Business Proceedings

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 24, 1866

Business Proceedings

OF THE ILL. AND WIS. STATE CONFERENCE OF S. D. A., HELD AT JOHNSTOWN CENTER, ROCK CO., WISCONSIN, JUNE 22nd, 1866.

Conference met pursuant to appointment, at 9 o'clock, A. M. Eld. I. Sanborn in the chair. Ordained ministers present, Isaac Sanborn, Wm. S. Ingraham, R. F. Andrews, and T. M. Steward, also J. N. Loughborough of Mich. Opened by prayer by Bro. Loughborough. The Credentials of delegates being called for, fifteen churches responded by delegates present, one by letter, three not represented.

The church of Gridley, Ill., was received into the Conference by a unanimous vote.

The letters and reports of delegates show the standing of Conference as follows: Number of churches in Conference, 20. Members reported, 554. Amount of s. B. fund, $2,441.55.

Voted, That Eld J. N. Loughborough be invited to participate in the business proceedings of this Conference. He thereupon made some interesting remarks upon the health reform, and the movement now being made for the establishment of a Health Reform Institute, at Battle Creek, which were gladly received.

Voted, That a committee of three on resolutions be appointed by the Chair. The following brethren were then appointed. J. N. Loughborough, H. C. Blanchard, and R. F. Andrews.

Ministers' reports being called for, Eld. I. Sanborn, Wm. S. Ingraham, R. F. Andrews, and T. M. Steward, (ordained) and H. C. Blanchard, John Matteson, and Wm. Russell, (licenciates) responded. These reports all accepted by unanimous vote.

Voted, That this Conference drop the name of L. G. Bostwick, of Sand Prairie, Richland Co., Wis., from our minutes, and further that we utterly condemn the reckless, unchristian, and fraudulent course pursued by him, in obtaining money and goods, and deceitfully stealing away to Canada, thus leaving his numerous creditors to suffer, and bringing disgrace upon his brethren.

Voted, That a committee of three on nominations be appointed by the chair. Brn. J. N. Loughborough, R. F. Andrews, and N. M. Jordon, were appointed.

Voted, That a committee of six be appointed to settle with ministers. Bro N. M. Jordon, C. W. Olds, Bro. Atkinson, Eli Wick, Rufus Baker, and Bro. Williams, were appointed by the chair.

Treasurer's report as follows: Receipts since last Conference, $2,509.06. Disbursements 1,990.18. Cash now in hand 505.05.

Committee on nominations, report as follows: President, I. Sanborn. Vice President, dropped. Secretary, T. M. Steward. Executive Committee, I. Sanborn, Wm. S. Ingraham, and R. F. Andrews. Report accepted, and committee discharged.

The above nominees were respectively elected by unanimous vote, and the office of Vice-President was dropped from our minutes.

Voted, That the credentials of the following ministers be renewed for the coming year: Elds. Isaac Sanborn, Wm. S. Ingraham, R. F. Andrews, and T. M. Steward.

Voted, Further, to renew the licenses of the following brethren: John Matteson, H. C. Blanchard, and

Wm. Russell. Report of committee on settlement was then made and duly accepted, and the committee discharged. The demands of preachers promptly met by Conference fund.

The committee on resolutions being ready to report brought in the following: The proposed amendment to the constitution recommended by the General Conference, the resolutions allowing unorganized churches representation in Conference, the course recommended in expelling members, the dress resolutions, and the health reform.

Resolved, That we fully approve of the establishing of a Health Institution at Battle Creek, Mich., and that we will aid in this enterprise by our means and influence.

Resolved, That we endorse the following resolutions passed by the late General Conference: "That when a member takes a letter of commendation from a church, it is the judgment of this Conference that he remains a member of that church, till he becomes a member of another; and that he should pay his Systematic Benevolence accordingly; giving due notice when he joins the church in another place.

Resolved, That we re-arrange our Systematic Benevolence pledges at the time of electing our delegates to State Conference, so that our s. B. year may correspond with Conference.

Resolved, That we pay to the Conference 80 per cent of all moneys received into s. B. fund.

Resolved, That the Conference year commence the first of July, and that our quarterly reports to the Secretary commence from that date.

Resolved, That this Conference donate the sum of one hundred dollars to aid in the erection of a meeting-house at Battle Creek.

Resolved, That this Conference donate one hundred dollars to the General Conference Missionary Fund.

Resolved, That this Conference donate one hundred dollars to S. D. A. P. Association.

Resolved, That the Conference committee be empowered to publish a suitable number of minutes in pamphlet form, for the use of the Conference. Said minutes to contain the State Conference Constitution, and some of the doings of the Conferences of 1863–4–5 and 6.

Resolved, That this Conference furnish suitable Blanks to the different churches and ministers within its limits.

Resolved, That the Executive Committee be requested to district the Conference field, and arrange Quarterly Meetings.

Resolved, That we invite one or more of the General Conference Committee to meet with us in our future sessions.

Resolved, That this Conference tender a vote of thanks to the Johnstown Center church for their kind hospitalities during this Conference.

Voted, To accept the report and discharge the committee.

The above resolutions were all passed respectively by unanimous vote.

Voted, That this Conference adjourn sine die. I. SANBORN, Pres. T. M. STEWARD, Sec.