Twenty-Fourth Meeting

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Jun 10, 1909

Twenty-Fourth Meeting

May 27, 10:30 A. M.

O. A. Olsen in the chair. Prayer by R. A. Underwood.

Reports being called for by the chairman, G. Dail presented the following further partial report from the Committee on Plans and Finance:—

Partial Report of the Committee on Plans and Finance

EQUIPMENT OF SCHOOLS

Whereas, In many schools there is a great lack of proper equipment, such as laboratory, library, and class-room facilities, and the necessary means for conducting industrial studies; therefore,—

16. Resolved, That we urge all our boards of management properly to equip the schools for the work which they have to do.

SCHOOL BUILDINGS

Whereas, One hindrance to successful church-school work has been the improper and inconvenient rooms in which schools have been quartered; therefore,—

17. Resolved, That we urge our conferences as far as practicable, and wherever church-school buildings are to be erected, to see that neat, inexpensive, well-adapted buildings, surrounded by grounds adapted for school gardens, be provided; and,—

18. Further resolved, That in the erection of school buildings, advice and counsel be obtained from the Department of Education where the school is to be established, so that the buildings may be well adapted to the needs of the school.

CORRESPONDENCE SCHOOLS

Whereas, It is impossible for many of our young people to obtain the advantages of our schools; and,—

Whereas, We have men and women of years of experience who, under proper conditions, would be able to pursue studies greatly to the advantage of themselves and their work; and,—

Whereas, Correspondence schools have been shown to be successful; therefore,—

19. Resolved, That the Department of Education be urged to take under advisement plans for such a school, and the General Conference Committee be requested to establish it, if, after careful consideration, it seems wise to do so.

The Chairman: We will now proceed with the regular order of business, which, I believe, is the consideration of the partial report of the committee on plans and finance presented yesterday.

The Secretary [reading]:— “Whereas, Agitation for Sunday legislation is rapidly increasing in the United States and in Canada; and,— “Whereas, The general annual collection of funds for the prosecution of religious liberty work has heretofore been exclusively for the use of the Religious Liberty Department of the General Conference; therefore,— “15. We recommend, That there be an equal division of the funds to the General, union, and local conferences in these fields.”

H. W. Cottrell: I move the adoption of this report.

K. C. Russell: This resolution was not drafted because it was thought by some that the department was having too much money, but because it was thought that this would increase the funds, inasmuch as the union and local conferences would naturally have a greater interest in it. It was also thought that there would not be so heavy a demand upon the General Conference department for funds with which to carry on campaigns in union and local fields, if these conferences might receive an equal share with the General Conference. Hence we hope that this resolution will result in an increase of funds in the treasuries of union and local conferences, as well as in the general department, for this line of work.

J. O. Corliss: I think that the passing of this resolution will bring an improvement over the past method of handing out the funds. I know that there has been some delicacy in the past, in undertaking to use any funds when a local campaign was on; but there are some of our campaigns that cost a great deal of money. Last winter, for instance, the Pacific Union Conference had a very heavy campaign, and I am just informed by the president of that union that that campaign cost $2,500. It would seem, even should this resolution pass, that there might be times when, under stress of circumstances, a union might be exempt from giving one third of its funds to the general treasury. It seems to me there ought to be exceptions when strenuous campaigns are conducted in local territory.

K. C. Russell: Prior to this, last year, during the campaign that Elder Corliss alluded to, the General Conference department, without any resolution, exempted them; and I believe they would do it again.

Allen Moon: The portion going to the union conference can be used in the State where it is most needed, and in that way the union conference funds may form an emergency fund, as it were. The union conference has no legislature to look after directly; its funds are to be used where most needed. It occurs to me that the resolution, as originally presented by the committee, can not be improved, and I hope that it will pass.

The resolution was adopted.

The chairman called for any further reports.

H. W. Cottrell stated that the committee on revision of the constitution was ready to report. The report was presented by W. T. Bartlett. [This report recommended several changes in the constitution. Chief among these was the creation of a Negro Department of the General Conference, and a provision for a third vice-president who should be in charge of the work in the Asiatic division of the territory. The other changes were largely technical. Following the report of the committee on constitution, reports were made from the Southern Union Conference and the Pacific Union Conference by Elders C. F. McVagh and H. W. Cottrell.]

The meeting adjourned.

Twenty-Fifth Meeting

May 27, 3 P. M.

Elder O. A. Olsen in the chair. Prayer was offered by Elder C. Santee.

South America

The chair stated that the time of the session would be given to reports from the South American Union Conference.

J. W. Westphal, president of the union, then reported.

At the close of Elder Westphal’s report, a chorus of South American representatives (Brethren Habenicht, Town, Westphal, and Perry, and Sisters Habenicht, Town, Gregory, and Perry), sang a hymn in Spanish, “Mi Mano Ten, Señor” (“Take Thou My Hand”).

The chairman next called upon F. W. Spies, director of the North Brazil Mission, to report for the Brazilian division of the field.

[These reports from South America will be given in the future.]

At the close of this report Elder and Sister Spies, Sister Lulu Corliss-Gregory, and J. W. Westphal sang a Portuguese hymn, “My Sins at the Cross Were Forgiven.”

These hymns, that are now and then sung, though in tongues not understood by most of the congregation, have in them a spirit that touches all hearts.

Next, Wm. Steele, delegate from Ecuador, presented his report.

O. A. Olsen: I am glad to listen to these reports. The great wide field opens up before us. And yet we have not heard all. I am sorry that we can not hear from Brother Perry, Brother Thomann, Dr. Habenicht, and Brother Town.

If these appeals and the setting forth of these needs can not stir our souls and lead us to consecration to the work before us, what can do it, brethren? May the Lord help us to turn to him as we have never done before in our lives.

The meeting adjourned.

Twenty-Sixth Meeting

May 28, 10:30 A. M.

H. W. Cottrell in the chair. Prayer was offered by A. G. Haughey.

New delegate seated: B. E. Connerly, of West Indian Union.

The chair then called for further partial reports, or completed reports.

Partial Report From Committee on Plans and Finance

G. Dail presented a further partial report from the committee on plans and finance:— ### EDUCATIONAL JOURNAL 20. Resolved, That in addition to the educational matter that may appear in the REVIEW AND HERALD, the Executive Committee of the General Conference arrange for the publication of an educational journal adapted to the development of our school work, the policy and contents of the journal to be under the direction of the Department of Education of the General Conference.

RELATION AND SCOPE OF DIFFERENT

CLASSES OF SCHOOLS

Whereas, Experience has shown that the schools conducted by local conferences should seldom carry work beyond the tenth grade; and,— Whereas, Several of these local schools are now called academies, though not doing, or equipped to do, full academic work, for lack of libraries, laboratories, and sufficient teaching force; and,— Whereas, We have the following instruction from the spirit of prophecy: “It is not wise for a new school to lift its banner, and promise a high grade of work before it has proved that it is fully able to do preparatory work as it should be done. It should be the great aim of every intermediate school to do most thorough work in the common branches. . . . It would be a sad mistake for us to fail to consider thoroughly the purpose for which each of our schools is established. This is a matter that should be faithfully considered by our responsible men in each union conference. All the different educational interests should be given careful consideration, and then each school should place its work on a proper basis;” therefore,—

21. We recommend, (a) That the local conferences, in counsel with their union conference committee, adapt the name and grade of work of these local schools to the intermediate school standard, except in those special cases where circumstances make this step unadvisable. (b) That the union conference training-schools do not draw intermediate students from the territory within the jurisdiction of the intermediate schools without previous arrangement with the local conference president. (c) That in each union conference there be created a committee of inspection, consisting of the union conference president, the union conference educational secretary, and one member of the training-school faculty, to be appointed by the faculty, to counsel with the individual conferences or schools, in order to unify and grade the work of the intermediate schools and academies of the union conference.

PATRONIZING OUR SCHOOL INDUSTRIES

Whereas, The tent-making and other industries of our schools are a means of education and a financial help to the students; therefore,—

22. We recommend, To the favorable consideration of our people the purchasing of the products of the industrial departments of our schools.

FOREIGN MISSION SEMINARY

23. Resolved, That we invite our conferences throughout the United States and Canada to select men and women of such age and experience as will meet the needs of our foreign fields, and recommend them to the Foreign Mission

Seminary for a course of instruction preparatory to foreign service.

PREPARATION OF OUR PUBLICATIONS

Whereas, With the rapid extension of our publishing work it becomes vitally important that our publications be prepared with great care, so that they may present clearly and suitably the truths of the third angel’s message; and,—

Whereas, Sundry publications are being distributed on individual responsibility, which neither represent the denomination nor carry any part of the financial burdens of the organized work; therefore,—

24. Resolved, (a) That information be given to our people concerning the thorough, painstaking work of the literature committees of our publishing houses in examining manuscripts, and preparing the subject-matter of all publications; and that our people be cautioned to discriminate between literature published by the denomination, and that which is issued by private individuals. (b) That missionaries, as far as practicable, submit manuscripts to properly constituted literature committees for their respective fields. (c) That copy for literature prepared to meet emergencies, and for use in local campaigns, be at least submitted for criticism to the conference or mission committee of that territory, and bear the conference or mission imprint. (d) That all our people be urged to work energetically and loyally for the circulation of our standard denominational literature.

PUBLISHING HOUSE TITHE-PAYING

25. We approve, Of the action of several of our publishing houses in paying a tithe into the treasury of the General Conference, and we invite all the publishing houses in the United States to follow their example; and,—

26. We further recommend, That this tithe be used by the General Conference in meeting the expenses of the General Conference Publishing Department, and for fostering our publishing interests in mission fields.

HOME TRACT AND MISSIONARY WORK

Whereas, A question has arisen concerning the advisability of organizing a General Conference department to take charge of the periodical and home tract and missionary work; and,— Whereas, We believe that confusion would result from the circulation of literature being directed by two departments operating through the same general offices, and through the same field; therefore,—

27. We recommend, That the periodical and home and tract and missionary work continue, as in the past, under the direction of the Publishing Department, and that the General, union, and local conferences unite in making the necessary provision for conducting more thoroughly and aggressively these neglected lines of work.

The chairman stated that the report would be printed for consideration later.

Discussion on Constitution

The chairman called attention to the report of the committee on revision of the constitution, and on motion to adopt by considering each item separately, the report was considered.

[As before stated, the changes recommended in the constitution were largely technical in nature. Elder A. G. Daniells made some explanation regarding the several departments, particularly the creation of the Negro Department.]

A. G. Daniells: I would like to make a brief explanation regarding that and the other departments. You will remember that we created this North American Foreign Department four years ago. The object of that department was to build up and carry forward our work in North America among the foreigners of this country, as far as we could reach them. This department has carried on its work during this period. After the department was created, and the committee formed, they made branches of the department. There was the German branch, with a superintendent over that division; also the Swedish and Danish-Norwegian branches; and there was also appointed a superintendent to look after the French work in this country.

There is another department proposed,—the Negro Department, a department in behalf of the colored people of this country. Now just a word with reference to this and the manner of carrying it on. For many years we have been endeavoring to foster this work and build it up; and all this time we have been urged, especially by the spirit of prophecy, to do more. We have been warned of the dangers of having our opportunities limited, and we have been pressed to do more. We have tried to gather funds, we have tried to do more; but we have not been meeting our own highest ideals, and we have not met the needs nor the instruction that has come to us. Now we have come to the place where we feel that a far greater effort, a more systematic effort, a more concerted effort, shall be put forth in behalf of this part of our population. We have a number of our colored brethren with us at this Conference, and I am glad of it. We never have had such an attendance of colored ministers at a General Conference as we have at this meeting. I am glad that they have been here to hear the reports and to join in this work. Meetings have been held where consideration has been given to the question of how they and we could advance the work among their people more effectively and rapidly than we have been doing. We have met with them in their councils; they have counseled with us, and we with them, and they came to us with a request that we establish this department, the Negro Department. We have studied it, and the presidents and committees of the Southwestern, Southern, and Southeastern union conferences have given it careful consideration, and have recommended it and stand for it; and the members of the General Conference Committee who have taken the matter under consideration have agreed to it, and now it is recommended in the constitution. I believe that this is a step in the right direction, that it will help us to organize the work in behalf of these people, that it will help us to systematize our efforts in raising money and in expending it so that we can have one solid, systematized, concerted effort to push this important branch of the work. I believe that under this direct effort we shall see the work in behalf of the colored people of this country go forward with greater success than we have ever seen before. Now, how will this be managed? The department will have a secretary, an executive officer, the same as the other departments; it will have an executive committee, or departmental committee, the same as the other departments, and on this committee there will be a fair representation of the field. The committee will then meet, and plan its work, and outline its policy for the future, the same as do the other department committees.

Their work will be to carry forward the evangelical work among the colored people. They will take up the question of mission schools, church-schools, and the higher schools, such as Huntsville, and will look after them. They will look after the publishing of such literature as will be best adapted to the people. In fact, they will take into consideration all branches of the work.

I have felt to make this explanation here, in order to answer the queries that may arise as to why this department is brought on. Some may say, “Aren’t we creating too many departments, and getting too much machinery?” Well, I do not think so. I want to ask how much the Educational Department hinders or impedes the work of the Publishing Department? We had the Publishing Department first, and we have created the Educational and Medical departments since. Now have these departments hindered the work of the Publishing Department?

[Voices: They have helped it.] Of course they have helped. Anybody knows that who studies the influence of these departments.

I believe that the same argument holds in this case. A department has the motive power, and all the facilities to go with its work. We get a body of men directly at the work that that department ought to carry forward. Our colored brethren have considered this carefully; yesterday I met with them again. We talked it over, and every one declared his approval of the plan. I believe that this will mark a new era in our work in behalf of the negro race.

J. K. Humphrey: I desire to say that I am heartily in favor of the creation of this new department. I believe that I indorse the sentiment of every man among my people that is in harmony with the organized work. It is a strange coincidence,—yet it is not strange, because the time is near when we shall all see eye to eye,—that four years ago I felt in my soul that something ought to be done in this line to advance the work among the negro race. We have almost eleven million people. I am thankful to God that the time has come when the brethren are moving in this direction.

H. W. Cottrell: I would like to ask, Brother Humphrey, if you are thoroughly convinced that the term we use there is the best term. Do you think that it would be satisfactory to your people?

J. K. Humphrey: I am convinced so. The term “colored” really is not definite in fact; for the Chinese, the Japanese, and other races of the Orient are just as colored as we are. But we are the negro race. I am not ashamed at all to acknowledge that.

The meeting was adjourned.

Twenty-Seventh Meeting

May 28, 3 P. M.

Elder H. W. Cottrell in the chair. Prayer by C. P. Bollman.

H. W. Cottrell: When we adjourned we were discussing the report of the committee on revision of the constitution, and a motion was pending to amend the report by inserting again in Section 2, Article IV, the phrase, “the superintendents of organized union missions.” It is open now for remarks.

H. R. Salisbury: I do not wish to press the matter, but I should like to have the committee state briefly why this part was left out.

L. R. Conradi: The point is this: Thus far we have very few union mission fields. But as we develop in the far East and other fields, there will be quite a number of them, and it seemed to us it would be more proper if they were elected at the quadrennial Conference, among the seven extra members.

E. R. Palmer: It appears to me that the man appointed to take charge of a great union mission field would be a valuable member of the Executive Committee; and the minutes of the Executive Committee would be valuable to him in assisting him in keeping his field lined up with the work of the General Conference throughout the world.

R. A. Underwood: The amendment would make these superintendents of union mission fields members of the committee, as formerly. I believe that this should be done.

The amendment was carried, making superintendents of union mission fields members of the General Conference Committee.

The Chairman: Before going further, I would state that one of our negro brethren has asked the privilege of speaking on one of these sections that we have passed over. All these sections are open for remarks until the question is voted upon as a whole. If the delegate is here, he may rise. He is from Pittsburg, I believe.

A Voice: Brother Green.

The Chairman: Come up on the stand, Brother Green. There are fewer of these colored brethren here than there are of the rest of us, and we would like to have the brethren hear what they have to say.

W. H. Green: In speaking upon this part of the constitution [provision for a North American Negro Department], I am frank to say that four years ago I would not have taken the position that I take to-day; but an actual experience of four years in working among my people in the North, with the knowledge I have of conditions in the South (for I am a Southerner), leads me to conclude that the establishment of this department for carrying forward the work among my people in this land, is the proper course to pursue. And not only would I make that statement, but would say further that this idea did not come into my mind, merely since I came upon the ground. I think I discussed the matter in the city of Washington year before last, 1907, with the president of the General Conference. The matter has also been discussed by us who have been on the ground. Others will speak on the matter. An address has been prepared and handed in; and I feel perfectly free in stating here, publicly, that I have set my name to that address and to certain resolutions, in good faith, and I pledge myself before God to stand by it until I find out from a study of the Bible and the Testimonies and good religion, that I ought to recede from it.

Question was called.

Article V, Section 1, in the report, was read and question called.

Secretary [reading]: Section 3. Insert paragraph: “The duties of the third vice-president shall be to labor in the Asiatic division, comprised of India and the far East, as the Executive Committee may advise, and to preside at the councils of the members of the Executive Committee which may be held in the Asiatic division, in the absence of the president.”

A. G. Daniells: I would like to speak on another point, not a technical one, and express my gratitude at the progress we are making in the far East, in the Asiatic division. I think this is something to be profoundly thankful for to-day, that we can rectify our constitution in this way, to make provision for a vice-president of the General Conference to be located in the far East. We look forward to a great movement, a constructive work there during the next four years, that will help our people to give. It will cheer us all to plan and to work, because we can see some sensible and consistent effort being made to develop the work among those teeming millions.

Question was called.

H. G. Thurston [referring to Article III, Section 1, providing that department secretaries shall be elected]: What is the reason for electing these secretaries, instead of appointing them by the committee, as formerly?

A. G. Daniells: These departments are becoming large and influential departments. Take the Educational Department; it represents a thousand teachers, a million dollars’ worth of property; it represents fifteen thousand students; it represents text-books, and our whole educational system. Now that great department can not be intrusted to everybody; and it seems to us that it is of such consequence, and has such a vital bearing upon the welfare of the denomination, that the General Conference ought to elect the head of that department, and not leave it to the General Conference Committee to make the appointment. That is the reason we feel that the more this body does in the selection of persons whose influence is to be large, and who will have charge of vital interests throughout the world, the safer and more satisfactory it will be. So it was suggested that we change from appointing them by the committee, to electing them by the body.

H. W. Cottrell: Is the committee on nominations prepared to report?

O. A. Olsen: Yes, sir. We have taken the liberty to have the report printed on slips. [Slips were passed.] I have been a member of committees at different times, on various subjects. I think that I never was a member of a committee that went so carefully into its work as the present committee on nominations. We have not taken things for granted, but instead we have carefully scrutinized and investigated and looked over every name that we report. Now we have adapted our report, as far as we have been able, to the constitution that you have just adopted. It is only a partial report. You will notice that the treasurer is not nominated, and there are other nominations that are still under consideration. I will now ask Elder Fitzgerald to read the report.

W. J. Fitzgerald then read the report, which is as follows:—