General Conference Bulletin THIRTY-EIGHTH SESSION
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THE General Conference Bulletin THIRTY-EIGHTH SESSION VOL. 7 TAKOMA PARK STATION, WASHINGTON, D. C., FRIDAY, MAY 23, 1913 No. 7 THE GENERAL CONFERENCE Throughout the field, faithful leaders 2. Society Lessons. BULLETIN have worked diligently and prayerfully 3. Missionary Volunteer Reading to carry out these plans, and God has Courses. Published by signally blessed their efforts. Not all 4. Standard of Attainment. The General Conference of Se% endl-day that we desire has been accomplished, 5. Leaflet Series. Adventists but we are truly grateful for what has 6. Libraries. DAILY EXCEPT SATURDAY! been done, which, without a special ef- 7. Camp-meetings and Institutes. fort for the youth, would probably have 50 CENTS FOR THE SESSION, MAY 16 TO JUNE 9, 1913 III. Organized Missionary Effort. Editorial committee: W. A. Spicer. C. P. &Ammo. been left undone. I. Personal Evangelism. C. C. Crisler. T. E. Bowen, H. E. Rogers. J. N. Anderson. The interest in Missionary Volunteer 2. Literature Work. Office editors: C. P. BoIlinan, C. C. Crisler. Copy editor: Mrs. C. M. Snow. work has been manifestly deepened. 3. Christian Help Work. More time is being given to its develop- 4. Bible Readings and Cottage Entered as second-class matter at the post- ment; more extensive and intensive Meetings. office at Washington, D. C., May 16, 1913, under the act of Congress of March 3, 1879. DAILY PROGRAM (Except Sabbath) A. M. Devotional Meetings (in sections) 6: oo — 6:45 Breakfast 7:00 Bible Study 8: 3o — 9:30 Conference 30: oo — 12 : 00 P. M. Dinner 12 : 15 Conference 2 : 30 — 4:00 Departmental Meetings (in sections), Mission- ary Talks and Other Services (in big tent) . 4:30 — 5 : 30 Lunch 6 : oo Public Service 7 : 3o — 9 : 00 if torn former flinchgomi REPORT OF THE MISSIONARY VOLUNTEER DEPARTMENT (Read during eleventh meeting of Conference session, May 21, 10 A. M.) THE CAPITOL, WASHINGTON, D. C. OUR young people's work was organ- ized as a separate department of the work is being done; and well-directed 5. General Conference six years ago. The Temperance, Religious Liberty, efforts are resulting in conversions and etc. plans on which the 'department should increased missionary activity among 6. Missionary Correspondence. operate were laid at a convention held the youth. There is a general awaken- 7. Christian Stewardship. at Mount Vernon, Ohio, during the ing to the fact that " the Lord has ap- summer of 1907. The General Confer- pointed the youth to be his helping Devotional ence in- session four years ago approved hand " in giving the gospel to the The first and greatest need of our of the action of the General Conference world; and that our young people well Committee in establishing the depart- youth is more devotion to God and a organized for service are a powerful more definite Christian experience. The ment, and of the plans laid at Mount factor in the prosecution of that work. Vernon, and also passed resolutions Morning Watch plan is a call to begin •calling the attention of our people to Training in Service each day with secret prayer, and doubt- the importance of this work, and out- The work of the Missionary Volun- less the faithful observance of the Morn- lining its salient features. This, there- teer Department naturally falls into ing Watch will do more than almost any fore, is our first quadrennial report. three • divisions, as outlined on this other one thing to establish between the The present officers of the department chart, " Training in Service " [chart individual and Heaven that unbroken took up their duties with fear and trem- exhibitedj. I will trace the develop- communion which is the secret of right bling, recognizing the greatness of the ment of this work by following this out- living and of successful soul-winning. work to be done, and sensible of their line. Thousands of young people testify that the Morning Watch plan is helping them own inefficiency to do it. But the work Training in Service is of God; and as we look back over to form the habit of daily secret prayer the past period of four years, we can I. Devotional — and personal Bible study. but exclaim, Behold " what bath God I. Consecration Services. The calendar used for promoting the wrought! " These years have, we be- 2. The Morning Watch. Morning Watch gives a Bible text for lieve, proved the wisdom of the plans IL Educational — each day, and several topics for special which were agreed upon at that time. 1. The Youth's Instructor. prayer each month. The first edition ap- 106 GENERAL CONFERENCE BULLETIN peared in 1908. That the calendar has and it is evident that many others read cards. Aside from the leaflets and made friends rapidly is seen in its cir- the books without enrolling. The read- pledges, a reporting system, including culation, which is shown on this chart. ing-circle membership embraces young record books, has been completed. Circulation of Morning Watch Calendar people in several different countries. The senior and junior courses for our Libraries ENGLISH EDITION English-speaking youth are used most Libraries are found in many Mission- 1908 6,000 copies extensively in Australia, Canada, and 14,500 copies ary Volunteer societies, and the efforts 1909 the United States. In the fall of 1911 young people's workers are putting 1910 17,500 copies a German course was begun ; this has copies forth to get other societies to build li- 1911 22,000 met with splendid success. In January, braries, are amply justified, because of 1912 25,000 copies 1913, a Spanish course was opened in 1913 33,000 copies the saving influence of good books. To South America, and our youth there help in the selection of books, each Aside from the English edition for pressed into the ever-growing reading young people's society is invited to pro- 1913, the calendar texts were printed circle. The workers in Japan are ma- cure fifteen recommended books as a also in German, Spanish, Japanese, Chi- king plans for a Japanese course. To nucleus of an ever-growing library. It nese, and Korean. Thus morning by each person completing the assigned is also suggested that the Reading morning, the members of this large reading in any course and writing the Course books be added from year to prayer circle, in all parts of the world, required book review, a reading-course year. The fifteen books and all the press around the same throne, seeking certificate is granted. During 1912 Reading Course books can be seen in the the same loving Father for victory over about ten times as many reading-course Missionary Volunteer exhibit in room temptation and power for Christian certificates were issued as in 1908. 22 of the Seminary Hall. service. A young man who is now in foreign Consecration services have been one fields attributes his choice of his life Camp-Meetings very effective way of safeguarding work to a reading-course book; a young The camp-meeting is the golden op- young people's societies against for- girl wrote, " I used to be an Adventist portunity of the year. The Missionary mality, and of bringing spiritual power because my parents were, but since I Volunteer, workers have prayed and to their members. These services have read ' Great Controversy,' I am an Ad- planned and worked to make this op- always been recommended to our Mis- ventist because I know it is right." It portunity a permanent blessing to the sionary Volunteer Societies, but for 1913 is still too early to measure the influ- youth. God has richly blessed their ef- each society program allows some time ence that the reading courses are exert- forts. Through careful preparation be- for social service. ing. However, there is abundant evi- fore the meeting, through untiring ef- Educational Features dence that they are fulfilling their in- forts during the meeting, and by keep- The Youth's Instructor for more than tended purpose. ing in personal touch with the youth fifty years has been one of the greatest [The speaker here exhibited a chart, after they leave the camp-ground, much single factors in the religious work for giving a list of the books used in the good has been accomplished. Generally the children and youth of this denomi- reading course, 1907-13.] the young people have their own tent nation. It is now the organ of the Mis- Standard of Attainment for services. Some conferences have sionary Volunteer Societies, but for 1913 also provided two other small tents, one The Standard of Attainment plan in- for young men and the other for young fulfilling, we believe, a still wider mis- augurated at the Mount Vernon conven- sion to our youth. The Jugenbode women, where they meet separately for tion, has been used of God to stimulate prayer, study, and personal work. (Youth's Messenger) has helped to de- our youth to study Bible doctrines and velop the Missionary Volunteer work denominational history. Every young Institutes and Conventions among the German-speaking youth. person is invited to become a member of This paper has been a monthly pub- attainment. One year " The Great Sec- Institutes and conventions have been lication, but after July I, 1913, it will ond Advent Movement " was given in held in several union and local confer- be a weekly, with a Missionary Volun- the Senior Reading Course, and the so- ences. They have been an inspiration teer Department in each issue. ciety programs contained a series of to the workers who attended them, and The department has undertaken to have done much to develop better meth- forty lessons on Bible doctrines.