work of each.
Canvassing in Ontario
By Grant Priddy
It has been over two years since we came to Ontario. During this time we have enjoyed much of the blessing of the Lord, and have been permitted to place a goodly number of our books in the homes of the people. We are now located in a place where we are surrounded with thousands who know but very little about the special truths for this time. We could use to the best advantage a large quantity of tracts and late copies of the Signs if sent postpaid to the writer at Markham, Ontario. There is no duty or extra postage in sending tracts and papers to Canada.
GRANT PRIDDY.
The Atlantic Union Conference
By H. W. Cotrell
The work of the Lord in the Atlantic Union Conference is being extended in all departments, and the laborers generally are much encouraged by the results.
There are eleven local conferences in the union, and in several of these that department of the work which is termed the evangelical, is being carried forward with vigor. A goodly number of souls have recently accepted the light of the third angel’s message, and have united their interests with this people. Thirty persons have recently been baptized and united with the church in Boston, and many others are interested in the study of the Word.
In Brooklyn twenty-three persons have recently been baptized, who, with three others, united with the church. Thus the message of truth for our time is spreading in the various cities of this union conference.
We have passed through an extremely severe winter here in the East, which has made it difficult to do aggressive frontier work.
The union conference academy has just closed one of the most successful school years of its history. Its enrolment was the highest that it has ever been, the total number enrolled being two hundred and eleven. There were thirteen graduates, several of whom enter at once into active conference work. We have our dormitory completed, and can henceforth care for all students in the home.
By the sale of “Christ’s Object Lessons,” thirty-one thousand dollars of the academy debt has been paid, for which we are grateful to the Lord.
The church-school work has been a decided success in several of the conferences, while in other conferences where the work is not so well organized, it has been less prosperous.
Persons who engage in church-school work should be of mature age, good disciplinarians, and consecrated to their work, in order to insure success.
The sanitariums and treatment rooms are well patronized, and as far as my knowledge extends, a good work is being done in every place where one has been established. Many who were sick have been greatly relieved of their sufferings.
Distribution of Literature
Within the last few months a decided effort has been put forth in the various conferences in the union to increase the circulation of our denominational literature, and we hope for a permanent and steady growth in this department of the one great work; for certainly this furnishes an opportunity for thousands of our people to act a noble part in the promulgation of the message to the world.
Our Eastern publishing house, located at South Lancaster, is doing a good20work, and up to this time has had all that it could do.
Taking into account our limited number of active workers, and our limited resources for extending the work among twenty-seven million five hundred thousand people, the work is prospering. In this part of the wide harvest-field we are in great need of a larger number of fully consecrated persons. When we shall see this class of workers multiplied, then the message will go with power, and actual results will be seen from the efforts put forth by each laborer. May the Lord hasten that day. H. W. COTRELL.