The first meeting of the thirty-eighth session of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists was called in the large tent, at Takoma Park, Washington, D. C., 10 A. M., May 15, 1913, Elder A. G. Daniells, president, in the chair.GCB May 16, 1913, page 2.39

After a song of welcome from the choir, the congregation joined in singing the Doxology. Elder O. A. Olsen read as a Scripture lesson the sixty-sixth psalm. Elder J. N. Loughborough, who was a delegate at the organization of the General Conference fifty years ago, offered the opening prayer:—GCB May 16, 1913, page 2.40

“O Lord, our Heavenly Father, we thank thee that so many who have been adopted into thy family are permitted to assemble on this encampment at this appointed hour. We have abundant reasons for thanksgiving and praise to thee, as we have sung. Help us to realize that it is because of thy goodness and mercy that we are still here. We thank thee, Lord, for what thou hast done in gathering out a people when thy last solemn message for the world is going forth; thy hand hast wrought in what we see. We remember our faithlessness, our lack of energy, and that we might have been father advanced if there had been that consecration that thou didst require. The enemy was determined to hinder the work; but we thank thee, Lord, that out of the efforts he has made to defeat the cause, thou has enabled thy people to gain experience, and thou hast blessed, and that the work has thus far advanced.GCB May 16, 1913, page 2.41

“We think of that time when the work was starting, when there were but a few, when, before thy servant accepted this truth, there were only about two hundred in the world that we knew of that were in sympathy with the message. O Lord, what hast thou not wrought with the humble efforts of thy people! Indeed, we could say in that day, ‘By whom shall Jacob arise, for he is small?’ O Lord, we thank thee that thou hast forgiven the mistakes, and that thou art granting abundant blessings to thy consecrated servants. Thou art here by thy Spirit to help in this meeting. O Lord, if ever we needed thy help and blessing and divine guidance, it is now during this Conference. O Lord, thou art ready to counsel, and thou hast told us through instruction given that if God guides in the plans that are laid, as we go forth to execute them, every effort will be a success. So, Lord, we pray for divine guidance. May it not be that we are happy to meet friends here, and make this simply an occasion of visiting; but may this be made an occasion of each one earnestly seeking God, that God may guide, that his Holy Spirit will indeed be granted to each one. Grant it, O Lord, to Brother Daniells, as president of the General Conference; grant it to the brethren of the different committees. O Lord, grant wisdom, we pray.GCB May 16, 1913, page 2.42

“Guide all through this conference; guide in the work throughout the field. We remember the time in the past when it seemed hard to find openings, but, Lord, thou hast opened the way all over the earth. Why should any now stand idle, at the eleventh hour, and the work almost consummated? Lord, we want the strength which thou has given us still to be used to thy glory. We are nearing the consummation of the hope, and we want our hearts filled with thankfulness at the prospect that it will not be long until victory will turn on Zion’s side. Soon we shall see our blessed Saviour, and those heavenly chariots. And, Lord, may it be the happy lot of each one of us to be so consecrated to thee that that blessed angel that has guided as through life, will, at thy coming, come to carry us to the heavenly portals, to join in the joys and the blessings of heaven. We ask it in Jesus’ name.”GCB May 16, 1913, page 2.43

S. N. Haskell (praying): “Heavenly Father, we continue to call upon thee because thou art God, and we would offer thee our united tribute of praise and thanksgiving for thy care that has been over us, and for what we have seen accomplished in the world with the truth that thou hast given thy people in these last days. And now we pray in a special manner that thou wilt come very near to us, that thou wilt grace this Conference with thy presence from the beginning to the close. O God, make manifest thy power, and let thy Holy Spirit do its office work upon every heart. Thou hast encouraged us to believe that thou art more willing to give thy Spirit to those who ask thee than parents are to give good things to children; and we ask, O God, at the very beginning of this Conference, that thou wilt come specially near, and that thy blessing may rest on the people assembled here. Bless the officers of the Conference, those bearing responsibilities. We ask God to be with them in a special manner. Bless those who come to represent the interests of the work from the different nations of the earth. We thank thee, O Lord, that we live to see the time when this truth, which began so small, and was so despised by the wisdom of this world, has encircled the earth, and has found its way among so many peoples, nations, and tongues. And now we ask, Lord, that thou wilt come near this gathering of thy people in a marked manner.GCB May 16, 1913, page 3.1

“We remember many years ago when thy people were assembled from different parts of the world on the day of Pentecost, that thou didst meet with them, and pour out thy Spirit upon them; and that event marked an impetus in thy work that never had been seen before. So we pray that this gathering of thy people may give this cause an impetus it has never seen before. O God, we ask that thou wilt walk in this encampment, in every room; bless in every part of the field. We remember those at their homes that are praying for the success of this Conference. We ask, God, that thou wilt bless them, and we pray, precious Saviour, that thou wilt reveal thyself to thy people.GCB May 16, 1913, page 3.2

“Accept us now, we pray. We ask God to be in every service of this Conference. Direct every individual who may act a part in this Conference. Hear the cry of thy people, not only from this Conference, but from every part of the world, and hasten the time when thou wilt gather out a people for thy name, that will finally stand on Mount Zion, to praise thy name throughout a never-ending eternity.GCB May 16, 1913, page 3.3

“We now commit ourselves to thee. Forgive us of our sins, we pray thee. Cover our backslidings, O God. Finally, when the work is over, and thou dost gather thy people, save us with them, we ask through Christ, our Redeemer. Amen.”GCB May 16, 1913, page 3.4

A. G. Daniells: We will sing No. 895.GCB May 16, 1913, page 3.5

“Joy to the world, the Lord will come!GCB May 16, 1913, page 3.6

Let earth receive her King;GCB May 16, 1913, page 3.7

Let every heart prepare him room, And heaven and nature sing.”GCB May 16, 1913, page 3.8

A. G. Daniells: I am sure there are many grateful hearts here this morning, and among them my heart is one. I feel happier and more thankful this morning than I can express in words for God’s mercy and blessing to us and for this hour. Months ago, when we began in earnest to prepare for this meeting, as I thought of the great numbers who would leave their homes and start to this place over the seas and over the land, and thought of the shipwrecks and the railway disasters, and of all that might happen unless the Lord cared for us, sometimes I almost trembled, and many, many prayers were offered in behalf of our brethren and sisters who were to come to this Conference. As I thought of the great amount of work required, the many things to be looked after, the large expense, and all of that, it seemed like a great undertaking. But the work has been done, the expense has been met to a large extent, we have made our journeys, and here we are this morning without any serious mishaps, or serious inconvenience so far as I know. No one has reported to me any wrecks along the way or loss of life. The most serious word that has come to us has been the affliction of our dear Brother G. A. Irwin (detained by sickness on the way to the Conference).GCB May 16, 1913, page 3.9

Now, dear friends, I believe that all this watch-care of the Lord calls for the deepest gratitude. I believe that it is proper that the first thing we do in this meeting at the opening is to express to our Father in heaven before one another our great obligations to him, our indebtedness and our gratitude for what he has done for us individually, and our determination to consecrate our lives, our means, our service, our time, and our all, to God entirely, for the finishing of his work. This is what appeals to me here this morning.GCB May 16, 1913, page 3.10

I am so glad to meet the brethren and sisters from all parts. I have attended a number of General Conferences, but I must say that never have the faces of my brethren and sisters seemed so dear to me as they have right here upon this ground. My heart is full of love for my fellow workers in home and foreign fields. I am glad to be associated with this body of men and women. I am glad to be connected with a people who have a conscience, who fear God, who want to do right and to serve him in this world. I would rather be joined with this people and this movement than to be connected with anything in the wide world, and I feel that all that surrounds me, and all that I am associated with, calls for the full surrender of may life to God the rest of my days, and I feel to make it, and to give it.GCB May 16, 1913, page 3.11

I want to say at the start before this large congregation that I feel under great obligations to our brethren who accepted at the start the responsibilities of preparing for this meeting. Elder Knox took the main burden in the matter of making provision. Elder Wight and Elder Charles Thompson stepped in next, and these three men have been supported by union and local conference presidents, and by a splendid band of students in the Foreign Mission Seminary. These people have worked hard and conscientiously, and they have worked with a purpose and an intelligence that has enabled them to dispatch their work and to get things in order. Brother Fulton has kindly come to us from Los Angeles, Cal., leaving an important business interest. He has come here to help us take care of the people, to provide food, and has worked day and night with a band of workers who have been deprived of their sleep and are working very hard. Our locating committee have worked day and night. O my dear friends, I cannot tell you what a pleasure it is to be associated with men and women who are willing to do, and who have the resourcefulness to do and to get things provided as they have here for us. Our electrical work, our plumbing, our carpentry work,—all the mechanical work on this ground has been done by our own men, and largely by the students in the Seminary. These are temporal matters, but I believe it is our privilege to recognize all these blessings that come to us. I am grateful to all these helpers for all this toil of the past month.GCB May 16, 1913, page 3.12

And again I say, I am grateful to our God for caring for these brethren who have come from the ends of the earth, and from our own land; and, brethren, I believe that right now, at the beginning of this meeting, we should ask God what he would have us do, with the purpose and the intention of obeying the word he may speak to us, wherever he may call us, whatever he may have for us to do. Whatever the sacrifice may be, if we, know he requires it, we should make the full surrender of life to him today; then I believe we can consistently expect his blessing in full measure during this Conference,—not only can we expect it, but it will be given.GCB May 16, 1913, page 3.13

We are going to spend some time at the opening in giving opportunity for expressions of gratitude and praise and thanksgiving by those who feel this in their hearts. We desire that the time will be occupied with short, brief words, telling how you stand with God, and what appeals to you this morning as we open this meeting.GCB May 16, 1913, page 3.14

O. A. Olsen: I certainly wish to join in the utterance of praise and thanksgiving to God this morning for what we have seen and experienced of his wonderful leadings from the very beginning of this great work. I am glad today for the privilege of having spent fifty-five years of my life in connection with this precious truth, and it rejoices my heart today to see the foundation, and the great principles upon which this message started out, stronger and firmer and more solid than at any time in the past. It has weathered the storms and the opposition that have come, and God has given most wonderful victory in every effort; and today we see representatives from all the leading parts of the earth here, representing the work among these nations.GCB May 16, 1913, page 3.15

I thank God, too, that it was my privilege to be among the early ones of foreign nationalities that accepted this truth and have had a part in it. I am thankful today to meet my brethren from all parts of the earth. I rejoice in this message. Brethren and sisters, there is nothing else to me in this world but the finishing of this work, and to this I dedicate all the remaining powers of my being, to his glory, through Jesus, my Lord.GCB May 16, 1913, page 3.16

J. N. Loughborough: My experience in the third angel’s message goes back farther than that. I remember when we did not have a conference at all. A few days more it will be sixty-one years since I began preaching the third angel’s message. It so happened that the first day that I ever saw Sister White—thirty minutes after I was introduced to her—I saw her in heavenly vision, and that was the first I ever heard of it. I said, “Vision, what’s that?” We were praying for a sick man, and he was healed, and I knew the power of God was there, and Brother White said, “Ellen is in vision.” “Ellen in vision!” I thought. I did not know anything about visions, but I was right there. As I have said many times, it was wonderful that God introduced me to this thing as he did, and there has not been a man among Seventh-day Adventists aside from Elder James White, who has had as many privileges along this line as I had in the earlier years of the message. For this I am profoundly grateful to God.GCB May 16, 1913, page 4.1

In those earlier years I had no thought that God would let me live to be a boy again, but in his providence he has permitted me to live to be over eighty-two years of age. I am living on God’s time now, and I want this time spent just as he wants it spent.GCB May 16, 1913, page 4.2

Brethren, I am glad to be here. When this Conference was planned, I said to my daughter over in California, “Daughter, I should like to be there. I should like to meet these brethren that I have seen in different parts of the world, but I do not know as I shall be there.” Soon afterward my son-in-law came over from a session of the union committee, and said, “You are appointed as a delegate.” “As a delegate!” I said. “Why, they would better send some younger man over there who can come back and use what he gets.” But I came, and am here today.GCB May 16, 1913, page 4.3

They told me long ago, when I was traveling with Sister White, and we taught that the message would go into all the world, into the different nations and nationalities, “Why, prejudice will come up between you, and you will all go to pieces.” Well, I went around and saw some of the pieces, about four or five years ago. I saw the Basutos in Africa, and the Germans, and other nations. And today, bless your heart, there are about seventy different pieces in the different parts of the world, and they are most wonderfully stuck together. There are lots of pieces, and I tell you they are very useful for this message. There is no disunion among these pieces, and, by the grace of God, there will be none here.GCB May 16, 1913, page 4.4

S. N. Haskell: I did not know before that Brother Loughborough began to keep the Sabbath a year before I did. I thought he began to keep it the same year I did, but he has kept it for sixty-one years and I have kept it for sixty. I am very thankful for what we see here this morning. While we were sitting here and Brother Olsen was speaking, I was thinking of the time when there was not a single German Sabbath-keeper in our ranks, and there was not a French Sabbath-keeper either. There may have been some, but I did not know of any. There were two girls here in the East who began to study, one French and the other German, in order that they might correspond with the French and with the German, and so open up the work with these nationalities. Both of these sisters sleep in Jesus today; but before they had fairly begun to learn the language the Lord had gone out before us, and individuals from the German, and from the French, and the Danes, and the Norwegians, and the Swedes, began to embrace the truth. And now what do we see?GCB May 16, 1913, page 4.5

Now the truth that began so small and was apparently so feeble, has encircled the earth, and it has been demonstrated that God can do something, that he has done something. The nations of the earth are to be lighted up with the glory of the third angel’s message; and the end is not yet. The whole earth will be lighted with the glory of God, as the waters cover the sea, in every part of this earth, in every neighborhood, not only in the countries, but everywhere. The spirit of prophecy, that has been our headlight from the beginning, has declared that these words will be spoken: “Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and have the faith of Jesus.” So I am thankful for what I see here this morning, that there are so many of the different nations on the face of the earth that have assembled here.GCB May 16, 1913, page 4.6

But few individuals can go back to the time where Elder Loughborough began and saw the rise, step by step, of the truth that has come up. The Sabbath truth has arisen like the sun, and it never will set. It will reach its highest meridian at the very close of the work of the third angel’s message. As long as eternity lasts, so long will be God’s great memorial, and his people will observe it in the kingdom of glory. Now it seems to me that a person must be very blind that cannot see the hand of Providence that is over his work from the very beginning, and how step by step God has brought it up; and he will carry it through until there will be a glorious consummation in a very short time. May the Lord help us, brethren and sisters, to be all true, and to be saved finally in the kingdom of God. I praise the Lord for what he has done for me, and it is my prayer that my heart may ever be in harmony with the work of God here upon the earth, and that finally, with the people of God, I may be translated, and may ever be with the Lord.GCB May 16, 1913, page 4.7

A. C. Bourdeau: I feel to thank the Lord this morning for the privilege of meeting with so large a company of believers in the present truth. I love the message; I have loved it for many years. I was interested in the first angel’s message in 1844, and heard speakers on that message, and on the coming of the Lord. It is nearly fifty-eight years since I embraced the Sabbath and the present truth, and the Lord has greatly blessed me ever since. I have never doubted any point of present truth as it has been presented to God’s people all the way along. It is the most glorious message that ever was proclaimed upon earth.GCB May 16, 1913, page 4.8

I very well remember when I could count all the ministers in the cause of present truth on the fingers of my hands, and now what do I see? O, what hath God wrought!GCB May 16, 1913, page 4.9

I well remember, when I embraced the truth, our brethren thought that the proclamation of the third angel’s message would be confined largely to the United States. And so when, in those days, I met with a well-educated gentleman from France who assured me that he knew of some in that land keeping the seventh day and believing in the soon coming of the Lord, I rejoiced, and wrote an article for the Review, suggesting that the truth for this time would be proclaimed in many lands. Good old Brother Hutchins, who is now sleeping in Jesus, upon reading this article, said, “How could you write this way,—that the message is going to many lands?” Said I, “I believe it will;” and brethren, I thank God today for what is being accomplished in all parts of the world. I praise his name that we are all well able to go up and possess the goodly land.GCB May 16, 1913, page 4.10

L. R. Conradi: I am very grateful indeed this morning to meet again with so many of our people. I am thankful to tell you that there are some thirty thousand of our people today in the European Division who are praying for this Conference. Years ago we hardly dared to hope that there would be so many. Today they do not come by hundreds, but they come by thousands. [Voices: Thank the Lord!]GCB May 16, 1913, page 4.11

I am so pleased today to tell you that we have indeed a gospel, a message, that is not of men, but it has in it the power of God. Within the last few months it has been my privilege to meet not only Protestants who have been brought to this truth, and to greater light, but also Roman Catholics and Greek Catholics, and even Mohammedans. I was present but a few months ago at a baptism down in heathen Africa. One Sabbath we baptized fifty-one. I thought, as the fifty-one men were baptized—they were mostly young men—that our brethren had done pretty well for that quarter; but this morning news reached me that since then twenty-four more have been baptized in the same quarter, making seventy-five young people converted and brought to the knowledge of this truth direct from heathenism; and they are not only brought to a knowledge of this truth, but more than this. When I was talking to some twenty-five teachers, I asked how many of them would be willing to go into the interior hundreds of miles farther and preach this message, and every hand went up. They were all ready to go as missionaries. I thank the Lord that whether our faces are black or white our hearts are touched by the same Holy Spirit, we are cleansed by the same blood of Jesus Christ, we are united into one body by the same faith and by the same love and the same power of this message, and it is this united power that is helping us to carry the truth to the very ends of the earth.GCB May 16, 1913, page 4.12

I am thankful to have a part in this movement, and while I can not speak of sixty years, but have to come down to something over thirty years, yet I say the Lord is in it; it is God’s work, and he is simply showing us the beginning of a great work. But O may we at this time, I with you, all get the eye-salve of the Holy Spirit, that we may fully realize the power of this message and expect great things from God. To this end I want to consecrate myself fully to him and to his service.GCB May 16, 1913, page 4.13

I. H. Evans: I am glad to bring to this Conference the greetings of our brethren in the Asiatic Division of the General Conference. We have a mixed multitude over there of about six hundred twenty-five millions of heathen. Among them we have a very few brethren and sisters scattered among the various nationalities; but when they accept this message, they become what we are—one in Christ—and they believe the very truths that have called us together here. If our brethren from Korea and Japan and China, the Philippines and the East Indies could be here, and you could hear what they would say, they would tell you how much God has done for them, how glad they are that they have found this precious truth, how it has made them better men and better women, how it has opened up to them a new life, and how they are trying to get ready for the coming of the Lord.GCB May 16, 1913, page 4.14

It is a great privilege for us to be here in this assembly and enjoy the blessings we are sure to obtain if we seek God. At the beginning I want to place myself in a receptive attitude where I can receive from the Lord a fitting up to do better service for him than ever before. I hope and pray that this meeting will be the very best that has ever been held by our people. We must expect large things from God. It is time that we put every sin out of our hearts and be filled with the Holy Ghost, that we may finish this great work. To this end we must put our shoulder to the great effort of getting rid of sin and inviting the presence of God to fill our hearts, that he may use us mightily in this closing work.GCB May 16, 1913, page 5.1

W. T. Knox: I esteem it a great privilege at this time to express my gratitude for God’s wonderful goodness and the many blessings bestowed upon his people, and upon me.GCB May 16, 1913, page 5.2

As I listened to the speakers that occupied the time at the beginning of the meeting, and heard of the wonderful way in which God has blessed and prospered this cause, I felt that while I could not look back into those years in actual experience with them, yet in the quarter of a century in which I have known this truth I can say that God has been as wonderful a Guide in the past quarter of a century as he was in the first quarter of a century that was spoken of by them. His dealings with this people in the past twenty-five years have truly been the dealings of a merciful and long-suffering God, abundant in power and grace. The progress of the work in the past twenty-five years has certainly been far beyond the expectation of his people. He has done more than we in those days asked or thought. As we take up the writings of the people in those days and see what their plans and purposes and ambitions and desires were concerning this work, what they planned in giving this message to the world, we can see that God has gone far beyond their highest expectations, and one of the results is this meeting here this morning. I am so glad that God has gathered out a people from almost every nation, kindred, tribe, and people that today are rejoicing in the third angel’s message. I feel to thank him for the many ways in which he is making it possible for this people to give this truth to the world, for the multiplying of open doors that are being reported to us by our brethren in foreign fields. I feel to thank him for the degree of prosperity that he is giving to his people, temporal prosperity, and the willingness he has sent to their hearts to give of their means to support the work in the openings that are before us. I do rejoice today that by the eye of faith we can see the close of this work, when soon every nation shall have had this message preached to them for a witness.GCB May 16, 1913, page 5.3

Now, I desire right at this very beginning of the meeting to consecrate myself together with all the energy which he may give to me, and to devote myself and all that he may make me to the one, the only work, that remains for me,—the work of the third angel’s message. With others, I trust and believe that this will be the most blessed meeting to all his people who come here to meet him. May it be from the very beginning a continual seeking and finding of God by his people, is my prayer.GCB May 16, 1913, page 5.4

A. G. Daniells: We do not want the brethren in the body of the congregation to think that the meeting is only for these on the platform. Brother Munson, don’t you want to say something?GCB May 16, 1913, page 5.5

R. W. Munson: Fifteen years ago, I went to Battle Creek to find health. The young brother that started me there is in this audience today, Brother George Stevens, of this conference. I met him in Chicago, where I went to get the relief which I had failed to get from doctors and medicines. I did not find it there, either; but I did find Brother Stevens. He went to Battle Creek, and later came to my home town, Toledo, Ohio, where I met him in the health-food store. He told me of his experience, how he found the truth and also his health. I was skeptical. I could not believe that the good things he had told me were true. But the Lord in his providence led me to Battle Creek. I found my health there, and I found something more than I expected to find,—I found this glorious truth.GCB May 16, 1913, page 5.6

I was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church for fourteen years, and the first two weeks I spent in Battle Creek I took no interest whatever in the doctrinal teachings of this people. But the Lord used Sister S. M. I. Henry to open my eyes to the truth. She told me her experience, how she had been a Methodist for more than fifty years, how Bishop Fowler and Dr. Edwards, and many others, had failed to convince her that Sunday was the Sabbath. She had been led to investigate, and she could not find in the New Testament any authority for keeping Sunday. After she told me her experience, I went away, and I thought, “Now Sunday either is or is not the New Testament Sabbath.” Well, in two weeks I was satisfied on the question. Dr. Kellogg invited me to act as assistant chaplain of the sanitarium, and a very happy year it was. My family was with me. I had five children. After a year I was so much better that I was able to go back to the East Indies, to Sumatra. We have all of us been in the very jaws of death many times during the last fourteen years.GCB May 16, 1913, page 5.7

I want to say this, that I rejoice in this message. I love it more and more, and I cannot show my appreciation of it more than by telling you that I have dedicated my children—three sons and two daughters—to the work of this message. My prayer has been for many years that God will give them a part in the work, and if he please, a place in his everlasting kingdom.GCB May 16, 1913, page 5.8

I am so glad to be here today. This is my first General Conference. It has been fourteen years since I left the shores of America, and to meet these dear brethren whose faces I have never seen is a great privilege.GCB May 16, 1913, page 5.9

I will close with one word more. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of the Lord, in this message, than to have the highest honors that the world can give me. I want you to pray that the Lord will use me in some humble way in leading hungry souls to a knowledge of the Lord Jesus. I can testify that he is able to save to the uttermost all who come unto him.GCB May 16, 1913, page 5.10

J. O. Corliss: I am pleased with what I have learned from the last speaker. It seems that I am related to him as sort of grandfather, for I remember well when I gave Sister Henry her Bible studies every afternoon at 4 o’clock in the parlor of the sanitarium. I remember how she cried like a child when the Sabbath truth was broken to her. And she was an instrument in bringing the truth to our dear Brother Munson. I also remember very well the visits I had with him in their home there, and I am very glad to know that the truth has been going through these instrumentalities to different people in the world.GCB May 16, 1913, page 5.11

I can look back to the time when there were very few people in the truth. I know that there were a few men who were preaching this message when I embraced it. My first knowledge of the truth brought me in contact with the home of old Father Howland in Topsham, Maine. It was there that I had my first opportunities of Sabbath meetings.GCB May 16, 1913, page 5.12

I thought as I heard these other brethren speak that I would not say a word. But I had the privilege of laboring with Father Bates. I shall never forget those days. He taught me how to pray. I had prayed a good deal before that, but I had never learned how to talk with the Lord as I did after I had been with Father Bates. That good old soul would bow down there in my presence and talk with the Lord just as if he was a friend of his and had hold of his hand. Brethren, I love to think of those days and my association with such men as Joseph Bates and J. N. Andrews. Although my hair has grown white in this message, my heart is just as young as it ever was. If there is one purpose in my heart today, it is that I may be faithful to the end. I do long to live until the Master shall come. I have had visions of that time, and of the glory when the Lord shall come and gather his people home. How I long to be with those who shall meet him with joy when he comes!GCB May 16, 1913, page 5.13

W. C. White: I praise God for his mercy, love, and truth which have brought us the fellowship of his Son. I thank him and praise him for his guidance and his providence which have brought us together, and which permit us to enter into counsel and unite in prayer together as to how we may successfully and more faithfully fulfill that blessed mission he has given us—the privilege of being coworkers with him in winning souls to his kingdom.GCB May 16, 1913, page 5.14

I am glad for the privilege of meeting my brethren from foreign lands. I am thankful to God that he has given me a part in this precious work which has called us together.GCB May 16, 1913, page 5.15

I bring you greetings from mother, and from her family, and from her helpers. Her last words to me with reference to the Conference were: “Tell our brethren to be of good cheer. Tell them to have faith in God and to expect great things, to undertake great things, and in his strength to go forward. Tell them not to fear or to look back. My prayers will be with them. Tell our brethren I feel perfectly clear that it is God’s will that I shall remain at home and reserve what strength I have to help in the work of bringing my writings into book form, so that they can be published for the people..GCB May 16, 1913, page 5.16

As father’s and mother’s names have been mentioned here several times this morning, I thought it proper to bring you this word of greeting, and to answer the question which a thousand will ask me, “How is Sister White’s health?” Mother is eighty-five years old. She feels the infirmities of age, but she is not suffering with sickness. She is comfortably well. Almost every pleasant day she rides out for an hour or two. Usually she devotes an hour or two to reading and writing, from day to day. Very frequently, as I visit her in the morning, I find the Review in her hands, and she says, “What a wonderful paper! what an interesting report of our work!” and in connection with various reports in the Review she often comments on the progress of the work in many lands.GCB May 16, 1913, page 6.1

Mother’s courage is good. She has no fear of the future. She expects to rest in the grave a little while before the Lord comes, but she has no dread. Her only anxiety is to use day by day what strength God gives her, in a way most acceptable to her Master.GCB May 16, 1913, page 6.2

Again I say, brethren and sisters, I thank God for the privilege of meeting with you once again.GCB May 16, 1913, page 6.3

A. G. Daniells: There are hundreds who would like to testify, but we must change the form of the meeting. I thought we might sing one verse of No. 343:—GCB May 16, 1913, page 6.4

“Jesus, I my cross have taken;
All to leave and follow thee;
All things else I have forsaken,
Thou henceforth my all shall be.”GCB May 16, 1913, page 6.5

A. G. Daniells: As the minutes of our previous session were read as the days went by up to the last day of the conference, it will not be necessary to read them at this time. So we will ask the secretary, Elder W. A. Spicer, to read the roll of delegates. I thought it would be well for each delegate to stand as his name is called. Just rise in answer to your name, so that all may see who are present.GCB May 16, 1913, page 6.6

At this point the secretary, W. A. Spicer, called the roll of delegates. Very nearly every delegate was present to answer to his name. Among others not present, all regretted that Elder Geo. I. Butler could not respond, being detained in Florida.GCB May 16, 1913, page 6.7

A. G. Daniells: We have a number of new union conferences to unite with the General Conference, and we shall ask those in charge of these unions, the presidents, to speak a few words with reference to their unions. The first is the East German Union Conference, of which Brother H. F. Schuberth is president.GCB May 16, 1913, page 6.8

H. F. Schuberth: The East German Union Conference sends greetings to the General Conference, and 6,000 members ask for admission into the General Conference. We were organized in 1909.GCB May 16, 1913, page 6.9

Upon motion of I. H. Evans, it was voted to receive the East German Union into the General Conference.GCB May 16, 1913, page 6.10

A. G. Daniells: The second is the West German Union Conference. Elder J. G. Oblander is the president.GCB May 16, 1913, page 6.11

J. G. Oblander: We now have over 5,000 members in the West German Union Conference, and they send their greetings to the General Conference, and we ask also for admission into the General Conference. We were organized over three years ago, in 1909.GCB May 16, 1913, page 6.12

Upon motion of O. A. Olsen, it was voted to accept this union.GCB May 16, 1913, page 6.13

A. G. Daniells: The Central European Union Conference is next. Elder Reinke is president.GCB May 16, 1913, page 6.14

O. E. Reinke: The Central European Union has 3,031 members, and they send their greetings to the General Conference assembled, and ask for admission into the body. The conference was organized in July, 1912.GCB May 16, 1913, page 6.15

It was voted that their request be granted.GCB May 16, 1913, page 6.16

A. G. Daniells: The Danube Union Conference is the next. The president of the union, Elder J. F. Huenergardt, will speak regarding the field.GCB May 16, 1913, page 6.17

J. F. Huenergardt: The members of the Danube Union send their greetings to the General Conference and ask for admission. The conference was organized in July, 1912, at Budapest. The total membership at present is 1,725.GCB May 16, 1913, page 6.18

Upon motion, it was voted to accept this union.GCB May 16, 1913, page 6.19

A. G. Daniells: The next is the Siberian Union Mission field, to be admitted as such.GCB May 16, 1913, page 6.20

L. R. Conradi: As Brother Perk, the president of the union mission field, is at present in Manchuria, I wish to speak in behalf of that field. The Siberian Union Mission field was separated from the Russian Union Conference a year ago. This mission field takes in all of Siberia; it has three missions, and a membership of 1,100. They desire admission into this Conference.GCB May 16, 1913, page 6.21

It was voted to receive this union mission into the General Conference.GCB May 16, 1913, page 6.22

A. G. Daniells: The next is the Brazilian Union Conference. Elder F. W. Spies is the president.GCB May 16, 1913, page 6.23

F. W. Spies: The Brazilian Union Conference, as its name indicates, comprises the United States of Brazil, a small territory a little larger than the United States of America, with over 23,000,000 inhabitants. We have 1,512 Sabbath-keepers there now. These were organized in December, 1910, into a union conference. Our brethren there send greetings to this body, and respectfully request to be admitted as a union.GCB May 16, 1913, page 6.24

It was duly voted to grant their request.GCB May 16, 1913, page 6.25

A. G. Daniells: The India Union Mission field is next; Professor J. L. Shaw, is the superintendent.GCB May 16, 1913, page 6.26

J. L. Shaw: The India Union Mission was organized at Lucknow, October, 1910. Its territory comprises India and Burma, about two-thirds the size of the United States. It is divided into five mission fields, consisting of Burma, Bengal, North India, West India, and South India, with about 500 Sabbath-keepers in the conference. The missionaries in India are looking toward this Conference; they send their greetings to you, and are praying for you and this meeting. They ask your prayers in behalf of the work which they are doing. They wish to be received into this Conference.GCB May 16, 1913, page 6.27

Upon motion it was voted to receive this union mission.GCB May 16, 1913, page 6.28

A. G. Daniells: The next is the Levant Union Mission field.GCB May 16, 1913, page 6.29

L. R. Conradi: As Brother E. E. Frauchiger, the superintendent, is not here, I will say that the Levant Union Mission field takes in now what remains of Turkey, Greece, and Bulgaria. The membership at present is 363. They were organized in 1911.GCB May 16, 1913, page 6.30

It was voted to accept this union.GCB May 16, 1913, page 6.31

A. G. Daniells: We are glad to receive these great foreign fields into fellowship in this great work.GCB May 16, 1913, page 6.32

We have a recommendation with reference to electing additional delegates to this Conference. The General Conference Committee cannot appoint delegates except those who are working in mission fields who are not in organized union conferences, but we can bring to the delegates here recommendations with reference to additional representatives to the Conference. The secretary will read a list of names which we wish to ask you to consider at this time and act upon if you think best.GCB May 16, 1913, page 6.33

W. A. Spicer: Reading:—GCB May 16, 1913, page 6.34

G. A. Irwin, J. N. Loughborough, J. O. Corliss, R. A. Underwood, Dr. W. A. Ruble, M. C. Wilcox, L. M. Bowen, C. C. Lewis, E. G. Fulton, H. G. Childs, G. E. Nord, J. W. Mace, Dr. A. B. Olsen, I. J. Hankins, R. G. Ryan, J. C. Rogers, S. M. Konigmacher, B. J. Cady, Miss E. M. Graham, E. C. Widgery, C. W. Thorp, Theo. Valentiner, G. A. Grauer, C. J. Boyd, C. P. Bollman, R. Hook, Jr., L. A. Smith, K. C. Russell, L. A. Hansen, C. S. Longacre, W. E. Howell, T. E. Bowen, Mrs. L. F. Plummer, Miss M. E. Erickson, Meade MacGuire, F. M. Wilcox.GCB May 16, 1913, page 6.35

The following names were added to this list: W. W. Eastman, M. S. Reppe.GCB May 16, 1913, page 6.36

It was voted that the president, and the three vice-presidents act as presiding officers for the session.GCB May 16, 1913, page 6.37

It was voted that the following persons act as pastoral committee for the session, to arrange for the order of meetings:—GCB May 16, 1913, page 6.38

A. G. Daniells, I. H. Evans, L. R. Conradi, E. W. Farnsworth, G. B. Thompson, J. W. Westphal, E. E. Andross, J. E. Fulton, R. C. Porter, W. C. White.GCB May 16, 1913, page 6.39

The daily program was adopted, as appears on the first page of the Bulletin.GCB May 16, 1913, page 6.40

A. G. DANIELLS, Chairman,
W. A. SPICER, Secretary.

DELEGATES TO THE GENERAL CONFERENCE

SECOND MEETING