A MEETING of the American Health and Temperance Association convened at 9 A. M. The President, Dr. J. H. Kellogg, called the meeting to order. The song, “Sleeping on Guard,” was sung, and Elder Loughborough offered prayer. The Secretary being absent, Mrs. Clara Butler was elected Secretary pro tem.GCDB November 16, 1887, page 8.1

Dr. Kellogg stated that since the vote of the General Conference last year, recommending that each State appoint one or two men to give special attention to the work of Health and Temperance, quite a number of States have had men in the field; and during the past year the amount of work done has been fully ten times as much as in any year for ten years previous.GCDB November 16, 1887, page 8.2

The President then called for reports of the results of labor in various parts of the field. Elder S. H. Lane, of England, gave a very interesting talk upon the progress of the temperance work in that country. He said that there are only about 150 Seventh-day Adventists in England, but that every one of them is a tee-totaler. If you can get an Englishman to sign any pledge, he will sign the most radical one, and when he signs it, he will not backslide. When an Englishman loves strong drink, he loves it indeed, and the only way he could be gotten out of the habit, is to convince him that it is a strong moral duty. When that is done, the work is done most effectually.GCDB November 16, 1887, page 8.3

There is a growing sentiment in England in favor of temperance. The people drink more there than they do here, yet not so many drunken people are seen on the streets; about half of the drunken people on the streets are women.GCDB November 16, 1887, page 8.4

In order to break down the influences of the public houses, the temperance people have started vegetarian restaurants. The number of these restaurants has increased tenfold within the last five years. In them there is no liquor sold, lemonade being the strongest drink obtainable, and no meat whatever is furnished. The Good Health has been placed in these restaurants, and has met with the greatest favor. The patrons read the copies until they are worn out, and are led by it to look with greater favor upon other works published by us. Thus temperance literature is used as an entering wedge for present truth, and it is a most powerful wedge. When a man in that country wages war against intemperance, he will be cordially received by people who would not notice him socially if it were not for his temperance work. Health literature has been sold in large quantities to many of the nobility. Brother Lane closed with several interesting incidents illustrative of how the temperance work paves the way for denominational work.GCDB November 16, 1887, page 8.5

Elder O. A. Olsen then gave some very interesting items concerning the temperance work in Scandinavia. He said that its prospects are most encouraging. Their laborers receive their training in missionary work by selling temperance literature. There are seventeen colporters in Sweden who support themselves on the commission which they receive from the sale of books, and the commission given is not so large as in this country. The health journal published in Norway has proved a great blessing. It has now 5,000 subscribers. The Swedish health journal has about 4,500 subscribers.GCDB November 16, 1887, page 8.6

He said that the way they would work was to send young men into a town to canvass for the health journal. They meet with the best success, and get acquainted with all the people, and are treated with the greatest kindness. Many of the best class of citizens will encourage them in the work. Then when they have canvassed the place thoroughly for the health journal, they will introduce the “Life of Christ.” This also gains them favor. The people think that they represent a sensible people, since they believe in good health, and teach people how to obtain it, and hold Christ in the forefront.GCDB November 16, 1887, page 8.7

One young man, a station agent, read the Swedish health journal, and liked it so well that he subscribed for 100 copies to circulate among the schools in his part of the country. The health paper is a power for good in Sweden.GCDB November 16, 1887, page 8.8

Sister E. G. White, who had just arrived from St. Helena, then spoke for a few minutes on the importance of improving every opportunity to set ourselves before the people as a temperance people. The temperance work must go with the Bible doctrine. As our first parents lost Eden through indulgence of appetites, a way has been opened by the sacrifice of Christ, whereby we may gain it by denial of appetite.GCDB November 16, 1887, page 9.1

Our people do not take the extensive view of this work that they ought to. She then drew a parallel between Paul’s time and ours. He would labor for a long time, drawing arguments from the types and shadows, showing an intimate knowledge of the Scriptures, and would thus gain the favor of the people. Then he would teach them that this Christ prefigured by the types had already come. So we should begin to work with the people from a standpoint where we can gain the favor of the people. How shall we leaven the world, unless we have something to lift them up? We should unite with every good work. No matter if people do not believe as we do concerning Bible doctrine, we should unite with them so far as we can go.GCDB November 16, 1887, page 9.2

Elder Corliss was called upon to report from Australia. He said that he had learned that though we may delve hard to keep the Sabbath, when that point is gained, the easiest part of our work is done. If they do not reform in the matter of health and temperance, the work does not amount to much. Therefore he thought that it would be the most reasonable thing to begin with the temperance work, and lay the foundation first. It was by means of the temperance work that a footing was gained in Australia.GCDB November 16, 1887, page 9.3

Dr. Kellogg said that it was worth while to have had a health and temperance organization for the past ten years, for sake of having such a meeting, when it cost nothing but the trouble of electing officers.GCDB November 16, 1887, page 9.4

Elder J. N. Loughborough gave a brief report of the work in California, showing that the greatest success here was due to taking advantage of temperance sentiment.GCDB November 16, 1887, page 9.5

It was then voted that the Chair appoint the usual committees. Before adjournment Dr. Kellogg told of a Captain Sanderson, of the British Army, who has charge of the elephant service in India, who a few years ago came across some health and temperance literature, and became an ardent vegetarian. Last summer he secured a leave of absence for a few months on purpose to visit the Sanitarium at Battle Creek, and is coming back next year.GCDB November 16, 1887, page 9.6

Adjourned to call of Chair.GCDB November 16, 1887, page 9.7

AFTERNOON

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The fourth meeting of the Conference convened at 3 P. M. The song, “Awake, my soul, stretch every nerve, and press with vigor on,” was sung, and E. J. Waggoner offered prayer. After the reading of the minutes the President appointed the Committee on Finance, as follows: G. I. Butler, J. H. Kellogg, A. R. Henry, J. Fargo, R. M. Kilgore, W. C. White, R. A. Underwood, M. J. Church, J. P. Gardiner, J. H. Morrison, O. A. Olsen.GCDB November 16, 1887, page 9.8

Reports from foreign fields were then called for, when W. C. White spoke for Central Europe. Two years ago the laborers there were quite discouraged. This was due partly to the fact that men had been sent into difficult fields without suitable training, and partly to the lack of courageous leaders. When Brother Conradi went there he began to encourage their workers. His work was in accordance with the methods that have been tried, and proved successful, but he did still more good by the enthusiasm which he aroused among the other laborers. It demonstrated that good methods and faith in God will bring the same success there as in this country.GCDB November 16, 1887, page 9.9

Elder Conradi always talked courage. He said that there were no more difficulties than in this country, and that they were received by the people with greater favor than he expected. The last two years’ work has changed the opinion of the laborers there as to what can be done. They had met with prejudice, and had to wait nine months for a chance to get a place in which to hold meetings in Zurich, but now there is a church there which contains some good workers.GCDB November 16, 1887, page 9.10

There are only two laborers, Elders Conradi and Ertzenberger, for German Switzerland and the German Empire; but Germany is really a more encouraging field than England.GCDB November 16, 1887, page 9.11

In Italy the work goes hard. The Waldenses have settled down into an apathy from which it is hard to arouse them. The assistance that was given them a few years ago has lifted the ministers above the common people, and now they are rulers instead of pastors. They are able to crush out anything like a division in their flocks.GCDB November 16, 1887, page 9.12

Elder O. A. Olsen then spoke of the Scandinavian work. Denmark was the first Conference organized, and now contains nine churches and 230 members. The most promising church is in Copenhagen, although it is one of the last organized. Its membership has nearly doubled within the past year.GCDB November 16, 1887, page 9.13

The first tent-meeting ever held in Denmark was held this last summer. More than twenty have accepted the truth as the result, and the interest is better now than ever before. It has not only resulted in accomplishing much good locally, but it has had an influence on all our people, in giving them new ideas of the work. They began meetings in Frederikshavn, with a congregation of fifty persons, which soon dwindled to twenty, and it looked as though even this number would not be held long.GCDB November 16, 1887, page 9.14

Then a day of fasting and prayer was appointed, the blessing of the Lord was felt in a marked manner, and the interest began to increase immediately. Soon they had a congregation of 150 on Sunday, and 100 every night.GCDB November 16, 1887, page 10.1

The tent was pitched last summer in Moss, Norway, in a lot directly opposite the Lutheran Church, diagonally opposite the State church, and where the pastor of the State church could sit in his study and hear. People thought that it was a very bold thing to pitch the tent in such a place, but they soon began to admire their boldness, and came to hear as a consequence. A church of twenty-five members was organized as the result of this effort.GCDB November 16, 1887, page 10.2

The reason why larger results are not seen from a great interest, is because the people’s bread depends upon their work, which they will lose if they begin to keep the Sabbath. But it is remarkable how the providence of God has opened the way for the truth. The work is more difficult in Denmark than in Sweden and Norway, for the people of the latter countries are religious, while in Denmark the people are largely affected with German skepticism. In those countries it takes longer to mature the work than it does here, and they do not think of leaving a new field in less than a year.GCDB November 16, 1887, page 10.3

The Swedish Conference is the largest in Scandinavia. It has ten churches and 288 members. A tent-meeting was held in Stockholm this summer at the time of the midsummer holiday, which was very largely attended, the attendance increasing from the beginning to the close. There are 385 Sabbath-keepers in Sweden.GCDB November 16, 1887, page 10.4

Brother Matteson held a four months’ mission school in Christiania, Norway, and although the material upon which he had to work was most unpromising, some of the young people being ignorant to the very extreme, the result was excellent. They soon began to take subscribers for health journals, besides selling books. In nine months they took 2,335 subscribers for the Danish Norwegian health journal, and received $3,500 on subscriptions and book sales. There are some difficulties, but none which cannot be overcome by the grace of God.GCDB November 16, 1887, page 10.5

Elder Lane said that there had never been a time when he was discouraged over the work in England. In one city he began meetings, speaking to eight people, but the congregation soon increased so much that another place had to be secured. There are four churches in England, and their donations and tithes have reached $625. Erelong a church will be organized in London. A room for a book depository has been secured in Paternoster Row, and the foundation is being laid for an extensive work in that city.GCDB November 16, 1887, page 10.6

Elder Corliss spoke of the work in Australia. There are now three churches there and 150 members. The church at Melbourne numbers ninety, and the one at Ballarat about fifty. There is a church in Adelaide, and a few Sabbath-keepers in Sydney, and some in other places. Between 300 and 400 people have embraced the truth in Australia, but some have given it up. It is impossible for a man to get work after he begins to keep the Sabbath, and so some of them, after holding on for awhile, give up.GCDB November 16, 1887, page 10.7

It costs very much to carry on tent work there. Lumber comes from California and Oregon, and lumber suitable for seating costs $100 per thousand. To avoid expense chairs were bought. It cost $200 to seat a fifty-foot tent, but the advantage is that chairs can be shipped at moderate cost.GCDB November 16, 1887, page 10.8

A good deal of canvassing has been done, but mostly by one man. Someone is needed there who can train canvassers. Unless these men who lose their business on account of keeping the Sabbath can be trained so that they can support themselves by canvassing for our publications, it will be almost impossible for them to get along.GCDB November 16, 1887, page 10.9

Following these remarks, the Secretary said that several Conferences had not yet presented their annual reports, and the President urged that this be attended to promptly.GCDB November 16, 1887, page 10.10

Elder Olsen moved that the Chair appoint a committee of three to arrange for the “Year Book,” and to report. This was carried, and W. C. White, A. R. Henry, and C. H. Jones were appointed.GCDB November 16, 1887, page 10.11

W. C. White then requested to be released from the Committee on Resolutions. His request was granted, and the President appointed E. J. Waggoner in his stead.GCDB November 16, 1887, page 10.12

Meeting adjourned to call of Chair.GCDB November 16, 1887, page 10.13

VOLUME 1. - OAKLAND, CAL., - NUMBER 2

VOLUME 1. - OAKLAND, CAL., - NUMBER 4