Ellen G. White: The Australian Years: 1891-1900 (vol. 4)

The Conference Session in Stanmore

The officers of the New South Wales Conference did not see how they could hold a camp meeting in 1898, so it was planned that the annual conference session would be held in the Stanmore church, beginning Friday, July 22. Ellen White was present for the opening meeting and talked on faith, and Sabbath morning she spoke on what constituted health reform. Sunday morning her address was on education and the Avondale school (Manuscript 184, 1898). 4BIO 354.3

The conference president, W. L. H. Baker, asked to be released from his work so he could return to America to spend more time with his aging father. 4BIO 354.4

S. N. Haskell, the Bible instructor at Avondale, was called to the presidency of the New South Wales Conference. He and his wife sought Ellen White's counsel on that point. Several times within the past two years Ellen White had been given light in regard to his work, particularly in his connection with the school. 4BIO 354.5

Almost two weeks before, on July 11, she had written in her diary of being shown in vision workers moving from one place to another. In the representation she heard Elder Haskell say, “I know not whither I shall go or where I shall remain. I think I will go to America.” One stood before Haskell. He said, “Your work is in this country for the present. When you are called to another place, you will understand His [God's] voice.... When He calls you to America, you will know it.”—Ibid. Haskell accepted the conference presidency. 4BIO 354.6