The General Conference

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Jun 8, 1905

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 82, No. 23.

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The General Conference

THIRTY-SIXTH SESSION MAY 11-30

Twenty-Eighth Meeting

The twenty-eighth meeting was called at 9:30 A. M., May 28, O. A. Olsen in the chair.

Prayer was offered by W. C. White.

Minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved.

The finance committee rendered a further report, which was read by C. P. Bollman. On motion to adopt, the report was considered. The following recommendation was presented as subsection “g” in the first resolution of the committee’s report, adopted in the twenty-seventh meeting:—

(g) Considering the importance of the question of the tithe as related to the prosperity of the third angel’s message, we advise that in the election of conference and church officers, and in the choice of gospel workers, whether ministers or Bible readers, care be taken to place such responsibilities upon those who are not only theoretically sound in the faith, but who are ensamples to the flock in all matters that pertain unto life and godliness, including faithfulness in rendering to the Lord his own by the payment of an honest tithe.

Further recommendations were considered, as follows:—

Whereas, The growth and extension of our denominational work has become so varied and extensive that it is impossible for the General Conference, either in itself or through its committee, to familiarize itself with the needs of the cause in every place; therefore,—

6. We recommend, (a) That the General Conference assume no financial responsibility whatsoever in any institution, corporation, or enterprise planned and started in the various parts of the world without a direct action by the General Conference or by the General Conference Committee.

(b) That all parties loaning money to such enterprises should satisfy themselves as to “the security” before making such loans.

In reply to a question as to the aim of such action, it was stated for the committee that the growth of our work calls for a definition of financial relationships and responsibility.

E. W. Farnsworth referred to the impression sometimes given in local enterprises that because a thing is promoted by Seventh-day Adventists, the whole denomination is behind it. He believed the time had come to definitely serve notice that such enterprises can not be laid upon this body when financial pressure comes.

W. C. White referred to the many private enterprises, with good and benevolent aims, being started by members of our denomination. In years past it was considered that anything Seventh-day Adventists were engaged in was a safe thing, and almost without question people were ready to invest in it, thinking the denomination was behind it. It is time to give notice to all our people, and to others, that merely as a matter of common-sense business method, persons loaning money or investing in enterprises, should investigate for themselves, and know the nature of the organization, its responsibility, and its plans. He would rejoice to see brethren with a little capital that they desire to use in a good work, going into a needy field,—as the South,—starting benevolent enterprises, and sharing responsibility and gains or losses as individuals. But it must be understood that the name Seventh-day Adventist does not entitle any organization to lay obligations, moral or legal, upon the denomination.

A. G. Daniells: This resolution is the most important. The discussion of it in this spirit gives hope and courage. It is fundamental that men should understand that when they assume obligations, they are the men who must meet them. It is impossible in any denomination that individuals or organizations should create obligations without definite authority, to throw them back upon the general body as a matter of legal or moral obligation. No union conference can go ahead with the creation of problems to fall back upon the General Conference. And no local conference can of right create obligations for the union conference to bear. Every man and every organization starting an enterprise must know the basis on which they are working, and carry the responsibility of that which they initiate. No union conference can bind the General Conference, and no local conference can bind the union conference. Before a body shall be held responsible for an obligation, it must have the opportunity of deciding whether or not it desires to assume it.

I. H. Evans: The object of the resolution, in the minds of the finance committee, was to put the General Conference on record as not responsible for any enterprises in any part of the world wherein responsibility is not specifically assumed by action of the General Conference or its executive committee. We want it understood that this General Conference declares before the world that, so far as this denomination is concerned, it will not be responsible for obligations that it has not assumed by its own action. It has been suggested that the whole denomination is responsible for anything done by any organization associated with the denomination. We ask the delegates to make it known in their local conferences that the responsibility rests upon those who are operating local enterprises to handle their business affairs in such a way as to take care of their obligations. This placing of local responsibility will develop local resourcefulness.

A. T. Jones was in accord with the resolution. And on the other hand, when individuals originate enterprises, and put their means into them, they are the ones to exercise ownership and control, and no conference can claim oversight and direction. There can not be denominational control in such a case, with, at the same time, local financial responsibility.

P. A. Hansen, of Scandinavia, was glad of the resolution. If it had been worked to years ago, we should have been saved much trouble. The Scandinavian Union Conference has taken such a stand as the resolution defines, and it has proved a great blessing, and brought confidence and courage to all.

W. J. Stone suggested that if a conference—local, union, or General—is financing and managing an institution, it is a denominational institution; but if private parties are operating it, no conference would suggest for a moment that there should be any conference control or direction.

R. A. Underwood spoke of good institutional work being done in the Northern Union Conference by private parties. He rejoiced in it, and welcomed all such development on sound Seventh-day Adventist lines. There had been a sentiment that any one doing such work on individual responsibility was not in the work, and was doing an irregular thing. He deplored this sentiment.

G. I. Butler favored the resolution, but desired it understood that this did not mean any lessening of the responsibility of the general body to give attention to needs in special fields.

R. C. Porter said that in connection with the idea of private enterprises, conference officers must guard one point. He had known enterprises to put names of conference officers on the prospectus of a corporation, in order to have the “influence” of the name in securing investments among the brethren. This should be carefully guarded against, and such use of official names be made impossible.

The next resolution was considered:—

Whereas, From the statistical reports of the General Conference, compiled by the statistical secretary, it appears that some of our institutions and various enterprises are losing money, thus creating a growing deficit, which ultimately means financial embarrassment; therefore,—

7. We recommend, (a) That each and every institution and enterprise operated among us as a people should be conducted on safe business lines.

(b) That each managing board should at once lay such plans that said institution or enterprise shall not run behind, but operate within its appropriations, or its earning capacity.

(1) That a trial balance be taken from the books as often as once a month;—

(2) That an annual statement be made showing gain and loss, and present worth;—

(3) That a competent auditor be either elected or appointed to audit every set of books at least once a year, rendering a report thereof, to the responsible board.

W. C. White urged the need of training business men and managers. He said that auditors ought to be instructed not only to do the ordinary auditing work, but to report as to conditions found, making any suggestions possible as to financial leakages or ways of improving the situation, such reports to be made in triplicate—to the manager, the board, and the union conference office.

L. R. Conradi stated that following this plan in Europe had enabled them to turn losses into gains, and to strengthen institutional work, watching over it, even though conference officers were away in the field.

Action was taken on the entire report, which was unanimously adopted.

The committee on plans presented the following further report:—

North American Foreign Department

Whereas, There is in North America a large population representing the various foreign languages, to which people the third angel’s message must be brought; and,—

Whereas, Under the existing conditions there is not sufficient organized work carried on in behalf of these various nationalities; therefore,—

68. We recommend, (a) That the General Conference create a North American Foreign Department, consisting of five members or more, operating under the advice of the General Conference Committee in behalf of these various nationalities in North America.

(b) That the vice-president of the General Conference for North America act as chairman of this department.

(c) That leaders be appointed by the General Conference Committee for the work among the German and Scandinavian nationalities in North America, and for others as necessity may demand, who shall form a part of this department, said leaders for the German and Scandinavian work to be under the pay of the General Conference.

(d) That all important plans of work be laid before the General Conference Committee for their approval, as in all other departments.

(e) That this department shall take the general oversight of the work of securing and circulating our literature in North America in all the various languages, and assist the organized conferences and mission fields in prosecuting the message among their respective peoples.

In reply to a question—

L. R. Conradi stated that it was the intent of the recommendation that each of the leaders in the German and the Scandinavian work should be active field men, ready to set laborers into needy fields, and help them into work by working with them—to be campaign leaders in active, aggressive work.

The report was adopted.

The meeting adjourned.

O. A. OLSEN, Chairman, W. A. SPICER, Secretary.