General Conference Bulletin, vol. 1

DISTRICT NUMBER SEVEN

W. C. WHITE

(This report reached us since the Conference closed. — ED.)

THAT portion of the General Conference territory known in the United States as District Number Seven, we, at the antipodes, prefer to designate as the Australasian Union Conference. In this vast territory of more than three millions of square miles, having a total population of upwards of four millions of people, there are, at present, but two conferences, known respectively as the New Zealand Conference, and the Australian Conference. These were united, during the visit of Elder Olsen, at the beginning of 1894, in forming the Australasian Union Conference, which meets once in two years, for the consideration of questions of mutual interest, and for the election of an executive committee to advise in general missionary operations, and to manage the institutions and enterprises which both annual conferences unite in constituting, and sustaining. GCB April 1895, page 512.5

New Zealand. — This colony is about the size of Colorado. It has 104,471 square miles of territory and a population of 634,058. Its larger towns and densest population are along the coast. The proclamation of the Third Angel’s Message has been mostly confined to the coast towns till the last two years. There are eight churches in the New Zealand Conference. Five of these are in coast towns, and three are inland. Five of these churches worship in meeting-houses of their own. GCB April 1895, page 512.6

Seventy-six names have been added to the Conference during the year, making a membership of three hundred and twenty-six. These have paid $3,034.54 tithes, and have contributed $242.83 for the support of missions. Only two ministers have been in the field during the year, one licentiate acting as a local preacher without remuneration, and one colporter evangelist. Most of the time nine canvassers have been in the field, and they have sold $5,338.54 worth of books. GCB April 1895, page 512.7

New Zealand is a most interesting field for all classes of laborers. The people outside of the large towns are generally kind and hospitable; and to a considerable degree independent in thought, and courageous in action. But New Zealand is a field that is expensive, and hard to work, because of a wide separation of its populous portions. Therefore it will always call for men of strong physique, and of dauntless energy. GCB April 1895, page 512.8

During the year just passed more attention than formerly has been given to colporter work in Wellington, and among the many ships of all classes which visit that port. The results of this effort are quite encouraging. Another line of work which has received special attention is correspondence with those who have purchased books, or whose names were gathered by canvassers or others, and sent to the secretary of the Tract Society. It appears that there is no kind of labor which is more needed, or which brings such large results for the effort put forth, as wise and timely correspondence with these isolated persons seeking for truth. GCB April 1895, page 512.9

In New Zealand there is a wide field of usefulness for men who, while supporting themselves as hawkers, canvassers, or tradesmen, will penetrate into the interior, and scatter the precious seeds of truth, by means of short conversations, by the distribution of papers and tracts, and by gathering addresses of persons to whom our corresponding secretaries may send literature, and letters. Especially effective are such labors among those who enjoy but few religious privileges. GCB April 1895, page 513.1

Australia. — The Conference bearing this name is supposed to include all the Australian continent, with its 3,030,771 square miles of territory, and its 3,112,500 people; and in addition to this Tasmania, having 26,215 miles of territory, and 152,619 in population. In this immense territory there have been ten ministers. Three were engaged in teaching and editorial work, and seven in laboring among the churches, or carrying the message to new fields. These have been assisted a portion of the year, by one licentiate, and three Bible workers. The nine churches of the conference are located in four colonies. One in South Australia, two in Tasmania, four in Victoria, and four in New South Wales. The size of the territory of this conference, and the location of its churches, may be illustrated by supposing you had a conference including all the United States west of the Mississippi River, and that there was one church at Los Angeles, three near Oakland, one in Sacramento, four in Southern Oregon, and two in the Faralone Islands. The natural difficulty, and unavoidable expense of managing such a conference can be seen without argument. GCB April 1895, page 513.2

The membership of the conference has increased by ninety-six during the year, and now numbers seven hundred and fifty-eight. The tithes for the year amounted to $6,275.56, and the contributions to missions $415.89. There are forty-one canvassers in the field, who have sold publications to the value of $23,392.57. GCB April 1895, page 513.3

A most excellent influence has followed the conscientious and earnest labors of many of the canvassers. Here and there, all over the field, persons are inquiring after, and embracing, the message. And several small companies have been brought out as the result of a few weeks of labor, in visiting, holding Bible readings, organizing prayer and social meetings, and Sabbath-schools, by the State Agent, or an experienced colporter, or minister sent by the conference, in response to the call of the canvasser who began the work. It was in this way that a small company was brought out of Muswellbrook, N. S. W., and a very earnest and active company in Broken Hill, Australia’s greatest mining town, which lies five hundred miles north of Adelaide. The work in Rockhampton, Queensland, was begun in the same way, also. With more laborers and the means to support them, we believe that there might be such an enlargement of the work in Australia, as would call for its division into two or three conferences, each of which would soon grow to a membership larger than we now have on the whole continent. GCB April 1895, page 513.4