General Conference Bulletin, vol. 1
DISTRICT NO. 2. — SUPERINTENDENT
R. M. KILGORE
THIS district embraces all the territory lying south of the Ohio, and east of the Mississippi, rivers, including the States of Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida, Georgia, and the two Carolinas. GCB February 19, 1895, page 240.3
CONFERENCES
There are two organized conferences in the district, — Tennessee River and Florida. The former conference embraces portions of Tennessee and Kentucky, has three ministers, two Bible-workers, nineteen canvassers, and eleven churches, with a membership of 324. There are twenty Sabbath-schools, and eleven working tract societies. The total book sales for the quarter ending Dec. 31, 1884, were $1017.60. The receipts for the year were: Tithes, $1787.79; donations for home and foreign work, $611.94. One general and one local camp-meeting were held the past season; two tents were operated, and several institutes were conducted. All these meetings were marked with good results. GCB February 19, 1895, page 240.4
The Florida Conference was organized in September of last year, with a membership of 139, six churches, three ordained ministers, two licentiates, and $2000 tithes. They now have seven churches, with 189 members; also five unorganized companies, two ministers, two licentiates, three Bible-workers, and six canvassers; and their tithes reported for the quarter ending Dec. 31, 1894, were $529.66. Their book sales for the same time were $747. Their first camp-meeting, held at Tampa last November, was attended by 200 camped on the ground, and was followed with good results. Seventeen were baptized. This conference has been admitted into this body. GCB February 19, 1895, page 240.5
THE MISSION FIELD
In this part of the district we have six active ministers, four licentiates, six Bible-workers, fifty-four regular canvassers, and sixteen devoting a portion of their time to the work. Fifteen churches have been organized, and there are eighteen unorganized companies, numbering in the aggregate 667 Sabbath-keepers. The tithes received during the last six months were over $2300. During the year the first-day and yearly offerings amounted to $367.69; 10,723 periodicals and 3,204,382 pages of tracts have been distributed; 4444 missionary letters have been written; and $21,812.61 worth of books and tracts have been sold. Tent-meetings were held in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, with good results at each place. Those laboring in Alabama, Louisiana, and Cumberland Mission Field, have used school-houses, halls, and private residences. GCB February 19, 1895, page 240.6
In all of these they were successful in winning some souls to Christ. Brother Dieffenbacher succeeded in building a meeting-house at Headland, Ala. A church of seventeen members was subsequently organized, and others are being added to it. At Montgomery, Ala., another church of eleven members has been organized, the result of the efforts of our canvassers. Thirty-eight persons have embraced the truth through the efforts of the canvassers alone, and among the number uniting with us during the past year, there are four ministers of prominence from other denominations, also some from other professions who have fully identified themselves with us. GCB February 19, 1895, page 240.7
In Louisiana the work has been somewhat interrupted by various circumstances. Elder Smith Sharp was assigned to this State by the General Conference, but did not arrive there till late in October last. He reports a hearty reception, and good cheer and encouragement thus far. GCB February 19, 1895, page 240.8
SUNDAY LAWS
The rigid Sunday laws in some of the States in this district have been enforced in several instances. Four of our brethren have been lodged in jail for following their usual vocations on Sunday; others were arrested and await trial; several cases are now before the grand jury, and they are looking for the officer to arrest them at any time, while they fearlessly pursue their Sunday toil as “aforetime.” The free and copious distribution of our literature in the States and counties where this action has been taken, has caused a change in public opinion. Our brethren in the South appreciate the liberal and timely aid sent them through the International Tract Society and Religious Liberty Association. The literature thus distributed is not lost labor. Some fruit is already seen, and those who have engaged in the work are quickened into new life and love for souls is increased. These efforts made against our people have been for the advancement of the cause of God in the South. GCB February 19, 1895, page 240.9
SCHOOLS
We have in the district three church schools and one academy. The Gainesville, Ga., high school has been abandoned, and a small church school is now conducted there. GCB February 19, 1895, page 240.10
The Graysville, Tenn., Academy has succeeded beyond expectations.
The enrollment at the close of the last year was 120, with five regular teachers employed. The demands of the school were such that better and necessary facilities should be provided to accommodate its growing patronage and according to the action of the last General Conference, as found on page 62 of the Year Book for 1893, the citizens of Graysville have erected a building 40 x 40, two stories, with a basement ten feet in the clear. It is located on a very beautiful campus of nearly ten acres. The title to this property, valued at $3000, is tendered to the General Conference Association, free from debt. Elder G. W. Colcord, who was sent there by the General Conference, has labored arduously in the interests of this school. He and his associates are enjoying their work, and are much encouraged with the prospects before them. They are willing to continue as in the past, or to act in harmony with the decisions of this body as to its future control and management. GCB February 19, 1895, page 241.1
THE COLORED PEOPLE
The work among this people has but fairly begun. During a portion of the past year Elder H. S. Shaw, having been requested by the General Conference to take charge of this work in the South, has labored in their interests, and will be able to speak to this body in its behalf. Brethren C. M. Kinney, A. Barry, J. A. Lewis, and Sister Anna Agee, are laboring in this field, and have succeeded in adding some very worthy persons to our numbers. Three churches have been organized the past year, and two companies are having regular meetings and Sabbath-school. GCB February 19, 1895, page 241.2
THE MISSIONARY BOAT
During the year 1894, Brethren J. E. White and W. O. Palmer, being burdened in behalf of the colored people of the South, have succeeded in building the missionary steamer “Morning Star,” at a cost of about $6,000, for a floating home for themselves, their families, and a few workers. The upper deck of this, covered with a canopy of canvas, affords an auditorium for about two hundred persons. From Allegan, Mich., where the boat was built, they have worked their way down to Vicksburg, Miss., where they are just entering upon their work in General Conference territory. At Memphis they succeeded in awaking quite an interest, and some good people were brought to Christ through their efforts. GCB February 19, 1895, page 241.3
The work for the colored people of the South should be carefully considered by this Conference. More workers should be supplied, and great care must be exercised as to the character and qualifications of those who are commissioned to enter this new mission field. GCB February 19, 1895, page 241.4