Partial Report From Committee on Nominations
After very careful and prayerful deliberation, your committee on nominations respectfully submit the following partial report:— For president, A. G. Daniells. For vice-president for Europe, L. R. Conradi. For vice-president for North America, G. A. Irwin. For vice-president for the Asiatic division, I. H. Evans. For secretary, W. A. Spicer. For secretaries of the various departments as follows:— Sabbath-school Department, G. B. Thompson. Educational Department, Frederick Griggs. Publishing Department, E. R. Palmer. Medical Missionary Council, W. A. Ruble, M. D. Young People's Missionary Volunteer Department, M. E. Kern. Religious Liberty Bureau, K. C. Russell. North American Foreign Department, O. A. Olsen. For members of the Executive Committee, additional to the above-named officers of the Conference, and secretaries of departments (numbering, when the treasurer shall have been added, and the secretary of the North American Negro Department, 14); and the presidents of the union conferences (now numbering 21), the following named persons: W. W. Prescott, W. C. White, G. I. Butler, S. N. Haskell, W. C. Sisley, C. H. Jones, H. R. Salisbury. W. J. Fitzgerald: Mr. Chairman, I move that this report be adopted by considering each name separately. The motion was seconded. Secretary [reading]: For president, A. G. Daniells. A. G. Daniells: I have never made a speech when my name has been submitted for action on an occasion like this. I do not know how to make an appropriate speech, but somehow I do feel like saying something. I have given this matter a great deal of serious thought, not only since the Conference has been in session, but for many weeks and months before we came here. I would like to tell you in as few words as possible how I feel about this matter. At the Oakland General Conference, in 1903, I felt quite free as to being re-elected, because I felt that the work we had started out to do in 1901 had not been completed. We had not carried the work of reorganization through as was necessary. Two years was not enough time to inaugurate such great changes. Then, again, a fearful controversy had arisen in our midst. We were then in the very heat of a great crisis, and there was a determination to get rid of men who, it was thought, were responsible for the trouble that was on hand; and somehow I did not feel very much like being gotten rid of in that way, and for that purpose. So I said nothing, and I felt somewhat relieved to continue. But I will confess that I fully expected then that that would be enough, that two years more would complete that work, and then I would pass on to some other field. Four years ago, when the nominating committee talked to me about continuing, I did not raise any great objection, and I did not know but what it was my duty, and so said nothing when the report was15brought in and action taken. But I fully expected then that four years more would terminate my position in this part of the work, and I took hold with all my might to do all I could to carry on the work of reorganization and to distribute responsibilities, to decentralize as far as possible, and separate this work out over many shoulders, so that I would have done the best I could in the matter; and all the way through the period I have felt in my own mind that this would terminate my stay in this position. I came up to the Conference feeling that way, and though it may not be modest to say so, I do want to say that I have consented in my talk with the brethren, quite reluctantly, to accept the office again. I feel perplexed in my own mind at this moment, and this is why I have ventured to speak about the matter. I have been helped very much by my associates during the eight years that I have been working with them in the General Conference. Their hearty support, and their readiness to share all the burdens, have been so great that I have been relieved and helped in every possible way; and I can say, my dear friends, that this has been eight years of harmony and brotherly love in our General Conference Committee. We have had peace and harmony and confidence, we have had more than respect for one another, and all these eight years there has never been one serious disagreement among us; yet I think we have all been free to express our convictions and assert our individuality as much as we should. So it is not because of any trouble that I have hesitated. I look forward to the next period with anxiety. I know the danger of the human heart; I know the danger of making mistakes, and of serious failure, and I would have been fully as well satisfied, and more so, to have taken another position, or to have gone to another field. Of course, this will be my last term, as far as any of us can reason, and I do sincerely hope that God will keep us and keep me from making any mistakes to mar my record, and to mar my influence, and my work in the cause of God. I do not want to do it, and I want your prayers, and I believe I shall have them. I feel that I have the support and the good will and the earnest prayers of my brethren, and the people. I do not know that I should say more. I feel embarrassed to say so much, but somehow I felt that after eight years, and on the third nomination like this, it would be proper to say a few words in confidence to these delegates. I thank you all for your hearty and friendly association, and your kind co-operation, and I trust that the period we are entering upon will be one of great blessing and great progress in the cause. H. W. Cottrell: If there are no objections, the chair would like to suggest that this name, under the circumstances, be voted on separately. All favoring this part of the report, that Elder Daniells be elected as president of the General Conference, manifest it by the raising of the right hand. [There was a unanimous vote.] Now we will ask all in the congregation to manifest their approval by the same sign. All opposed by the same sign. [There was unanimous approval both by the delegation and the congregation.] The secretary then read the other names, “Question” being called after each one, one correction being made, as follows:— W. T. Bartlett: I move that the report be amended by the insertion of the words “and the superintendents of union missions” as members of the Executive Committee. The motion was duly seconded and carried. O. A. Olsen: I want to just say a word on the third vice-president, for the Asiatic district. The question has been asked if Brother Evans has consented to take this place. This has led me to think a word might be in place. This has been in many ways a most remarkable Conference. The world-wide field has been opened before us in a manner that it never has been before, especially so the great Far East. Never before have we had China, Japan, Korea, and India set before us as they have been during this Conference. In the early stages of the work of the nominating committee, we had the name of Elder Evans down for treasurer; for he has served the Conference with great efficiency in this position. We thought, indeed, that it was almost impossible to think of any change; but after that the great East was set before us. When the nominating committee met one day, I think that almost every member was ready to call for the people to speak on this subject. They felt that the great work in the far East, in China and the countries near it, demanded that the strongest man, a man of experience and ability, should be sent to that field to help develop the work. And the people throughout the congregation, and the members of the delegation, first one and then another, would come to me and say, “Evans for the far East; Evans for China.” The conviction was so strong, and the sentiment so general, that we felt certain that we would not dare to stem the current of conviction; and so the matter was taken under advisement. We had conferences with Brother Evans, with the president, and the leading brethren talked the matter over carefully. While it is something of a sacrifice, Brother Evans consented, saying that if it was the mind of the people, he, on his part, would not dissent. So we have felt free, under these circumstances, to bring in this name, and we shall try now to secure a treasurer for the General Conference to suggest to you. We realize that it is an important position, and we realize that we are taking a strong man to the far East; but, brethren, we feel that for the next few years the great bulk of our mission funds that we shall send abroad must go to that field, and we believe it will be a source of great confidence to our people in supplying funds to know that we have a strong, experienced, and careful manager of our funds in the East, and that our brethren and sisters will, because of that, support it more freely than they would otherwise do. Question was called on the report, aside from the one item already voted upon, and the report was unanimously adopted. Partial Report of the Committee on Plans
The chairman called for any further reports, and G. Dail read the following further partial report from the committee on plans and finance:— RECOGNITION OF ADVANCED NORMAL DIPLOMAS
28. Resolved, That the diplomas from the advanced normal courses of our union conference training-schools be considered equivalent to first-grade teacher’s certificates, and good for three years following their issuance; and that upon completion of three years of successful teaching out of the first five years following their graduation, the Department of Education of the General Conference shall, upon the recommendation of the school issuing the diploma, grant a seal to the diploma, which shall be valid anywhere in the denomination as a teacher’s certificate, so long as the holder is in good and regular standing in church-membership in this denomination. Whereas, The book “Education” contains truths most vital to the proper understanding and appreciation of educational questions and to the development of our school work; therefore,— 29. Resolved, That we most earnestly urge our people everywhere not only to possess themselves of, and to study, this book, but to dispose of it to educators and parents not of our faith, as a means of interesting them in our educational work, and so in our cause of truth. “CHRIST’S OBJECT LESSONS”
Whereas, “Christ’s Object Lessons” was given for the relieving of our schools from indebtedness; and,— Whereas, It has already accomplished a great work in this direction to the extent of securing some three hundred thousand dollars; and,— Whereas, It has been some seven or eight years since we conducted a general campaign with this book; therefore,— 30. Resolved, That the Department of Education be instructed to organize and vigorously prosecute such a campaign, similar in purpose and plan to that formerly undertaken for our advanced and intermediate schools, and that we urge our conference committees everywhere to heartily co-operate in this undertaking. The chairman stated that the partial report would be printed. Meeting adjourned, with benediction by R. S. Owen.