General Conference Bulletin, vol. 5
Canadian Union Conference
W. H. THURSTON
REPORT BY THE PRESIDENT, W. H. THURSTON
The organization of the Canadian Union Conference was effected Jan. 1, 1902. It embraces the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland, and has an area of 662-350 square miles, with a population of 5,000,000. GCB April 2, 1903, page 45.11
The first of last June the provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island were organized under the name of the Maritime Conference. We now have three organized conferences and one mission field,—Newfoundland.—in the Union Conference, which embraces 38 churches, seven companies, 1,162 Sabbath-keepers, 49 Sabbath-schools, and five church-schools. There are 19 church buildings, and six others under construction. GCB April 2, 1903, page 45.12
Our ministerial force is not very strong numerically, numbering only 13 ministers, seven licentiates, and seven holding missionary credentials. Adding to this 15 canvassers makes the total number of workers 43, only 25 of whom are on the pay-roll. Of these 25 workers, five are supported by outside conferences and one by the Mission Board. GCB April 2, 1903, page 45.13
The amount of book sales, at the wholesale price, including sales made to the Manitoba Tract Society, was $5,492.90, or about $11,000 retail value. In addition to this, there have been something over 1,000 copies of “Christ’s Object Lessons” sold by the churches. GCB April 2, 1903, page 45.14
The Review and Herald Publishing Company and the Mission Board, sharing equally, made a generous donation to the Canadian Union Conference of $6,387.52 worth of stock, mostly books, thus transferring to the Union the Toronto branch of the Review and Herald office. This gift was very much appreciated. We are endeavoring to make good use of it. GCB April 2, 1903, page 45.15
The appropriation to this field made by the Mission Board for the year 1902, for general evangelistic work, was $3,380; but $280 of this amount had been previously expended, and the appropriation was made to include this. GCB April 2, 1903, page 45.16
Not having statistics of previous years, I am not able to make comparisons, but by what I have been able to learn, I find quite an increase in tithes, offerings, and book sales over the year 1901. This certainly is as it should be, and it is our intention, as well as desire, to see a greater increase this year in all lines of work than we have seen in the past. GCB April 2, 1903, page 45.17
We had ten tents in the field during the tent season, and while there were only about 65 who embraced the truth, many were interested, and are still investigating. The work is being followed up, with a prospect of more fruit. GCB April 2, 1903, page 45.18
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
| Tithe, year end. Dec. 31, 1902 | $7,891 34 |
| Annual offer. to foreign mis | 655 64 |
| Wkly offerings to foreign mis | 229 59 |
| Misc. offer. to foreign mis | 140 29 |
| S. S. offerings to foreign mis | 363 48 |
| S. S. offerings, home work | 343 28 |
| Total receipts, including tithes and offerings | $9,623 72 |
| Amount of offerings sent to foreign missions | $1,389 10 |
NEEDS OF THE FIELD
One great need realized by nearly all is a place or places in the Canadian field where Canadians can be trained for service. Our young people go to Battle Creek and other places for training; very few, however, ever come back. Experience has demonstrated the advisability of training workers in their own field, and, in response to the demand, we have taken steps to start two industrial schools and one sanitarium. The industrial schools are being started in the Ontario and Maritime Conferences, and the sanitarium in the Quebec Conference. The properties have been purchased, and we hope to open the sanitarium the first of June and the schools the first of September. GCB April 2, 1903, page 46.1
Last June we opened a health institute in St. Johns, Newfoundland, with Dr. A. E. Lemon and wife (she being also a physician) in charge. It has been self-supporting almost from the first. It is now being made a training-school for gospel workers. GCB April 2, 1903, page 46.2
Another recognized need in the Canadian field is workers who will come to stay. Some have entered that field, and, after laboring a few months, want to go “home,” as they call it, while some are there to stay until called elsewhere. A few more “stand-by” workers are needed, and then, with the facilities which are being provided, we hope to be able to train workers to supply every demand. GCB April 2, 1903, page 46.3
ADVANTAGES OF THE UNION
The results of the organization of the Union Conference are apparent in different ways:— GCB April 2, 1903, page 46.4
1. It unifies the work throughout the entire field, and strengthens every part, for “in union there is strength.” GCB April 2, 1903, page 46.5
2. The local conferences are brought into closer touch with each other, and manifest a deeper interest in each other’s welfare. GCB April 2, 1903, page 46.6
3. The people feel much encouraged, and while they do not desire to complain of the past, they do feel that something definite is now being done for the Canadian field. GCB April 2, 1903, page 46.7
Our policy is to have all branches, departments, and institutions under the direction and management of the conference, and we aim to provide workers for each department, making a specialty of evangelistic canvassing, providing provincial agents, as well as a general agent, to lead out in this work. GCB April 2, 1903, page 46.8
We are endeavoring to combine the gospel work, medical missionary work, canvassing work, and Bible work, blending all in one, and enthusing all the people with the importance of giving the “Advent message to the world in this generation.” GCB April 2, 1903, page 46.9