General Conference Bulletin, vol. 4
BIENNIAL REPORT OF GENERAL CONFERENCE DISTRICT 7
DISTRICT 7 may be better known as the Australasian Union Conference. Its territory includes Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand. The territorial area is about the same as that of either the United States or the continent of Europe. GCB April 9, 1901, page 164.1
Australia is separated, politically, into five great Colonies or States. These, with the Colonies of Tasmania and New Zealand, form what are known as the Seven Colonies of Australasia. GCB April 9, 1901, page 164.2
This district contains five Conferences and two missionary fields. The reports for Dec. 31, 1900, show that there were then 45 churches, 2,343 Sabbath-keepers, 13 ordained ministers, 15 licensed preachers, 21 Bible workers, and 89 canvassers. There were two printing plants, employing about one hundred hands; four sanitariums, and three bath-houses, employing about fifty persons; one food factory, and one central school, with an enrollment of 160 students for the year 1900. The tithe paid during the last two years is $51,681.52, an increase over the two preceding years of $16,232.12. The subscription book sales during the last two years amount to $147,191.50, while the value of trade books and helps sold was $18,190.50, making a total of $165,382.50. GCB April 9, 1901, page 164.3
VICTORIA
It was in this Colony that the third angel’s message was first proclaimed in Australasia. From here it has been carried to, and firmly planted in, every Colony of the group. The population of this Colony is about the same as that of California—a million and a quarter. Among these people we have 8 churches, 500 Sabbath-keepers, 3 ordained ministers, 7 licensed preachers, 3 Bible workers, and 20 canvassers. One of the ministers acts as editor of the Bible Echo, and four of those holding licenses to preach are engaged in other work. So that the staff of regular Conference workers is very small. Two ministers, 3 young licentiates, and 3 Bible workers must carry on the work that pertains to an organized Conference, and extend the work into new territory. The Echo Publishing House, which is located in this Colony, is a great blessing to the Conference in the help a number of the most intelligent and consecrated hands render to the Melbourne churches, and also the tithes they pay into the treasury. GCB April 9, 1901, page 164.4
NEW ZEALAND
This Colony lies about one thousand miles east of Australia. It is a thousand miles in length, but quite narrow. This gives a great coastline, and makes the field very difficult to work. The population of the Colony is nearly a million. The New Zealand Conference was the second one organized in Australasia. It has 14 churches, 497 members, 1 minister, 2 licentiates, 2 Bible workers, and 16 canvassers. During the last two years this Conference has paid tithes amounting to $13,169.13, being $26.49 a member. A good sanitarium has been established in this Conference during the last year. The institution is owned by the Conference, and is under the superintendence of Dr. F. E. Braucht. GCB April 9, 1901, page 164.5
This Conference is in great need of good ministerial help; at present there are but three preachers and two Bible workers to do the regular work of the Conference, and push on into new fields. GCB April 9, 1901, page 164.6
NEW SOUTH WALES
This Colony lies north of Victoria, along the eastern coast of Australia. Its population is nearly a million and a half. Sydney is the capital. This is the terminal port of nearly all the great steamship lines connecting Australia with all the countries of the world. This Conference was the third organized in the district. It is now the largest, and in some respects the most important. It has 10 churches, 592 Sabbath-keepers, 3 ministers, 10 Bible workers, and 26 canvassers. The amount of tithe paid during the biennial period was $11,601.46. This is $19.42 a member. There are scores of beautiful towns scattered over the Conference, in which the message has never been preached. The three ministers of the Conference are doing what they can to reach the people who are in darkness, but they need more workers. The Avondale school, a health food factory, and three sanitariums are located in this Conference, as are also the offices of the Union Conference. GCB April 9, 1901, page 164.7
QUEENSLAND
This Conference has been organized a year and a half. It has 6 churches, 270 members, 2 ministers, 3 licentiates, and 6 canvassers. Tithes paid since last general Conference, $4,842.71, an average of $18.93 a member. Two bath-houses have been opened in this Conference within a year. The population of the Colony is about half a million. But little work has been done here so far. All the laborers of this Conference are persons who have accepted the truth is Australasia, and have been trained for the work in that country. They plead for more laborers. GCB April 9, 1901, page 164.8
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
This Colony lies west of Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland. Its capital is 500 miles west of Melbourne, and more than a thousand miles from Sydney. The Conference was organized a little more than a year ago, with a small membership; but the providence of God seemed to call for it, and the first year’s operations have justified the step. There are 211 members, 2 ministers, 1 licentiate, 3 Bible workers, and 8 canvassers. Tithes paid during the year, $2,254.05. The receipts have more than covered the expenses. The entire working force of the Conference, with the exception of one Bible worker, is composed of brethren and sisters who have accepted the truth in Australia. A well-equipped bath institution has been in successful operation in Adelaide, the capital of the Colony, for nearly two years. Here, as in other Colonies, more workers are needed. GCB April 9, 1901, page 165.1
TASMANIA
When the last reports left Australia, a Conference had not yet been organized in Tasmania, but there was some expectation that this would be done at the camp meeting to be held during the later part of February. The last reports show that there were 189 members, 2 ministers, 1 Bible worker, and 5 canvassers. Tithes paid during the last year, $1,271.05. The work has been self-supporting during the last year, and about $400 has been raised for the purchase of tents. Tasmania is an island having an area of 24,330 square miles, and a population of nearly 200,000. With the economical, yet progressive, management of the last year a prosperous Conference can soon be developed there. GCB April 9, 1901, page 165.2
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
The Colony occupies the western part of Australia, its western shores being washed by the warm, placid waters of the Indian Ocean. Until within five or six years this Colony has hardly been known to the world. But the discovery of the famous Kalgoorlie gold-fields has brought to the Colony more than a hundred thousand persons within a few years. The present population is about 171,000, and it is growing. This has proved to be the most difficult Colony in Australia for the development of our work. But we have held on until the cause has been firmly established there. Reports for the year ending Dec 31, 1900, state that there were 111 Sabbath-keepers, 1 minister, 1 licentiate, 3 Bible workers, and 5 canvassers. The tithes paid during the last two years amount to $2,383.62, being $21.47 a member. Because of a lack of means, earnest efforts are being made to make the mission self-supporting. By retrenching to a considerable extent, the receipts now nearly cover expenses. But help should be sent to the field, that the work may be speedily pushed to a point where it will be self-supporting. GCB April 9, 1901, page 165.3