Iowa Conference Proceedings
By MRS. FLORA V. DORCAS
The forty-second annual session of the Iowa Conference convened on the camp-ground at Des Moines, June 9-18. Four churches were admitted to the conference. Ministerial credentials were granted to eight laborers, ministerial licenses to fifteen, missionary licenses to nineteen. Church-school teachers will receive their credentials at the close of the teachers’ institute. The following resolutions were passed:— “Whereas, The fields are white for harvest, and our God is calling for laborers, therefore,— “1. Resolved, That we answer the call of God to support his work and workers by urging both laborers and people to enter upon an active campaign to increase our tithe the coming year. “2. We recommend, That our conference laborers and church officers keep constantly before all our people the importance of the weekly offerings to missions, and that we put forth a united effort to raise the offerings to missions from all sources, to an amount averaging at least ten cents a week per capita. “3. We recommend, That the policy of sharing our men and our means to forward the work in more destitute fields be the policy of this conference the coming year. “4. We recommend for adoption Resolution No. 63 passed by the last General Conference, which reads as follows:— “‘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,— “‘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 the 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.’ “5. We recommend, That individuals living near churches or companies where they have a librarian order their supplies through the local society rather than direct from the State tract society. “6. We recommend, That the pay-as-you-go policy be adopted in all departments of this conference. That accounts with regular canvassers be settled after each delivery by paying for all books delivered and by furnishing an itemized inventory of all books on hand. “Whereas, Our beloved State institutions; namely, the Iowa Sanitarium, the Sanitarium Bakery, and the Stuart Industrial Academy, are in debt, and,— “Whereas, The spirit of prophecy plainly states that we should shun debt as we would shun the leprosy; therefore,— “7. Resolved, That it is the sense of this conference that we make every effort during the year 1905-06 to remove these debts by means of donations, collections, etc., as deemed best by the Iowa Conference Committee; and,— “Whereas, That grand book, ‘Ministry of Healing,’ from the pen of Mrs. E. G. White, now coming from the press, is practically donated to the sanitarium work throughout the world; therefore,— “8. Resolved, That we advise every Seventh-day Adventist family in Iowa to place their order as soon as possible with the Iowa Tract Society for one or more copies of the same, and that we make an effort to place in the homes of our friends and neighbors a copy of this valuable book at the first opportunity. “9. We recommend, That the instructors in our academy and in our Bible and other schools keep this important branch of the work constantly before the students; also,— “10. That our ministers and other conference workers use their best endeavors to influence church-members to enter the canvassing field, and refer names of all promising or interested persons to the State agent. “Whereas, The condition of our church-school work in Iowa demands that our teachers, and those preparing to teach, have the benefit of a summer normal; and, whereas, it was the mind of the Central Union Conference Committee that the various States provide such schools this season,— “11. Resolved, That we hold an eight weeks’ summer normal at Iowa Academy, under the direction of the conference17committee; that we bear the transportation expense of such teachers as have taught church-schools in our State the past year, and others who may teach the coming year; and that we ask the academy to furnish the regular home accommodations to such teachers for $1.25 a week and domestic work not to exceed two hours a day for each teacher. “12. We further recommend, That we co-operate with the plans laid by the Central Union Conference and the General Conference for the strengthening and upbuilding of our church-school work. “13. Resolved, That we urge all our workers and our church officers to make it their business to acquaint themselves with the workings and purposes of Iowa Academy and of Union College, and help all our people to appreciate the value of education and the necessity of sending their young people to these schools. “14. Resolved, That we work for the upbuilding of the kingdom of God through the Sabbath-school, by (a) continuing to encourage thorough, systematic study of the lessons; (b) home department work both in local schools and in the State department; (c) earnestly studying the instruction given in ‘Testimonies on Sabbath-school Work;’ (d) doing our part to increase the circulation of the Sabbath School Worker; (e) doing all in our power to increase the Sabbath-school contributions; (f) seeking to have The Youth’s Instructor in every home where there are young people. “15. Resolved, That we instruct the Academy Board to take over the sixty acres of land now held in trust, and used by the Academy, at the exact cost to those holding the same in trust, to be owned and used by the Academy in its industrial work. “16. Resolved, That we recommend the conference and its societies and institutions to end the fiscal year December 31. “Whereas, The Commercial Club has favored us much, furnishing the use of these beautiful grounds free, also providing city water without expense, and otherwise making us welcome in the city; therefore,— “17. Resolved, That we express our sincere appreciation of the favors shown, and that a copy of these resolutions be furnished the secretary of the Commercial Club.” The following officers were elected for the coming year: President, L. F. Starr; Secretary, Mrs. Flora V. Dorcas; Treasurer, C. W. Larson; Conference Committee, L. F. Starr, Chris Juhl, J. H. Kraft, C. W. Larson, C. A. Washburn, J. W. Dorcas, J. C. Clemens; Supt. Field Missionary Dept., J. W. Dorcas; Supt. Educational Dept., Floyd Bralliar; Secretary Sabbath-school Dept., Mrs. Flora V. Dorcas; Tract Society Sec. and Treas., C. W. Larson; Assistant Sec., Mrs. Nettie Shaw; State agent, R. J. Bryant; Trustees of Iowa Seventh-day Adventist Association, L. F. Starr, C. A. Washburn, C. J. Johnston, C. W. Smouse, Chris Juhl, J. W. Dorcas, J. M. Whitney. MRS. FLORA V. DORCAS, Secretary.