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
MISSIONARY VOLUNTEER DEPARTMENT
First Meeting
At 4:30 Thursday afternoon a large company representing home and foreign fields gathered in the Foreign Mission Seminary chapel for the first meeting of the Missionary Volunteer Department. All joined in singing “Praise God, from whom all blessings flow.” GCB May 18, 1913, page 30.24
Prof. M. E. Kern, in his opening remarks, said: “We have felt in planning for our meetings that if we are going to teach our young people to be devoted and spiritual, we must be devoted and spiritual ourselves, and so as we come to these meetings let us come with the spirit of devotion. GCB May 18, 1913, page 30.25
The exercises of the hour were conducted by Elder Meade MacGuire. After reading from John 17, he spoke thus of the secret of success in our work: “As I think of the army of young men and women and children who are committed to our trust, and in whose interest we are giving our services, I feel profoundly that we must learn the lesson Jesus sets forth. He says, ‘For their sakes, I consecrate myself.’ Renouncing, first, all personal purposes and motives in life, he set himself apart, or placed himself upon the altar, ‘for their sakes,’ and I am certain that this will furnish the key-note to great success in our work if we will follow the Saviour’s example. When we as secretaries bear upon our hearts the children and young people whom God has especially privileged us to labor for, and say, from the very depths of our hearts, ‘For their sakes I lay my life on the altar,’ I am sure that God will then take the consecrated life of each secretary and use it marvelously for their sakes.. GCB May 18, 1913, page 30.26
During the few moments devoted to social meeting, all the union conference secretaries, some foreign workers, and others spoke, each expressing a desire for that degree of consecration which will mean equipment for successful service in soul-winning. The first meeting struck the key-note for all the department meetings to follow—a call to deeper consecration for service and greater efficiency in soul-winning. GCB May 18, 1913, page 31.1
PUBLISHING DEPARTMENT
Second Meeting
By request, Elder N. Z. Town acted as chairman of the second meeting of the Publishing Department, held Friday afternoon, May 16. The representatives present listened with interest to a paper by C. H. Jones, manager of the Pacific Press, on “The Place Our Publishing Houses Occupy in Giving the Message.” Briefly, Brother Jones phasized the important part that printing took in the great Reformation. So in the spread of the third angel’s message, literature pioneers the way. It is estimated that one third of those who have accepted present truth have done so directly as the result of reading. Attention was called to the part the printed page is taking in the opening up of such foreign fields as Japan, China, South America, and other sections. GCB May 18, 1913, page 31.2
The representatives present were interested to learn that the speaker acted as the pressman of the first power press owned by our publishing office, in 1863. On this press were printed two periodicals. Contrasting this with the thirty-seven publishing houses and branches today, and the large amount of literature printed in many languages, Brother Jones emphasized how wonderfully God has wrought in the providing of facilities for the rapid extension of the message. GCB May 18, 1913, page 31.3
He read from the Testimonies for the Church 7:138-140, to refresh the minds of the representatives present on the work God designs accomplished by the publishing houses and the organization which circulates the literature. Our publishing houses have been appointed by the Lord to do a specific work in carrying the gospel to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people in this generation. This large amount of work can only be done if these agencies are fully consecrated to God. The speaker expressed hope that the time is very near when every Seventh-day Adventist shall be a publisher, and every Seventh-day Adventist home a publishing house. GCB May 18, 1913, page 31.4
Elder J. N. Loughborough, who has been closely connected with our publishing work since 1852, gave some most interesting reminiscences of his early experiences. He told how happy the few believers were when they had raised $700, purchased their first printing equipment, and had gotten a few thousand copies of tracts on the Sabbath, the Sanctuary, and other subjects, printed. The work on these was all done by hand, and “bees” were held, in which the sisters and others would come in and help bind and fold and stitch by the slow peg-and-awl method. Elder Loughborough was the first to undertake the sale of these few pamphlets, in connection with his public meetings. They retailed for 35 cents. Dur-a two days’ meeting, $50 worth was sold. Thus the sale of our literature began. GCB May 18, 1913, page 31.5
MEDICAL DEPARTMENT
First Meeting
The Medical Department of the General Conference held its opening meeting at 4:30 P. M., Thursday. Dr. W. A. Ruble, chairman, called the meeting to order, and L. C. Christofferson, of Wichita, Kans, was elected secretary. GCB May 18, 1913, page 31.6
Dr. Ruble, in a few well-chosen remarks, called attention to the importance of medical workers being men of God. The business of medical workers is, first of all, the saving of souls, and without the Holy Spirit of God directing and controlling, this work cannot be done. Personal work must be done, and medical workers be medical missionaries in the truest sense of the term. There must be a spiritual awakening among our medical men. Dr. Ruble emphasized the necessity of having a medical secretary who can devote his entire time to this line of work. He called attention to the Loma Linda Medical College and its needs, and the duty of the denomination to support it and make it a success. He suggested the need of a periodical devoted entirely to the upbuilding of the medical work. GCB May 18, 1913, page 31.7
Dr. Green spoke along the same line, especially the need of having a medical secretary who shall have no other duties than those which naturally come to that office. GCB May 18, 1913, page 31.8
Elder G. B. Starr said that the temperance question is a live one, and that Seventh-day Adventists must take their stand in every State on the right side of this question when it comes up. GCB May 18, 1913, page 31.9
Action was taken requesting the chairman to appoint a committee of five on plans and resolutions, and a list was read of the different topics to be discussed in the meetings to follow. GCB May 18, 1913, page 31.10
MEDICAL DEPARTMENT
Second Meeting
At the Medical Department meeting Friday afternoon a paper was read by Elder Meade MacGuire, entitled, “Making Spiritual Matters of Supreme Importance in Our Medical Work.” The thoughts presented gave evidence that the writer had given much study and consideration to the subject. GCB May 18, 1913, page 31.11
Spiritual matters must be held supreme if Seventh-day Adventists fill the place God has assigned them. The medical profession in general have much that Seventh-day Adventists have in the art of healing, but we hold to and make supreme the one thought of soul-saving. Jesus Christ was the great Physician, and yet all that he did for the healing of the bodies of men was with the one purpose of ministering to their souls. GCB May 18, 1913, page 31.12
Dr. Miller said that a right attitude towards this question will settle the problem of keeping our nurses and other medical workers from leaving the message and becoming merely professional men and women. God is the great Healer, and when we recognize him as such and take him into account in the application of the natural agencies for healing, he will work with us for the sick, and a mighty work will be done by this people. GCB May 18, 1913, page 31.13