Yearly Meetings by M. E. Cornell

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 17, 1866

Yearly Meetings.

By M. E. Cornell

THE decision of the Conference Committees to call a Conference of delegates, will, I trust, meet with general approbation. There are many reasons showing that this plan is not only preferable, but absolutely necessary.

1. The principal object to be accomplished is the transaction of business. The Association meeting, the General and State Conferences all occurring the same week, afford so much business, and require such an amount of mental labor that but little time or strength can be spared for religious meetings. How cruel it must be to require a minister after he has deliberated all day in the business sessions to speak an hour and a half at night, and then retire so exhausted that he cannot sleep!

2. If people expect to hear good sermons at these meetings, they are liable to be disappointed, because overworked and nearly worn-out preachers cannot give due attention to necessary business and still be able to meet the expectations of the people. And on this account, many in times past, attending large Conferences expecting to be greatly benefited in a religious point of view, have gone away disappointed and dissatisfied. They took a wrong view of the matter.

3. If the object of these Conferences is to enjoy good meetings and have a comfortable time, the sisters of the church where the meetings are held, are evidently wronged; for they must work so hard to entertain the multitude that they cannot always attend, much less enjoy religious service. Reference can be made to several who have broken their constitutions by overworking during Conference week.

4. With the present system of Quarterly Meetings, devoted almost exclusively to religious services, the wants of the cause are being met independent of large yearly gatherings.

5. The organization of churches and Conferences has gone steadily forward, until now there are about as many delegates to the annual meetings as can conveniently be provided for in one society.

6. The church at Battle Creek, though still willing to

bear all necessary burdens, are not able to provide for three or four hundred persons during Conference week.

7. Our preachers, and Gen. Conf. Committee, so far as we know, are unanimous in the opinion that a conference of DELEGATES is every way preferable to large and promiscuous assemblies.

M. E. CORNELL.

Battle Creek, April 13th, 1866.