Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-08-24
FlFTY.FouRTH ANNUAL SESSION
BEGINS THURSDAY NIGHT
AT RlvERviEW
OPENING SERMON GIVEN
BY BISHOP THOMPSON
President Of Northern Union Con-
ference Tells Of Prophecies OF De-
nomination That Have Come True in
World Wsr-Prssiden Ogden Shows
Church to Be Flourishins.

On schedule time the fifty-fourth an.
nual session of the Iowa conference o.
Seventh Day Adventists opened a.
Riverview park Thursday night witt
President A. r. ogden presiding. The
attendance is large, every living TEN
being filled. -.
After an interesting song service be-
ginning at 1880, by a chorus of over
hundred voices. during which "Ameri'
ca" was enthusiastically sung by the
entire assembly unde: the direction OF
Prof. W. I. Morey, of Nevada, President
Ogden made some appropriate remarks
speaking of the pleasant surroundings
and the cordial reception given the de-
nomination by the citizens of Marshall
town.
The address of the evening was given
by Bishop Charles Thompson, of Min
neapolis. president of the Northern
Union conference. Which comprises the
territory Of the states Of Minnesota
the DakotaS and Iowa.
The regular daily program, which
will be carried out during the encamp-
pSSdh viii carly uSNot4OiAesi
meeting today in the large pavilion,
and similar serviE': conducted in the
young peoples tent, in which their
Especial services will be held during the
time of the camp meeting.
Church Shows Growth.
The business session Of the confer
ence was opened this forenoon with
President Ogden in. the chair After
preliminary organization Of the confer
ence. and the seating Of delegates rep
resenting nearly all of the 100 churches
in the state. several new churches were
received into the conference.
The principal feature of the opening
session was the report and address of
| the president. The report was interest
| ing thruout and showed a good degree
of prosperity attending all lines Of the
| denominational work in the state for
the past year. The net increase of mem
| bership was 296. The finances of the
conference are in splendid condition.
there having been received into the
| treasury from the churches Of the state
s57,3s76s in tithes The foreign mission
offerings for the year amounted to
| s2971072, with other smaller contri-
buttons for various purposes bringing
the total received from the constituent
cy of the state TO nearly 100000 for
local and general evangelistic work for
the fiscal year of 1916.
/ One of the leading features of the
Adventist work is that of the general
sale and distribution Of their phblica-
tons. This department of the work is
operated for the state by the Iowa
Tract Society with it's office headquar-
tiers at Nevada. Nearly 100000 of de-
nominational literature was sold in the
state Of Iowa during the conference
yea Thus the Adventists are carrying
| forward an enthusiastic propaganda,
both by voice and pen in aggressive
evangelstic work.
The music is to be Especial feature
during the entire meeting. A song serv-
ice and chorus rendering special num-
bers will be given each evening before
the address. Special attention will be
given to old time congregational sing
ing
Bishop Thompson's Address.
Bishop Thompson used as his text
the motto that is suspended over the
speakers stand "Watchman What of
the Night" taken from Isaiah 21:l1,
and explained the ancient plan Of the
Waterman on the wall and of his duty
to be able TO give' an account when
called upon. The Waterman must pay
penalty with his life for failure to full
fill his duty.
II THE church is set in the world as a
watchman,' said the speaker. 1.-The
greater the darkness. The brighter the
light should, and does. shine. The Lord
has compared his church, his light
bearers, to Waterman. He has grant
ed to the world. to a people who are
cropping their way in darkness, who are
not informed concerning the events,
or concerning the time of day in which
they are living. the privilege of ask
ing the time. He has placed the respon-
slbility upon the ministry and upon the
church Of giving an answer 10 that
question. If the Waterman should say
he did not know the time that would
be all the evidence necessary to prove
his unfaithfulness. There was never a
time when the people desired more
to know what things mean
I'VE have outlined our own history;
the history that we have made as a
nation for more than 100 years We have
outlived ourselves Stepping back just
a few months, on the I'd day Of April
OF the present year, the president Of the
United States declared before congress
that state Of war existed between
the central powers of Europe and the
United States. On the 4th day of April
the senate concurred with the state
ment of the president. On the 9Th day OF
April congress took the same step. Our
nation viii never be in the future what
she has been in the past. All the modern
history we have has become ancient
since April S. 1917"
4 Speaking ot the facts and conditions
that we face today such as we have
never faced before the speaker said:
On the 9Th day Of June all the young
men In America between the ages OF
Il and 81 were called to register thei1
names, from which tn United States
government would raise her future
army. Since that registration they have
drafted $4,000 Of the best young mer
this country produces and they are to.
day In preparation to be modified int
the various camps for training to take
their departure to what is known
among US as the trenches I repeat
this is new order Of things That be.
ing true, the people everywhere are de.
string from the very depth OF t11eiI
~ rte orl. -.