California Conference Proceedings.
The first meeting of the fifteenth annual session of the California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists was held in connection with the camp-meeting at Woodland, Cal., October 7, 1886, at 9 A. M. The President, Elder S. N. Haskell, in the chair. Prayer was offered by Elder H. A. St. John. The following churches were represented by delegates:— Burrough Valley, Dow's Prairie, Duarte, Eureka, Fairview, Ferndale, Fresno, Healdsburg, Lakeport, Lemoore, Napa, Nevada City, Oakland, Petaluma, Pleasant Grove, Placerville, Reno, San Jose, Santa Rosa, St. Helena, San Francisco, San Pasqual, Vacaville, and Woodland. The churches at Los Angeles, Norwalk, and St. Clair failed to report. On motion it was decided to waive reading all but the resolutions of the minutes of last session. The churches at Eureka and Dow's Prairie, organized by Elder N. C. McClure, and the churches at Virginia City, Mason Valley, and Duarte, organized by Elder E. A. Briggs, were received into the Conference. Brethren Scott and La Rue were invited to represent the Hawaiian Mission, and Brethren Hare and Brighouse, New Zealand. They spoke of the wants of the cause there, and hoped that soon help would be sent to that field. Elder Haskell spoke of the lead that California had taken in providing for the missions in the Pacific, and the need which the cause had for more good workers to be sent to foreign countries to organize and carry on the work there. On motion the chair appointed the following committees:— On Nominations, Wm. Saunders, W. C. Grainger, and John Morrison. On Resolutions, E. J. Waggoner, H. A. St. John, and E. R. Jones. On Credentials, J. N. Loughborough, Wm. Healey, and N. C. McClure. On Auditing, Wm. Saunders, Jos. Leininger, F. V. Harmon, H. P. Gray, Wm. Butcher, and Ruel Stickney. Adjourned to call of the chair. SECOND MEETING, OCTOBER 8, 9 A. M.
Prayer by Elder N. C. McClure. Minutes of last meeting read and approved. The Treasurer's report being read, showed the total receipts for the Conference year ending Sept. 1, 1886, to be $18,628.09, with a balance on hand at the close of the year, of $5,124.32. Interesting remarks were made by Elder Haskell as to the need which we as a people have of a more thorough consecration of ourselves and our means to the work. Elder Loughborough then read a letter from Mrs. E. G. White, speaking of the advancement of the cause in Europe, and urging all to renewed zeal in the cause of truth. Adjourned to call of the chair. THIRD MEETING, OCTOBER 10, 1886.
The Committee on Resolutions presented the following:— WHEREAS, The testimony of the Lord has explicitly spoken to the effect that it is the duty of every one to pay to the Lord his tithe, and that none are excused; therefore, Resolved, That we promise henceforth to do our duty in this respect, and that we will make every proper effort to induce all within the reach of our influence to pay an honest tithe. WHEREAS, Our preaching pavilion is scarcely large enough to accommodate the members that attend our present camp-meeting, and we expect that God is going to greatly bless this Conference in bringing souls to the saving knowledge of the truth; Resolved, That we request the Conference Committee to purchase before the next annual camp-meeting a tent 100x150 feet in size. WHEREAS, The Healdsburg College is prepared to make good family tents at reasonable rates; and WHEREAS, It is essential to our influence for good that there should be neatness and a good degree of uniformity in our camp-meeting tents; Resolved, That we recommend that all of our brethren who desire to purchase tents should patronize our college factory, and that those who prefer to rent tents should rent them of the Conference Committee. All members of the Conference in good standing were invited to take part in the deliberations. The first resolution, pertaining to the paying of tithes, was quite freely discussed, and it was shown that none should be excepted from the privilege. The most dependent should be assisted in some manner so that they will have something to put into the treasury of the Lord. The resolutions were then adopted and meeting adjourned to call of the chair. FOURTH MEETING, OCTOBER 11, 9 A. M.
The following resolutions were adopted:— WHEREAS, It has ever been well-pleasing to God, and according to his word, that laborers in his cause should be special subjects of prayer by the churches that send them out; and WHEREAS, They greatly need the help and encouragement of such special remembrance at a throne of Grace; therefore, Resolved, That we recommend that all of our brethren and sisters of this Conference regard Wednesday of each week as a day of special prayer for God's blessing to rest upon ministers and laborers of every class in both home and foreign missionary work. WHEREAS, The Testimonies have repeatedly spoken upon the subject of the qualification of the ministry; therefore, Resolved, That we heartily indorse the recommendation of the General Conference, that at the annual session of each State Conference, some person, or persons, be appointed by the committee to examine all candidates for credentials or licenses, as to their attainments, their habits of study, their acceptance of the faith, what they have studied during the preceding year, and to advise them with regard to the same in the future. The Committee on Credentials and Licenses then submitted the following names for Credentials: Wm. Healey, G. D. Ballou, E. A. Briggs, Wm. Ings, A. T. Jones, G. W. Colcord, W. C. White, J. N. Loughborough, J. D. Rice, E. J. Waggoner, N. C. McClure, H. A. St. John, E. R. Jones, and E. P. Daniels. The report was accepted and all granted credentials as recommended. Meeting adjourned to call of the chair. FIFTH MEETING, OCTOBER 14, 9 A. M.
Prayer by Elder E. R. Jones. The following resolutions were then introduced and adopted:— Resolved, That the announcement of the trial and imprisonment of our brethren in Tennessee, calls for our hearty sympathy and prayers, and that while we remember those in bonds as bound with them, we will do our part in rendering them whatever material assistance they may require; and further, Resolved, That we regard this proceeding on the part of the Tennessee courts as a warning to us that our time for work is short, and that we will heed this warning by making such consecration of ourselves and our means to the cause of God as will649bring the blessing of God, and fit us for whatever labor or suffering may be required of us. It was voted that a copy of the two preceding resolutions be telegraphed to the brethren in Tennessee. WHEREAS, In the providence of God the College at Healdsburg has been established for the special purpose of preparing persons to be efficient workers in all branches of his cause, and as competent teachers have been secured to give instruction on all points, and especially on the Tract and Missionary work in its different parts; therefore, Resolved, That our ministers and people in this Conference should seek out worthy persons of ability, and urge them to attend the school, that they may receive such training as will enable them to do missionary work wherever they may be called to labor, in a manner that will be pleasing to the Lord and approved of his people. WHEREAS, Experience has demonstrated that those students at Healdsburg College who have been under the discipline of the Students' Home have attained far greater success in forming right habits of labor and study than those who have not had the benefit of such influence; therefore, Resolved, That we heartily indorse the resolution contained in the last annual catalogue, requiring all students from abroad to board at the Home, unless attended by their parents or legal guardians. WHEREAS, The giving of quite full reports of our general camp-meetings, in the leading daily papers, is an efficient means of getting important truth before the people; Resolved, That we recommend that before the next camp-meeting such steps be taken by the members of this Conference as will secure this result. WHEREAS, The General Conference has at great expense, and with the exercise of much care, prepared a new Hymn and Tune Book which is amply sufficient to meet the wants of our people in this respect, under all circumstances; therefore, Resolved, That we heartily recommend this book to all our brethren, and that we urge the individual members of every company in this Conference to purchase and use this book, that there may be uniformity in this important branch of the worship of God. The Committee on Credentials and Licenses made the following additional report, which was adopted as recommended:— For credentials, Elder John Fulton; for ordination and credentials, R. S. Owen; for licenses, Philip Kent, Frank T. Lamb, Jasper G. Smith, Andrew Brorsen, Robert Hare, S. Thurston, and J. D. Morton. Committee on Nominations presented the following: For President, Elder S. N. Haskell; Executive Committee, J. N. Loughborough, S. Brownsberger, C. H. Jones, and N. C. McClure; for Secretary, E. A. Chapman; for Treasurer, Pacific Press; for Camp-meeting Committee, C. H. Jones, G. A. Baker, E. J. Church, G. D. Hager, and Geo. W. Mills. Elder Haskell called Elder Loughborough to the chair, and pleaded hard to be relieved from the office of President of the Conference, but his reasons did not appear conclusive to the delegates, and met with no response. This report was accepted, the names considered separately, and the nominees elected. Elder A. T. Jones then spoke of the imprisonment of the brethren in Tennessee and said that we had arrived at a time when the same persecutions might be looked for in other places and we should be preparing and consecrating ourselves for whatever we might be called upon to bear. It was then moved that the Secretary correspond with the President of the Tennessee Conference as to the means that can be used to assist the brethren there. It was moved by Elder A. T. Jones that the delegates to the General Conference be selected by the Conference Committee, and that they be instructed to use their vote and influence with that body to have a test case in regard to the Sunday law taken before the United States Supreme Court. This was unanimously adopted. Adjourned to call of the chair.