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West Michigan Conference

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 11, 1909

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 86, No. 6.

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West Michigan Conference

By E. L. Richmond

The seventh annual session of the West Michigan Conference was held in Otsego, Jan. 18-21, 1909. About one hundred fifty delegates were present, and forty-two churches were represented.
The conference committee was in session the day preceding the opening of the meeting, and selected the standing committees. These were announced by the chairman at the first meeting, and were ratified by the delegation, so that everything was in working order.
The report of the treasurer having been published in the local paper, and a copy given to each of the delegates, it was not necessary to read a long financial statement. This report showed the tithe receipts for the year 1908 to be $31,259.90; Sabbath-school offerings, $2,275.56; Thanksgiving Ingathering, $677.06. The total receipts from all sources amounted to $66,472.50. Two hundred nine individuals were baptized during the year.
The net gain in the tract society for the year was $166.69, which, while not very large, was considerably in excess of that for the year 1907.
The reports for the various departments were presented in written form, and showed an encouraging condition throughout the conference.
During most of the sessions we were favored with the presence of Elder Allen Moon and Brethren J. B. Blosser and W. E. Straw. Harmony characterized all the work of the conference, and numerous resolutions were passed. Among them were the following:—
“We recommend, That the executive of our conference give one thousand dollars of the tithe on hand Dec. 31, 1908, to the Mission Board; that we hereby authorize the conference committee to forward five hundred dollars from the tithe, quarterly, during the year 1909, for the use of the Mission Board, in addition to that paid to the laborers supported by this conference in other fields.
“We recommend, The raising of a general fund on the following plan: That each church-member be encouraged to pay one per cent of his income to the local treasurer, to be forwarded to the conference treasurer, one half of this to be paid to the union conference general fund.
“Resolved, That we raise a sum of money during this fiscal year for foreign missions equal to ten cents a week per capita for our conference membership, and thereby be in harmony with all the other conferences.
“Resolved, That it is the sense of this conference that our Sabbath-schools donate to the work of foreign missions all regular Sabbath-school offerings; and that each individual, as far as possible, provide himself with the necessary Sabbath-school helps.
“We recommend, That we approve of the plan of holding conventions, and that, where practicable, the various phases of the work be presented; as, evangelical, educational, Volunteer, and Sabbath-school.
“We recommend, That Sabbath, May 1, be devoted to the interests of Christian education, and that a suitable program be prepared by the educational department.
“We recommend, That plans be laid to place our intermediate schools and academies on a self-supporting basis as soon as possible.
“We recommend, That individuals be advised to make the conference association a beneficiary of their wills, legacies, etc., and that the association be made the executor of said wills.”
A number of other resolutions were passed, which had a bearing on the work of Emmanuel Missionary College and the reading course of the Missionary Volunteer Department, but space will not permit our reproducing them here. It is expected that all the resolutions will be published by themselves, and circulated among the churches of West Michigan, that all the members may have the benefit of them.
The officers for the coming year are as follows: President, A. G. Haughey; vice-president, S. D. Hartwell; secretary, E. L. Richmond; treasurer, G. H. Crandall. Executive committee: A. G. Haughey, S. D. Hartwell, W. R. Matthews, C. A. Hansen, E. L. Richmond. Sabbath-school and educational secretary, C. A. Hansen; missionary and religious liberty secretary, J. W. Holstra; field agent and Missionary Volunteer secretary, A. C. Haughey; medical secretary, J. M. Wilbur.
The new buildings erected for the use of the conference office and the Otsego Academy were dedicated Sunday afternoon, January 24, an appropriate program having been arranged. Prof. Frederick Griggs gave the address, and Elder Hartwell offered the dedicatory prayer. A goodly number of the citizens of the town were present, and many expressed their appreciation of the occasion. A synopsis of the address was published in the Otsego Union.
We are taking hold of the work for 1909 with renewed energy, and pray that the Lord will guide us in accomplishing his purpose in this part of the vineyard.
E. L. RICHMOND, Secretary.