THE CONFERENCE

In this number we give the concluding portion of the record of proceedings of the General Conference of 1888. Since the Conference closed, an incessant round of committee work has left no opportunity to make any general remarks concerning our annual gathering. And perhaps nothing of this kind is necessary; for the reader can judge, from the reports submitted, the resolutions offered, end the action taken on a variety of subjects, quite fully concerning the different enterprises which occupied the attention of the Conference.MMM 412.7

While much of the spirit of the meeting must necessarily be lost to such of our readers as were not present to hear the stirring thoughts which were, on many occasions, expressed, yet a careful study and consideration of the proceedings will give an idea of the magnitude and significance of some of the moves contemplated, which a mere casual perusal of the records would not convey. We trust therefore that the work of the Conference will be carefully studied by all.MMM 412.8

The reader cannot have failed to notice the large number of changes proposed by the Committee on the “Distribution of Labor,” or perhaps we might better call it, the distribution of laborers. How to meet the urgent calls for help which come up from every quarter is becoming year by year a more and more perplexing question for our Conferences. And while to remove a laborer from one field to another, seems, in many instances, like “robbing Peter to pay Paul,” still it often seems necessary to ask one field which has enjoyed a little labor, to wait while another, which has enjoyed none, can be partially supplied. If any one petition, more than another incessant and importunate, should go up to heaven from one end of the land to the other, it would seem that this should be the one: that the Lord of the harvest will raise up laborers to go forth into the many fields already white for the sickle.MMM 412.9

In the forthcoming Year Book for 1889, much matter pertaining to the Conference and the work in general, will appear, which it would not be best to take space to give in the Review. We look for important consequences to follow from the doings of the Conference of 1888.MMM 412.10