Every member present felt that the most essential feature of the Sabbath-school work was up for consideration at this meeting—“The Daily Family Study of the Sabbath-school Lesson.” Miss S. Lela Hoover, the Western Washington secretary, introduced the topic by a thoughtful paper. It is a truth beyond all controversy in the mind of every Christian who has had any experience in the things of God, that in order to maintain a vital connection with the Holy Spirit, he must apply himself daily to study, meditation, and prayer. We know that we have a number of books that are a great help to Bible study, but where can we find a series of lessons so systematically arranged, so carefully and thoughtfully prepared, and so well illustrated, as the lessons for our Sabbath-school? Then, too, this study, as arranged to meet all ages of the family, affords a rare opportunity for gathering the children and youth daily, and filling their minds with truths that will be as a wall of defense to them in their associations with the world.GCB May 27, 1909, page 171.2

Enumerating the many essentials which go to make an ideal school, she stated that “they are the signs which follow a faithful daily study of the Sabbath-school lessons.” If we can get all of our people to studying the Sabbath-school lessons daily, we shall have solved many problems that now perplex us in every department of the work.GCB May 27, 1909, page 171.3

A valuable paper prepared by Mrs. Jessie B. Everett was read by the secretary, as the writer was unable to be present. Miss Dollie H. Callender, the Kentucky secretary, continued the discussion by presenting a number of helpful thoughts.GCB May 27, 1909, page 171.4

Elder M. C. Wilcox: The need of humanity is the same everywhere. It is the great need of the Word of God. Every worker should do all in his power to stimulate the study of the Sabbath-school lesson in the home. There is no better way to influence others to do this than by doing it ourselves.GCB May 27, 1909, page 171.5

E. K. Slade: The blessedness of the Sabbath-school centers largely in the study of the Sabbath-school lesson. The thought, the idea, of the Sabbath-school is the study of the lesson. This should be the central theme. There is no question but that there is a tendency on the part of many to neglect the Sabbath-school lesson. I hope that an influence may be set on foot in favor of studying the lesson that will reach every home. This matter should be made prominent in every school.GCB May 27, 1909, page 171.6

Miss Ella E. Merickel: We have arranged to supply each tent at our campmeeting soon to be held, with a copy of the Sabbath-school lesson and a suggestive program for family study. The conference committee have agreed to urge that the program for study be carried out by the attendants at the campmeeting.GCB May 27, 1909, page 171.7

The next topic was that of “Sabbath-school Membership: Attendance, Punctuality.” A paper going into all the details of this subject was presented by Miss Tillie E. Barr, the East Michigan secretary. She presented the evil attending irregular attendance and tardiness. The example of the officers and teachers is very far-reaching in bettering this condition. Several methods were suggested for increasing attendance and promptness on the part of our Sabbath-school membership.GCB May 27, 1909, page 171.8

Mrs. Maud Lowry, the secretary for the District of Columbia, presented a very helpful paper, the points of which were illustrated by charts, showing the actual accomplishments of results in one of the schools in her territory. There being no time for further discussion, the meeting closed.GCB May 27, 1909, page 171.9

THE RELIGIOUS LIBERTY DEPARTMENT

WASe

Eleventh Meeting, May 26, 8 A. M.

The meeting was devoted to a consideration of the question, “How to Do the Most Effective Work at Our Campmeetings Along Religious Liberty Lines.”GCB May 27, 1909, page 171.10

Elders E. T. Russell and A. J. Breed occupied most of the time, quoting in their remarks quite largely from the chapters on “The Coming Conflict” and “An Impending Crisis,” in “Testimonies for the Church,” Nos. 32 and 33. Both brethren thought that time should be devoted in our camp-meetings to the subject of religious liberty, and that special meetings should be held at these, in which the subject should be studied, and opportunity given for questions to be asked and answered. There can be no better place than our camp-meetings to interest our people in, and arouse them upon, this important phase of the message. At these meetings our people should be encouraged to subscribe for Liberty, and an effort should be made to encourage individuals to devote their time as regular agents for this magazine. The religious liberty work, if understood, and heartily engaged in by our people generally, will bring renewed spiritual life to them.GCB May 27, 1909, page 171.11

The chairman stated that he thought our people generally, and our workers in particular, should be encouraged to read over the chapter in “Testimonies for the Church,” Nos. 32 and 33, from which the brethren had read extracts.GCB May 27, 1909, page 172.1

The interest in religious liberty topics is unabated. Every discussion is listened to with marked attention. Every one seems to realize that here is a part of the work that comes right to all our doors. In this connection we may be called upon at almost any time to give a reason for the hope that is in us, and we ought to be prepared to do it meekly but firmly and intelligently. Our duty is not wholly to our immediate neighbors; the message is due lawmakers, judges, executives, etc. Many of these men can be reached with the truth in this way who would be hard to approach from any other standpoint.GCB May 27, 1909, page 172.2

THE PUBLISHING DEPARTMENT

WASe

Eleventh Meeting, May 26, 8 A. M.

This was one of the most enthusiastic, interesting meetings of the session thus far. The Publishing Department is not spending much time upon theories or lengthy presentations. A careful study of the details of the work is being made, in order to bring the many varied features of the publishing work into harmonious, effective operation.GCB May 27, 1909, page 172.3

The following outline of the reporting system was given careful study, and unanimously adopted:—GCB May 27, 1909, page 172.4

(a) That all canvassers report to the field missionary agent and the secretary of the tract society at the end of each week on blanks provided for that purpose, except in cases where it is found satisfactory for agents to send their weekly reports to the tract society secretary, and have the tract society secretaries forward them promptly to the field missionary agent.GCB May 27, 1909, page 172.5

(b) That tract society secretaries enter reports in agent’s weekly recordbook.GCB May 27, 1909, page 172.6

(c) That the tract society secretary forward reports to field missionary agent, unless duplicates have been sent to him by the canvassers, and make up a summary on or before Tuesday morning of each week, covering the work for the previous week. Send copy of this summary to State conference president, field missionary agent, general missionary agent of the union, the publishing house or branch which must supply the books, and the union conference paper, or other periodicals which publish the reports.GCB May 27, 1909, page 172.7

(d) That the general missionary agent of the union compile monthly summary of State conference reports on or before the twelfth day of the following month on blank provided for that purpose, and send to secretary of the Publishing Department.GCB May 27, 1909, page 172.8

(e) That field missionary agents and tract society secretaries unite in supplying reports and suitable instruction for each number of the State paper wherever there is such a periodical.GCB May 27, 1909, page 172.9

(f) That the general missionary agent of each union join with the manager of the Circulating Department of the wholesale house supplying goods to his territory in preparing suitable reports and articles for each number of the union conference paper.GCB May 27, 1909, page 172.10

(g) That the secretary of the Publishing Department supply monthly reports for the Review and Herald.GCB May 27, 1909, page 172.11

(h) That the field missionary agent of each conference be responsible for keeping the territorial record accurate and up to date.GCB May 27, 1909, page 172.12

(i) That the general agents of union conferences provide themselves with suitable record-books in which to record the reports from each conference in his territory.GCB May 27, 1909, page 172.13

MEDICAL MISSIONARY DEPARTMENT

WASe

Eleventh Meeting, May 26, 8 A. M.

Dr. G. H. Heald read a paper on “General Hygiene,” emphasizing the thought that while we should not do less on the subject of diet, etc., we should do much more than we have been doing on other lines. For instance, we should give more attention to the prevention of communicable diseases, including tropical diseases; we should make more of a study of school hygiene, sanitation, ventilation, the remedying of defects in the eye, nose, throat, teeth, etc., which greatly diminish efficiency of students; and we should have a more complete course of hygienic instruction introduced into the schools.GCB May 27, 1909, page 172.14

As this paper had been laid over from yesterday on account of discussion on the previous paper, it was decided to have this paper and the following one discussed together, so Miss Margaret Bilz was called upon to take up the consideration of the next topic.GCB May 27, 1909, page 172.15

Miss Bilz, who is a national W. C. T. U. lecturer, related personal experiences in the temperance work. Some of these emphasized a deplorable lack of co-operation on the part of our people in some localities in the matter of actively supporting the cause of temperance reform, while others gave abundant evidence of the benefits a proper co-operation with this work can bring in the way of promoting interest in proper diet, healthful dress, and other lines of reform. In one society, as a result of the example of the Seventh-day Adventist woman who was its leader, every woman in the organization was wearing a health waist. The two ways of promoting the cause of temperance were mentioned, that of active prohibition and that of education in temperance principles.GCB May 27, 1909, page 172.16

There was a general expression of interest in this paper, and other examples were related showing the excellent results of a judicious co-operation with the W. C. T. U. and other temperance organizations.GCB May 27, 1909, page 172.17

DEVOTIONAL MEETING

Conference Proceedings. TWENTY-SECOND MEETING