General Conference Bulletin, vol. 7
Departmental Meetings
W. A. Spicer, C. P. Bollman, C. C. Crisler, T. E. Bowen, H. E. Rogers, J. N. Anderson
MEDICAL DEPARTMENT
Thirteenth Meeting
Discussions of the previous paper was continued, strong emphasis being laid on the necessity of teaching the workers who are in training for foreign fields, the principles of hygiene and the rational treatment of diseases peculiar to those fields. GCB June 4, 1913, page 271.9
Dr. Heald’s paper set forth very clearly the benefits accruing from proper recreation. Medical men, ministers, or office workers cannot expect to retain a good degree of health without muscular activity. Recreation does not consist alone in the playing of games, but may be found at the wood pile, in the garden, or in walking. Recreation consists of that form of exercise that will best give relief to the mind and keep the body in good physical condition. GCB June 4, 1913, page 271.10
Nurses in training and students in school should be given time for physical exercise, and proper instruction should be given in the subject. Workers in tropical countries are prone to form habits of physical inactivity, which lower the vitality and render the body more subject to the diseases of tropical climates. While care should be taken to avoid the effects of extreme heat, yet it should ever be remembered that inactivity lessens the powers of resistance. GCB June 4, 1913, page 271.11
At the afternoon meeting a paper was read which had been written by the late Elder Geo. A. Irwin, entitled, “The Training Necessary for the Superintendent of a Sanitarium.” This paper will be published in full. GCB June 4, 1913, page 271.12
PUBLISHING DEPARTMENT
Thirteenth and Fourteenth Meetings
Following a spirited consecration service with the beginning of the week, the Publishing Department resumed the consideration of the subject, “Spiritual Power in the Colporteur Work,” listening to a paper by C. J. Tolf. The following are a few of the many good thoughts presented: The colporteur work is a spiritual work, not a secular work. The colporteur is a soldier fighting the enemy of souls. What colporteur has not felt the pangs of discouragement, and almost despair, when pressed by the enemy? But he who has daily communion with God, has an anchor that will hold. He who does not thus know God, loses his hold, and will in all probability lose eternal life in the end. As leaders we must, with Zinzendorf, behold until we are changed, and our lives are filled with the love and power of heaven, that will send us out to work as we have never worked before, melting our way to hearts that have long withstood the pleading of the Holy Spirit. GCB June 4, 1913, page 271.13
“Possibilities of the Magazine and Periodical Work,” was the subject next taken up, H. Boex, from Germany, leading in a most enthusiastic talk. “I have 136 constant periodical workers in Germany,” said he. “Through our periodicals in Germany it is safe to say that every two weeks at least one hundred ten thousand people come to know something of the truth through the circulation of our leading missionary paper, Herald of Truth, as our actual bimonthly output is one hundred ten thousand copies. Of course it is reasonable to suppose that, on an average, several read each paper, so hundreds of thousands are reached every month.” Brother Boex handles three classes of agents,—those selling large subscription books, those selling small books, and magazine or paper sellers. He has 17 periodical workers in Hamburg alone. They work the territory thoroughly, and through the influence of the periodicals many are inquiring, and a large number have accepted the truth. GCB June 4, 1913, page 271.14
D. W. Reavis, in speaking to the same subject, but confining himself to the periodicals, rather than magazines, compared them to the skirmish lines of armies in battle. Skirmishers locate, bring into action, and expose the enemy to the solid shot of the artillery and the formidable lines of infantry. “The work of spreading the message is supported by a sub-foundation of education, faith, and inspiration, which foundation must not only be solidly built, but constantly strengthened. This foundation is being constantly laid and kept in repair by our periodicals. Among the outside, they penetrate the nooks and corners as well as the highways of nations, and are accomplishing a good work in imparting a knowledge of the truth to thousands ignorant of it and who would never know of it through any other channels.” GCB June 4, 1913, page 271.15
Following interesting figures of circulation, showing that since 1909 the sale of our 10-cent magazines has increased 74,725 copies a month, A. J. S. Bourdeau gave some excellent reports of magazine sales, and enumerated some of the possibilities before this work. While we are circulating one hundred twenty thousand copies a month, we are, he feels, but beginning this work. He gave reports from agents selling as high as three thousand copies a month, and read many interesting letters from persons who are becoming interested in the truth through the magazines. Many people of influence are subscribing for large quantities of Liberty and the Protestant. The magazines offer the students special opportunity for scholarship work; give many in our churches work that brings spiritual blessing to them; and furnish regular workers a self-supporting missionary work that brings them in touch with the people month by month. GCB June 4, 1913, page 271.16
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY DEPARTMENT
Twelfth Meeting
The entire time of this meeting was devoted to a discussion on the subject of the previous meeting, “Shall We Seek the Repeal of the Existing Sunday Laws in the Various States?” Those who took part in the discussion were: J. F. Blunt, of California; C. H. Edwards, of New York; M. C. Wilcox, of California; A. M. Dart, of Idaho; V. B. Watts, of New Mexico; H. M. Hiatt, of Georgia; J. E. Jayne, of Massachusetts; W. F. Martin, of Oregon; H. A. Weaver, of Ohio; A. G. Daniells, of Takoma Park; A. J. Clark, of New York; F. W. Paap, of Maryland; K. C. Russell, of Chicago; and F. W. Stray, of New Hampshire. From this list it will be seen that almost every part of the country was represented. It was a suitable array of ideas on the important topic. GCB June 4, 1913, page 272.1
Some advocated the policy that in certain cases, when a sacrifice of principles is not involved, we might, with caution, lend our efforts against existing Sunday laws and ask for their repeal. Others thought best to pursue a positive rather than a negative course with reference to existing Sunday laws, that is, where the Sunday laws of a State are inactive or dormant, and our people are not being molested for Sunday labor, we should go along as usual, without arousing opposition against our cause by precipitating a crusade against the laws which are not harming us in any way. At the same time, we should industriously educate the people concerning the wrong principles involved in such laws. GCB June 4, 1913, page 272.2
The concensus of opinion in the meeting was that, under God, our laborers should avoid any policy which would or could be construed as a propaganda in civil matters by a religious body. GCB June 4, 1913, page 272.3
On the contrary, we should confine ourselves strictly to the preaching of the message of God. Then, as opportunities shall offer themselves for speaking before legislative committees, because of actual or threatened persecution resulting from the enforcement of religious laws, we should embrace them, but for the sole purpose of enlightening darkened hearts and pointing to the truth for this time. Nor should we lay too much stress upon the question of “our rights.” It is better to argue for the liberties of all persons, including the lawmakers themselves. GCB June 4, 1913, page 272.4
The meeting voted to have the paper written by Elder M. C. Wilcox published in the BULLETIN. GCB June 4, 1913, page 272.5
MISSIONARY VOLUNTEER DEPARTMENT
Tenth Meeting
At a special meeting, the interesting symposium begun at a previous meeting was continued. GCB June 4, 1913, page 272.6
G. W. Caviness, of Mexico: “I am sorry to say that in Mexico we are very much behind in this department. We have had in the past many difficulties with reference to this work. One of the greatest difficulties is that we have had so few young people. Yet something has been done. We have had no literature of the kind that you have here for our young people. I trust that we shall soon have some. I understand that South America has printed the Morning Watch, and we hope that we can introduce that, and then get some other literature. GCB June 4, 1913, page 272.7
Just a word with reference to the young people’s society we have in Mexico City. The young people take hold of it very nicely, and find pleasure and profit in it. It was very interesting to me to hear some of these young Mexicans give the Bible readings explaining the prophecies. Their minds are bright, and they can and will learn the things set before them. We want to be in line with this work. God bless our young people. GCB June 4, 1913, page 272.8
John Lipke, of South America: I thank God for the young people’s work among Seventh-day Adventists. Before I knew anything about Adventists, I was converted in Berlin, Germany, in a young people’s society. Therefore, I believe in the young people’s work. From that time I have been a worker for young people. We were among the first ones outside of the United States to start this work. We commenced in the city of Rio Grande do Sul. There we organized three societies, and later on we printed the Morning Watch Calendar in the German language. After that we printed a young people’s paper, organized a reading circle in the German language, with many of our young people as members, and had a study circle, and a prayer circle. Finally our young people’s paper was stopped, and we only had some columns of our church paper. But I believe that in the future we shall be able to devote more of our strength to work among the youth. GCB June 4, 1913, page 272.9
Elder Beckner, of India: I do not know that I can say very much about the young people’s work in India. There is a young people’s society in Mussoorie, where our English-speaking school is, and our Burman young people are sent there. All our students come right from heathenism. We have only one family, so we must look to these young people for our workers. I am interested in the young people’s work from this standpoint,—that of training workers for Burma. There is also a Missionary Volunteer Society in Calcutta, and another among the Tamils. GCB June 4, 1913, page 272.10
Miss Mary Robertson, of Africa: Our societies are trying to make known to the world the advent message in this generation. Our work was organized six years ago. We have five societies, and I hope that in the near future we shall have several more. The missionary society in Kenilworth is largely composed of the young people from their school, and they are doing faithful work. We trust that in the future you may see the work better organized, and the young people in Africa doing more to advance the message. GCB June 4, 1913, page 272.11
Brother Cobban, of the West Indies: One of the greatest difficulties in the West Indies is to find efficient leaders. Most of our work has been among the English-speaking people. Recently, however, work has been started among the people in the republic of Haiti. The people there speak the French language. Since last November, when Elder Prener came, over eight societies have been organized among the young people in Haiti. I think in all we now have 46 societies, with a membership of 726. This work is still in its infancy, but I am glad to say that it is growing month by month and year by year. GCB June 4, 1913, page 272.12
Eleventh Meeting
The committee on educational features of the Missionary Volunteer work rendered their report. GCB June 4, 1913, page 272.13
Miss Edith Graham: The society programs are printed for the month [in Australia], and sent out to the Missionary Volunteer leaders, and also to isolated members, that they may derive benefit from them. This plan is working very successfully. It is an advantage not to have these programs in the hands of the young people before they are presented in church; for they have when the freshness that they do not have when the young people have looked them over, skimmed the cream off, and looked up special points. When the young people have the opportunity of looking the programs over, they do not come with the interest they do when they do not know what is to be presented that day. GCB June 4, 1913, page 272.14
Our Missionary Volunteer societies supply about five thousand dollars a year for missionary work, and as a recompense for this, the union conference supplies them with blanks, programs, and the supplies they need, so as to encourage them in their work, and that they may feel that the union conference has an interest in them, and is willing to spend some money to foster their interests. I believe that this plan would be an advantage over the present system. GCB June 4, 1913, page 272.15
C. B. Hughes: I was much pleased when I found that the department was issuing special uniform lessons. I am sure there is a great advantage to us in having the programs to study, and some aim in view. One lesson is associated with another in such a way that when the year is ended, we will have some good information. I am glad the department has taken this in hand. GCB June 4, 1913, page 272.16
A resolution on the Standard of Attainment plan was presented; but after some discussion it was referred back to the committee for reconsideration. GCB June 4, 1913, page 272.17