The General Conference Committee Council
By W. A. Spicer
In addition to brethren listed as present in former reports Elders B. F. Kneeland, of New Jersey, and W. H. Heckman, of Pennsylvania, joined the council for a time. At the morning session a communication was read, presenting counsel from Sister White regarding various phases of the work. South African affairs were taken up, and calls for laborers referred to committees. Our missionaries in unhealthful regions were advised not to open new stations before the money is supplied with which to erect a good house for the proper care of the health of the workers. A letter from Elder J. M. Freeman, of the Orange River Colony, brought to the attention of the council the sad condition of native converts who are coming into the truth in that region, and who are liable to suffer great hardship in some cases. The suggestion was made of a missionary station, with land attached, to meet the situation. The matter was referred to the South African Union Committee for consideration. The afternoon session opened with consideration of the relationship of the General Conference toward institutions needing financial help. The recommendations advised:— 1. That each institution and corporation finance itself, meeting promptly all its liabilities.
2. That we do not encourage our people to undertake new enterprises, involving the outlay of large sums of money, without the advice of the union conference committee having oversight of the territory in which such institution shall be located.
3. That we advise the various boards of our various sanitariums to judiciously5advertise, endeavoring to secure a full patronage for the institutions.
4. That the policy of the General Conference toward all denominational institutions be to foster and encourage; but that we insist upon local management and financiering.
5. That we encourage our people to patronize our denominational institutions, to render every possible assistance by loaning them money, and thus by their loyal support helping to put them on a paying basis. The council urged union and local conferences to endeavor to place the paper for the blind, The Christian Record, published at College View, Neb., in the hands of the blind people. Individuals were urged to pay for a year’s subscription at two dollars. The work was inaugurated by taking up subscriptions in the council, and resolutions suggested ways by which support may be given to this paper, which every year brings a goodly number of blind people into the truth. Invitations to workers to enter different fields were made in the session, but only the following can be reported until the individuals concerned have been corresponded with: Elder J. G. Kroeker, of Nebraska, was invited to go to Brazil, and Dr. R. Russell, just finishing a medical course in Washington, D. C., was invited to go to Korea, to engage in evangelistic medical missionary work. The North American Foreign Department occupied the evening hour. Elder G. F. Haffner stated that there were thirty ordained and twenty-one licensed ministers in the German work in this country. There are now in other lands about twenty German ministers sent out from this country. The average tithe paid by the German churches is $16.65 for each member. There is a hearty interest in every missionary movement, and a reviving among the German believers. Elder O. E. Reinke spoke specially of the great masses of German population in the East, where the least has been done. Special effort began in New York City seven years ago. Now Greater New York has three German churches, and two churches have been organized in Jersey City. In New York a church building has been erected, costing over seven thousand dollars. The great need was illustrated by statistical tables, showing over six millions of Germans in the States east of the Mississippi, while our German church-membership is but five hundred forty-one in this territory, and for all these millions there are but ten German ministers, with fifteen Bible workers. Brother A. Boettcher, formerly of Finland, now secretary in the New York Office (Review and Herald, 32 Union Square, East), presented to the delegates statistical tables, showing the distribution of twenty-six nationalities in the different States, grouped by union conferences. The council earnestly approved of the department’s request that local conferences, churches and individuals get into communication with the New York foreign office, so that literature may be supplied to bring the message before these millions of other nationalities, whom Providence has directed to our doors. Elder L. H. Christian spoke of the Danish-Norwegian work, including also the Swedish department, inasmuch as Elder S. Mortenson could not attend the council. He sketched the interesting story of the development of the work among the Scandinavians, and pointed out needs. Very many among the millions of Scandinavians in this country can be reached only in the mother tongues. There are sixty-one Scandinavian workers here, as compared with thirty-six in Europe. The believers in America desire to help the European work by sending some strong young Scandinavian laborers to grow up in the service in the home country. The speaker emphasized the importance of having conference officers encourage young Scandinavian laborers to hold to the work in these languages, rather than to draw them toward the English work. One crying need is money and men from the West for the great Scandinavian fields in the Eastern States. Elder C. H. Edwards, of New York City, stated that two years ago their first Italian brother began work in that city. The first year developed little; the people seemed beyond reach. Then came a change, the Lord showered blessings upon the effort, and now there are two Italian churches. Quickly also a Bohemian church has been developed. This shows that the time has come to give the message to the foreign-speaking peoples in our midst. The following recommendations on topics considered the previous evening were adopted:— Whereas, There is a large German and Scandinavian population in several conferences, especially in the East, among whom we have as yet only made a beginning in our work; and,—
Whereas, There is a large German and Scandinavian constituency in the Central and Western States; and,—
Whereas, Our German and Scandinavian brethren in the East are poor, and the mission work very expensive, while our brethren in the West are generally in better circumstances, and the mission work, being in the country, is not so expensive; therefore, we recommend:—
1. That as soon as consistent, more suitable laborers in these languages, from the Central and Western conferences, be sent to the East, with their wages paid.
2. That we approve of the present plan of having mission funds with which to begin and carry on the work among these nationalities in the large cities, especially in the East.
3. That such funds be raised through the foreign papers, and by such other arrangements as the local and union conferences may approve. It is further recommended,— 1. That the Danish-Norwegian literature committee that is elected at the annual meeting of the International Publishing Association, in addition to its other work serve as an advisory committee to the superintendent of the Danish-Norwegian work in America, and that he counsel with these brethren in regard to questions concerning the Danish-Norwegian work in this country.
2. That those in charge of the Danish-Norwegian work organize a mission band among the Danish-Norwegian students, isolated Sabbath-keepers, and so far as feasible among all the Danish-Norwegian brethren, the purpose of this mission band being to further the tract and missionary work for the Danes and Norwegians in America. West Indian affairs were presented by Elder U. Bender, and it was voted to release Elder O. E. Davis from British Guiana, medical advice being against his continuing there on account of his health. Jamaica was authorized to call for six hundred dollars through the REVIEW, in order to complete the Kingston church building, which has been under way since the earthquake. The delegation to the next General Conference was considered. Some union conferences receiving appropriations, asked counsel as to the matter. It was the decision of the counsel that after a four-year term, the near-by unions should plan for a full representation; and as to other lands, it was agreed that the representation from unions and unorganized mission fields should be more liberal than formerly. The selection of delegates from abroad rests almost entirely with the local committees; but of those subject to call by the General Conference Committee the following were asked to attend: Guy Dail, assistant secretary for Europe; Elder J. A. Morrow, of Bermuda; Elder C. D. M. Williams, of the Hawaiian Islands. The evening hour was devoted to a review of the situation in Australasia and the island fields. Elder O. A. Olsen stated that their union is now operating in fields having a population of forty-eight millions, and that New Guinea is soon to be added, Brother S. W. Carr and wife, of Fiji, expecting to enter that field in June. The Sabbath-keepers in the union number four thousand one hundred fifty. The tithes and offerings last year were about forty-three hundred dollars more than the previous year. Book sales were eighty thousand dollars. There is growth in every department. A school has been opened in New Zealand, with fifty students, and another in West Australia. The conferences have6loyally furnished men and means for the island fields. The outlook among the islands is encouraging, and the work in Fiji shows especially good progress. Training-school work has been a great factor there from the first, joined with the scattering of publications in the Fiji tongue. Elder George Teasdale, of Java, spoke of the work in the vast cosmopolitan city of Singapore, with its printing-office and school and church work. He also described the situation in Java, where the work has but begun. Additional workers are called for here. The council recommended two brethren to the general oversight of the German canvassing work in this country, Brother E. Max Trummer to the West, and H. Tonjes to the Greater New York and New Jersey conferences. Recommendations were also made as to providing special help in the Young People’s work in the Western conferences having many German believers. In order to focus attention upon the importance of supplying the many millions of foreign-speaking peoples, outside the German and Scandinavian nationalities, with publications, action was taken calling attention to the fact that the Review and Herald branch office in New York is prepared to supply printed matter in many tongues, and the General Conference has appointed a secretary there to give attention to its distribution. The following recommendations were made:—
1. That conferences and churches in whose borders there are large numbers of these foreigners, be asked to buy and distribute a liberal supply of this literature.
2. That a fund to be known as “The Foreign Literature Fund,” be secured, for the free distribution of literature among these people, said fund to be started by an appropriation from the General Conference.
3. That our large Young People’s Societies connected with our training-schools be encouraged to assist in distributing this literature, the details of this plan of work to be formulated by the Missionary Volunteer Department and Brother Adolph Boettcher (secretary in the New York office). The time of the next General Conference was thoroughly discussed, and the date was set for May 13 to June 6, 1909. It was voted to urge our training-school managers so to adjust their school calendars next year that the schools will close by the date of the opening of the General Conference. Considerable time was devoted to discussion of the methods of raising foreign mission funds, so as to secure an average throughout the churches of ten cents a week per member. It was recognized that large churches as well as small must be systematically brought in, if the average is to be reached. All the union conferences have adopted the plan of working for a definite average, and it is recognized that a tremendous onward impetus will be given to the work if all resolutely set themselves to reach the mark. Last year all the gifts to missions in America were $149,260. The average aimed at would have brought in $343,200. All agree that the average is not too high, and that it ought to be attained, that it must be attained. The oversight of the missions in East Africa was considered. The German Union is operating in German East Africa, the British Union in British East Africa, the Scandinavian Union in the region of Abyssinia. It was evident that the economical and wise direction of the work called for some plan of general supervision. It was voted that the East African territory, from the southern border of German East Africa, north-eastward to the southern boundary of the Egyptian field, should constitute the East African mission field; that a superintendent for this general territory be selected by the General Conference Committee quorum in Europe; that the territory be directed as a whole, and that if the unions in Europe which are supplying funds and workers for the opening of the fields are not able to raise sufficient funds as the work develops, help shall be given by General Conference appropriations. Elder L. R. Conradi was requested to visit the East African mission field this year, and it was voted also that if possible he should extend his time in Africa in order to visit the South African field and missions as well. It was voted to request Miss Adelaide Khurie, a Syrian nurse, now in America, to return to Beirut, Syria; and that Miss Kalva, a Greek nurse, of Constantinople, be requested to engage in the work in Smyrna. It was voted to authorize the advisory committees in mission fields to grant annually licenses to native and locally selected workers in their employ, the ordination of laborers and the granting of credentials to be by General Conference action only. The following action was taken:— Voted, That we recommend that the Scandinavian brethren in America be encouraged to unite with the Scandinavian Union in selecting and supporting missionaries for the Abyssinian mission, all money from America to be raised and sent, not as a special fund, but through the regular channels. The evening hour was devoted to a report of the Young People’s Missionary Volunteer Department, by Prof. M. E. Kern. It was voted to approve of the plans presented for local organizations, as printed in the Missionary Volunteer Leaflet, No. 4. It was also recommended that union and local conferences adopt the plans worked out at the Young People’s convention last year in Ohio. The council voted to continue a day or two beyond the time at first set, owing to the pressure of business. We know our readers would gladly have the report of the closing days of the council without delay, but it seems necessary to devote one or two more articles to it, if we are to give even a brief review of the committee’s work.