General Conference Bulletin, vol. 6
Conference Proceedings. THIRTY-FIFTH MEETING
W. A. Spicer, C. P. Bollman, I. H. Evans, C. M. Snow, T. E. Bowen
June 2, 5:30 A. M.
O. A. Olsen occupied the chair, E. W. Farnsworth offering prayer. GCB June 3, 1909, page 292.18
On motion of F. Griggs, Resolution 28 (on normal diplomas), which had been tabled the day before, was brought forward for discussion. GCB June 3, 1909, page 292.19
On motion of F. Griggs it was amended to read:— GCB June 3, 1909, page 292.20
RECOGNITION OF ADVANCED NORMAL DIPLOMAS
28. Resolved, That the diplomas reaching at least to the fourteenth grade from the advanced normal courses of our union conference training-schools which have model practice schools connected with them, be considered equivalent to first-grade teacher’s certificates, and good for three years following their issuance; and that upon the completion of three years of successful teaching out of the first five years following graduation, the Department of Education of the General Conference shall, upon the recommendation of the school issuing the diploma, grant a seal to the diploma, which shall be valid anywhere in the denomination as a teacher’s certificate, so long as the holder is in good and regular standing in church-membership in this denomination. GCB June 3, 1909, page 292.21
The chairman directed attention to the further resolutions on page 243 of the BULLETIN, which were under consideration at the time of last adjournment. GCB June 3, 1909, page 292.22
Resolution 32 was read, as follows:— GCB June 3, 1909, page 292.23
LABORERS FOR THE FOREIGN POPULATION OF AMERICA
Whereas, There is in America a very large foreign population, consisting of many nationalities, each with its own language; and,— GCB June 3, 1909, page 292.24
Whereas, There are now engaged in the English work many laborers of foreign parentage who can fluently speak one of these foreign languages; therefore,— GCB June 3, 1909, page 292.25
32. Resolved, That we recommend such laborers to work for the people of their own nationality as far as the way is open for them so to do. GCB June 3, 1909, page 292.26
Elder Olsen requested A. G. Daniells to take the chair, and said:— GCB June 3, 1909, page 292.27
There is much meaning in this recommendation. As we have now taken a forward move in the effort to spread the truth among all the foreign peoples in the United States, I think that special attention should be given to this matter, so that laborers speaking various tongues should work among their own people just as far as possible. GCB June 3, 1909, page 292.28
O. A. Olsen resumed the chair. GCB June 3, 1909, page 292.29
L. R. Conradi: I simply wish to add that in our country we see great need of using any one who speaks a foreign language, especially if that language has an affinity to some other. We have taken a number of people from this country who could not even speak German fluently; but after they acquire German, they can soon reach the Bohemians, Hungarians, and Dutch; for these languages are so similar that it takes only a short time to learn them after the German has been mastered. We have a number who can labor with any of these nationalities. GCB June 3, 1909, page 292.30
G. F. Haffner: I am heartily in favor of the recommendation; but I would like to call the attention of our conference officers especially to the fact that they ought to encourage our foreign laborers to work among their own people, even if they are not very successful. The principal reason they are not successful in making many converts is because it is difficult to get a good congregation on account of the foreign-speaking people being so scattered, with only a few in a village or neighborhood. I am especially interested in the Germans, of course, and I have met some of our workers who have told me they had begun to work for the English-speaking people because they did not receive encouragement from the conference to work for the Germans; that the conference looked down upon them because they did not have good success among the Germans. For this reason they went out among the English, where they were more successful. One brother told me that he meant to work for the English until the conference men regarded him as a successful laborer. I would like to call the attention of those who are officers of conferences to this matter, so that they will encourage these men, even if they are not so successful, to work among their own nationality. Nevertheless, we find that our German workers have had success, though not quite as much as if they were among the English. I am highly in favor of this recommendation. GCB June 3, 1909, page 293.1
R. A. Underwood: The last speaker suggested that the foreign laborers seemed not to have so much success in their own tongue, and so labored among the English. Now, I have noticed some, at least, who, I believe, would have made excellent laborers among their own people if they had stayed with them, who drifted into the English work and made poor laborers. I shall be glad to encourage the carrying out of this resolution. GCB June 3, 1909, page 293.2
F. C. Gilbert: Though perhaps an American, I shall speak as a foreigner, and especially in behalf of the Jewish people. You will remember that on one occasion, while Paul was holding an open-air meeting, the record says that when they heard him speak in the Hebrew tongue, they gave all the more silence; and it seems to me it is very suggestive as showing the advantage of talking to the people in their own language. I believe that this resolution is a good one, and I hope, when it is passed, it will be carried out. GCB June 3, 1909, page 293.3
The resolution was adopted. GCB June 3, 1909, page 293.4
Resolution 33 (on Spanish health paper) and Resolution 34 (on a sanitarium magazine quarterly) were adopted. GCB June 3, 1909, page 293.5
Resolution 35 (on lengthened nurses’ courses) was read. On motion of E. E. Andross, consideration and action were deferred until Friday morning. GCB June 3, 1909, page 293.6
Resolution 36 was read as follows:— GCB June 3, 1909, page 293.7
QUALIFIED WORKERS
Whereas, Our field is the world, and the legal requirements for medical qualification in many countries demand a literary and scientific knowledge of a high order, and necessitate a thorough mastery of the medical curriculum; therefore,— GCB June 3, 1909, page 293.8
36. We recommend, That those qualifying for medical practice secure such preliminary and medical education as is accepted in this country and abroad. GCB June 3, 1909, page 293.9
W. A. Ruble: You will notice that this resolution states, “Whereas, Our field is the world, and the legal requirements for medical qualification in many countries demand a literary and scientific knowledge of a high order,” etc. Many of our young people desire to take the medical course. But in planning for that, they often forget to plan with a view to the possibility of taking up work in a country outside the United States. Some are so anxious to secure a medical degree that they are taking some shorter courses, of possibly two or three years, or, in some instances, of even only a few months, so as to get some kind of a degree. I think this is to be deplored, because it is depriving all such of the opportunity of going to some foreign field at some future time. Such persons will find it impossible to practice in any country outside of the United States. GCB June 3, 1909, page 293.10
The requirements of medical examiners in foreign lands are such as require the most thorough preparation to meet. For this reason, those students who anticipate being called to practice in any other land, must necessarily take their work in the best of our American universities, in order to meet, in some instances, even the entrance requirements of universities abroad. In these foreign countries, the physician must have legal recognition. When we recommend young men and young women to qualify in a British medical school, and inquire into their preliminary training, we find that usually not one in twenty is prepared to meet the requirements necessary. It is necessary, also, that our medical students take their studies in some school that is recognized by the universities abroad. In view of all these circumstances, I hope that we will not plan to limit the usefulness of those who expect to qualify as physicians, but that we shall raise our sight, in this respect, and aim higher in the medical work. We must not tie the hands of our youth, by giving to them an education that will not stand the test in these countries where they may afterward be called to labor. Our field is the world, and we have a worldwide medical missionary work to do. Our physicians must have thorough training, a training that will be recognized by governmental authorities in all these lands. GCB June 3, 1909, page 293.11
J. A. Burden: I would like to ask the literal meaning of the phrase. “those qualifying for medical practice.” GCB June 3, 1909, page 293.12
W. A. Ruble: It means those who shall receive legal permission to practice medicine in these countries. GCB June 3, 1909, page 293.13
J. A. Burden: It seems to me that there will be some confusion unless there is something clearer on that point. If we give much heed to what was said yesterday morning from the desk, it seems to me it is going to cause considerable confusion for us to pass this resolution just as it reads. It was stated yesterday that the worldly medical education is to be esteemed less and less by those who are seeking for efficiency in carrying the medical work—whatever that may be. And now if we, by the passing of this resolution, turn the minds of all our young people who are interested in medical work to the thought of securing worldly recognition, it seems to me it will result in confusion. I recognize the point in the resolution, and certainly there seems need for counsel; but I can not see the harmony between the resolution and the counsel that was given yesterday morning; and I fear there are many others who will find difficulty in harmonizing the resolution with the counsel given. GCB June 3, 1909, page 293.14
R. S. Owen: I believe that the Testimonies are calling for something entirely different from that which is outlined in this resolution. I believe they are calling upon us to institute some school that will finally be recognized. This patched-up course of medical instruction—part in our own schools, and part in the schools of the world—will not, I fear, meet the mind of the Lord. Allow me to read just one statement in the Testimonies on this point. This was written as counsel to those who were to go to Berrien Springs to institute a reformatory educational work, after the 1901 Conference, and these brethren were counseled: “Introduce the medical missionary work. Some of the students are to be educated as nurses, some as physicians. It is not necessary for our students to go to Ann Arbor for a medical education. They may obtain at our schools all the education that is essential to perform the work for this time.” It will take some time to get a right understanding of the matter, but just as soon as we begin to work in the lines of true reform, the Holy Spirit will lead us and guide us if we are willing to be guided. I believe we should take no action to encourage our young people to go where the Spirit of God says it is not necessary to go. GCB June 3, 1909, page 293.15
L. R. Conradi: I believe that the Lord wants us to do that which is best for the upbuilding of the work in every country. We are not of the world, but we still live in the world; and we have to reckon with the conditions existing in the world. I have heard some statements made on the floor of the General Conference, intimating that if any young man or woman should visit any outside school, it would be almost as much as heresy. I wish that some of these people could live across the waters, for example in Germany. We can have no church-schools whatever. The government does not permit it. We have a fine school at Friedensau, and we have in attendance about 160 young people. We are enlarging it, but the government binds us that no person of common school age is allowed to attend. What will we do with such conditions? I remember well that when Sister White was in Europe, we talked with her about this difficulty. She said, “You will have to do the best you can under the circumstances.” GCB June 3, 1909, page 293.16
Now to-day we have something like 15,000 Sabbath-keepers over there who can not send their children to church-schools. But I am thankful to God that the Lord is powerful enough to keep our youth even there. I am thankful to the Lord that hundreds of these young people are going into the work, and some of them are making good missionaries everywhere. For some lines of work we are compelled to send our young people to the universities there. But while attending these universities, some of our young people have had the greatest influence for good on the teachers in bringing before them the truth, their influence in some cases even leading to the conversion of other students. GCB June 3, 1909, page 293.17
I think there is another side to that principle, and that is the experience of the Waldensian youth, of whom “Great Controversy” speaks. As they were sent to the schools, they held up the light, thus bringing the truth to others. So I think we must do the best we can under the circumstances. Now if you go to the countries abroad, you must conform to their laws, if you want to practice medicine. A very high standard is demanded. Our young people have to go to school a long time. For instance, one young man began when he was eight, and must work until he is twenty-seven,—about twenty years of solid schooling,—for the medical degree. You say that is a tremendous task. It is. But yet at the same time, I believe the Lord is willing to help us. And I am thankful that at the present time we have nearly a dozen young people who are going to these schools, and they are proving true to God. We had a medical school of our own over here, and quite a number of our people did not remain true to God even there. GCB June 3, 1909, page 293.18
R. S. Owen: The school did not remain true to God. GCB June 3, 1909, page 294.1
L. R. Conradi: The school did not. You see we must conform to existing conditions. If we want to reach the people through medical work, we must conform to the law. But let us pray for the young people, and let us help them all we possibly can, while they are in these peculiar circumstances and conditions. GCB June 3, 1909, page 294.2
R. S. Owen: I believe that this is the most vital and important question that has been before this Conference. I believe that the perplexities which we have to-day arise from the fact that we have not followed out the instruction God has given. When we come up to a hard place, it is easy to explain away what God has said. I have not lived in the old country, but God lives there, and he can clear away all the difficulties that confront medical students. I do recognize that the Testimonies state that certain young men who are well grounded in the truth should be recommended to go to these higher schools; and that in these places they will exert a good influence, and may lead others into the truth. But they are to be carefully selected. They should be those whom we know are well grounded in the truth. But the majority of those who take up these courses are not well grounded. In fact, our preparatory course is not as strong in Bible study as it should be. Now we are positively told that not more than one out of a hundred of our young people can go into these schools, and come out uncontaminated. I believe what the spirit of prophecy says, no matter if somebody else says that a dozen of them are coming out into the work. Because they go into the work, that does not prove that they have not been in any way contaminated. There may have been imparted to them elements that will be injurious or that will cripple them in their work. I do not want to prolong this discussion, but I believe we have struck a vital point. GCB June 3, 1909, page 294.3
D. H. Kress: I think that this recommendation may be misunderstood. We may encourage a great many to go to these worldly medical schools, when the Testimonies state that fewer should be encouraged to take up the study of medicine, while the many should be encouraged to take up medical missionary study as it is taught among our own people. It seems to me that this recommendation would encourage all young people who are desirous of fitting themselves for medical work to go into worldly schools, and I do not believe that this is carrying out the mind of God in regard to this. I know that it is said that fewer should be encouraged to take up the study of medicine. We have young men and women of mature age who are thoroughly grounded in the truth, who can be encouraged to go into these worldly schools and remain uncontaminated, who will go through and be prepared to carry the work better than when they enter. And we know that many come out less qualified to carry this work than when they entered. I am aware that many have gone through and are doing a good work to-day. But these are men and women who were thoroughly grounded in the truth before they entered. I think the recommendation is a little too sweeping, and would encourage all of our young people to enter these schools. This, I believe, we ought not to encourage. GCB June 3, 1909, page 294.4
W. A. Spicer: As the brethren have been discussing this resolution, I have been reading it to see wherein they find the suggestion which they have been discussing. There is nothing said of worldly schools. It simply says that young people should have a thorough training, a good preliminary training, if they intend to take medical work. Why should they not get that training in our schools? The whole resolution might be carried out within our own ranks, if we had a medical school. The whole training may be taken in our own schools, save perhaps the final graduation in medicine. I see no suggestion whatever that leads toward what the brethren have been discussing. GCB June 3, 1909, page 294.5
R. S. Owen: I think there would have been no discussion but for the remarks of Dr. Ruble. He gave it that turn. He intimated that we should send students to worldly schools. That is why I arose. I was ready to vote for it in the first place, because I thought I saw an opportunity to establish a medical institution of our own. GCB June 3, 1909, page 294.6
O. A. Olsen: I think the matter is very clearly before us. The thought is this, that in our work we are not to do cheap work. We want to do thorough work in every way. And those who are preparing to take a medical course should seek a thorough preparation. That is all. GCB June 3, 1909, page 294.7
W. A. Ruble: I think there is no question as to the intent of the resolution. It is not that we want to recommend every one of our young people who takes any medical studies to aim to pass these examinations that are required in order to qualify in foreign countries. We ought to have a hundred where there is now one, gaining the qualifications of a doctor, but to practice as nurses; but there are some who must qualify for legal practice, and it can only be done now in some of these outside universities. If we can ever have a medical school, we shall be glad to welcome it. GCB June 3, 1909, page 294.8
Resolution 36, by vote of the Conference, was adopted. GCB June 3, 1909, page 294.9
Resolution 37 (on short missionary course) was read and adopted. GCB June 3, 1909, page 294.10
Resolution 38 was read as follows:— GCB June 3, 1909, page 294.11
FIELD WORK FOR NURSES
Whereas, The Medical Missionary Nurses’ Training Course embraces more than routine nursing; therefore,— GCB June 3, 1909, page 294.12
38. We recommend, That in each sanitarium the work be so organized that the nurses may have an equivalent to three months’ field work a year in the sale of our health literature, visiting the sick, and in giving Bible readings; and that the union and State conferences cooperate in this work, so that at the completion of the nurses’ course, these laborers may be employed in regular conference work. GCB June 3, 1909, page 294.13
C. McReynolds: I think it well to speak to this just a moment. We passed a recommendation similar to this, at our last annual conference meeting (Wisconsin), and have tried it to quite an extent since that time, and we find it very beneficial indeed to the members of our nurses’ training-class. We find these workers very excellent help in our mission work and in connection with our meetings. We believe that this recommendation is one that ought to receive special attention by all our conferences where there are young people in nurses’ training-schools. It is certainly along the line of that which we have talked about for a good many years—of making missionaries of our medical workers. So many of our workers in sanitariums get the medical side developed, and when they leave an institution they are naturally inclined, as we all are, to use the knowledge they are most efficient in; and so the side of their work pertaining to the impartation of the truths of the third angel’s message, in addition to the principles underlying our medical work, receives less attention. I am certainly very heartily in favor of this recommendation. GCB June 3, 1909, page 294.14
C. D. M. Williams (Hawaii): I do not think that we can say too much about our nurses taking a Bible course. I have had a little experience in that line out in Honolulu. I find that many come there, and simply go into commercial work. I do not believe that we can afford to train nurses to go into commercial work. They should all be sent out as missionaries. I have had nurses come to me for Bible studies while they were there, because they had not been prepared for work. Several of them, because of this commercial work, have drifted off into the world, and are now separated from the truth. I believe that we ought to impress positively upon the minds of our students that they are to prepare themselves for God’s work in both departments, not only as nurses, but as Bible teachers. GCB June 3, 1909, page 294.15
The question was called, and Resolution 38 was adopted. GCB June 3, 1909, page 294.16
VISIT TO PRESIDENT
S. B. Horton: If it is in order, I would like to offer this resolution in reference to the visit to the President that the delegation will make to-day:— GCB June 3, 1909, page 294.17
“Resolved, That a deputation be appointed from this Conference to call upon the President of the United States, and to extend the greetings of our people.” GCB June 3, 1909, page 294.18
The resolution was carried. GCB June 3, 1909, page 294.19
ADDRESS TO CZAR OF RUSSIA
J. T. Boettcher (Russia): I would like to offer this resolution, and move its adoption:— GCB June 3, 1909, page 294.20
“Resolved, That we express our appreciation of the steps already taken by the Government of His Majesty, the Czar of Russia, in behalf of religious freedom within his realm, and that we request the chairman to appoint a committee from this body to communicate our sentiments to the Russian Ambassador at Washington.” GCB June 3, 1909, page 294.21
This resolution was adopted. GCB June 3, 1909, page 294.22
O. A. Olsen: We will now call upon Elder G. A. Irwin to present the report of the— GCB June 3, 1909, page 295.1
NORTH AMERICAN FOREIGN DEPARTMENT
Elder Irwin presented the report as follows:— GCB June 3, 1909, page 295.2
This department was created by an action of the last General Conference, in May, 1905. The department was the outgrowth of a general recognition of the need of a more thorough organization and systematization of effort in behalf of the Germans and Scandinavians of North America, and a feeling that the work should extend to the numerous other nationalities for whom little, and in some cases nothing, has yet been done. GCB June 3, 1909, page 295.3
A committee of nine men was appointed to stand at the head of this department; five of these men were called to devote their entire time to this work, two to take the lead in German work in the United States and Canada, one having jurisdiction east of the Mississippi River, and the other west. One was to lead the Danish-Norwegian work, one to stand at the head of the Swedish work, and the other was to act as a general missionary secretary not only to gather statistics, but to labor with literature among the foreign nationalities who are in, and constantly landing at, New York City, the great foreign metropolis of the United States. Inasmuch as the territory and work of these men are general, and they would be expected to labor within the bounds of several different conferences, they were placed upon the pay-roll of the General Conference, and one was made a member of the General Conference Committee. GCB June 3, 1909, page 295.4
That the reader may the better appreciate the need of such a department, we insert the following table, compiled from the official statistical reports on file in the Department of State at Washington, giving the different nationalities represented in the United States, and the number of people composing each:— GCB June 3, 1909, page 295.5
| German | 9,563,493 |
| Scandinavian | 2,569,983 |
| Italian | 2,282,671 |
| Hebrew | 2,000,000 |
| Poles | 1,293,181 |
| French | 1,160,246 |
| Russian | 722,616 |
| Hungarian | 456,715 |
| Austrian | 435,784 |
| Bohemian | 425,769 |
| Slovak | 262,341 |
| Croatian | 252,251 |
| Dutch | 186,681 |
| Finnish | 161,165 |
| Greek | 131,152 |
| Lithuanian | 105,903 |
| Chinese | 93,792 |
| Ruthenian | 87,085 |
| Portuguese | 76,956 |
| Japanese | 69,296 |
| Rumanian | 65,020 |
| Bulgarian | 57,537 |
| Spanish | 43,296 |
| Syrian | 34,380 |
| Dalmatian | 20,130 |
| Turkish | 17,149 |
| Armenian | 12,926 |
| Total | 21,587,898 |
Taking into account the fact that this large number is being augmented each year by the arrival of a million more people, one can get some faint conception of the need of systematic effort to reach these people with the third angel’s message. Owing partly to the scattered condition of the members of this committee, only one general meeting has been held during the past quadrennial period. This was held in connection with the annual meeting of the stockholders of the International Publishing Association, at College View, Neb., in September, 1905. This meeting resulted in giving all in attendance a better understanding of the need, importance, and magnitude of the work committed to our hands, and brought in a spirit of unity and co-operation between the publishing house and the field laborers, and between those who are laboring for the different nationalities, which has proved very helpful. GCB June 3, 1909, page 295.6
In December, 1906, an institute was held in Chicago for the Swedish laborers. Of the 22 laborers then engaged in the Swedish work, 20 were present. The ten days that they were together were spent in Bible study and the consideration of the field and the methods to be pursued to extend the work in new places, and at the same time to uphold and strengthen the work already established. GCB June 3, 1909, page 295.7
In the month of January a similar institute was held in the same city for the benefit of the German workers, at which there was an attendance of 50. An institute was also held in Minneapolis, Minn., for the Danish-Norwegian laborers. In addition to these general meetings, institutes or schools have been held for the training and development of new workers, one in Milwaukee, for the Danish-Norwegians, and one in Brooklyn, N. Y., for the Germans. These schools have been the means of adding several new workers to the list. GCB June 3, 1909, page 295.8
In addition to this effort to obtain workers, the field superintendents have been very active in their efforts to increase the attendance of students in the foreign departments of our schools and colleges which have such departments. The attendance of German students at these schools has more than doubled in the aggregate in the past four years, and a similar or even greater increase is reported in the Scandinavian department. GCB June 3, 1909, page 295.9
Scandinavian Department
The number of Swedish believers in the United States amounts to about 1,500. The present force of workers is 26. These workers have during the past year brought in an average of 5 souls each. Two papers are published in the Swedish language, the Sions Vaktare, a general missionary paper, with a subscription list of 2,500, and the Signal, a church paper, which has at present a subscription list of 760. The annual tithe per capita of those from whom reports have been received is $17.81; in the freewill offerings to foreign missions $10.04 per capita; $2,505.47 was raised in cash and pledges for the International Publishing Association at College View; $2,671.16 for the Swedish Mission in Chicago; and $300 for a Swedish hymn-book of 200 pages, making in all $5,476.53. GCB June 3, 1909, page 295.10
There are among the Danish-Norwegian people 47 churches. This is a gain of 11 during the past quadrennial period. The total present membership is 2,050, a gain of 486 in the past four years. Twenty ordained ministers, 10 licensed ministers, and 8 Bible workers, 3 teachers, 1 editor, and 1 missionary secretary, constitute the present working force. The one paper published in the interests of this people, Sendebud, has a present circulation of 3,800. This is a gain of 1,700 during the quadrennial period. Work for this people is being done in 15 different States and in Alberta, Canada. Home mission work has been revived, and a mission band has been organized. Four young men have been sent to Norway and Denmark to study, in order to acquire the language in its purity, that they may be prepared to render assistance as translators. To assist these young men, a fund of $3,000 has been raised. It is expected that in the near future four more young men will go to Scandinavia, and two to Abyssinia. A monthly paper, The Missionary, has recently been started as an aid to missionary effort. An earnest effort is being made to perfect and increase the amount of literature in the Danish-Norwegian language. GCB June 3, 1909, page 295.11
German Work West of the Mississippi GCB June 3, 1909, page 295.12
Elder G. F. Haffner is in charge of this field. He reports a present membership of 2,900 with 326 scattered Sabbath-keepers. There are 79 churches, 25 ordained ministers, and 20 licensed ministers. Of the reported membership, about 600 have been brought in during the past four years; an average tithe of $13 per capita has been paid, and liberal gifts have been devoted to the cause of missions. The canvassing work is receiving special attention in this part of the field. Twenty-two German students who have been attending Union College are intending to go out and engage in the canvassing work during the vacation. Of the two papers published in the interests of the German work, the Christlicher Hausfreund has a present circulation of 5,970, a gain of 1,170 in the four years. The Arbeiter (“Worker”) has a circulation of 1,730, which is a gain of 730 in the same period. Some work is being done for the German-speaking people in every conference composing this district, but the largest number of believers is in North Dakota and in Oklahoma. GCB June 3, 1909, page 295.13
GERMAN WORK EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI
There are six and one quarter millions of Germans in this district, 1,544,555 within the bounds of the Atlantic Union. There are three German churches in this union, with an aggregate membership of 139, who pay a per capita tithe of $23.13 and $3.42 in Sabbath-school offerings. The German workers in this union are, 1 licentiate and 6 Bible workers; and 23 souls have been added to the church the past year as the result of their labor. The work in this union has been confined almost entirely to Greater New York. Work in Boston and Buffalo has recently been begun. GCB June 3, 1909, page 295.14
The Columbia Union, including the District of Columbia, has a German population of 2,073,623. There are seven German churches in this union, with an aggregate membership of 143. Their tithe per capita is $16.63, and their Sabbath-school offerings amount to $570. There are in this union 5 ordained ministers and 2 Bible workers. During the last year, 27 persons were brought into the truth by this company. GCB June 3, 1909, page 295.15
The Lake Union has a German population of 2,430,780, with four German churches within its bounds, having a membership of 136. Their tithe per capita is $14.10. Three ordained ministers, 3 licentiates, and 3 Bible workers constitute the force of laborers in this district; and 27 new members were added to the churches last year. Fully 100 members are scattered through the English churches. GCB June 3, 1909, page 295.16
In the Southern Union there is a German population of 89,335, for whom no direct effort has been made. GCB June 3, 1909, page 296.1
The German population in the Southeastern Union amounts to 114,129. No effort has been made as yet to give them the message. GCB June 3, 1909, page 296.2
In summing up the German work east of the Mississippi, which has been under the direction of Elder O. E. Reinke, we find 14 churches, with an aggregate membership of 418. The reports state that 216 more are scattered among the English churches. There are 16 Sabbath-schools, with a membership of 471. The tithe per capita of the 7 churches that have reported is $17.62, and the Sabbath-school offerings, $3.43. There are 8 ordained ministers, 4 licensed ministers, and 11 Bible workers in this field. Five German churches were organized during the period. Three mission schools were conducted in New York City and Brooklyn. Three church buildings have been bought or built, in Chicago, Brooklyn, and Philadelphia. GCB June 3, 1909, page 296.3
Other Tongues GCB June 3, 1909, page 296.4
From the report of Brother A. Boettcher, our missionary secretary located in New York City, we cull the following facts:— GCB June 3, 1909, page 296.5
Over 100,000 pages of papers, tracts, and pamphlets have been sent out to 10 different nationalities. Hundreds of missionary letters have been written to accompany or follow up this literature. No definite results can at this time be reported from this effort, but seed has been sown that no doubt will produce fruit in the near future. The missionary secretary has also visited a number of churches and two or three camp-meetings, at all of which he has labored to instruct the people and get them interested in the spread of foreign literature among their neighbors. Greater New York, with its two million of foreigners, is a vast field by itself. The officers of this conference have put forth considerable effort to reach this people with the third angel’s message. They now have 2 Italian laborers, and a monthly paper entitled L’Ultimo Messaggio, which is filled with “the last message.” GCB June 3, 1909, page 296.6
There is 1 Bohemian-Slovak laborer, and a monthly paper is published in this language called The Herald of Faith. There is also 1 Hungarian and 1 Chinese laborer. New Jersey has 1 Holland Bible worker and a Bohemian-Slovak church, with a membership of 15. In Maine there is a French church of 12 members, the result of work done by Brother Vuilleumier some years ago, helped on later by our Italian laborer in Greater New York. GCB June 3, 1909, page 296.7
In West Michigan, Elder Hofstra has devoted a small portion of his time to labor for the Holland people. In North Michigan there is 1 organized Holland church. A little work has been done by Elder O. Montgomery among the Finns of North Michigan, of whom there is a population of 45,000. One family accepted the truth and are still faithful. We have reports of a few Polish, Rumanian, and Ruthenian believers in Saskatchewan, Canada, and a few Assyrians on the Pacific Coast. GCB June 3, 1909, page 296.8
The Jew Also GCB June 3, 1909, page 296.9
During the last quadrennial period Elder F. C. Gilbert, a Jew by birth and early education, has devoted his entire time to an effort to reach the Jewish people with the third angel’s message. Brother Gilbert’s efforts have been largely along the line of preparing literature especially adapted to this peculiar people, and providing ways and means for its circulation. Since the last General Conference there have been printed and distributed among this people gratuitously 100,000 56-page tracts, 5,000 28-page tracts, 25,000 20-page tracts, 50,000 16-page tracts or Bible readings. Four sisters have been largely instrumental in the distribution of this literature in the United States. Some of these tracts have been sent to every part of the globe. Many favorable responses have been received. GCB June 3, 1909, page 296.10
In addition to work with literature, Brother Gilbert has been conducting a Jewish mission in the city of Boston, and an industrial mission in the country, where the converts from the city may find employment and an opportunity for further instruction, while at the same time those in charge have opportunity to judge of the sincerity and ability of these converts to become workers. GCB June 3, 1909, page 296.11
To assist the work being done for the Jews, the General Conference has contributed $1,000 from its mission funds, and the Atlantic Union the sum of $750. Just how many Jews have accepted the third angel’s message as the result of this work is unknown, but 25 are known to be obeying the truth in the United States. Owing to the prejudice that has so long existed in the minds of these people against Christianity, it has been very difficult to reach them with the gospel. But those laboring for them have the following encouraging words from the spirit of prophecy to sustain them in their work:— GCB June 3, 1909, page 296.12
“The time has come when the Jews are to be given light. The Lord wants us to encourage and sustain men who shall labor in right lines for this people; for there are to be a multitude convinced of the truth who will take their position for God.... There are among the Jews many that will be converted.” GCB June 3, 1909, page 296.13
Owing to the lack of any prior organization, statistics, or form of reporting, it has been very difficult to get hold of even the few facts that have been mentioned in this report; but we trust that enough has been given to materially increase the interest of all our people in work for the foreign-speaking peoples in this field and to form as basis for an aggressive movement that will produce more reliable and gratifying statistics in the future. GCB June 3, 1909, page 296.14
I believe there is a bright future before the foreign work in the United States, and I am very sure that the next quadrennial period will show a marked increase over the past. During the past term the work of this department was somewhat formative. Elder Evans and myself stood at the head of this department, one as chairman, and the other as secretary. Our time was almost entirely devoted to other duties, each of us being outside the United States during that period for nine months, and for one year I was in charge of the work in the South. So I feel that neither of us have given this department the attention it deserved. I am glad that you have decided to elect a man [referring to Elder O. A. Olsen] to stand at the head of the department, who not only has experience and qualification, but who has a burden for this work. I believe the future will show a great gain among the foreign-speaking peoples in the United States. GCB June 3, 1909, page 296.15
O. A. Olsen: We certainly have had presented before us a large mission field in America. This department opens a way for the development of workers in all these nationalities. I hope that all our conferences will heartily co-operate and help on this work for the general spread of the message. GCB June 3, 1909, page 296.16
Now I will call upon Elder W. B. White, of the North Pacific Union Conference, to present his report. GCB June 3, 1909, page 296.17
Elder White presented his report. It follows:— GCB June 3, 1909, page 296.18
REPORT OF THE NORTH PACIFIC UNION CONFERENCE
This union conference is the northern portion of what was formerly known as the Pacific Union Conference, and was organized Feb. 19, 1906, at Portland, Ore. There were present at this meeting, representing the General Conference, Elder G. A. Irwin, J. N. Loughborough, and W. C. White. At the time of its organization it included Washington, Oregon, Montana, Idaho, Alaska, British Columbia, and the Hawaiian Islands. Later, upon the organization of the West Canadian Union Conference, British Columbia was incorporated into that union conference. About a year later the Hawaiian Island work was turned back to the General Conference for its supervision, as these islands do not naturally connect with the territory of the North Pacific Union Conference. At present the North Pacific Union Conference comprises the States of Washington, Oregon, Montana, Idaho, and the Territory of Alaska. It has within its boundaries five conferences; namely, Western Washington, Western Oregon, Upper Columbia, Montana, and Southern Idaho. It also has Alaska as a mission field. All this vast country has a population of only two million one hundred fifty thousand, about as many as Kentucky. GCB June 3, 1909, page 297.1
With reference to territory, our union conference has 987,595 square miles, or 106,000 square miles more than is comprised in all the States of the Union east of the Mississippi River. These figures will give some idea of the vast extent of our field and also the sparseness of the population. In order that this report may be as clear as possible to those who hear it, and to the readers of the BULLETIN, we will consider the growth of our union conference since its organization, by a brief summary of our work by departments:— GCB June 3, 1909, page 297.2
The Evangelical Work
When organized in the spring of 1906, our union conference had 133 organized churches with 4,834 members, paying an annual tithe of $61,666.15; it had 68 ordained ministers, 23 licensed ministers, and 133 missionaries. It also had 182 Sabbath-schools, with a membership of 5,005, donating $5,089.70 yearly. Since the organization of the union, there has been a steady growth in evangelical work; and we now have 143 churches with 5,724 members, paying $85,632.50 tithe. We also have at present 231 Sabbath-schools, with a membership of 6,222, donating during the year 1908, $9,698.63. At the time of the organization, our people in this union conference were giving to foreign missions, yearly, besides the Sabbath-school offerings, $8,306.75. According to the report of 1908, the field is now giving to foreign missions, besides the Sabbath-school offerings, $17,731.07. Thus we see that in the evangelical department we have gained 10 churches, 890 church-members, 49 Sabbath-schools, and 1,217 in Sabbath-school attendance. There has also been a gain of $23,966.35 in the tithe of the field, $1,608.93 in Sabbath-school offerings, and $9,424.32 in Sabbath-school offerings to foreign missions. We have at present 43 Missionary Volunteer societies, with a membership of 992. During the year 1908 these contributed $902.14 to foreign work, $429.69 to home mission work, and $65.62 for local society work, making from this source a total contribution of $1,397.45. GCB June 3, 1909, page 297.3
Every year is witnessing a mighty emigration into the Northwest. The United States government is expending millions in reclamation work, new railroads are being built in all directions; new towns are springing up, and we are sure that opportunities for evangelical work will be abundant during the next few years. GCB June 3, 1909, page 297.4
The Publishing Work
Our union conference is fortunate in having a branch of the Pacific Press located at Portland, Ore. When the conference was organized, we had twenty-seven book and periodical canvassers in the field, selling yearly $13,878.86 worth of books and periodicals. The report of 1908 shows that we had, during the summer of that year, 125 canvassers, selling $47,011.07 worth of books and periodicals, and a splendid interest is manifested throughout the field in the book and periodical work. Large classes are being organized this spring for the work, and many students are paying their way through our schools by working upon the scholarship plan. Each State conference now has a thoroughly trained State canvassing agent; the union also has a general agent, Brother Carl Weaks, giving his entire time to the work of organizing and training agents for the work. GCB June 3, 1909, page 297.5
The union conference has now arranged for a ship missionary for the harbor of Seattle, to give all his time to missionary work among the shipping in that important port. It has also arranged for two evangelistic canvassers to enter the Territory of Alaska this spring, distributing our literature, giving Bible readings, and holding meetings as the way may open. GCB June 3, 1909, page 297.6
Medical Interests
The medical work in the North Pacific Union is now quite well established, and has a board of five members elected by the union conference, which has the oversight of the organized medical work. The union conference owns and operates a central training-school for medical missionary workers at Portland, Ore., known as the Portland Sanitarium. While carrying quite a heavy debt, the institution is enjoying at present a very good patronage, has a fine class of workers, and we feel that there are better days ahead for it. Dr. W. B. Holden is medical director of the sanitarium. He is ably assisted by Dr. H. W. Vollmer, superintendent of the institution and training-school, and by Dr. Canfield, of Philadelphia, the lady physician. D. R. Nichols is business manager. Another sanitarium, with a training-school, is operated by the Upper Columbia Conference at College Place, Wash., the corporation having leased for a term of years two acres of the campus of Walla Walla College on which the buildings are erected. During the past fall and winter, a very creditable three-story building has been built, which will accommodate twenty-five or thirty patients, and which has been opened to the public this present month. Dr. W. H. Warner is in charge. Two well-equipped private sanitariums are also in operation in this union, one located on Puget Sound at Port Townsend, Wash., under the superintendency of Dr. W. R. Simmons, and the other at North Yakima, Wash., conducted by Dr. F. M. Rossiter. In addition to these, treatment-rooms are operated in Cottage Grove, Ore.; in Vancouver, Bellingham, Seattle, and Spokane, Wash.; also in Boise, Idaho. The great emigration into the Northwest at the present time makes this a fruitful field for medical missionary endeavor. GCB June 3, 1909, page 297.7
Religious Liberty
This line of work in the union conference is now under the supervision of a religious liberty board of seven members elected by the union conference, consisting of the five conference presidents, the union conference president, and the religious liberty secretary. GCB June 3, 1909, page 297.8
Elder A. J. Breed, the general secretary, is giving most of his time to this work, which is rapidly growing in importance in the Northwest. Two years ago, the State of Idaho enacted quite a stringent Sunday law, which applies to nearly all lines of business and amusements. This law has been quite strictly enforced throughout the State, and already a reaction is setting in, and many are demanding its repeal. It was hoped by the friends of religious freedom that the matter would be made an issue in the legislature the past winter, and Elders A. J. Breed and W. M. Healey, of California, spent some time in Boise, the capital city of Idaho, in the interest of a repealing act; but evidently the time was not ripe for such a movement, and only an educational work on the principles of religious liberty could be carried forward. GCB June 3, 1909, page 297.9
A Sunday bill similar to the Idaho law was also presented in the legislature of Oregon at its last session the past winter, but was promptly met by our brethren in the Western Oregon Conference, resulting in its defeat. GCB June 3, 1909, page 297.10
We realize, however, that the battle is on, that the final issue is coming closer and closer, and that soon we shall be called to face oppressive laws for conscience’ sake. We believe that every State conference in our union is carrying on a vigorous educational campaign among legislators and professional men with the magazine Liberty, from which we hope to see good results in the future. GCB June 3, 1909, page 297.11
Educational
The educational work in the Northwest is certainly onward. While attended with many perplexities, its progress is of the most interesting character. In the North Pacific Union this branch of the work is under the leadership of Prof. M. E. Cady, who has associated with him an educational board of five members. Our central training-school is at Walla Walla, Wash., and is known as Walla Walla College. Here our union conference has an investment of over $76,000, and is endeavoring to carry on a school which shall meet the mind of the Lord in the giving to our young people a Christian education and a preparation for the work of God. At the time of the organization of our union conference this college had an enrollment of 208, and a debt of $23,538. Prior to this time the “Christ’s Object Lessons” campaign had reduced the debt one half; but when the union was organized, all felt that the time had come to fully remove the remaining debt resting on the institution, and a plan was organized for its accomplishment. This plan has been a success, and we are glad to report today that through the help given us of God, and the liberality of our people in the North Pacific Union, the sum of $25,000 has been raised and placed to the credit of Walla Walla College, which leaves it to-day free from its financial burdens, and on a solid financial basis. We are glad also to report that on the evening of April 22 of this present year in our college chapel we had a “jubilee service,” and sang the song of freedom from these financial burdens. We thank God for the help he has given in this work, and give him all the glory. The present enrollment of the college, including the normal department, is 375; and we are glad to say that we have a fine band of young people, who are putting forth every effort to prepare themselves for active service in this closing work. GCB June 3, 1909, page 297.12
By a gift of $3,500 from an aged brother and sister in our union conference, we have been enabled the past year to erect on the college campus a normal school building, in which a training course for church and intermediate school-teachers is being carried forward. The building is steam-heated and electric-lighted, and is well arranged for the work it is to do. On the evening of February 7 of this present year, this building was dedicated to God by appropriate services. We believe that this is the first normal school building in the denomination which has been built and dedicated to the work of preparing teachers for our schools. GCB June 3, 1909, page 298.1
We have also eight intermediate schools in operation in our union,—three in Western Oregon, two in Western Washington, two in Upper Columbia, and one in Montana. Southern Idaho has one in process of erection, and Upper Columbia has just located another in the eastern part of its conference, and will proceed to build this present season. We are glad to report that among our young people in the Northwest there is a deep spirit of consecration to this work, and we can not but believe that the influence these schools are exerting has much to do in bringing about this condition. In the college, intermediate schools, and church-schools in our union, we have now 1,551 of our youth and children under Christian training; and from this small army we expect to see fruit brought forth unto eternal life. While church-school work may not seem to be advancing as rapidly as it should, we are having better schools, as teachers are trained for their work in our normal department. GCB June 3, 1909, page 298.2
During the past four years there has really been a steady growth in our educational work, as will be seen by the following comparative statement: In the school year of 1905-06 we had 40 schools, with 57 teachers, and an enrollment of 930; in 1906-07, 53 schools, 79 teachers, and 1,363 pupils; in 1907-08, 55 schools, 82 teachers, and an attendance of 1,497; and in 1908-09, 54 schools, 87 teachers, and 1,551 young people in attendance. GCB June 3, 1909, page 298.3
We thank our Heavenly Father for what has been accomplished in educational lines and greatly desire to press forward to higher attainments. GCB June 3, 1909, page 298.4
Home Missionary and Missionary Volunteer Work
A year ago the union conference organized these lines of work in the union and State conferences by setting apart in each conference and in the union a man to give his entire time to the development of the home missionary work among our churches, and also the Missionary Volunteer work among the young people. Elder O. K. Butler is leading out in this work in the North Pacific Union, and the conferences are responding nobly in setting apart men for these special lines of work. Already fruit is developing, and the coming year should see great advancement in the home missionary and Missionary Volunteer work. At present we have forty-three Missionary Volunteer societies, with a membership of 992, contributing during the year 1908 $902.14 to foreign missionary work, $429.69 to home missions, and $65.62 to local society work, making in all $1,397.45 contributed during that year by our young people. GCB June 3, 1909, page 298.5
Owing to the crowded condition of the Walla Walla College chapel at our Sabbath service and on special occasions, the union conference has decided to erect a tabernacle at College Place sufficiently large to accommodate the students of the college, the church at College Place, and any and all of the large gatherings which frequently meet there. This work will probably be begun this coming fall, and completed during the year 1910, at an estimated cost of from eight to ten thousand dollars. GCB June 3, 1909, page 298.6
Walla Walla College has a fruit and alfalfa farm of fifty-six acres, which, in the dry climate of the Walla Walla Valley, demands a good supply of water for irrigation purposes. Our main dependence for years in the past has been from a spring about one and one-half miles distant, the water being piped to the college farm, and then by hydraulic pressure put into the buildings. But the opening up in recent years of large gardens near Walla Walla has greatly decreased the flow of water from the spring, so that it is entirely inadequate for our purposes. During the last few years, splendid artesian wells have been opened all about our college, at a depth of only six hundred feet; and as our need of water at the present time is so great, it has been decided by the Board of Managers, that the college should endeavor to secure such a well on its campus. Work is likely now under way, and it is greatly hoped that a good flow may be secured. The college and sanitarium have united in this enterprise, which will cost about $3,000, the college bearing two thirds and the sanitarium one third of the expense. GCB June 3, 1909, page 298.7
Courage and earnestness pervade the work in the North Pacific Union Conference, and the desire of every heart is that the work of the third angel’s message in the great Northwest may shine as a bright light not only to the population who are there at present, but to the thousands who are on their way to that opening and rapidly developing country. GCB June 3, 1909, page 298.8
The brethren having in charge the matter of the deputation to visit the President, submitted a list of 137 names who were to represent the Conference. GCB June 3, 1909, page 298.9
The secretary suggested that, in printing in full the resolutions of the Conference in the final BULLETIN, the Conference authorize him to re-number the resolutions and group them according to departments. It was voted that he be authorized to do so. GCB June 3, 1909, page 298.10
Meeting adjourned to call of the chair. GCB June 3, 1909, page 298.11
O. A. OLSEN, Chairman.
W. A. SPICER, Secretary.