General Conference Bulletin, vol. 7

EDITORIAL BRIEFS

W. A. Spicer, C. P. Bollman, C. C. Crisler, T. E. Bowen, H. E. Rogers, J. N. Anderson

Sunday was an ideal day at the camp. After the heavy rains of Friday and the clouds that overhung the encampment Sabbath, the bright sunshine was most welcome. The grounds were thronged with visitors from surrounding towns and from the city of Washington. GCB May 26, 1913, page 144.11

Toward the close of the Sunday forenoon session, Elder Guy Dail, in the absence of Elder Perk, now in Manchuria, read a report of the great Siberian Union Mission, stretching from the borders of Europe and of the Caspian Sea on the west to the shores of the Pacific Ocean on the east. The report is published in full in this issue. Elder J. F. Ginter is the only representative of the Siberian Union present as a delegate at the Conference. GCB May 26, 1913, page 144.12

Elder A. A. Carscallen followed Brother Dail with a report of progress in British East Africa. He told of the struggles of those who undertook work among a people whose language had not been reduced to writing at the time he entered the field. Only a few years ago there was no portion of the Bible, no primer, no helps of any sort—not even a gospel hymn—in the Kavirondo language. Now three of the Gospels have already been printed—Mark, Luke, and John; and while en route to the Conference Elder Carscallen left with the British and Foreign Bible Society in London copy for the Gospel according to Matthew, and this will be printed soon. GCB May 26, 1913, page 144.13

Some time after entering British East Africa, our missionaries succeeded in translating into the Kavirondo one of the beautiful songs of Zion. This they used at all times,—at the opening of each meeting, and then following the prayer, and finally as the closing hymn. Today our workers and native believers in the Kavirondo district rejoice in having a neat little hymnal made up of seventy-nine choice selections, together with the Lord’s prayer and the ten commandments. When Elder Carscallen exhibited this little booklet, it reminded us of the first hymnal published by Seventh-day Adventists, in 1849, entitled, “Hymns for God’s Peculiar People.” GCB May 26, 1913, page 144.14

This report is worthy of illustration, and so for lack of space in this issue it is held over for publication later. GCB May 26, 1913, page 144.15

Elder Allen Moon’s report, also, will appear in a later issue. GCB May 26, 1913, page 144.16

R. C. Porter, of South Africa, spoke in the large pavilion at 2:30, on the subject, “Armageddon in Prophecy,” basing his remarks chiefly on Daniel 12:1; Revelation 16:12; Micah 4:1-7; Joel 2:1. We are living in a time when events are succeeding one another with wonderful rapidity. The great heathen nations are awaking; the world is talking peace, peace, and is preparing for war. GCB May 26, 1913, page 144.17

The speaker showed how all nations will be gathered to a place called in the Hebrew Armageddon, a place north of Jerusalem near Mount Megiddo, to settle the supremacy between the Orient and the Occident. History is today recording what the prophet nineteen hundred years ago said would take place. Elder Porter read statements from recent London newspapers giving utterances of British statesmen regarding the events in the Near East as tending toward Armageddon; how the nations of the East are awaking and arming themselves for the impending conflict. GCB May 26, 1913, page 144.18

This gospel message must first be preached to all the world, and the four angels are commissioned to hold the winds of strife a little longer, until the servants of God are sealed in their foreheads. “It is high time to awake out of sleep; for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.” GCB May 26, 1913, page 144.19

While the departmental meetings were in progress during the 4:30 hour Sunday afternoon, the main pavilion was filled with campers and visiting friends, who listened attentively to missionary talks by Elder L. V. Finster, of the Philippines, and Elder R. W. Munson, long a missionary in the East Indies and the Straits Settlements. A brief report of these talks will be given in our next number. GCB May 26, 1913, page 144.20

Ten days have passed since the opening meeting of the Conference. Much has been accomplished during this time. Many reports have been read. The most of these have already appeared in the BULLETIN. It is not to be supposed that our brethren and sisters will be able to read with care all these reports from day to day; but if the BULLETINS are preserved, these important summaries of the progress and present standing of the work in various lands, can be studied later more leisurely, and with much profit. Church officers, leaders of young people’s societies, and students of missions generally throughout our ranks, will find it to their advantage to keep a file of the BULLETIN as a help in the preparation of matter suitable for presentation before others in the months to come. GCB May 26, 1913, page 144.21

The various committees appointed early in the session are now hard at work. The business of the Conference is well under way. Already a few resolutions have been reported and acted upon. Thus far, the business proceedings have been characterized by a spirit of harmony and helpful cooperation. GCB May 26, 1913, page 144.22