78. We recommend, That our German church-schools follow the curriculum and system adopted by our English schools, as far as possible, substituting such German studies as are adapted to their respective grades.
Whereas, There is great need of uniformity in the German departments of our higher schools; therefore,—
79. We recommend, That the same course of study be pursued by these departments, and that, wherever possible, the same text-books be used; and,—
80. We further recommend, That the regular course in these higher schools be four years, after the completion of which, certificates of proper recognition be granted.
The meeting having continued considerably beyond the appointed time, adjournment was now taken to call of the chair.
Forty-First Meeting
June 5, 7:45 P. M.
Elder A. J. Breed occupied the chair, and prayer was offered by W. B. White.
Reports
The evening being devoted to reports from distant fields, the Conference listened to Elder C. T. Everson from Italy, Prof. W. E. Howell from Greece, and Elder J. A. Morrow from Bermuda. Meeting adjourned.
Forty-Second Meeting
June 6, 6 A. M.
Elder A. G. Daniells in the chair. Elder H. Shultz offered prayer.
The chairman called upon Elder D. C. Babcock to report his work in West Africa. This was done.
The meeting adjourned.
Forty-Third Meeting
June 6, 9:15 A. M.
A. G. Daniells in the chair. Prayer by R. F. Andrews.
Reports were called for from foreign delegates. F. L. Perry, of Peru; Elder Ed. Thomann, of Bolivia; and Dr. R. H. Habenicht and N. Z. Town, of Argentina reported for their fields.
Following the reports a fifteen-minute recess was taken.
After the recess, prayer was offered by R. M. Kilgore.
G. Dail submitted a final report from the committee on plans and finance, which was read, action being deferred until the previous reports were taken up.
Adoption of Resolutions
On motion to adopt, Resolutions 65 to 69 were then considered. By amendment to the report, Section 2 of Resolution 67, and Resolution 68, were referred to the General Conference Committee for consideration and recommendation, with the understanding that these details would need more thorough consideration by committees and conferences and sanitarium boards before definite action is taken.
As amended, the report was adopted.
The chairman called attention to the further partial report from the committee on plans and finance.
Motion was made to adopt.
Resolution 70, on the book "Hymns and Tunes," was considered.
G. I. Butler: It certainly seems to me that this resolution is very opportune. You all know the old volume that we prize so much, "Hymns and Tunes." But that old hymn-book seems to be passing away, and other hymn-books are coming in which, with all due respect, I must say are inferior to the old one. It has stood the test of time, and for many years it has been in almost universal use. But of late I have observed an increasing tendency to use other collections, which, while good in many respects, fail, in my judgment, to meet the needs of our denomination.
It is difficult for me to express myself regarding this matter. For many years it has been my practise, when preparing to speak in public, to choose hymns that will impress the truths that I desire to present before the congregation; and I have always thought that the closing hymn should be the "cap-sheaf," so to speak, of the service.
During the recent past, I have almost despaired of following my customary practise of choosing these hymns; for I find, when meeting with our people, that often churches are using books that do not contain some of the hymns that I had chosen from our church hymnal. Instead, we often hear "jingly" tunes that fail to appeal to my sense of propriety in sacred worship. I do not know just why we so often see and hear these modern musical compositions used instead of the good old standard tunes; but there is some reason. Possibly those who compose these new tunes wish to see them included in our books.
And so, Brother Chairman, I would suggest that in the carrying out of this resolution, care be exercised to carry it out in the reverential spirit in which it has been framed. We must not lose sight of the importance of singing the good old advent hymns that were sung with the spirit and the understanding by our people in former days. There is power in an advent hymn, sung from the heart; we must introduce into our worship more of the spirit of the advent message.
Resolutions 71 and 72 were read, and question called without discussion.
Resolution 73, encouraging those in the United States speaking a foreign tongue to work for people of that language, was read.
Allen Moon: I was deeply impressed with the importance of doing more for the foreign peoples in America, last winter, in Chicago, while attending the Catholic Missionary Council, and listening to the plans laid by that denomination. They outlined a plan of placing a missionary priest in every community in America, colonizing the immigrants from other lands into localities, as far as possible, and placing them under these missionary priests; and when the plan was perfected, it seemed to reach every nationality coming to this country, and every community in the land. I thought that we were far behind in this matter of planning for the peoples of other tongues that are coming to this country.
Question was called on Resolutions 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80.
The report was then adopted.
Final Report From Committee on Plans and Finance
For the committee on plans and finance, Guy Dail, the secretary, presented a final report. Other resolutions that had come in too late for the committee to act upon were also introduced. These were read, and, with some amendments, adopted as follows:—
APPROPRIATIONS
81. We recommend, That further appropriations be made to the evangelical work during 1909 as follows: Greater New York Conference, $5,000; Chesapeake Conference, $750; Virginia Conference, $750.
82. We recommend, That all other requests for appropriations be referred to the General Conference Committee.
83. We recommend, That the General Conference Committee be authorized to make such changes in the appropriations granted for the evangelical work as the demands of the various fields seem to make necessary.
MIDSUMMER OFFERING
Whereas, The midsummer offering, of Sabbath, July 3, is right upon us, at a time when the mission treasury is in great need, and unable to provide the means to send to the fields many consecrated workers who are ready to go in response to the Macedonian cry; therefore,—
84. Resolved, That we urge all our people to pray and work with special earnestness at this time to make the midsummer offering the largest we have ever received at the midsummer season, in order that laborers may be hastened forth to the fields white for the harvest.
MISSIONARY INGATHERING CAMPAIGN
Whereas, The Thanksgiving missionary campaign last year was a great success in bringing the truth of the message and its progress before the world, and in gathering funds for the extension of our missionary work; therefore,—
85. Resolved, That a missionary number of the Review and Herald be issued for 1909, and that a vigorous campaign be inaugurated for its circulation, the date of the campaign to be fixed by the General Conference Committee.
STATISTICAL REPORT, PER CAPITA BASIS
Whereas, There is need of slight changes in the matter of our statistical reports; therefore,—
86. Resolved, (a) That the per capita basis of the computation of the funds raised by each conference shall be the reported membership of organized churches and companies.
(b) That the annual statistical reports of the statistical secretary shall be accepted as official by the denomination; and that the church-membership given in the Year Book shall agree with the membership published in the preceding statistical report, and shall constitute the basis for the per capita computation of funds.
HEALTH FOOD INTERESTS
Believing that our health food interests may be greatly advanced by unifying the work of the several factories; therefore,—
87. We recommend, That the General Conference Committee appoint a chairman and secretary to work for the best interests of the health food business, and suggest a general council to be held in some central place, with the idea of unifying the health food business, and giving attention to the best methods of marketing the products.
INDEX NUMBER, BULLETIN
Whereas, During the coming four years the General Conference Bulletin will be in constant use as a source of reference; therefore,—
88. We recommend, That the closing number of the Bulletin contain all the resolutions passed at this Conference, the revised Constitution, and an index of the Conference proceedings.
(Continued on page 22)22
General Conference Proceedings
(Continued from page 21)
TO THE PRESS
89. Resolved, That we express appreciation of the courtesies extended by the general and local press to our meeting; and, further,—
90. Resolved, That the secretary of the General Conference be asked to communicate this action to the press.
SYMPATHY WITH ARMENIAN BELIEVERS
Prof. H. R. Salisbury read the following report from the committee appointed to draw up a message of sympathy with our Armenian brethren in Turkey:—
The delegates assembled at the World's Conference of Seventh-day Adventists in Takoma Park, Washington, D. C., United States of America, have been filled with deep sorrow as we have heard of the sore affliction which has befallen you.
Our hearts rejoiced when we heard the glad news that religious liberty had been granted to you [Note: OCR says "granted of you", image says "granted to you"], but our rejoicing has been turned into sorrow, and we have been made inexpressibly sad by the grievous intelligence that some among you of our brethren and sisters in Christ have suffered death during the recent massacres. We assure the survivors of our deepest sympathy and of our financial assistance in case of need.
Our God is of great mercy, and while we may not be able to understand why he permits these severe trials, yet we are comforted with the assurance that his love for his children is infinite.
We sorrow with you in your great grief, and pray that this sad experience may but bring you nearer to God, and lead you to a deeper consecration, filling you with greater zeal to finish this blessed work that has been given us to do. When that work is completed, it will bring an end to suffering and death, and usher in the everlasting kingdom of the Prince of Peace.
The entire congregation voted for this message of sympathy by rising.
Resolution 35 (on lengthened nurses' courses), action upon which had been deferred, was read and adopted.
ON DEATH OF ELDER C. J. HERRMANN
I. H. Evans: Since we have been here in session, one of our dear brethren in the ministry has died on the grounds, at the Sanitarium. I refer to our Brother Herrmann, of Wisconsin. I would like to move that we instruct the secretary to draft a resolution to be forwarded to his wife and children, expressing the sympathy of this Conference in their great loss.
C. McReynolds: I second the motion.
The entire congregation expressed their sympathy by a rising vote.
FROM DELEGATES FROM ABROAD
The following resolution from the delegates from other countries, presented in their behalf by H. J. Edmed, of South Africa, was then read, and adopted by a rising vote of the foreign delegates:—
Whereas, During our attendance at this Conference, we have enjoyed the kind hospitality and liberal manner in which the Conference has entertained the foreign delegates,—a task which we fully appreciate has involved great expense of means, energy, and thought,—and many helpers have faithfully assisted in discharging the duties which such an arrangement has demanded; therefore,—
Resolved, That we desire to express and have recorded our grateful thanks for these favors; and, further,—
That we also express our deep gratitude for the kind and patient attention given by this Conference to our many reports, and also for the liberal and self-sacrificing response that has been voted to our appeals for larger appropriations and help for the work in distant lands. We fully realize that what has been decided at this gathering will impose much patient, perplexing, painstaking, and constant labor upon those who must endeavor to transform these resolutions into facts, and we pledge ourselves to God and to you in God's strength to strive to be worthy of your confidence in our future labor.
A. G. Daniells: I am sure I can say for our brethren here that it has been a great pleasure for us to have you with us [many amens], and to do what little we have in the way of entertainment. I sincerely hope that it has been agreeable to you, and that you will always remember with pleasure your session with us here, and the blessings of this splendid Conference.
O. A. Olsen: Regarding a secretary for the Negro Department, I wish to say to the Conference that we have given this matter very much thought and prayerful consideration. We realize the importance of the move, the responsibility involved in it, and the need of the right man to take hold of the work; and I am sorry to say that we have not yet reached the point where we have a name to present before you. We have considered several names, but do not feel free to-day to place them before the Conference for action. I move that we refer this appointment to the General Conference Committee.
The motion was duly seconded and carried.
O. A. Olsen: I would further move that the appointment of the transportation agents, and the auditors, be referred to the General Conference Committee.
The motion was seconded and carried.
A. G. Daniells: The time has come for us to adjourn sine die.
W. H. Thurston: I move we adjourn sine die.
J. O. Corliss: I second the motion.
A. G. Daniells: A good many of us would like to say something, but we must not. Of course we are grateful to God for his blessings during this Conference. Those in favor of adjourning will stand. The meeting is adjourned. Let us sing "Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow."