Thirty-Sixth Meeting

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 17, 1909

Thirty-Sixth Meeting

June 3, 9:15 A. M.

H. W. Cottrell in the chair. Prayer was offered by M. B. Miller.

Allen Moon brought before the delegates the name of Dr. George Runck, of the Lake Union Conference, who had been in attendance for some time without being seated, although he was a regularly appointed delegate. Dr. Runck was seated as a delegate.

O. A. Olsen: Mr. Chairman, at our last meeting it was arranged that a committee be appointed by the chair to draft resolutions expressing our appreciation of the action of the government of the czar of Russia regarding the granting of religious liberty; these resolutions to be handed to the Russian ambassador in Washington. As chairman of yesterday's meeting, I appoint J. T. Boettcher, L. R. Conradi, H. J. Loebsack, W. W. Prescott, and Guy Dail as this committee.

Further Report of the Committee on Nominations

Further reports being called for, the committee on nominations presented the final report. [This report appeared in last week's REVIEW.]

Chairman: We will proceed to the consideration of the regular business, the partial report of the committee on plans and finance.

Discussion of Resolutions

Resolution 39 (on financial policy for ensuing four years) was read. On motion of J. W. Westphal, it was amended by changing the South American Union's appropriation from $18,000 to $20,000, the chairman of the committee on plans stating that he believed this change should be made in view of additional laborers appointed to the field.

The question was put, and Resolution 39, as amended, was adopted, making appropriations of $225,600 to mission fields for regular work during 1909.

$300,000 FUND

Resolution 40 (on the $300,000 Fund) was read.

D. C. Babcock: I notice that in Section (b) of this recommendation, it is stated that the balance of the $300,000 is to be apportioned by the Executive Committee of the General Conference to such fields as stand in greatest need. Now we have not had an opportunity to present the real needs of West Africa yet. We have asked for two thousand dollars for homes in West Africa.

H. H. Votaw: I would like to ask what has governed the apportionment. I notice that Japan, with fifty million inhabitants, has $50,000, while China, with almost ten times as many people, is given $100,000. Is there a reason for this?

I. H. Evans: There are certain institutions required in every large field, such as a training-school, a printing-plant, a sanitarium, etc. Now it costs approximately the same to get these institutions started in one place as another. But in China's apportionment as compared with Japan's, we have, in our minds, considered devoting a considerable sum of money for the establishment of homes for the 40 or more families that have been called for.

C. T. Everson: What is the idea of the words "missionary homes"?

H. W. Cottrell: The thought was that some provision must be made for the workers in fields where they are unable to find proper houses to live in.

C. T. Everson: Does the General Conference own such property?

H. W. Cottrell: Yes, they own the houses, and rent them for a nominal sum.

R. A. Underwood: I would like to ask the chairman of the committee to explain to the Conference more about the needs of these homes, especially in China.

I. H. Evans: I think the reports of our missionaries from parts of India, China, Korea, and some parts of Africa are an argument in themselves to show the need of providing suitable homes in which our missionaries can live. Every field has its own difficulties. In some of the port cities in China, you can find very good homes, but the price of rent is so high that a missionary on the salary that we pay, can not afford to rent one of these suitable homes. It would take sometimes his entire salary to pay the rent by the month. Our missionaries have been compelled to seek living quarters in places where the rent is cheap. They have thus often exposed their lives to the bubonic plague, to cholera, and to conditions of malaria and fever and infection. Some have lost their lives, and others have broken down.

It will save the lives of missionaries, it will save the waste of the years spent in getting the language only to be compelled to return to this country because of failing health. I believe there is no line of work that we can take up that will economize the resources of the denomination to the same extent as to see that our missionaries in these unhealthful countries are provided with suitable living quarters at an early date.

L. F. Hansen (of India): I want to say "Amen" to everything Brother Evans has said, and my heart is glad because of this resolution to provide homes for missionaries.

D. U. Hale: Having been in a foreign country [West Africa], I know the inconveniences there. This resolution meets a response in my heart that no other resolution has.

E. W. Farnsworth: I believe it is cheaper to build a cottage on the hillside than to dig a grave in the valley.

D. C. Babcock (of West Africa): When I went to West Africa, I was compelled to locate down in the city. We had a good house. It cost us about $20 a month; nevertheless, the fever came on us just the same, because of the excessive heat; but as soon as we were enabled to purchase land up on the side of the mountain, and began to erect a mission house, my health began to improve; and from the time we moved into the mission home, nearly three years ago, I have not been troubled with fever. While we have asked for missionaries to come to West Africa, we do not want them until the General Conference is ready to build mission homes for them.

The question was put and Resolution 40 was unanimously carried.

Recommendation 41 was next read by the secretary:—

TEN-CENT-A-WEEK PLAN

41. We recommend, That the ten-cent-a-week plan be adopted by our people, and that each conference endeavor to raise no less than this amount for the world-wide work of the General Conference, in addition to the $300,000 Fund, for foreign institutions and missionary homes; and that the following funds be included as making up the ten-cent-a-week offerings: annual offerings, midsummer offerings, Sabbath-school offerings, and specific offerings for foreign missions, when not designated for a specific purpose for which no appropriations have been made.

G. B. Thompson: It is easy to pass a recommendation appropriating half a million. I quite understand that all the $300,000 is not to be raised in one year; but while you have been discussing the resolution, I have been making some figures. To raise half a million dollars a year would be fifteen cents a week for our membership in the United States. I believe that the time has come for us to face the situation, and not settle down to the idea that we must reach merely ten cents a week per member, or fifteen cents; we must put it a great deal higher than that. But this never can be done by the General Conference Executive Committee alone. It never can be done alone by the executive committees of the union or local conferences. Brethren, I believe the time has come when every Seventh-day Adventist minister and Bible worker must get under the load, and lift as never before. The elders and deacons and officers in the local churches must feel that they are under the load just as much, proportionately, as the president of the General Conference.

O. Montgomery: I notice that the appropriation for evangelistic work amounts to $205,000. I should like to inquire, Is not this ten-cent-a-week plan to be applied on this sum to be raised for evangelistic work? I notice also that the $300,000 fund is to be raised in four years. That would be raising $75,000 a year. Have I the right idea?

I. H. Evans: Yes, sir; I think so. But I think you may conclude, because we have said there was to be $205,000 appropriated to foreign missions, that that included all the general expense of the denomination, and was the amount of money that would be needed for our appropriations. That would be a great error, for we not only have to make these appropriations to the foreign fields, but to meet the whole operating expense of the General Conference, a large sum each year. Besides this, the General Conference has to carry the expense of wives and children whose husbands and parents have died in foreign fields. There is a large amount of expenditure not in this budget at all. My judgment is that the General Conference will have to have, for its administrative work for this year, if we make the appropriations that are in that budget for 1909 to foreign fields, about $325,000.

A. G. Daniells: I want to say that I do not think that the appropriation here on this paper is anything like what this denomination ought to expend in the mission fields during the coming year. It simply touches the fringe of it. Now, Mr. Chairman, I want to say further that we have to-day no adequate, no well-defined provision made for meeting these tremendous demands upon us. We have been spending two weeks or more every morning, from six to seven, in the Seminary chapel hearing from the representatives of mission fields regarding the situation and their needs. The presidents of union and local conferences, and the secretaries and treasurers, have met there. We have taken little time to discuss the ways and means, but we have taken a great deal of time to discuss the great needs. Now it would be a great calamity, it would be a tremendous mistake, if this Conference were to close without these union and local conference men discussing this question, and propounding and setting on foot here a movement for the provision of adequate funds to meet these great needs that we are facing. The hour, brethren, has come to do that thing. We have not done it as a denomination yet. There must be adequate provision made. It must be definite, certain, and well-defined, or we shall break down in our foreign mission policy. Now that is the truth as I view it. Never in our history have we had such a splendid opportunity to settle this question and to launch something as we have here to-day, this minute. Never has this denomination seen such an auspicious hour for taking hold of this proposition, and arriving at a just and proper and comprehensive arrangement, as we have right here to-day. Now, Mr. Chairman, I want to request that we be allowed to consider Resolution 44 in connection with No. 41, and I want to ask that Elder Robinson be permitted, after the reading of 44, to read a paper to us on the question of an adequate provision for the support of our foreign mission enterprises. I move that Resolution 44 be considered with No. 41.

H. W. Cottrell: This will take precedence of the other motion.

The motion was seconded and carried.

Resolution 44 was then read, as follows:—

SHARING CONFERENCE TITHE

Whereas, There is most urgent need of reapers to gather the harvest in the great destitute mission fields; therefore,—

44. Resolved, That our local and union conferences be urged to curtail their expenses wherever expedient, and that they be invited to definitely appropriate from one fourth to one third of their total tithe receipts to the support of the work in the regions beyond.

At this point Elder A. T. Robinson, president of the Nebraska Conference, read the paper referred to by Elder Daniells. The paper was a strong appeal to our local conferences to share the tithe with the mission fields, the plan already having met with much favor in Nebraska, resulting in a great increase of the tithe.

Chas. Thompson (Kansas): I might say that I feel perfectly in harmony with the spirit of the resolution. I believe in the doctrine advocated in it, and I am satisfied, from experience, that we shall be none the poorer (if you allow me the use of this phrase) in our home conferences as a result. I might be permitted to relate a little experience that we had,—not from any desire personally to bring before this body anything that we may have done out in Kansas, but simply because we wish to tell you of an experience that has come to us. At our conference meeting last fall, we proposed giving $1,000 from our surplus tithe to the General Conference. We thought that about as much as we could do. But the General Conference representatives who were there urged that it be increased, so $2,000 was voted by the delegates, with the understanding that we would have a full year in which to forward $1,000 of this amount.

That was in August. At the close of the quarter, September 30, we found we had enough tithe on hand to send $2,000, and still we had more left than we had at the time of the camp-meeting. After that, the committee thought we might send another $1,000, making $3,000. Since that time we have sent another $1,000, making $4,000 in all; and we still have more money on hand than we had last fall when we voted the appropriation of $2,000. I believe that God's system of finances is that as we give, he increases. I am in favor of the resolution.

E. T. Russell (Central Union): I might add in this connection, that two of our conferences have already squared themselves to reach the maximum mentioned in this resolution. They have already pledged themselves to pay one third of their tithe, and I believe other conferences will do the same.

Geo. E. Langdon (Upper Columbia): If this is carried, does it mean that we are first to pay a tithe from the local conference to the General Conference? It has been our custom in the conferences to pay a tithe to the union conference, and sometimes a second tithe.

The Chairman: I understand that local conferences are expected, by this resolution, to pay their tithe to the union, and the unions to the General Conference, and then pay from one fourth to one third of the remainder into the General Conference treasury.

W. H. Thurston (Canadian Union): I believe one reason why we have not received more tithes and offerings, is that our people have not been well instructed in the matter. Many are not paying tithe, and I think, in a measure, at least, this is due to a lack of being instructed and informed regarding the importance of this duty. I believe if our workers, as they go about from church to church, would instruct our people, talk with them, pray with them, many who are not paying tithe to-day would pay it. I believe that every worker, every minister at least, as he goes from church to church, ought to supply himself with one of these maps of the world, hang it up, and study the mission fields with our churches. Our people are a liberal people, and they are willing, and if they are informed properly, there will be money forthcoming.

L. R. Conradi: I am thankful to-day that this resolution does not say that this shall be done merely in the United States. I believe I speak the sentiment in Europe when I say that we are perfectly willing over there to stand shoulder to shoulder with our brethren and our conferences in the United States on this basis. I believe the time has

come for this people, by the strength and Spirit of God, to move forward. I believe the time has come when we should indeed find the words of the prophet Malachi fulfilled, that our treasury will be filled as we believe the promises of God and move onward.

Now, we have a large population in our organized conference territory in Europe. I suppose that in twenty-odd conferences we have a population of something like 150,000,000. Counting our mission field territory, I think our total population is about 535,000,000. I remember the time when some of our smaller conferences could not even support their president, or at least said they could not. After two or three years' work, they agreed to support their president. They were blessed in this, and after awhile took another step,—that of paying a tithe to the union. As the treasury still was filled, they decided to pay another tithe. And still, instead of doubts, difficulties, and deficits they could report a surplus at the end of the year. I am thankful to say to-day that about twenty of our conferences are pledged by their constitution, to pay twenty per cent, or one fifth of their tithe.

I believe that if this resolution is adopted, it will mean $100,000 more for the mission fields. This work must be done in this generation; it will call for means; God's Spirit is ready to move upon us as we step forward. Why should we not step forward to-day as a people? Let us be careful in our expenses as conferences, as unions, and set the right example before the people; talk courage to them and urge them to be faithful. If we do this, we shall see in a little while what great things God has in store for this people. May the Lord help us at this meeting to take the proper stand.

C. McReynolds (Wisconsin): I think no other resolution presented has interested me more than this; and I think there has been no other resolution that has interested the congregation more. I have observed that in our large camp-meetings, when we strike the question of foreign missions, and this message to the world in this generation, there is no other question that so interests the people. I am heartily in favor of this resolution.

Wm. Covert (Northern Illinois): I believe that our own souls, in a measure, depend upon the things that are involved in this resolution. I believe that many of our people are allowing themselves to pass along in unfaithfulness in this matter. I have thought that if our workers would be more faithful in teaching the subject of tithing and the financial responsibility that rests upon those who make the profession that we do, we would see better results.

J. N. Anderson (China): I want to say that I regard these as splendid resolutions; and, while we in foreign fields have the utmost confidence that you will always support us, that you will raise the money somehow, yet I can see that when the foreign workers in the field see this Conference pledge itself to do as we recommend in these resolutions, it will prove a great inspiration, a great uplift, to our workers over in those great fields. I am glad to see these resolutions brought in here, and to see them spoken to with so much enthusiasm.

R. A. Underwood: I would like to speak to both resolutions. The first one (41)—I hope that no one will get an idea, if No. 44 is adopted, that we can let go of the idea of making gifts to missions equivalent to an average of ten cents per week. We must press this, urge it, and it will require a continuous effort on our part to keep it before our brethren. If all in the United States had given ten cents a week during the past year, we would have raised $338,000 [Note: OCR shows $338,-, contextually $338,000]. A few have reached that point, but many have not. Now I believe that we should make a strong effort in all our conferences to get our brethren to actually carry out the ten-cent-a-week plan.

A. G. Daniells: The report of the American Grocer is reliable, and it says that there is spent in the United States an average of $16 for every person for alcoholic drinks. With our membership, it would make over a million dollars that we save by not using alcoholic drinks. For tobacco, the average is $11.57, making an average of over a million dollars saved by our ninety thousand people. On theaters it is estimated that there is spent an average of $1.21; so we save a hundred thousand on that; on patent medicines, $6.92, making our saving $82,000; on jewelry, $.73, our saving $65,000. The total for these and two or three other items, is an average of $33.66, or a total saved to our people, by not using them, of over $3,000,000.

R. A. Underwood: I see that home unions, in Canada and the South, call for appropriations. I believe these ought as soon as possible to raise their tithe so that these calls would not have to be met.

E. E. Andross (Southern California): I wish to record myself as being heartily in favor of this resolution. We ofttimes say that our field is the world; but I have just been noticing the statistics, and in the United States last year there was raised $797,990 in tithe. Of this amount $105,706 was appropriated to fields outside of the United States. $170,866 was raised by offerings for the foreign mission work. The Sabbath-school offerings in the United States amounted to $67,871 for missions; or a total to the foreign work of $344,443. Now this amount was used to carry this gospel to fields outside the United States. But the population in this country is altogether disproportionate to the amount of money expended here in the United States. Of the $797,990 tithe raised in the United States, over $600,000 was expended in this country. It seems to me that we will not reach the ideal until we include the whole world in the use of the tithe. Let all the world share it.

O. A. Olsen: We have had very many interesting features in this Conference. Our souls have been thrilled with the reports that have come from all parts of the field; and I suppose we were all thrilled when we saw this report of the finance committee. Now I think this meeting is one of the most interesting of them all. It is the response from the home field to the calls for help. Brethren, this looks much like the loud cry of the third angel's message. Australia will be with you in every forward move. We thank you for the appropriations for the Australasian field.

C. H. Keslake: I wish to say just a word with reference to the matter of Sabbath-school offerings. I represent Newfoundland, a territory of 42,000 square miles, with a population of only 225,000. The constituency of Sabbath-keepers there numbers about fifty; but we are a factor in this work. We have adopted the plan of bringing birthday thank-offerings in our Sabbath-school. Both the old and the young have taken hold of it with enthusiasm, and our Sabbath-school offerings have increased quite materially.

Andrew Nelson (Oklahoma): It has been said that when resolutions are passed, they become a dead letter. As far as the Oklahoma Conference is concerned, we propose as a conference to carry out this resolution, both in the ten-cent-a-week plan and also in regard to appropriating from the tithe.

E. K. Slade (East Michigan): I am much pleased with Recommendations 41 and 44. I believe that as ministers and as conference workers, we have given too little attention to the ten-cent-a-week plan. We have the inspired Word that it is God's purpose that there shall be systematic giving.

J. W. Lair: As you all know, Colorado has already adopted this plan. I believe this is a move in the right direction. I believe that every conference ought to adopt such a system.

G. E. Langdon: I believe this resolution is good. We ought to pass it, but its reading is not clear as to whether the conference is to first pay a tithe to the union before making division of the total tithe.

I. H. Evans: This proposition was discussed by the committee on finance, but they suggested it was not necessary to state that—because it was understood everywhere, and should be understood—the conference tithe goes first to the union conference, and from the union to the General.

W. A. Spicer: I move, as an amendment, that we insert after the words, "total tithe receipts," the words, "after taking out the tithe to the union and the General Conference."

The amendment was carried.

I. H. Evans (securing permission to introduce a resolution): I would move, Mr. Chairman, the following amendments to the constitution:—

To amend Article III, Section 3, Subhead (b), by inserting after the words, "General Conference," third line, the words, "and superintendents of work among the various foreign-speaking peoples in the United States."

To amend Article V, Section 6, by adding after the words, "presidents of union conferences," the words, "or superintendents of union mission fields."

Both amendments were adopted unanimously.

W. T. Bartlett: I would like to move that in Article V, Section 6, where it reads, "election of officers and executive committee," it be made to read "election of officers," leaving out "and executive committee," in order to conform with Article IV, Section 2.

The amendment was adopted.

Motion to adjourn was made and carried.

Thirty-Seventh Meeting

June 3, 3 P. M.

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

Reports of committees being called for, the committee on the deputation to see the President of the United States reported through its chairman, Elder K. C. Russell. He stated that the deputation was received by the President. Elder S. B. Horton introduced Elder G. A. Irwin as spokesman for the delegation. Elder Irwin presented the address adopted by the Conference, engrossed on parchment. The address is as follows:—

THE GENERAL CONFERENCE OF SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS

WASHINGTON, D. C., June 1, 1909.

The Honorable William Howard Taft, President of the United States.

SIR: We have the honor to wait upon you as a deputation from the World's Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, now in session at Takoma Park, composed of three hundred and thirty delegates from six continents and the islands of the sea.

We desire to express to you our appreciation of the blessings of liberty, both civil and religious, preserved by the founders of this republic, and transmitted by their successors to the present generation.

We acknowledge God as the Supreme Ruler of the universe, and the duly authorized officers of state as his ministers for the preservation of the social order.

We affirm our confidence in the eternal principles of justice and righteousness, taught in the gospel, as the foundation of all permanent forms of government.

We heartily desire the peace and prosperity of both the church and the state during your administration, and pray that the blessing of heaven may attend your efforts to this end.

Signed by the officers and 125 others.

In presenting the address, Elder Irwin said:—

"As vice-president of the North American division of the World's Conference of Seventh-day Adventists now in session at Takoma Park, Md., and because I am a Buckeye by birth and education, and a veteran soldier from the great State of Ohio, I have been accorded the honor of heading this deputation and presenting to your Excellency this brief address containing the sentiments and greetings of our people throughout the world. I wish you a peaceful and prosperous administration."

The President replied:—

"Doctor, I am very glad to meet you and your coreligionists. I am glad to meet them here and to welcome them to Washington. I have no doubt that your Conference has led to satisfactory results, and that your aims are high, and that you are entitled, like all the rest of us, to worship God in the way that seems best to your conscience, and under our Constitution everybody figures to an equality in that regard."

The President shook hands with each member of the delegation.

Discussion of Resolutions Continued

Chairman: When we adjourned this morning, we were in the midst of a discussion of Resolutions 41 and 44, the former relating to the ten-cent-a-week plan and the appropriations for missions, and the latter recommending that conferences share their tithe with the mission fields.

R. F. Andrews: In Resolution 41 the statement is made, "That our local and union conferences be urged to curtail their expenses." It seems to me, it will be better to get up a little higher in the stream if you want to catch the whole run of the water. I have known many men who had only seven or eight dollars a week to live on; in a few years they received higher wages; and they put just as much into the cause when they received small wages as when they had more. It is because they do not curtail expenses. I believe we ought to be careful upon these points. I am heartily in favor of these resolutions.

G. F. Haffner: I do not believe it is right for a man to withhold his tithe, but, nevertheless, it is a fact that some are withholding it. When I was on my way to this Conference, I visited a family who paid $500 back tithe, which they had been withholding for years for certain reasons. But they were finally convinced that this was not right. I believe this action will cause our people to pay their tithe more faithfully.

H. G. Thurston (Arizona): I favor this recommendation, and I am glad to unite in the enthusiasm that is manifested here. But I believe there is one point that we might well consider. If the mission conferences that are not self-supporting shall send a third of their tithe, they must receive more appropriations from their union conferences. I should like some light in regard to this.

B. F. Kneeland (New Jersey): There are conferences, especially in the Eastern States, which have large cities and mission fields, and their work is not self-supporting. They have to receive appropriations from the union conference or from the General. I believe in raising funds for missions. Our conference last year raised an average of about twelve and one-half cents a week.

But if we are to divide our tithe, which is recommended in this resolution, we shall need more appropriations from other funds. I should like to see some provision made so that we can go home and carry out Resolution 44. I expect to vote for Resolution 41, on the ten-cent-a-week plan; for I know it can be carried out.

It was moved to amend by making Resolution 44 read, "and that self-supporting conferences be invited to appropriate from one fourth to one third," etc.

The amendment was seconded, and discussed by various speakers, all in harmony with the idea, but desiring to have it worded so that weak conferences, unable to meet the recommendation, would not be brought into embarrassment. It was explained that this was not a matter of compulsion, and that conferences must be left to act conscientiously, and by their own judgment.

The question was called on the amendment, which was lost.

Discussion upon the resolution was continued.

M. C. Wilcox: I would like to say a few words. I am not a conference president, but I have been much associated with conference committees. I am in favor of the resolution. I believe it is one of the most vital resolutions that has come before this entire body. I believe that it means more to us as conferences, and as a people, than any other resolution that has come before us.

I think we ought to mention, in connection with this, another thought that has been before us in this Conference, and that is this: not only ought there to come a division of funds, but there must come a division of laborers. Some of our conferences, which find their tithe whittled down so that they do not know how to use it, can solve that problem by saying, "Take the very best of our laborers, and send them with the tithe." That is what we want to see, and I will tell you that in the carrying out of the spirit of this resolution, God will develop laborers much faster than he has been doing in years in the past.

J. A. Burden: I feel intensely interested in this. Nothing has so rejoiced my heart in this meeting as the reports from the foreign fields, and the present move to strengthen the foreign fields. It seems to me that we need to learn some of the lessons taught to Israel. They camped when the cloud settled. When the cloud moved, they all moved. The cloud certainly is moving into the regions beyond.

Allen Moon: I firmly believe that if our hearts are filled with a love for this work, we can accomplish more with two thirds of labor in our conferences than we are now accomplishing. It is not that we have not a love for the work. But when we take hold of this work in the way proposed, I believe the Lord will bless the work that we do in greater measure.

The Secretary: Brother Corliss has suggested a transfer of phrase only, which smooths the wording of the resolution, making it read:—

Resolved, That our local and union conferences be urged to curtail their expenses wherever expedient, and that they be invited to definitely appropriate to the support of the work in the regions beyond, from one fourth to one third of their total tithe receipts, after taking out the tithe to the union conference and the General Conference.

The question was put, and Resolutions 41 and 44 were adopted unanimously. At the suggestion of E. E. Andross, a rising vote was taken, first of the delegates, then of the entire congregation.

A. G. Daniells: I did not want to take the time of the delegates to speak on the resolution; but I would like to call your attention now to the blessing that may come from this. The tithe in the United States is about $800,000. While we have been discussing the question, I have run over what we call self-supporting conferences, and I find fifteen of these conferences pay a tithe of $500,000. Now if these conferences pay one third of their tithe, after the tithe has been taken out, it will come to about $150,000.

I have taken the tithes of these conferences for 1903 and 1908, and I find that the increase during the five years has been $147,000. So after giving to the mission fields the one third, they will still have left as much in their conferences for their work as they had five years ago.

A. T. Robinson: If you count the continued increase for the next five years, you will have more to add.

A. G. Daniells: Did we not think five years ago that we had enough for our general operations? Nebraska did, for I visited the field at the time, in 1902, and they had about $7,000 surplus. The conference then voted $2,500 to missions. At that time the tithe was $22,000; now it is $34,000. It has increased $12,000 in five years. They had enough then, and what they had then is enough to-day; and the $12,000 increase can go to the missions, and not cripple the conference a particle. And that argument is true, in varying degree, of all the fifteen conferences. Here is one conference in which the tithe for 1908 is $21,000 more

than it was in 1903. In 1903 that conference had $45,000 [Note: OCR says $42,000 in part 13, image says $45,000], and not more than a million inhabitants. What can be done with the $21,000 that has been gained?—Send it on to missions.

Our tithe in this country is not, in many of our States, a full tithe. The average tithe for the United States is $12.26. That is not a tithe, and we all know it. Some time ago I figured out the average wage of fifteen different classes, and on a conservative basis, it comes to over $20 a year. We are paying only two-thirds of that, $12.26.

Now our tithe is $800,000 [Note: OCR says $860,000, image says $800,000]. Let us spring that tithe to its true place, on a conservative reckoning, and we have added over $400,000 to our tithe in this country. I believe if something of the earnestness of these conference presidents and ministers can come to our people, to spring them to a full tithe, we shall soon have our tithe increased a half a million, all of which can go into the mission fields. And when that is done, it will seem that we are in the loud cry of the message, surely.

I pray the Lord to let his rich blessing rest upon us in the step we have taken. With Elder Wilcox, I believe that this is the most important resolution we have passed in this Conference. I believe it is worth this Conference to come here and study this great problem, as we have, and deliberately take the step we have. And I hope that our conference presidents will go back with the earnest determination to see that, just as far as possible with consistency, their conferences will send one third of the tithe during the coming year to the mission fields.

Resolution 42 was read, as follows:—

REMITTING FUNDS

42. We recommend, That our people be encouraged to send their offerings to missions through their local church treasuries, rather than to forward donations direct to missions or to individuals; and that isolated believers remit their offerings to missions through their state conference or mission field treasury.

The resolution was adopted.

Resolution 43 was read, as follows:—

43. We recommend, That all funds be passed from the respective treasurers through the regular channels monthly.

G. F. Haffner: I would like to ask a question; that is, whether all the funds that we raise are included in this. For instance, in the German work we have a fund called the German Mission Fund that is kept in our paper, and the people send their money to the paper and the paper receives it, or the International Association in College View. Is this included in the money that should go in the regular channel?

H. W. Cottrell: I want to ask you if you do not think it would throw us all into confusion if we paid no attention to the local treasurer of the conference.

G. F. Haffner: I believe in system, but should our money go that way? Can not the International Association be also a regular channel? or is there only one regular channel?

Chris Juhl: I am somewhat opposed to this resolution, on this ground that it works too slowly. It says that all funds be forwarded through the regular channels. When would the parties get the money? We have from time to time had complaints from those that gave money, and also from those that received it. It was months before they got their money.

R. A. Underwood: The last speaker indicates that it stops at the union. But we have traced that from the union, and we find it at the headquarters here. All the funds that come into our union go out every month. And it goes on to the General Conference. Now, the treasurer of the General Conference has been away nine months in the year, and here and there, and I hope that the present administration will give authority to the man that sits at the desk to see that the funds that are labeled will reach their destination in proper time.

G. A. Irwin: While I am a firm believer in the regular channels and in order and system in our work, I am also quite thoroughly convinced that there is a reform that is needed along the very line of this resolution. Some of our people are coming to speak of the regular channels in rather a slighting way, and some are taking a short cut, going across, ignoring the general channels. I believe there is a reform needed in our system. While believing in the general channels, in the organized way of handling our funds, I know from experience that there is unnecessary delay, and it does not all occur in the General Conference Office. Last year I was connected with the work in the South. We had a collection for the colored work in October. I was here in Washington the first of January, and the brethren in charge in the South wrote asking me to look up the matter, and see that the funds were sent on. I went to see the sub-treasurer, Brother McNeill,—Brother Evans was in China,—and he opened up the books, and showed me what had come in and was ready to pass on; and he did pass it on. But what I want especially to emphasize is this, that a great deal of our funds that should go promptly, is delayed in the local treasuries. Now I personally knew what had been given at the Sanitarium church here. I asked Brother McNeill how much had been paid in from the Sanitarium church. He said, "I have not received a penny." That collection was taken in October, and this was the middle of January. That money was still in the hands of the church treasurer. I found the same thing existed in the Takoma Park Church. So I am not here to defend the general treasury, because I do not know that the insinuation is correct that it lodges there. I am inclined to think that it does not; but I do know from these two instances at least, that funds do stay in the local treasury a great deal longer than there is any need of. One of the treasurers said, "Well, I was holding it back, thinking there might be a dollar or two more paid in," and the other said the same thing. Now this resolution says monthly, and that would be a decided improvement over the condition I have brought to your attention.

J. A. Burden: I feel there is some need for emphasizing this matter. I have run across the question in Sabbath-schools and churches this last year. In one case, a brother had $500 that he wanted to go to some of the fields. He did not want it to be sent through the Conference, because he did not know when it would get to the field. We have got to work carefully in order that the people may be convinced that this money is forwarded to the fields more quickly.

Morris Lukens: It seems to me that this resolution is to correct the very troubles which some of the workers have spoken of. I am glad that the resolution states, "through the regular channels." I believe it ought to be stated so emphatically that every one in our conferences will understand it. Some of the people in the South have gone up into our Northern conferences, collecting money, and urging the people to give toward certain purposes; and in many cases our conferences do not know where the money is to be used. Only a few weeks ago a young man came into our conference collecting money for one of the schools of the South. He may have had authority to do so, but we did not know what the money was used for. I therefore hope it will be made so emphatic that every one of our people in the conference will so see the need of sending their money through the regular channels that we may know just what the money is used for, not only that every conference may know what is sent out of the conference, but also that it is sent in the right way.

C. M. Everest: I have observed one thing that hinders the money going promptly to the sources for which it is intended, and that is the lack of directions to go along with the money. It hinders especially when it comes to the General Conference, for they do not know just where the money is intended for. One speaker has figured out that it takes three months for the money to get through to its destination. As I understand it, a local treasurer sends it to the local conference treasurer at the close of the month. Then the conference treasurer sends it to the union treasurer during the first ten days of the next month, and the union conference treasurer remits it to the General treasurer by the tenth. Now we do not have it lying in our treasury beyond that time, if all send it in on time. I believe every church treasurer, these ministers, and other workers, should be careful in giving instruction as to how to send the money, and in giving full directions when it is sent.

C. S. Longacre: I would like to amend this resolution as follows: "We recommend, That all our people be encouraged to pay their tithes and offerings weekly, and that all regular funds be passed from the respective treasuries through the regular channels monthly, and that special funds be forwarded immediately."

The motion was seconded.

C. S. Longacre: I know that many of our people pay their tithe only quarterly, and if they were encouraged to pay their tithe weekly or monthly, according to their income or salary, I believe it would greatly increase our offerings and tithes. I know of one experience in a church where we introduced the system of paying weekly. It increased the tithe $150 the first quarter, $175 the second quarter, and nearly $250 the third quarter.

I. H. Evans: I do not believe we can improve upon the weekly envelope plan. This resolution only purports to instruct the treasurers to forward the funds in their possession to the next treasury every month. In this way a continual stream is kept going, and if all will work to it, I think we shall have as good a

system as we can have, taking into consideration our scattered membership.