Departmental Meetings. PUBLISHING DEPARTMENT GCB May 16, 1913, page 10

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

First Meeting GCB May 16, 1913, page 10

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Surrounded by a very neat display of our publications from the Review and Herald, Pacific Press, Southern Publishing Association, Australia and Great Britain, Hamburg, Germany, China and Japan, Latin Union, Mexico and South America, Scandinavia, Finland, together with charts showing the remarkable growth of our publishing work during the past four years, representatives of this department met for the first meeting at 4:30 P. M., Thursday, May 15. N. Z. Town, secretary of the Publishing Department, extended a hearty welcome to all present. GCB May 16, 1913, page 10.13

In referring to some of the encouraging features of the publishing work, Elder Town read a brief report of the first meeting of its representatives held at Battle Creek, Mich., twenty-three years ago. At that time nothing at all had been done in the book work outside of the United States. He also gave a report published in 1890, of six agents who had gone to England, and who in one hundred forty hours sold $17.22 worth of books. From this beginning the work in that and other countries has developed into the system of colporteur work which is now going on to certain success. Brother Town stated that sixty men and their wives have been sent to foreign fields to connect with the Publishing Department during the past four years. GCB May 16, 1913, page 10.14

The meeting was thrown open, and Brethren C. H. Jones, E. R. Palmer, M. L. Andreason, W. C. Sisley, managers of our leading publishing houses, spoke. All these men have had long experience with our publishing work, and expressed their confidence in its continued growth, and assured the representatives present of their earnest prayers for the work in the world-wide field. GCB May 16, 1913, page 10.15

By vote, Brother C. H. Jones was appointed chairman for the daily meetings throughout the session; and J. R. Ferren, secretary. It was also voted that the secretary of the Publishing Department should appoint a committee on plans, consisting of seven, of which he shall be a member. GCB May 16, 1913, page 10.16

Reports from other departmental meetings did not reach us in time for publication in this issue. It is hoped that a brief summary of the discussions of the various council-meetings may be given our readers from day to day. These departmental meetings are a very important feature of the Conference, and they should be faithfully reported. GCB May 16, 1913, page 10.17

Report of Work Conducted by Seventh-day Adventists in Non-Christian and Non-Protestant Countries GCB May 16, 1913, page 11

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Compiled by H. E. Rogers, Statistical Secretary, Washington, D. C.

This is the second report dealing specifically with the work conducted by this denomination in non-Christian and non-Protestant countries. This report shows that the denomination is carrying forward work in sixty-eight countries of the classes designated, supporting laborers in these lands who speak eighty-four languages and dialects, and issuing publications in sixty-eight languages for circulatioon in those countries. The total number of foreign missionaries is 599, and of native helpers, 882, a total force of 1,481. There are 170 main stations, and 199 sub-stations; 507 churches, with 18,287 adherents; sixteen training schools, with an enrolment of 706; 63 head schools, and 135 out-schools, with an enrolment of 7,924; total foreign teachers 68; native teachers, 261. GCB May 16, 1913, page 11.1

The income from the mission field during 1912 was $161,650.38, to which was added from the home base, $444,428.23. GCB May 16, 1913, page 11.2

Some of the items in this report can not be compared with those in the annual statistical report, since the scope and field covered by the two reports are different. GCB May 16, 1913, page 11.3

Language Employed Orally in Non-Christian and Non-Protestant Countries GCB May 16, 1913, page 11

No Authorcode

Languages used in work in Christian lands, in addition to foregoing GCB May 16, 1913, page 11

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Languages in Which Publications are Issued GCB May 16, 1913, page 11

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The following are issued in Christian lands, in addition to foregoing GCB May 16, 1913, page 11

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Notes on Table 1:

a Columns 7 to 14 give the number of “foreign” missionaries; that is, workers sent from the home base into mission territory. GCB May 16, 1913, page 11.4

b In column 18 is given the total of foreign workers and native helpers. This total includes the foreign teachers indicated in column 31, and the number of native teachers given In column 32. GCB May 16, 1913, page 11.5

c Duplicate languages are eliminated, so that the grand total gives the correct number. For a list of languages in which work is conducted orally and also publications issued, see elsewhere in this report. GCB May 16, 1913, page 11.6

Summary 1 - Area, Population, Workers, and Percentages, by Divisions GCB May 16, 1913, page 11

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(a) Including work for natives and aborigines in New Zealand and Australia. GCB May 16, 1913, page 11.7

(b) Including only work in Christianized portions.

Report of Work Conducted by Seventh-day Adventists GCB May 16, 1913, page 11

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in Non-Christian and Non-Protestant Countries—1912 (Table 1) GCB May 16, 1913, page 11

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in Non-Christian and Non-Protestant Countries—(Table 1 Cont’d) GCB May 16, 1913, page 11

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EDITORIAL BRIEFS GCB May 16, 1913, page 16

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As this first issue of the BULLETIN goes to press, the opening day of the thirty-eight session of the General Conference closes. It has been a good day—a day of inspiration and blessing, of encouragement and good cheer. GCB May 16, 1913, page 16.1

The general spirit of many in attendance seems to be one of personal consecration, of deep heart-searching, and of an intense eagerness to learn that which will be of profit in soul-winning service. This is as it should be. Pleasant as are the associations, the renewed friendships, and the long-planned-for reunions at such large gatherings, there is much to be gained by subordinating the social to the spiritual. To those who seek first the kingdom of God, will come the purest and most abiding joy in Christian fellowship. GCB May 16, 1913, page 16.2

As during the opening meeting some of the pioneers in the message testified of their confidence in God’s leadership and of their joy over multiplying evidences of progress, many hearts were touched. The Spirit of God was present in melting, subduing power. One delegate who for more than a decade has been isolated in far away heathen lands, was overheard remarking that he could scarcely refrain from weeping aloud with joy because of the privilege he had of hearing once more the voices of these tried servants of God. Strong is the love that binds together the hearts of the workers; great is their joy as they assure one another of their conviction that the end of all things is near at hand, and that soon they shall see their returning Lord. GCB May 16, 1913, page 16.3

We are indebted to H. E. Rogers, B. P. Foote, H. Mayer, Miss Mertie Wheeler, and E. F. Albertsworth for our excellent verbatim reports of Conference proceedings. Our force is large enough so that by having one report for fifteen minutes and then write out what has been taken while another takes the report, the entire proceedings are ready for the printers almost as soon as the meeting adjourns. GCB May 16, 1913, page 16.4

The reception committee reported at noon Thursday 612 family tents pitched; about twenty-one hundred people located in tents; three hundred in rooms off the grounds and a hundred or more in buildings on the grounds, making a total of twenty-five hundred visitors. There are about six hundred Sabbath-keepers in and around Washington; thus making to date practically thirty-one hundred people in attendance at the conference. Still others will be in later. GCB May 16, 1913, page 16.5

We shall give BULLETIN readers a few views of the camp and of groups of workers from the fields abroad. It has been arranged for Brother E. R. Button to take these photographs for the benefit of those not with us. GCB May 16, 1913, page 16.6

Takoma Park always looked good to us but was never prettier than now. Our second page picture gives a general view of the Seminary grounds and a portion of the camp. GCB May 16, 1913, page 16.7

It has been arranged for the Bible workers to hold a meeting for conference study at the time of the department meetings. GCB May 16, 1913, page 16.8

A NOTICEABLE feature of our quadrennial meetings is the whitening hairs of all our older brethren. But each Conference brings us four years nearer the glorious consummation of our hope, the coming of our Lord in the clouds of heaven to reap the harvest of the earth and to crown with eternal life his faithful people. GCB May 16, 1913, page 16.9

A REQUEST GCB May 16, 1913, page 16

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Any news item concerning the General Conference session seen in any newspaper will be appreciated if sent to Press Bureau, care of General Conference, Takoma Park, D. C. GCB May 16, 1913, page 16.10

FULFILLING PROPHECY GCB May 16, 1913, page 16

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The general reports of the president and the secretary appearing in this issue, reveal a marvelous development of the cause of present truth in fields abroad. Only a few short years, comparatively, have passed since the first worker was sent from the shores of America to proclaim the third angel’s message in other lands; yet now we are told by the brethren that the number of evangelical laborers in other lands exceeds the number in the home field. In this rapid extension of the cause of God into lands across the seas, our brethren in North America greatly rejoice. GCB May 16, 1913, page 16.11

Even at the time of beginnings in mission work, the brethren rejoiced over what they could see developing. Shortly after our first missionary to Europe, Elder J. N. Andrews, reached Switzerland, he testified of his strong faith in God’s power to cause the light of present truth to shine upon every nation, tongue, and people; and in the little lights already appearing he discerned evidences of the fulfillment of the prophecy of our Saviour that this gospel of the kingdom should be preached in all the world as a preparation for the second advent. GCB May 16, 1913, page 16.12

One of the tried leaders of those earlier years, Elder James White, when he heard of the first-fruits of our work abroad, wrote confidently of the glad day soon to dawn when the message would be heard in many lands. “Those who accept fully and intelligently the position of Seventh-day Adventists upon the messages of the fourteenth chapter of Revelation,” he wrote in 1875, “will see in the extension of the message to the nations, and the providential hand of God in the work, evidences of the soon accomplishment of the great work of the last message, and consequently of the soon coming of Christ, which rank highest among the signals that that day is at hand. Prophecy must and will be fulfilled. The last warning to prepare must be given. The coming of Christ and the last judgment hastens on.” GCB May 16, 1913, page 16.13

That which a few years ago was wholly a matter of faith, is today becoming a matter of sight. On every hand we see God at work. And yet, as Elder Spicer points out in his report, “there is a vast field beyond us yet. This is no place to rest.” By faith alone can the hitherto unentered portions of the earth be penetrated and prepared for the coming King. That which is to be accomplished in the future must be undertaken with strong faith, and, as emphasized by Elder Daniells in his report, with the help of our God-fearing brethren and sisters throughout the churches. God’s work in the earth can be carried forward successfully, and finished, only as ministers and consecrated laymen unite whole-heartedly in soul-saving effort. GCB May 16, 1913, page 16.14

One of the serious problems confronting the European Division and the India Union Mission, is the evangelization of the Moslem world. Only through faith in the power of Jehovah to intervene miraculously, can our workers face with courage the forbidding Mohammedan lands, and hope for a harvest of souls. But the mighty God who is making bare his holy arm in the sight of all the nations, will honor his servants who in humble trust advance in his name. He will give them souls for their hire, as they look to him in confidence, pleading his promises in behalf of the nations still in darkness; and he will enable them to finish with joy the work of carrying the gospel to every creature. Then— GCB May 16, 1913, page 16.15

“Hope will change to glad fruition,
Faith to sight, and prayer to praise.” GCB May 16, 1913, page 16.16