General Conference Bulletin, vol. 7
Departmental Meetings
W. A. Spicer, C. P. Bollman, C. C. Crisler, T. E. Bowen, H. E. Rogers, J. N. Anderson
SABBATH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
Fifth Meeting
Those attending this meeting were afforded a rare pleasure in hearing Elder J. N. Loughborough relate his experiences in connection with the early history of the Sabbath-school work. He said:— GCB May 23, 1913, page 117.11
“In the beginning, the people did not believe in organization, and of course no one believed in having an organized Sabbath-school. This work was started at first on a very small scale. The first school of which I was a member was started in Battle Creek, Mich. There were only a few families there. Brother M. G. Kellogg got together seven little boys belonging to these families, and a little while before the church service he taught these boys from Sabbath to Sabbath. Even at that small effort some of the older ones shook their heads, and said that Brother Kellogg must be careful or he would be bringing in some of Babylon. One day Sister White stated that it had been revealed to her that we must have Sabbath-schools for the children, and the older ones must help. The parents were urged to teach their children short verses to repeat in the Sabbath-school. GCB May 23, 1913, page 117.12
“The Lord has developed this work step by step, and it has indeed grown very rapidly. If the present work for the children had dropped down on us in the early days, we would have thought the loud cry had surely come.” GCB May 23, 1913, page 117.13
“Personal Work” was the topic for the day. G. B. Thompson presented a strong paper, setting forth impressively the need of this work being carried on in every school. This paper will be published in an early number of the Sabbath School Worker. GCB May 23, 1913, page 117.14
Mrs. E. E. Prescott, of Buffalo, N. Y., emphasized in an impressive way the need of personal work. A gentleman, admiring a fine flock of sheep, asked the owner the secret of his success in raising them. The significant answer was, “I take care of the lambs.” How shall we answer the Master when he puts the question, “Where is the flock that was given thee, thy beautiful flock?” Constant watchcare is needed over the lambs that have been gathered into the fold, that they stray not away. They should be encouraged, strengthened, established, and fitted for a place in God’s work. GCB May 23, 1913, page 117.15
Mrs. Plummer spoke of the need of each worker consecrating himself to the Lord fully and completely if he would work successfully for others. We must ourselves be what we ask our pupils to become. It is the consciousness that self is not right, that hinders many from doing personal work for others. GCB May 23, 1913, page 117.16
C. H. Wilkinson, of Brooklyn, N. Y.: The consecration services we have held in our school have been of the greatest value. We usually appoint them two weeks ahead, so as to have time for preparation. Upon one occasion I gave the teachers opportunity to plead personally with their pupils to give their hearts to the Lord. They did so, and the Spirit of God touched their hearts, and souls were converted. GCB May 23, 1913, page 117.17
Mrs. J. F. Moser, of Takoma Park: Let us welcome the rainy days when we have only one scholar present. Do not unite with another class, but make that a precious occasion, when you may labor especially for that one. GCB May 23, 1913, page 117.18
PUBLISHING DEPARTMENT
Sixth Meeting
In the sixth meeting of the Publishing Department, Elder I. H. Evans, after giving an interesting account of the rise and progress of the publishing work in the Asiatic Division, made a strong plea for at least six men with whom to man their different fields. He told how the Lord had blessed them in starting literature work in China, Korea, and Japan, and that the Chinese magazine had now reached a circulation of sixty-four thousand copies a month. The possibility of training the rank and file of the believers there to sell our paper is practically unlimited. The publication of books has commenced. The circulation of the Chinese paper has had to be restricted to certain provinces, so that the interests may be followed up by evangelists. GCB May 23, 1913, page 118.1
Elder S. N. Haskell, who in his talk brought out the fact that he organized the first tract society work ever carried on in the denomination, gave a number of early experiences of great interest. He referred to the fact that it was through reading “Elihu on the Sabbath” that he himself had become interested in the truth. He stated his firm belief that the time has come for the rank and file of our people to sow the seeds of truth with our literature, calling special attention to the promise given in the last paragraph of page 612, “Great Controversy.” GCB May 23, 1913, page 118.2
Seventh Meeting
The needs of the work among the millions of India were set before the publishing men by Prof. J. L. Shaw. With 147 distinct languages, in some instances twenty-three languages being spoken by over a million each, with the great Mohammedan religion embracing sixty-six million of people, India presents problems that seem overwhelming. However, with God’s help, a beginning has been made, and more than 20,000 copies of our seven periodicals in six different languages are now going out from our press in India. One of these in the Urdu is for circulation among Mohammedans. The successful sale of our literature by the natives is being established, and depending upon the Lord’s help we see brighter days ahead. Brother Shaw made an earnest plea for at least two workers to take up the English work, and for help to lead out in the circulation of the magazines. GCB May 23, 1913, page 118.3
Elder Town read an excellent paper sent to the conference by C. E. Weaks, who three years ago entered India, and took charge of the literature work in the field. He gave a report of one native worker who in Eastern Bengal and Assam during the last six months has put in sixty-two hours, and has been blessed in his work with literature. He also referred to the growth of the circulation of the various periodicals, and expressed the belief that the Lord is going to help in the accomplishment of great things in our literature work in India. GCB May 23, 1913, page 118.4
In the discussion of the need of men for foreign fields every general bookman present pledged his hearty support to the furnishing of men. Seventeen expressed a personal burden to take up work in foreign fields as opportunity and training will allow. GCB May 23, 1913, page 118.5
By unanimous vote a resolution was adopted which tends toward the continuing of the policy of furnishing leaders from this country for book work in foreign lands. Another resolution suggesting that we request our publishing houses to furnish tracts at prices which will enable them to be sold by city workers, was also introduced and adopted. GCB May 23, 1913, page 118.6
MEDICAL DEPARTMENT
Sixth Meeting
ELDER W. B. WHITE offered prayer. Thirty minutes was given to a discussion of the subject of the previous meeting. Dr. Fattebert, of Mexico, said that the Mexican people are different from most any other people in the world in some respects, but they need the gospel, and nothing else will save them. Their salvation is the true object of medical missionary work among them. Many in Mexico are extremely poor, and a large investment in sanitarium buildings would not pay financially. Dispensary work could be nicely adapted to the needs of that field. Medical missionaries even with meager facilities have an advantage over other physicians, for they have the mighty God with them. GCB May 23, 1913, page 118.7
Dr. Wolfsen said that the question of the support of medical missionaries in the field has received considerable study at the Hinsdale Sanitarium. Our great dependence is in the Lord. It is his work, and when his servants are laboring in unfavorable surroundings, where it seems that means of support can not be secured, he will provide. GCB May 23, 1913, page 118.8
Dr. Menkel was of the opinion that while much can be done in foreign fields with meager facilities, yet much more could be accomplished with good equipment. GCB May 23, 1913, page 118.9
L. A. Hansen said that one whose heart is set on doing good can with the most simple outfit do much in the way of rational treatment for the relief of sickness and suffering. GCB May 23, 1913, page 118.10
W. B. White read a paper entitled, “What Shall We Do With Our Graduate Nurses?” A good many nurses are graduated every year from our sanitariums, and it is a vital question what to do with them, that they may become indeed a part of the work of God in these last days. Some are quite spiritual, and some not so much so. Some are apparently altogether professional, and seemingly have no thought but to make a success from the standpoint of money. But they are all susceptible to counsel, and an effort should be made to convert them to the one great purpose of winning souls for the kingdom of God. GCB May 23, 1913, page 118.11
The conferences should take a deep interest in our graduate nurses, and endeavor to use them in conference work. Some might be employed to visit and instruct our own people, to teach, advise, and help them. Some might be encouraged by the conferences to operate treatment-rooms. Some should have special training, and be sent to foreign fields. A number might be employed in city work in connection with tent or hall work, and a still larger number might be sent out into the large cities under conference direction to engage in charitable and benevolent work. GCB May 23, 1913, page 118.12
PHOTO-General Conference building and Review office
THE EVENING SERVICE
May 21, 7:30 P. M.
Elder E. J. Hibbard as the speaker of the evening. He took for his theme “The Idea of Worship in Connection With the Third Angel’s Message.” He first brought out the thought of two opposing forms of worship enjoined by two opposing powers, under fearful penalties. See Revelation, chapters 13, 14. GCB May 23, 1913, page 120.1
All false worship of every form and nature is of Satan, and in honor of him. This is seen in the attempt of Satan to bring Jesus to bow down and worship him. The attitude of Satan on this occasion is typical of his continual claim to worship and obedience. All worship demanded of human beings by Satan leads not only away from God, but compels open and flagrant violation of God’s commands. Witness the apostasy in the time of Elijah and Israel’s sin in the matter of Baal Peor. Thus in the last analysis Israel turned away from all of God’s commands, and so went into captivity to Babylon. See 2 Kings 17:7, 8, 16, 17; Jeremiah, chapters 5, 6, 7. Israel was diligent in all their ritual, but in the matter of holy living they had no part. GCB May 23, 1913, page 120.2
Following the captivity, the Jews stood aloof from the heathen, but this led to formalism, and tradition was put in the place of God’s Word. Instead of submitting to the righteousness of God, they sought to establish their own righteousness. Self-righteousness is the basis of all heathenism, and in all the experiences of Israel, which were the substance of the old covenant, there was nothing of grace, but merely the purpose of God to show their utter helplessness to save themselves. The whole ritual service was to point out the grace of God made real in Christ; but Israel perverted even this, and it was taken to be a means of salvation. GCB May 23, 1913, page 120.3
How different is God’s free salvation by grace through faith! All that God requires is the humble, glad surrender of our souls to his care. GCB May 23, 1913, page 120.4
Again, this same great delusion of self-righteousness became seated in the Christian church, so called, and reached its culmination in the time of the Reformation. And this is the test in our day—the receiving of Christ’s full, divine grace, ministered by the Spirit on the condition of faith. Our one only plea is the all-sufficient offering of Christ, apart from all claim to merit. Thus it was in the case of Paul, and in the case of Luther, and the Wesleys. Thus, and thus only, shall the full salvation of our God come to us—even to us who are by nature so hopeless and wretched. May God make it so in the case of all of us. GCB May 23, 1913, page 120.5
ORDER OF SABBATH SERVICES
The General Conference Sabbath-school will meet in sections at nine o’clock Sabbath morning, as usual. This will be followed by preaching service forenoon and afternoon. GCB May 23, 1913, page 120.6
CHILDREN’S MEETINGS
Children’s meetings are held each day on the camp ground. Mrs. H. W. Carr, of New York, has general charge. The attendance of children has been so large that it has been necessary to separate them into two groups. Mrs. E. C. Boger, of British Guiana, has supervision of the intermediate division, and Miss Gertrude Sims, of Vermont, the primary. The attendance in each division is about one hundred. The interest from the beginning has been excellent. GCB May 23, 1913, page 120.7
A CORRECTION
FOR “two thousand five hundred,” given on page 97 of the BULLETIN as the weekly circulation of Present Truth, read “twenty-five thousand.” GCB May 23, 1913, page 120.8
PHOTO-THE WHITE HOUSE, THE PRESIDENT’S RESIDENCE