Fourth Annual Meeting of the Iowa State Conference.
PURSUANT to appointment in the Review, the fourth annual session of the Iowa State Conference of S. D. Adventists was held at Pilot Grove, Iowa, Friday, June 8th, 1866, at 9 o'clock A. M. Prayer by Eld. J. N. Loughborough. The credentials of delegates were then called for, and examined. There were fifteen delegates present, representing thirteen churches. Moved, by Bro. H. Nicola, that we invite Elders Loughborough, A. C. and D. T. Bourdeau, to take part with us in the deliberations of this Conference. Carried. On motion of Bro. J. T. Mitchell, it was voted that the following preamble and resolution be adopted by the Conference: Whereas, H. E. Carver, the Secretary of this Conference is in open opposition to some of the prominent doctrines held by this people, therefore Resolved, That his name be dropped from our list of Conference Officers, and that Bro. A. C. Bourdeau act as Secretary pro tem. The following preamble and resolution was also adopted by vote: Whereas, Messrs. Snook and Brinkerhoff have openly renounced the work of the third angel's message, therefore Resolved, That we drop their names from our minutes. On motion, it was voted that we receive Bro. R. W. Reed into our Conference. The minutes of the last meeting were read and accepted. Moved, that the Chair appoint a committee of three on resolutions. Carried. Brn. J. N. Loughborough, J. T. Mitchell, and A. A. Fairfield, were thereupon named as said committee. Moved, that the Chair appoint a committee of three on nominations, and a committee of six to settle with ministers. Carried. Brn. J. N. Loughborough, Jacob Hare, and D. T. Shireman, were thereupon named as a committee on nominations; and Brn. Loughborough, Beeman, Hare, McPheeters, Mitchell and Shireman to act with the Conference Committee to settle with ministers. The Treasurer's report of the Iowa Conference Fund was read and approved. Amount on hand at last report, $ 28,79
“ received during Conf. year, 1502,40
Total, $1531,19
Paid out to ministers as per Treasurer's book, $973,39
Cash on hand to balance, 557,80
Total, $1531,19 Adjourned till half past 2 o'clock, P. M. AFTERNOON SESSION. Prayer by Bro. D. T. Bourdeau. The Committee on Resolutions presented their report, which was accepted; and the following resolutions were acted upon, and adopted by unanimous votes of the Conference. Resolved, That the resolutions passed by the General Conference to allow unorganized churches to be represented by delegates, be adopted as Sec. 2 of Art. I of the State Conference Constitution, viz.: Sec. 2. When Sabbath-keepers in any place have enrolled their names under the church covenant of S. D. Adventists, appointed a leader and organized Systematic Benevolence, they shall be entitled to delegates to the sessions of the State Conference to the same extent as though fully organized. Resolved, That the following words be added to Sec. 2 of Art II of the Constitution of the Iowa State Conference: And it shall further be the duty of the Secretary to furnish the delegates to the General Conference, statistics specifying the number of ministers and licentiates belonging to the Conference, the number of churches and membership, the total amount of S. B. fund, &c. Resolved, That Art. VI of the Constitution be changed so as to read, "each day's occupation," instead of "their labors each week." Resolved, That in the matter of expulsion of members from churches, we endorse and adopt the resolutions of the General Conference passed upon this subject as follows: Resolved, That in our judgment the expulsion of members from church fellowship should never be effected by less than a two-thirds vote of the entire membership of the church in question; and such action should not take place without previous faithful labor with the erring member, and also due notice of the trial. The only circumstances under which these regulations should be departed from at all are in the case of outrageous crime in which the guilt is manifest; in which case, at the discretion of the church this previous labor may be dispensed with. Resolved, That in case of church trials involving the expulsion of members, we deem it advisable that our brethren, if possible, secure the aid of some experienced preacher; if this is not consistent that they make application to their own State Conference Committee for the aid of some experienced and judicious lay-brethren to aid by their counsel and advice, excepting such cases only as are excepted in the preceding resolution. Voted, That the State Conference adopt the resolutions on dress, as passed by the General Conference. Resolved, That we acknowledge the health reform as set forth in the testimony of Sr. White, as part of the work of God incumbent on us at this time; and that we pledge ourselves to live in accordance with these principles, and that we will use our best endeavors to impress their importance upon others. By request, this resolution was endorsed by a rising vote of the entire assembly. Resolved, That the districting of the State, and arranging Quarterly Meetings, be referred to the State Conference Committee. Resolved, That we pay $100 of our funds to assist in erecting the meeting-house at Battle Creek, Mich. Resolved, That we pay $100 of our funds to the General Conference Missionary Fund. Resolved, That we pay $100 of our funds to the Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association. Voted, That the Conference Committee be empowered to publish in pamphlet form the Constitution of the Iowa State Conference, with such amendments and resolutions as have been made since its organization, together with the proceedings of the present session. Resolved, That the S. B. Treasurer of each church make a report to the State Conference Treasurer of all their unavailable pledges yet unpaid up to the present Conference. Voted, That eighty per cent of the funds of each church in the Conference be paid to this Conference. Resolved, That we recommend to the churches in this Conference to arrange their Systematic Benevolence yearly on the day that they appoint their delegates to represent them to the annual State Conference. The Committee on nominations presented their report, and the officers of the Conference were appointed respectively in harmony with said report, as follows: For President, G. I. Butler; Secretary, A. A. Fairfield; Treasurer, Thomas Hare; Conference Committee, G. I. Butler, H. Nicola, and J. T. Mitchel. Adjourned till evening after the Sabbath, at half past 8 o'clock. THIRD SESSION. Prayer by Bro. A. C. Bourdeau. On motion, it was voted that Bro. A. A. Fairfield, of Mount Pleasant, Iowa, be a delegate to the next General Conference. Voted, That the Seventh-day Adventists of Iowa hold a General Convocation Meeting of several days at some central point. The object of this meeting will be our mutual religious interest, and advancement in holiness. The place and time of meeting to be appointed by Brn. A. C. and D. T. Bourdeau. Voted, That this Conference tender its thanks to Brn. Loughborough, and D. T. and A. C. Bourdeau for their assistance in its deliberations. Resolved, That this Conference do thankfully receive the Brn. Bourdeau as missionary laborers in our State, and further do pledge them our sympathy and help in their labors among us. Resolved, That this Conference tender its thanks to the brethren of Pilot Grove church, for their kind hospitality in entertaining and making comfortable those who have attended the Iowa Conference. Voted, That the minutes of this Conference be published in the Review. Adjourned to the call of the Committee. Sunday evening the Conference was called in session by the Committee. The Committee on settlement, then brought in their report, which was read and ap50proved. They further reported the following, which was unanimously adopted by the Conference: Whereas, Elder B. F. Snook, has made a claim on this Conference for past indebtedness, and Whereas, His claim and accounts have been examined, and compared with the Treasurer's book, we find that in accordance with his own figures, for time from Oct. 1st, 1864, to July 1st, 1865, thirty-nine weeks, he has received of Conference funds, $479,71, besides gifts of $109,45 making a total of $589,16. Of this he paid for traveling expenses $86,56, leaving paid to him for his time $502,50, about $13,00 per week; while by the action of the Conference of September, 1864, the ministers of this State were to receive $12,00 per week, and pay their own traveling expenses, therefore Resolved, That we consider Eld. B. F. Snook has no just ground in claiming that this Conference owes him. Whereas, Eld. Snook claims that the usage of this State has not been to count donations in settling with ministers, and Whereas, He has taken the liberty to deduct his gifts from the amount received, which leaves the amount received $479,71, while his time, thirty-nine weeks, at $12,00 per week, would give him but $468,00, this leaves $11,71 he is overpaid by his own showing, on the Conference year ending July, 1865; and Whereas, He is overpaid for the little time he labored during the last Conference $8,30, making by his own figures about $20,00 he is owing this Conference; and Whereas, Had Elder Snook been settled with as ministers in other Conferences have been, about three months of his time would have been deducted while he was at home, and also one month for the time he was at Battle Creek Conference, and in rebellion after his return home, which would have given him but about $264,00, and traveling expenses, or pay for about twenty-two weeks' time, while he received $565,92, and this would have left him in debt to the Iowa Conference $217,86 at previous settlement; and Whereas, We found in the recommend of the General Conference Committee to the Iowa State Conference, that it was their opinion that these men did not deserve pay for the time they were at Battle Creek, and after their return; "but as a merciful response to their frank and humble confession," they recommended "pay for all their time," they were allowed $12,00 per week for thirty-nine weeks; $468,00; and Whereas, It has been made to appear in this Conference, by the testimony of Bro. Adams, Fairfield, Morrow, Mitchel, and others, that Elder Snook's testimony to them showed that he did expect to make donations count on his pay, therefore Resolved, That the Conference holds Elder B. F. Snook indebted to this Conference $121,71 on last year, and $8,30 on this year, making a total of his indebtedness $130,01. Adjourned to the call of the Committee. G. I. BUTLER, President,
A. C. BOURDEAU, Secretary, pro tem.