Biennial Report of the Atlantic Union Conference
H. W. Cottrell
By the President, H. W. Cottrell.
The organization of the conference was effected at the General Conference, April 16, 1901, under the name of the “Eastern Union Conference,” embracing then the local conferences of Maine, Vermont, New England, Atlantic, New York, Pennsylvania, Chesapeake, Virginia, West Virginia, and Quebec, besides the mission fields of the Maritime Provinces and Newfoundland.GCB April 1, 1903, page 34.4
At the first biennial session of the Eastern Union Conference, held at South Lancaster, Mass., Nov. 27 to Dec. 5, 1901, the name of the conference was changed to “Atlantic Union Conference.” There were present at this meeting delegates from the Canadian field, who favored the organization of another Union Conference in British territory, and requested that the Conference of Quebec, the Maritime Provinces, and Newfoundland be set off from this union, the same to be incorporated with the Canadian field into the new organization when formed. After mature deliberation, the request was granted, and the territory mentioned was released.GCB April 1, 1903, page 34.5
At the same meeting steps were taken to form a legal organization of the conference, which was effected Jan. 9, 1902, and incorporated under the laws of the commonwealth of Massachusetts as the Atlantic Union Conference Association of Seventh-day Adventists.GCB April 1, 1903, page 34.6
There are five ordained ministers and four other laborers regularly employed by the Union Conference, besides several mission workers (varying in number) under part pay.GCB April 1, 1903, page 34.7
At a meeting of the local Atlantic Conference, held in the city of New York, Dec. 18, 1901, that conference was divided, forming the two local conferences of Greater New York and New Jersey.GCB April 1, 1903, page 34.8
The population embraced within the limits of the Atlantic Union Conference in 1900 was 25,512,176, which is nearly a million more than one-third of the entire population of the United States.GCB April 1, 1903, page 34.9
Since the Atlantic Union Conference office was not opened until July 1, 1901, and as most of the local conference secretaries have only reported for the year ending Dec. 31, 1902, instead of the biennial term, the financial part of this report will cover the year 1902 only.GCB April 1, 1903, page 34.10
During the biennial period there has been quite a revision of church records in several of the territorial divisions of this Union Conference, and from the reports of their secretaries we glean the following:—GCB April 1, 1903, page 34.11
CHESAPEAKE CONFERENCE
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The membership of this conference is 745, which shows an increase of 71, notwithstanding the revision of church records. The conference employs four ordained ministers, three licensed ministers, and two Bible-workers, besides two ordained ministers who are paid from the Union Conference funds. The amount of tithe received during the year 1902 was $5,762.17; contributions for the year to foreign missions, $613; miscellaneous, $72.97.GCB April 1, 1903, page 34.12
MAINE CONFERENCE
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The Maine Conference has a membership of 540, including isolated Sabbath-keepers. There are 21 Sabbath-schools, with a membership of 373, and one church-school, with a membership of 28. This conference employs four ordained ministers, two Bible-workers, and two other workers, eight in all. Tithe received during the past year, $4,524.35. Amount of funds for missions for the year was, all told, $839.19. Amount of tithe expended outside the conference, $453.52. Value of book sales, $2,779.80.GCB April 1, 1903, page 34.13
NEW ENGLAND CONFERENCE
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The New England Conference has a church membership of 1,178, with a total of 1,213 Sabbath-keepers. About eighty have embraced the Sabbath during the conference term. There are 43 Sabbath-schools, with a membership of 1,043, and three church-schools. The conference employs nine ordained ministers, three licentiates, three Bible-workers, and eleven canvassers. The number under pay of conference is 19. The total amount of tithe for the past year was $13,121.65. Total donations for foreign missions, $3,701.83. Amount of tithe expended outside the conference, $1,308.41. Book sales reported for the year 1902, $8,124.56. The conference printing office has been enlarged from one small job press to two jobbers and one Cottrell cylinder press. Other machinery and type have been added to correspond. Employment is given to seven hands on an average, three of whom are academy students. The office has done over $6,000 worth of work the past year, including printing the “Atlantic Union Gleaner” and the “Bible Training School,” besides doing the job work for South Lancaster Academy, New England Sanitarium, etc. All things considered, it is thought that the plant has had a successful year.GCB April 1, 1903, page 34.14
NEW JERSEY CONFERENCE
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The New Jersey Conference has a church membership of 365. The total number of Sabbath-keepers is 403. The total number on the conference pay-roll is six, including three ordained ministers, two licentiates, and two Bible-workers. Tithe for 1902, $4,193.84. Total offerings for missions, $506.12. Amount of tithe appropriated to fields outside the conference, $230.01. Received from Greater New York Conference, $1,875, and from Atlantic Union Conference, $1,500.GCB April 1, 1903, page 35.1
NEW YORK CONFERENCE
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This conference has a population of 3,696,127, and has 68 churches, with a membership of 1,750; has 75 Sabbath-schools, with 1,325 members; 10 church-schools and 150 members; and shows an increase in church membership for the conference term of 112. The conference has 14 ordained ministers, nine licentiates, three Bible-workers, and eight canvassers, besides one laborer who is being supported in the West Indies.GCB April 1, 1903, page 35.2
Tithe for the past year, $11,894.04; total donations to foreign missions, $2,139.98; tithe expended outside the conference, $396.GCB April 1, 1903, page 35.3
Sanitarium treatment-rooms have been opened in Buffalo, in charge of Dr. and Mrs. Satterlee, and the work is meeting with good success.GCB April 1, 1903, page 35.4
GREATER NEW YORK CONFERENCE
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(Besides Greater New York, five counties of the state are included in this conference.)GCB April 1, 1903, page 35.5
The population of this conference in 1900 was 4,515,810. There are eight churches, with a membership of 527. There are five ordained ministers, five licentiates, two Bible-workers, nine licensed missionary workers; total number under conference pay, 13, besides Union Conference workers. Tithe the past year, $9,068.11; total donations to foreign missions, $1,196.90. Amount of tithe expended outside the conference, $1,875.GCB April 1, 1903, page 35.6
PENNSYLVANIA CONFERENCE
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The population of the territory embraced in the Pennsylvania Conference is 6,302.115. Total number of Sabbath-keepers, 1,550. Numbers of churches, 59, with a membership of 1,420. Number of Sabbath-schools, 110; membership, 1,457. Total tithe for 1902, $17,529.29. Donations to foreign missions, $2,535,38. Amount of tithe appropriated outside the conference, $1,205.88. Number of ministers, 11; Bible-workers, 10; canvassers, 19; total number paid by conference, 21.GCB April 1, 1903, page 35.7
VERMONT CONFERENCE
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Vermont has 18 churches, and a membership of about 520, showing an increase of 24. There are three church-schools, with about forty members; three ordained ministers, one licentiate, and two missionary workers, besides one laborer supported in British territory. Number on conference pay-roll,—; tithe for the year 1902, $4,934.65; donations to foreign missions, $1,190.10; tithe expended outside the conference, $396; book sales, $1,006.08; number of Sabbath-schools, 32, with an average membership of 445.GCB April 1, 1903, page 35.8
VIRGINIA CONFERENCE
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The Virginia Conference has 14 churches and 356 members. Total number of Sabbath-keepers, 445. Number of Sabbath-schools, 12, with a membership of 190. Church-schools, two, with membership of 24; ordained ministers, four; and four Bible-workers. Owing to illness of treasurer, a financial report was not received.GCB April 1, 1903, page 35.9
WEST VIRGINIA CONFERENCE
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This conference has 16 churches and a membership of 360; total number of Sabbath-keepers, 415; increase in Sabbath-keepers, 90. The two church-schools of this conference have 20 members. There are six ordained ministers. Total number of laborers paid by conference, seven. Total tithe, $1,700.53. Donations to foreign missions, $350.12. Book sales, $1,821.93.GCB April 1, 1903, page 35.10
BIBLE TRAINING-SCHOOL
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This school was opened in New York about June 1, 1901, under charge of Elder and Mrs. S. N. Haskell. The mission is now located in Brooklyn, N. Y. Since its opening, over thirty students have availed themselves of its advantages, many of whom are now engaged in conference work in different parts of the United States, largely in the conferences from which they came. There are usually from twelve to fifteen in course of training at one time.GCB April 1, 1903, page 35.11
There has been paid in wages to workers $2,878.12; traveling expenses of workers, $263.38; rent on houses and halls, $2,844.83. Total, $5,986.33.GCB April 1, 1903, page 35.12
The mission is free from debt, the money having been secured by donations from the people and the earnings of the mission workers.GCB April 1, 1903, page 35.13
SOUTH LANCASTER ACADEMY
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This school is making the best record this year of any in its history. It now has 165 students enrolled, which is the greatest number it has ever had at any one time. The students are a well-matured class, thoroughly interested in their work, and imbued with the spirit of missionary effort.GCB April 1, 1903, page 35.14
Cash received by the academy to March 1, 1903, on “Christ’s Object Lessons,” $25,834.48. Pain on notes, $15,974.55. Paid on interest, $4,352.73. Paid on accounts, $1,608.82. Balance, $3,898.38.GCB April 1, 1903, page 35.15
NEW ENGLAND SANITARIUM
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This institution was established at South Lancaster. Mass., in the summer of 1899, and enjoyed three years of phenomenal growth and prosperity. Its business increased to such an extent that its quarters were deemed too small. In the summer of 1902, an estate of about forty acres, situated near Boston, came into the market, and, having an opportunity to sell the South Lancaster property at about cost, the deal was consummated, and the institution was removed to the new location, which is an ideal one for sanitarium purposes. It is located in the heart of the famous Middlesex Fells, and about seven miles from Boston. On account of its proximity to Boston, where property is much more expensive than at South Lancaster, its purchase increased the debt of the institution about $40,000. The incurring of this indebtedness, in my judgment, was not a wise move.GCB April 1, 1903, page 35.16
RECAPITULATION
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Total number of Sabbath-keepers, 8,239; number of laborers employed, 124; total amount of tithe for 1902, $75,324.54; total foreign mission offerings, $13,145.54.GCB April 1, 1903, page 36.1
I humbly request that the conference, at this session, consider favorably the need of workers and means for carrying forward the work in the densely-populated eastern section of the United States, and make provision for supplying the same. There are in the Atlantic Union Conference 45 cities, with a population ranging from 75,000 to 3,450,000, besides scores of smaller cities. Our church constituency is only about 8,000, while the needs of our conference are great. The Spirit of the Lord has told us that “the message is to return to the East with power.” Is not the time at hand when this assurance is to be realized? and does it not place upon this body the responsibility of providing ways and means for reaching the multitudes in the Eastern cities?GCB April 1, 1903, page 36.2
H. W. Cottrell: In addition to the report as such, I have a memorial I wish to present in behalf of the executive of the Atlantic Union Conference, and for the interests of the work. It is this:—GCB April 1, 1903, page 36.3
Memorial to the General ConferenceGCB April 1, 1903, page 36.4
To the General Conference Assembled—GCB April 1, 1903, page 36.5
The delegates and brethren representing the work of the Atlantic Union Conference present to you the following memorial:—GCB April 1, 1903, page 36.6
In our study of the situation in the East, and in our view of the whole field, both in this country and in the Old World, we deem it essential that some definite measures should be taken at this session of the Conference to strengthen our denominational work in the densely-populated Eastern states, and especially to establish it more permanently in the nation’s metropolitan city, New York. We believe it would be greatly to the advantage of the work if the headquarters of the General Conference and Mission Board were removed to New York City. If its main office were established at this advantageous point, the eye of the denomination might be upon the work in all lands as it would not be possible for it to be at any other point in the United States. More direct attention could then be rendered those going to or returning from other countries.GCB April 1, 1903, page 36.7
It is also true that there are always a few of our strongest and most influential men connected with this office, each of whom could always improve his time profitably on Sabbath laboring for the churches in Greater New York. We therefore suggest that you favorably consider the advisability of making New York the executive center of the work for the present. We believe this to be in harmony with the mind of the Spirit of prophecy, which says that the message is to return to the East with power.GCB April 1, 1903, page 36.8
“I saw that when the message shall increase greatly in power, then the providence of God will open and prepare the way in the East for much more to be accomplished than can be at the present time. God will then send some of His servants in power to visit places where little or nothing can now be done; and some who are now indifferent will be aroused, and will take hold of the truth.”—Testimonies for the Church 1:149.GCB April 1, 1903, page 36.9
We think you will agree with us that the message has increased greatly in power; especially is this true in the department of the publishing work.GCB April 1, 1903, page 36.10
As this work was first started in the East, and the providence of God seems to have clearly indicated that the time has come when it should be removed from the location which it has so long occupied, the press being one of the most powerful factors in our work, we further request that you consider favorably the advisability of establishing the Review and Herald plant in some suburb of New York City, provided arrangements can be made satisfactory to the Pacific Press.GCB April 1, 1903, page 36.11
We offer these requests as being, in our view, for the best interests of the one great work in which we are all laborers.GCB April 1, 1903, page 36.12
H. W. Cottrell,
Frederick Griggs,
W. A. Wilcox,
J. E. Jayne,
S. N. Curtiss,
S. N. Haskell,
(Per. H. W. C.)
R. A. Underwood,
J. W. Watt,
S. M. Cobb,
A. E. Place,
G. B. Thompson,
P. F. Bicknell,
O. O. Farnsworth.
The Chair: I do not know that it is the province of this meeting to adopt these Union Conference reports. They belong properly to the Union Conferences. They come in here simply as a matter of statistics, that they may be printed in the “Bulletin,” and become a matter of record. The memorial that was read at the close of the report should, I think, be remembered by the Committee on Plans and Resolutions. I do not think this is the proper place to take action on it, as we expect to have such a committee, which will thoroughly consider all these propositions, and bring some definite recommendations before the Conference.GCB April 1, 1903, page 36.13
Meeting adjourned to 3 P. M., even date.GCB April 1, 1903, page 36.14
G. A. IRWIN, Chairman.
H. E. OSBORNE, Secretary.
God calls upon His servants to reveal a spirit of unvarying kindness and love. Nothing is gained by harsh denunciations and bitterness of spirit. To be harsh in trying to correct wrong is to commit sin in reproving sin. True reformers are not destroyers. They never seek to ruin those who do not harmonize with their plans. Reformers must advance, not retreat. They must be firm, decided, resolute, unflinching. But firmness must not be allowed to degenerate into an overbearing spirit. God would have those who serve Him as firm as a rock to principle, and yet meek and lowly, like Christ. Abiding in Christ, they can do the work that He would do were He in their places.—Testimony.GCB April 1, 1903, page 36.15