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Thirty-Second Meeting

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

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

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Thirty-Second Meeting

By H. W. Cottrell; W. A. Spicer

THE thirty-second meeting was called at 4:15 P. M., May 29; H. W. Cottrell in the chair.
Prayer was offered by C. C. Lewis.
Minutes of previous meeting were read.
The nominating committee presented a further partial report, as follows:—
Members of General Conference Committee: G. F. Haffner, N. P. Nelson.
Transportation Agents: I. H. Evans, Washington; C. L. Kilgore, Graysville; I. A. Ford, Nashville; H. A. Morrison, College View; C. M. Everest, Minneapolis; Jas. Cochran, Kansas City; C. N. Woodward, Keene, Tex.; C. H. Jones, Mountain View; A. Bacon, London; George Fischer, Sydney; H. W. Decker, Mt. Tabor, Ore.; W. Ising, Hamburg; J. M. Calvert, New York City; Wm. Covert, Chicago; Mead McGuire, Denver; O. O. Fortner, Cape Town; N. Z. Town, Buenos Ayres.
Trustees of Emmanuel Missionary College: A. Moon, L. H. Christian, S. E. Wight, W. J. Stone, A. T. Jones, J. M. Rees, all for four years.
On motion to adopt, the report was discussed.
G. F. Haffner understood that in accordance with the resolution on the North American foreign department, this report nominating him as a member of the General Conference Committee meant that new responsibilities were to come to him in the German work. He felt his insufficiency and need of special help in these duties. He asked that he might have earnest counsel and help from conference presidents and union officers in the way of information about the needs of the fields, and the means of reaching the German people. He desired to work in harmony with all the conferences in the interests of this work.
A. G. Daniels stated that the brethren had been giving much consideration to what could be done among the multitudes of foreign-speaking peoples in this country. As to the German work, it was evident that our German brethren desired an aggressive field policy, and as so large a per cent of the German people resided in the Eastern States and the great cities, it was desirable to form close connection between the German believers in the Middle West and the unoccupied fields in the East. It is understood that Brother Haffner will have to leave his conference, in order to give himself to general work. We expect all conference officers will heartily join our German brethren in an aggressive policy in behalf of the German people in our midst. Elder Shultz, who has been the leader in the German work, is now living on the Pacific Coast, which is a long way from these Eastern cities that are calling for German laborers. The brethren thought that during the camp-meeting season and the summer, Brother Shultz could go through the Central West, laboring for the German brethren, and then that Brother Haffner might continue the campaign, especially here in the East, endeavoring to develop work in new fields. In addition to the German and Scandinavian members on the foreign department committee, he believed there should be representatives also of the French- and Spanish-speaking peoples in this country to endeavor to supply literature. We must reach out to help the millions of foreign-speaking peoples in this land.
Action was taken on the report, which was unanimously adopted.
M. C. Wilcox stated that he believed a further representation of the educational, publishing, and medical work should be provided on the General Conference Committee, and made the motion,—
That article IV, section 2, of the Constitution be so amended as to read, “fifteen other persons,” instead of “twelve other persons.”
The motion was carried unanimously. It was further,—
Voted, That we request the Emmanuel Missionary College and the Lake Union Conference to so amend the Articles of Association of the college that its business in the matter of the appointment of constituency and board of trustees shall be wholly within the Lake Union Conference.
The committee on plans presented the following further report:—
70. We recommend, That the regular term of departmental committees, so far as appointed by the General Conference Committee, be understood to be two years.
71. We recommend,— That section 2, article IV, be amended by striking out the word “and” in the last line, and inserting after the words “religious liberty” the words “and North American foreign.” That article VII, section 1, of the constitution be amended by substituting the word “three” for the word “two” in specifying the number of months’ notice to be given before the date of a conference session.
The Chair called on the secretary to present an item of business from the General Conference Committee, as follows:—
The General Conference Committee recommends, That Elder O. A. Olsen make Australasia his field of labor, taking the union conference presidency in the place of Elder G. A. Irwin, detained in this country.
On motion to adopt, this recommendation was unanimously accepted.
The committee on plans presented a further report, as follows:—

“Ministry of Healing”

Whereas, We have many sanitariums that are burdened with indebtedness, and are needing better facilities, which, if aided by the benevolence of our people, would be able to do more efficient work; and,—
Whereas, “The Ministry of Healing,” an illustrated book of about five hundred and forty pages, has been offered by Mrs. E. G. White as a gift to our people, to be used by them for the help of our medical work, as the book “Christ’s Object Lessons” was used to assist our educational work; therefore,—
72. Resolved, That we express appreciation of the gift, and proceed at once to organize a strong and continuous effort for its circulation, and for the reduction by every legitimate means of the debts resting upon our sanitariums.
Whereas, The economical and effective prosecution of this work for our sanitariums, and the continuous sale of “Christ’s Object Lessons” in behalf of our schools, and of the “Story of Joseph” in behalf of our colored mission schools, and the prosecution of other relief efforts which may be instituted, should go hand in hand; therefore,—
73. We recommend, That the General Conference Committee organize a relief bureau for the promotion and supervision of this work.
74. Resolved, That we suggest to the bureau the following plans:— (a) Let the book be handled through our regular channels for the handling of publications, the publishing houses to be the custodians of the funds. (b) Let the General Conference bear the initial expense,—the expense of illustrating, typesetting, and plate-making, and translating into foreign languages. (c) Let our conferences and sanitariums unite in training workers to go forth and teach the principles contained in the book, and encourage our people to engage in its circulation. (d) It is estimated that the book can be placed in the hands of conferences at a cost not to exceed seventy-five cents a copy. This expense to be made up as follows:— Initial expense, including illustration, translation, typesetting, and plates; printing and binding; also freight and handling .................. $ .55 To the General Conference, to be used in liquidating obligations in medical lines as the General Conference Committee may deem advisable ............ .20 For medical institutions .................................................... .75 $1.50.
(e) It should be understood that these estimates apply to the sale of the book in the United States, and that the bureau and the General Conference Committee be advised to make such adaptation of the plan and estimates as may be advisable to adjust them to local conditions in other fields.
W. C. White explained the general plan of the book as adapted to the needs of our own and other people. It deals with the life of the Master Medical Missionary, and shows that the worker today may have the same grace for daily service. Several sections are devoted to Christian Help work, care of the sick, principles of hygiene, the home, the essential knowledge the workers need. It is just the kind of helpful instruction that all need. As to appearance, the book will be a companion to “Christ’s Object Lessons.” It is hoped it will be ready in ten weeks.
Brethren E. R. Palmer and H. H. Hall spoke of the book from the bookmen’s point of view. Its method of illustration is unique, and, altogether, it would seem that it must sell as well or better than any book we have put out. They thought it would make a grand subscription book, but at the same time heartily agreed to the plan on which the book was to be handled.
It was stated that the book was being set up in German at Hamburg, and it is hoped it will soon follow in Danish and Swedish.
W. C. White believed that conferences and sanitariums should earnestly take hold of this plan. Nurses could help churches to work with the book. He believed such a work would lead to a revival of interest in health principles, and work with this book must bring patients for the sanitariums.
F. M. Wilcox, as a sanitarium man, wished to express the gratitude he felt at the proposal regarding this book. He had read a portion of the book in proofs, and regarded the subject-matter most highly, and looked for the book to be not only a financial aid and a means of bringing increased patronage, but a spiritual blessing to sanitarium workers.
W. C. White stated further that the author did not place the book fully out of her hands as to just how it should be used, having light that some reservation was to be made. It was not to be used in such a way or for such purposes as to stultify the Testimonies given regarding medical and institutional work and organization. Yet no doubt the bureau in charge of the general campaign would gladly receive counsel and light which may be given in the matter. He hoped conferences would be liberal in planning for this work for the good it will do the churches, and that our denominational sanitariums will be broad-minded in the training of workers to help in the campaign for the sake of the good that will come to our sanitarium work. It was, of course, understood that the use of the book would not be available for private enterprises. As to just how territory should be divided where possibly State or union enterprises are in the same territory, the union conference should make a study of the matter, and the burden of counsel and decision should rest with them in counsel with the bureau. It would be necessary for the bureau to develop details as to plans of working, as it would be impossible to state these here. We can trust this matter with the bureau to work out, in counsel with the author who has made the gift.
It was unanimously voted to accept the report, and the meeting adjourned.
H. W. Cottrell, Chairman, W. A. Spicer, Secretary.