Your ShelfYour Projects

BUSINESS PROCEEDINGS

2%

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 25, 1869

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 33, No. 22.

Read the full edition

BUSINESS PROCEEDINGS.

By John Nevins Andrews; Uriah Smith

Of the Seventh Annual Session of the General Conference of S. D. Adventists.

CONFERENCE assembled, according to appointment in REVIEW, May 18, 1869, at 9 o’clock A. M. PRAYER by Bro. White. Delegates being called for, credentials were presented by the following brethren:
Iowa Conference. M. E. Cornell, H. Nicola. Maine Conference. Chas. Stratton. Michigan Conference. Joseph Bates, John Byington, R. J. Lawrence, Francis Nelson, S. H. King, James Harvey. N. Y. & Pa. Conference. R. F. Cottrell, J. N. Andrews. Ohio Conference. By letter. Vermont Conference. By letter. Wis. & Ill. Conference. By letter. N. E. Mission. J. H. Waggoner, D. M. Canright. California Mission. By letter.
Ministers present, in good standing, were invited to take part in the deliberations of the meeting.
Missionaries present as members of Conference, Bro. White, Waggoner, and Canright.
Minutes read and accepted.
Reports from the different State Conferences presented, showing the following results:
Gen’l Conference Summary for the Year 1869.
NAMES OF CONFERENCES. Ministers. Licentiates. Churches. Church Members. S. D. Fund Pledged. S. D. Fund Paid. S. D. Fund to the Churches. S. D. Fund Paid to Gen’l Conf. S. D. Fund on hand.
Iowa. 1 1 12 381 $2069 37 $413 87 1645 50 $125 00
Maine. 4 3 10 216 889 22
Michigan. 10 8 47 1573 3959 34
Minnesota. 2 2 8 200 900 00 3959 34 3849 68 800 80
N. Y. & Penn. 5 5 24 589 2954 07 201 54 2752 52 200 00 232 20
Ohio. 11 185 1132 70 10 26 1122 52
Vermont. 4 3 12 256 1659 20 242 65 1416 55
Wis. & Illinois. 5 2 23 646 3639 75 727 95 2911 80
N. E. Mission. 2 1 17 779 1224 04 180 00 1044 04 227 71
California Mis’n. 3 75 525 00
Total. 33 24 167 4900 $18952 77 $4573 61 $13698 58 $2169 84 $459 91
On motion, the following brethren were chosen as Auditing Committee: S. H. King, of Mich., H. Nicola, of Iowa.
Committee on Resolutions: J. N. Andrews, J. H. Waggoner, R. F. Cottrell.
Committee on Preaching: Jas. Harvey, F. Nelson, S. H. King.
Committee on Nominations: R. F. Cottrell, R. J. Lawrence, J. Byington.
Special Committee to amend Constitution: J. H. Waggoner, F. Nelson, U. Smith.
Bro. White reported on “Hymn Book,” as the matter was left in hands of Gen. Conf. Com. Reported the book in the hands of the binder, to be here before the Conference closes.
Missionary reports called for, were presented by Bro. Andrews, Waggoner, Canright, and White.
Subject of Distribution of Labor taken up. Calls for help read from Missouri and Kansas, and a letter respecting a mission among the Freedmen. Bro. Harvey appeals for Indiana. Bro. Waggoner speaks for Missouri,Ohio, and Maine. Bro. Canright spoke for New England; Bro. Stratton and White for the same. Bro. Cornell spoke for Iowa.
Treasurer’s Report read, and accepted.
Adjourned to 2 o’clock P. M.
SECOND SESSION, as per appointment. Prayer by Bro. Bates.
Committee on Amendment reported through Bro. Waggoner. Recommended to amend Art. I of the Constitution, by the addition of the following words: “And shall be composed of delegates from the State Conferences, and such ministers as shall have been employed as missionaries during any part of the year;” so that, as amended, it shall read, “Art. I. This Conference shall be called the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, and shall be composed of delegates from the State Conferences, and such ministers as shall have been employed as missionaries during any part of the year.”
Art. IX of the Constitution was then amended by changing the word “delegates” to “members;” so that, as amended, it shall read, “This Constitution may be altered or amended by a three-fourths’ vote of the members present at any meeting.”
Committee on Nominations reported for President, Jas. White; Secretary, U. Smith; Treasurer, E. S. Walker; Executive Committee, Jas. White, J. N. Andrews, J. H. Waggoner, all of whom were elected to the offices named.
Committee on Resolutions reported by offering the following, which were unanimously adopted.

DRESS REFORM.

Resolved, That we renew the expression of our interest in the Dress Reform, believing that the teachings of the Scriptures in regard to simplicity and modesty in dress, are of great importance in this age of vice and subserviency to vain and immodest fashions; and that we recommend to our sisters conformity to the model presented in the tract on this subject, that they may recommend it, by their practice, to all observers.

THE HEALTH REFORM.

Resolved, That we consider the Health Reform as an important auxiliary to the cause of present truth, and recommend to all our ministers to urge it to a proper extent upon the churches, and to endeavor to be examples to all in this respect.
Adjourned to call of committee.
THIRD SESSION. The following resolutions were presented by the Committee on Resolutions, and unanimously adopted.

SPIRITUAL GIFTS.

Resolved, That our faith and confidence in the Gifts of the Spirit of God, so graciously vouchsafed to us in these last days, are not only unshaken by the attacks of the opposers of the truth, but greatly strengthened and increased by the warnings we have received in times of danger, the counsels and admonitions when we have erred, and the comfort in our afflictions; as well as by the purity of their teachings, and the respect and reverence they produce for the word of God. And we earnestly recommend to all the scattered flock a more careful reading of, and more strict compliance with, the Testimonies to the Church.

CALIFORNIA MISSION.

Resolved, That we wish to express our unabated interest in the California Mission, and our pleasure in the prospect before the ministers in that field; and we still extend assurance of our hearty sympathy and co-operation in their work, and our fraternal greeting to those who have embraced the present truth in that State.

S. D. BAPTISTS.

Believing that we ought to cultivate fraternal feelings with all those who keep the commandments of God and teach men so, and believing that some of our brethren have not pursued the most judicious course in regard to them, therefore,
Resolved, That Bro. Cottrell, Andrews, and Fuller, be a committee to address the Seventh-day Baptists, and open such correspondence with them as they may deem fit.
Resolved, That we hail with joy every indication of the present truth going to the nations and tongues of the earth, and though we cannot enjoy the privilege of hearing, and speaking to, them, we wish to assure our Danish brethren of our deep interest in their welfare, and our sympathy and prayers shall ever be with them in this work.
Moved, That Bro. Andrews be invited to write an appeal to young men in reference to entering the ministry. Carried.
Adjourned to call of Chairman.
THIRD SESSION. On motion, the resolution adopted by the Health Institute, relative to Bro. and Sr. White, was adopted as an expression of the sense of this Conference.
The following resolution was also adopted:
Resolved, That we consider it our duty to publicly make known our disapproval of the movement for the founding of a colony in Kansas; facts having come to our knowledge by which we are assured that those who engage in it will be subjected to disappointment and suffering.
On motion, the thanks of the Conference were extended to the Battle Creek church, for their hospitality during this meeting.
On motion, Bro. Waggoner was added to the Auditing Committee.
Adjourned to call of Chairman.
At the fourth session, Monday A. M., the following resolutions were adopted:
Resolved, That this Conference recommend to the State Conferences to make preparations for, and hold, Camp-meetings, procuring the best assistance in their power, and leave it to Bro. and Sr. White to attend such of them as the providence of God may direct.
Resolved, That this Conference accept the new Hymn Book at the hands of our Executive Committee, and return our thanks to them for a book which we can so cordially recommend to our people, as well suited to our wants, both in public and social worship.
J. N. ANDREWS, President, URIAH SMITH, Secretary.