Conference Resolutions and Recommendations
For the convenience of those who would like to preserve for further study all the recommendations adopted by the recent General Conference, we reprint herewith such resolutions of the conference as do not appear in the minutes found elsewhere in this issue. 1. Resolved, That we express the sentiments of this conference in the language of the psalmist in Ps. 107: 1-8. “O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy; and gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south,” etc., to verse 8. 2. Whereas, At the General Conference held in Oakland, Cal., in 1903, it was recommended that our denominational headquarters, which for many years had been located in Battle Creek, Mich., should be removed to some place in the East, and,— Whereas, This task, though surrounded with many difficult and serious complications, and attended with far-reaching consequences, has, through the blessing of the Lord, been successfully accomplished; therefore,— Resolved, That we most heartily approve of the steps taken thus far in establishing our work in the city of Washington, and that we recognize and acknowledge with heartfelt gratitude the guiding and prospering hand of the Lord, through the many perplexities with which this work was attended; and, further,— Resolved, That we pledge to those on whom the responsibility rests of completing this work, our loyal support until such headquarters and institutions are established in the capital of this nation as have been outlined in the spirit of prophecy, and which will properly represent our work before the world. 3. Whereas, Since the last General Conference divine Providence has seen fit to permit twenty-nine of our workers to fall under the hand of death; and,— Whereas, Some of these were in distant lands, leaving their families in very trying circumstances; therefore,— Resolved, (a) That we extend to the families of the deceased the sincere sympathy and deepest sorrow of the delegates assembled in General Conference; (b) that we appreciate the loyalty and faithfulness of those who have fallen at their post, and have done what they could for the cause of their Master; (c) that we request the secretary of the General Conference to write a letter of condolence and sympathy in behalf of the General Conference assembled, to each family of the deceased, enclosing a copy of these resolutions, expressing to them our sympathy and sorrow in the afflictions through which they have been called to pass, by the loss of their loved ones. Four-Year General Conference
4. Whereas, The organization of union conferences has taken burdens of local administrative work in nearly all the field, both in America and abroad; and,— Whereas, The wide-spreading growth of the work in all the world renders it essential that a conference really general shall be attended by representatives of the organized union conferences and leading fields abroad; and,— Whereas, The calling of a General Conference every two years means a large expense for transportation, the expenditure of much time on the part of representative laborers, and a really frequent partial interruption of the work in the fields in these times when means and time and continuous effort are so important to the closing work; therefore,— Resolved, That the regular sessions of the General Conference be held once in four years, and that the constitution be changed to accord with this action; and further,—27 Resolved, That these quadrennial sessions shall be truly representative world's missionary conferences which experience has shown are of the greatest value and importance in shaping the work, and in giving fresh impetus to the hastening forward of the message committed to us. Sharing Laborers With Mission Fields
5. Whereas, The movement among the conferences to share laborers and tithes with mission fields has brought new strength into the work, and great blessings at points where otherwise help could not have been placed; therefore,— Resolved, That we express appreciation and approval of this policy, and urge our churches to stand loyally by the local conference officers in this effort, inasmuch as the conferences can do this work only as tithes are faithfully brought into the local treasury; and further,— Resolved, That we urge the continuance and extension of this plan of sharing paid laborers with needy fields by arrangement through the General Conference Committee; and further,— Resolved, That a determined effort be made to place experienced laborers supported by their home conferences in the needy field of the South, also remembering the Canadian north, as well as the fields abroad, so that this message may quickly be carried throughout all the earth, and the time hastened when believers in the home land of this movement and in the regions beyond may rejoice together in the triumph of the one great work of the third angel's message. 6. Resolved, That a deputation consisting of from fifteen to twenty or more members be appointed by this conference to wait upon the President of the United States to pay our respects to him, and to express to him our views respecting, and attitude toward, civil government. 7. Whereas, The Sabbath School Worker has been re-established, and is the organ of the Sabbath-school Department; therefore,— Resolved, That we give this journal our hearty support, and that we endeavor to increase its circulation by placing it not only in the hands of all Sabbath-school officers and teachers, but in the homes of our people generally. Whereas, We believe that the primary object of making contributions in our Sabbath-schools should be to carry the message to the regions beyond, and save souls in the kingdom of God; therefore,— 8. Resolved, That all our Sabbath-schools be urged to plan to increase their donations, both by exercising proper economy in their local expenditures and by more liberal giving. 9. Whereas, Sabbath-school conventions, wherever properly conducted, have proved very helpful, not only in an increased interest in the work of the Sabbath-school, but in the deepening of personal piety and in the salvation of souls as well; therefore,— Resolved, That the holding of conventions in the various conferences be encouraged, embodying the various lines of missionary work, and that conference officers and laborers assist in these important gatherings, not only in counsel, but in providing talented help, that they may be made a strong educational factor in the important work of the Sabbath-school, and assist materially in building up the work of the gospel. 10. We recommend, That Religious Liberty departments be organized, and secretaries appointed in each union and State conference in North America, in counsel with the general Religious Liberty Departments. 11. We recommend, That religious liberty institutes be held in the conferences as may be arranged. 12. We recommend, That the petition and remonstrance work be diligently followed as occasion and circumstance may require. 13. We recommend, That suitable religious liberty literature be prepared, and that it be diligently and extensively circulated. 14. We recommend, That “American State Papers” be republished, with appropriate corrections and additions, thus bringing it up to date. Deputation to the President
15. Resolved, That the following-named persons constitute the deputation to wait upon President Roosevelt:— A. G. Daniells (President), Washington, D. C.; W. W. Prescott (Vice-President), Washington, D. C.; W. A. Spicer (Secretary), Washington, D. C.; I. H. Evans (Treasurer), Washington, D. C.; S. N. Haskell, General Missionary; G. A. Irwin, Australia; O. A. Olsen, England; G. I. Butler, Tennessee; A. T. Jones, Michigan; L. R. Conradi, Germany; H. W. Cottrell, Massachusetts; J. N. Loughborough, California; R. M. Kilgore, Georgia; A. J. Breed, Washington State; R. A. Underwood, Canada; W. S. Hyatt, South Africa; J. O. Corliss, California; E. T. Russell, Nebraska; Luther Warren, Chicago; J. E. Jayne, New Jersey; W. H. Thurston, Canada; N. P. Nelson, Texas; E. E. Andross, England; W. J. Stone, Indiana; W. C. White, California; W. A. Westworth, Scotland; M. C. Wilcox, California; E. W. Farnsworth, England; C. H. Edwards, New York; J. N. Anderson, China; J. L. Shaw, India; F. W. Field, Japan; J. W. Westphal, South America; W. H. Wakeham, Egypt; A. J. Haysmer, West Indies; K. C. Russell, Washington, D. C.; W. A. Colcord, Washington, D. C.; G. B. Thompson, Washington, D. C.; J. S. Washburn, Washington, D. C.; S. B. Horton, New Orleans, La. 16. Resolved, That we include the Straits Settlements, the federated Malay States, and the kingdom of Johore in the territory of the Malaysia Mission field, under the Australasian Union Conference. 17. Whereas, True medical missionary work is an essential principle of the gospel as set forth in the threefold message of Revelation 14; and,— Whereas, We have been repeatedly counseled by the spirit of prophecy that medical missionary work should not be separated from the other lines of gospel work of the conference, the church, and the people; therefore,— We recommend, (1) That this branch of our work be made the Medical Missionary Department of our conference organization. (2) That the medical missionary work in all its features receive the same fostering care and financial support from the conference organization, churches, and people that are given to other branches of our work. (3) That the general advisory work of this department in the General, union, and local conferences be placed in the hands of departmental committees of suitable size and experience to properly develop the medical missionary work. (4) That the General Conference Medical Missionary departmental committee consist of the chairmen of the union conference medical missionary organizations, or where there are no medical missionary departments in the Union, that a representative from the union conference be chosen by the union conference or its executive committee, and eight persons to be appointed by the General Conference Committee. (5) That the departmental committee be authorized to appoint standing committees either of their own number or others, to supervise definite phases of the work. (6) That each conference institution be placed under the management of local Boards elected by the conference, or by such arrangement as the conference may provide; that said local Boards be chosen with reference to securing the best possible attention to the current needs and direction of the work of the institution; and that said local Boards be responsible to the conference which they represent. (7) That owing to the difference of the local corporate laws and existing conditions in various parts of the world, the question of holding the property be left to local conferences and fields. 18. We further recommend:— (a) Name: Medical Missionary Council of the General Conference.
(b) Territory: The field of the General Conference.
(c) Duties: To assist in advancing medical missionary interests in all parts of the field.
(d) Relationship: (1) To the General Conference, departmental and administrative; that is to say, the Medical Missionary departmental committee is responsible to the General Conference for doing the work of the conference in medical missionary lines; (2) to union and local medical departments, institutions, and enterprises—advisory and co-operative. 19. Whereas, There is great need on the part of our people, and the world as well, of fuller knowledge of the principles of healthful living; therefore— We recommend, That there be inaugurated a vigorous health and temperance educational campaign throughout the world:—
(a) By the circulation of an efficient and up-to-date health and temperance literature.
(b) By encouraging those conducting sanitariums, treatment rooms, hygienic restaurants, and food stores to continually endeavor to make their work educational gospel enterprises.
(c) By aiding in making all our sanitariums, treatment rooms, hygienic restaurants, and food stores centers for the circulation of our health and temperance literature.
(d) By encouraging our physicians and nurses who are doing independent, self-supporting missionary work to make their work evangelical, and to be active in the circulation of our health and temperance literature.
(e) By inviting all our ministers to heartily unite in this campaign by preaching more frequently on health and temperance subjects, and encouraging all our churches to engage in this work.
(f) By holding conventions for our physicians, nurses, and other medical missionary workers, where practical questions on all phases of medical missionary work may be considered, and plans of work laid.
(g) By conducting schools of health as opportunity may make it advisable. 20. We recommend, That our people be encouraged to utilize medical missionary and health publications as far as possible in their missionary work. 21. Resolved, That provision be made for systematic instruction in medical missionary lines, including simple treatments, general hygiene, physical culture, and dietetics, in our schools and our general gatherings as far as consistent. 22. We recommend, That a standing committee of seven on medical literature be appointed by the Medical Missionary Council, who shall encourage the preparation of manuscripts, examine and pass upon such manuscripts as are submitted, and make recommendations to the General Conference Publication Committee and the publishing houses. 23. We recommend, That the publishing houses be requested to give the same attention to the publication and circulation of health and temperance literature as is given to other lines of publications. 24. We recommend, That the literature committee be requested to make a careful study of the most pressing needs in these lines, and of the special qualifications of individuals to meet these needs, and that those whose experience and other qualifications are suitable be requested to prepare and submit manuscripts for the use of this department. 25. Whereas, The work of the nurses’ training-school is fundamental to good medical missionary work,—28 Resolved, That we approve of the effort that is being made to bring our training-schools for nurses to the highest possible standard. 26. Resolved, That everything possible be done to increase the missionary spirit, zeal, and efficiency of our nurses’ training-schools. 27. Resolved, That the course of study, requirements for entering the schools and for graduation, be referred to a standing committee on training-schools for nurses, and we recommend that this committee consist of the General Conference medical missionary secretary and the superintendents of organized nurses’ training-schools. 28. Whereas, The work of nursing is an important part of the great work of introducing and carrying forward the gospel of Christ, therefore,— We recommend, That our nurses’ training-schools seek a closer co-operation with their respective conferences, with a view of enlisting as fully as possible the services of nurses in missionary work; and further,— 29. We recommend, To our union or local conferences the establishment of nurses’ agencies for the purpose of securing suitable employment for all our graduate nurses. 30. Recognizing the kind and favoring hand of God in our educational work, we hereby express our deep gratitude for his mercy and help, and further express our determination to work unitedly for more efficient co-operation and unification in this work for the future. 31. Resolved, That the Department of Education of the General Conference consist of twenty-five members representing all portions of the world, to be appointed by the General Conference Committee, and that five members, of whom the chairman or secretary shall be one, shall constitute a quorum. 32. We advise those in charge of our schools of all grades to seek for a higher standard of education in the Word of God, the sciences, and literary attainments, so as to prepare workers of sufficient education and culture to meet all classes of society. 33. Resolved, That we adopt sixteen grades as the standard of our educational system, with general divisions as follows:—
(a) Primary schools, grades one to seven.
(b) Intermediate schools, grades eight to ten.
(c) Colleges, grades eleven to sixteen. 34. Resolved, That our training-schools be advised to so plan their work that the State examining boards, such as the Regents of New York, can give credit for any work done in these schools. Whereas, In some of our schools there has been observed a lack of discipline, tending to militate against the ideals of our work, and to counteract much of the good which the schools are designed to do; therefore,— 35. Resolved, That the attention of the managers and teachers of our schools be hereby called to these important matters, and that they be urged to maintain a high standard of discipline and a pure moral atmosphere in all our schools, and that a special effort be made by the teachers to do heart-to-heart personal work for their students. Whereas, The strength and efficiency of any department of the Lord’s work depends upon unity of spirit and harmony of action on the part of the workers; and,— Whereas, The nature and character of our educational work in a special sense requires well-laid plans and the most hearty co-operation in the carrying out of these plans; therefore,— 36. Resolved, That we urge our educators to put forth earnest and well-directed efforts to unify the educational work,—
(a) By completing a simple and effective plan of organization in the General, union, and State conferences, the organization of each being a part of a harmonious system of education which will develop Christian character, and prepare our children and youth for the various lines of denominational work. (b) By formulating courses of study for our primary, intermediate, and training schools, which shall be uniform in the subjects taught, and in harmony with the character and scope of work to be done by these three classes of schools.
(c) By the Educational Department, in counsel with the General Conference Committee, appointing a representative Text-book Committee, whose work shall be to examine manuscripts, text, supplemental, and reference books, and recommend those that are suitable for use in our various schools.
(d) By uniform adoption and use of the books and helps prepared by our people which have been approved by the Text-book Committee, and also, as far as practicable, the uniform adoption of books secured from other sources.
(e) By preparing a school manual which shall be used as a guide in our schools, and which shall contain,—
(1) A brief but comprehensive statement of the principles underlying the work of Christian education.
(2) The plan of organization.
(3) The courses of study.
(4) The lists of text, supplemental, and library books to be used, with the price of each, and where they may be secured.
(5) Suggestions as to the best methods to be employed in teaching the various subjects in the courses. Inasmuch as there is a great responsibility, not generally understood, resting upon the members of our churches in the education and training of our youth,— 37. Resolved, That a vigorous educational campaign be carried on by the General, union, and State conferences,—
(a) By the publication and circulation of literature on primary-school work.
(b) By holding educational conventions, and by such other means as may seem advisable. Whereas, There are great numbers of our young people who ought to be obtaining the benefits of a Christian education who are not in our schools,— 38. Resolved, That the teachers in our training-schools, as well as all our workers, take a more active interest in getting our young people into our schools; that a systematic correspondence be carried on by these schools throughout the year, and that as far as possible, the teachers labor in the field during vacation. Whereas, It appears that one cause of weakness in our schools, particularly those of the primary and intermediate grades, is due to the lack of sufficient supervision; therefore,— 39. We recommend, That each conference provide for the schools within its territory to be closely supervised by a competent superintendent or visiting board, who shall visit these schools as the needs require. Whereas, The conducting of our primary schools is an action requiring careful planning and good counsel; therefore,— 40. We recommend, That no schools should be established or discontinued without advice or counsel from the conference officials. 41. We recommend, That intermediate schools should not be established without the co-operation and counsel of the union conference. Whereas, In almost every church where schools are located our teachers are called upon to aid in church work which requires experienced workers; therefore,— 42. We recommend, That the corps of teachers in our primary and intermediate schools be strengthened,—
(a) By encouraging more mature persons to engage in the work; and,—
(b) By each conference committee encouraging many of our young men who are preparing for the ministry to spend a part of their time teaching primary and intermediate schools. Whereas, There is a dearth of thoroughly qualified teachers in our schools of all grades; therefore,— 43. We recommend, That our training- schools make provision for a more thorough training of our prospective teachers, and that a thorough knowledge of the common branches of study and of the Bible and Testimonies should be obtained by these teachers, together with the best methods of conducting and teaching our schools. 44. We recommend, That the union conference educational secretary, together with the State superintendents, shall constitute an examining board to provide questions and conduct examinations for the promotion of students; and the granting of certificates to teachers. 45. We recommend, That, as far as advisable, conferences provide employment for teachers when not engaged in school work, placing them at work selling publications, giving Bible readings, assisting in tent-meetings, etc. 46. In order to guard against the improper use of the word “professor,” we express it to be the understanding of the Department of Education that this title should be limited in its use to those who are or who have been engaged in advanced lines of education. 47. Resolved, That a uniform system of examinations in each union conference be provided to be given to our teachers, and that regular courses of reading and study be required, and that certificates or credentials be given all such teachers as are considered properly qualified. 48. We recommend, That the conference authorities who are charged with the duty of licensing teachers for our denominational schools give due recognition to the work of schools accredited by the Educational Department of the General Conference by exempting graduates from the normal departments of such schools from literary examinations for two years after graduation, and longer, if they deem best. 49. Recommended, That the Department of Education, in conjunction with the General Conference Committee, be authorized to call conventions at such times and places as they think the needs require, and that a general convention be held next year. Appeal on Tithes and Offerings
Whereas, The Word of God makes great promises of both spiritual and temporal blessings to those who “bring all the tithes and offerings” into the Lord’s storehouse; and,— Whereas, The servant of the Lord says that if all would pay a faithful tithe, there would be no lack of means with which to carry forward the Lord’s work in the earth; and,— Whereas, There is at the present time a great dearth of means, which is crippling the advancement of the Lord’s work; therefore,— We recommend,—
(1) That this General Conference make an earnest appeal to all our people everywhere to “bring all the tithes into the storehouse,” that the promised blessing may be possessed;—
(2) That this appeal be carefully prepared and read before this body for its approval; and—
(3) That if this appeal be accepted, it be printed, (a) as a part of the conference proceedings; (b) in tract form to be placed by each conference executive committee or mission board in the hands of every Sabbath-keeper in the world; (c) that E. R. Palmer, M. C. Wilcox, A. T. Robinson, and J. O. Corliss are hereby nominated as a committee to prepare the said appeal. Your committee on finance would respectfully make the following partial report:— 1. Whereas, The Word of God declares that the third angel’s message is to be proclaimed to the world in this generation; and,— Whereas, The same Word teaches that this work is to be supported by tithes and offerings; and,— Whereas, The Lord charges with robbery those who neglect to thus honor the Lord by rendering to him his own and by withholding suitable tokens of thanksgiving; therefore,—29 The General Conference in its thirty-sixth session recommends:—
(a) That local conference officers take special pains to see that such executive officers only are chosen as will faithfully impress upon all conference employees, not only the duty to be conscientious themselves in rendering to the Lord his own, but to be faithful also in giving instruction along these lines to all within their spheres of influence.
(b) That the officers of all churches make themselves ensamples to their flocks in the payment of tithes and offerings, in order that they may consistently exhort others to faithfulness in this respect.
(c) That in view of the dearth of men and means for the foreign work, the local conferences freely share their laborers and tithes with the General Conference.
(d) That suitable envelopes of uniform size and quality, with texts and other reading similar to the attached copy, be provided by the General Conference at small expense, for use in all the churches, these envelopes to be furnished free to the churches for the purpose of securing regularity and uniformity in taking up the weekly offerings and in the collection of the tithe weekly. TITHES AND WEEKLY OFFERINGS
“YE SHALL CELEBRATE MY SABBATHS”
“O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.”
“Bring an offering and come into his courts.”
For God hath said, “They shall not appear before the Lord empty. Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord thy God.”
“Bring ye all the tithe into the store-house . . . and prove me. . . . I will pour you out a blessing, saith the Lord.”
“Will a man rob God?”
Tithe .................................................. $
Foreign Missions .................................... $
Literature in Home Fields ........................ $
For Needy Poor ...................................... $
Church Expense ...................................... $
“God loveth a cheerful giver.”
“Honor the Lord with thy substance.”
“There is that which scattereth yet increaseth.”
“Well done: . . . Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”
Name ..................................................
Address ............................................... (e) That while it is only meet that adequate support should be cheerfully provided for laborers who have grown old and worn in the cause, we recommend that able-bodied men who for a series of years have produced little or no fruit as the result of their connection with the message, be advised to take up some line of self-supporting work. (f) Whereas, There is a tendency to divert the tithe from its specific object,—
We recommend, That all our conferences sacredly guard the tithe, that this fund be not used for building purposes, the maintenance of church-schools, or for church expenses, but that it be devoted entirely to the support of evangelistic work and Bible teachers. 2. Whereas, There has been committed to this people the threefold message of Revelation 14, to be carried to all the world, and that in this generation; and,— Whereas, The weekly and annual offerings have been largely depended upon for the furtherance of this work; and,— Whereas, It has seemed necessary to our Mission Board to cut down the appropriations made for the present year about twenty-two thousand dollars, which can only result in discouragement to many in our needy mission fields, we therefore recommend the following:—
(a) That the second Sabbath in each month be set apart by all our people everywhere, as “missionary day,” for the special consideration of our missions.
(b) That the General Conference Committee appoint a committee to prepare readings for each missionary day, with a program and suitable songs for the occasion; that the readings be so divided that where convenient two or three can take part in the service, thus breaking up the monotony.
(c) That each one to take part in the service, make a study of the field considered, that he may be able to make the subject of special interest.
(d) That a map of the world be provided, so that the different fields may be located, thus educating our people regarding the extent and progress of the message.
(e) That the Sabbath-schools be encouraged to participate in these exercises, that thus the interest of the children may be enlisted in the work of foreign missions.
(f) That our conference laborers and church officers keep constantly before all our people the importance of the weekly offerings for missions, and that we put forth a united effort to raise the offerings for missions, from all sources, to an amount averaging at least ten cents a week per capita. 3. We recommend, That five general annual collections be taken, as follows, at such times as shall be designated by the General Conference Committee, and that the funds received be disbursed as the said conference committee shall direct:—
(a) Two offerings for the foreign missionary work.
(b) An offering for the religious liberty work.
(c) An offering for the work among the colored people throughout the United States.
(d) An offering for the orphans of the Haskell Home and similar institutions. Whereas, In most of the mission fields abroad union conferences or mission organizations have been formed able to hold properties; and,— Whereas, The General Conference Committee is now the operating Mission Board of the denomination; therefore,— 4. Resolved, That we instruct the trustees of the legal Foreign Mission Board of Seventh-day Adventists, a corporation of the city of New York, to close up its corporate existence, transferring any properties which it may still hold for the denomination, either to union or conference organizations having charge of the fields where such properties are situated, or to the General Conference Corporation, of Washington, D. C., as may be advised by the executive committee of the General Conference. Whereas, The General Conference Association removed its headquarters from Battle Creek, Mich., to Washington, D. C.; and,— Whereas, The General Conference Association is a corporation organized under, and existing by virtue of, the laws of the State of Michigan, thus making difficult, on account of this removal, the transaction of business; therefore be it,— 5. Resolved, (a) That we approve of the organization of the corporation known as the General Conference Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists.
(b) That we advise all future business of the General Conference to be done in its name as far as practicable.
(c) That the business of the General Conference Association be transferred to the General Conference Corporation on such conditions and as rapidly as the executive committees of the respective corporations shall deem wise. 6. Resolved, That the constitution be amended as follows:—
(a) By changing subsection “c,” section 3, article III, to read as follows: “Such members of departmental committees and representatives of missions of the General Conference as shall receive credentials from its executive committee.”
(b) By substituting the word “quadrennial” for “biennial” and the word “four” for “two” in section 6, article V.
(c) By substituting the word “quadrennial” for “biennial” in section 1, article VII. 51. We recommend, That the Year-book be published during November of each year, and that revisions for the same be sent directly to the General Conference office by each local and union conference and each organization and institution throughout the world, to be received by the General Conference not later than November 1. A failure to receive any report at the time stated shall not be held to be sufficient reason to delay the publication of the Year-book, thus vitiating all other reports received, and unnecessarily increasing the cost of publication. 52. We recommend, That the annual statistical reports of conferences and missions be collected, collated, and forwarded by union conference secretaries, as at present. 53. We recommend, That the fiscal year of all conferences, institutions, and departments of our work end on the thirty-first of December. Realizing the definite call of God to our young people to organize for service, and believing that the good work already begun in this direction should be encouraged and strengthened throughout the entire field; therefore,— 54. We recommend, That the Sabbath-school Department of the General Conference give special attention to this branch of the work in calling the attention of the various union and State conferences to the need of the appointment of suitable persons who can devote a part or the whole of their time to this branch of the cause, as circumstances demand. 55. We recommend, That so far as possible, the young people’s meetings at camp-meetings and other general gatherings be made more practically missionary in character: first, by introducing live missionary studies; second, by actually enlisting the young people in evangelistic effort for themselves and for others. 56. We recommend, That there be prepared at an early date a series of Sabbath-school lessons on the subject of practical missionary effort, calling the attention of the church, both old and young, to the work to which God has called them. 57. We recommend, That superintendents and secretaries of local conference Sabbath-school and young people’s departments seek to encourage the young people’s societies under their supervision to unite in the support of one or more laborers in some mission field. Whereas, There is great need of much instruction and careful planning concerning this work,— 58. Resolved, That a vigorous educational campaign be carried on throughout the union and State conferences by means of missionary conventions, articles in our papers, and the preparation and circulation of leaflets on the salient points of this work. 59. We urge our ministers and laborers to thoroughly study and present to the churches the divine principles of church organization, department, and discipline as set forth in the Scriptures and in the Testimonies of the Spirit of God. Whereas, The third angel’s message is to go to every nation, tongue, and people; and,— Whereas, There is a constantly increasing stream of people of various nationalities coming into the United States; and,— Whereas, We have no thoroughly organized method of reaching them; and,— Whereas, Greater New York City is the natural headquarters for effort on their behalf; therefore,— 60. Resolved, That we look with favor upon the establishment of a foreign publication depository in that city, the object of which would be—
(a) The circulation of foreign literature among the millions of other tongues of the great Eastern cities.
(b) To supply its publications to its agents in the Atlantic Union Conference.
(c) To become the North American headquarters for all small denominational publications30outside of the German, Swedish, Danish, and Spanish languages. In view of the urgent need of our subscription books being widely circulated, that this message may be speedily given, and the necessity of having able canvassers and leaders to do this; therefore,— 61. We recommend, That our conferences and training-schools give special attention to securing and developing promising persons for this work,—
(a) By providing courses of instruction especially adapted to their needs.
(b) By holding canvassers’ institutes and conventions in the conferences at suitable times.
(c) By selecting an able and experienced person to act as general agent in each conference. 62. That our large subscription books be bound in two or three styles of bindings, and that this change be brought about as rapidly as consistent with the disposition of the stock on hand. Realizing that multitudes are “in the valley of decision,” and that the time has fully come when the Master pleads with every child of his to “go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city” and “into the highways and hedges,” to bid the hungry and perishing to the marriage feast,— 63. We recommend, That the great missionary campaign entered upon last year be strengthened, deepened, and enlarged into a mighty movement for the promulgation of the third angel’s message. To avoid confusion, and to economize effort, we recommend the following:— GENERAL PLAN FOR NORTH AMERICA
(1) That the effort to place the REVIEW AND HERALD in every Sabbath-keeping home be continued, especially through the camp-meeting season and early fall.
(2) That a general campaign in North America for our missionary periodicals be entered upon about October 1.
(3) That beginning in early November, special efforts be made by conference workers and church officers to interest our people in the sale of forty-per-cent books.
(4) That the interest aroused by this work be developed by—
(a) The liberal use of message-filled tracts.
(b) Securing subscriptions for our periodicals.
(c) Holding Bible readings and cottage meetings.
(d) Missionary correspondence.
(5) That missionary conventions be held October 7 and November 18 in all our churches, to study local needs and to organize for service. 64. We approve of the plan to publish four special numbers of The Signs of the Times and the Watchman, two special issues of Life and Health, and such issues of the foreign papers as their publishers may deem best. 65. We look with favor upon the plan of setting aside certain small, easy-selling books for the use of those who wish to canvass in their own neighborhoods.