Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-17
ADVENTIST SUNDAY
OBSERVED TODAY
Four Thousand Persons Are
'Encamped at Takoma
Park for Services.
SABBATH STIFFNESS
REIGNS OVER CAMP
Quadrennial Report of Conference
Treasurer Shows Growth in
Funds Striking Feature.

All business affairs and secular pursuits
have been laid aside at the big encamp-
ment at Takoma Park where the world :
conference of Seventh-Day Adventists
IS meeting in its thirty-eighth quadren-
rial session. with delegates present from
all parts of the world.
Today is the Sabbath of the Adventists
They began its observance last night
with the setting OF the sun, with an open
ing Sabbath service. Today the book tent
and grocery tent and the offices of the
different departments are closed, and a
Sabbath stiffness reigns over the camp
on the banks of the Sligo.
The first meeting this morning was a
devotional service at O'Clock, and the
campers were awakened by the ringing
of a bell, and wendell their way from the
streets and avenues Of the 81 family
tents to the big canvas pavilion, where
they reverently began the observance OF
the Sabbath.
After breakfasting in the big dining
tent the campers again assembled in the
large pavilion for a Sabbath school,
which was under the direction of Elder
the secretary of the Sabbath school de-
partment of the general conference.
The thousands of people present We're di-
vided into classes, and teachers were ap-
pointed TO give instruction in the lesson,
which was on the subject God Manifest
in the Flesh
At the close of the Sabbath school a
large offering was taken. which will be
entirely devoted TO foreign missions.
Delivers Forceful Sermon.
At this mornings preaching service FL
der /. H. Evans of Shanghai. China, the
vice president of the general conference
for the Asiatic division, delivered force
full sermon, turning the meeting at the
close Of his sermon into a conservation
service.
At this afternoons preaching service
Elder E. E. AndrOss of California, the
president of the Pacific union conference,
will deliver the sermon.
Tonight Elder j. L. Bottcher of Riga,
Russia, will deliver a stereopticon lee
ture on the work in Russia.
Great interest was manifested among
the delegates at the quadrennial repor1
of the treasurer of the general confer
ence, Elder w. T. Knox of Takoma Park.
The striking feature of this report was
comparison OF the growth in the tithes
and mission funds of the denomination
since the organization of the general con-
ference in 1868, given by decades.
During tn edecade ending in 1872 the
uthes amounted to $17e. s260S. The mission
funds amounted to 81. 5J2-57. During the
next decade, 1873 to 1Ss2, the Iithes
amounted to $505, 1850. and the dona-
In the next decade. 1883 TO 1892, the tithes
grew to 81 ,oS1 1854, while the mission
funds grew to $4yJ, .~4.O1. During the next
decade, 1895 to 1902, the tithes were
raised to $4,342, 193.Os. while the mission
funds were raised to x1,271,5o74 Dur
IN hc
tithes amounted to the enormous sum of
S11 .OS6, 43S. A. while the mission funds
to 1886. Ash.
Tithes for Fifty Years.
Thus the total tithes for the fifty years
since the organization of the general con-
ference in 1863 have amounted to ST.
94s,olOO6. while during the same period
the mission funds have amounted to
- ,I6o, 112.N. or a grand total of 1.-THE
and mission funds of SO, us So So
On hearing these statistics read the
vast audience responded with chorus of
hearty 'Amens.''
Another report which aroused the in
the vice president OF the general con-
ference for the European division, Elder
l.. r. Conrad of Hamburg, Germany
and covered the growth of four years for
the work in Europe. Elder Conradi re-
ported the greatest harvest of souls in
the last four years that the denomination
has ever had" reporting gain of H.
$40. which Is a greater gain, since the last
general conference in 1909, than the en-
tire previous membership for thirty years
He also reported an increased financial
strength in like proportions. the titles
and offerings from 1904 to 1908 amount
ing to $295. 900. and from 1905 to 1872 to
$1.246,OOO. the receipts doubling every
fourth year.
Growth of European Division.
His report also showed that since 1908
three new union conferences. one new
union mission, fifteen new local confer
ences. and eighteen local mission fields
had been added during the four years
to the European division-an increase of
thirty-seven organizations, making a
total Of ninety-four organizations i'm the
European division of the general confer
ence.
The work in Europe is being carried
on in fourteen languages and dialects and
reaches from Iceland to Africa.
Three hundred new evangelical workers
have entered the field during the four
years.
In addition to the 5000 people who are
encamped on the grounds. another thou
sand have come in for the meetings to-
1t is expected that the meetings tomor-
row will have the largest attendance of
any so far held
At tomorrow mornings preaching serv-
ice at $50 Elder j. y. Loughborough,
one OF the oldest pioneer ministers of
the denomination. who was present at
the organization of the general confer
ence in Battle Creek. Mich, fifty years
ago. will deliver the sermon.
Tomorrow night Elder W. A. Spicer,
the secretary of the general conference.
will deliver an address on THE Ger
tamties of the Advent Message.
HOW TO CLIMB MT. RAINIER.