Texas Conference Proceedings
By Ida A. Nelson
The twenty-eighth annual session of the Texas Conference convened at Hillsboro, Tex., in connection with the camp-meeting, Aug. 3-13, 1905. A goodly number of delegates were present. The visiting brethren, Elders Thompson, Wilkinson, and Shultz, and all the conference laborers took part in the deliberations of the conference. Four churches were admitted into the conference, and the reports from the laborers showed that, during the year, many additions had been made to the already established churches. The reports given by the different departmental secretaries showed an encouraging advancement. The tract society, which has been for years heavily involved in debt, is now freed entirely, and able to reach out and assist in promulgating the interests of the third angel's message. In spite of storms, floods, and incessant rains, the canvassing work has made surprising advancement. The orders taken this year during the same length of time as last year were nearly double. But our field is large, and our greatest need, in order to sell more books, is more canvassers. There are thirty-seven Sabbath-schools in our conference, with an enrolment of twelve hundred and seventy-seven. During the year twelve schools have been added, and eight have been dropped. There is a growing interest in the Sabbath-school work. The report given by the superintendent of the church-schools was encouraging. During the year twenty teachers were employed in teaching three hundred and sixty-three pupils. Among the important resolutions and recommendations passed by the conference are the following:— “Resolved, That we express to God our thankfulness for the many blessings which have attended our work during the past year, and that we pledge ourselves to greater faithfulness in the work in the future. “Whereas, Our interest in the spread of the third angel's message takes in the whole world, and being in accord with the plan of the home conferences' sharing their laborers and tithe with more needy fields, therefore,— “Resolved, That we agree to support one of our laborers in another field during the coming year in co-operation with the General Conference. “Resolved, That if a suitable person can be found, a secretary be elected to have charge of the Religious Liberty Department of the conference. “Resolved, That in order to be in harmony with our general work as recommended by the General Conference at its last session, the fiscal year of the departments of this conference and the institutions under its control end on the thirty-first of December. [On the subject of tithing.] “Resolved, That we urge upon all our people a most careful and prayerful consideration of this matter, that the storehouse of the Lord be filled with meat necessary to a speedy and successful close of the message. “Resolved, That we express our thankfulness to God for the prosperity of the Keene Academy during the past year, and that we pledge ourselves to encourage the attendance of worthy young people during the coming year, and also to assist in paying the debt and making much needed improvements. “Resolved, That in view of the demand for church-school teachers, and because of their scarcity, the churches be asked to select young people and encourage them to attend school so as to become efficient teachers. “Resolved, That the churches provide better accommodations and longer terms for their schools, and better pay for their teachers. “Resolved, That the teachers all be requested to attend the teachers' institute, so as to prepare themselves to do better service. “Whereas, The late General Conference passed the following recommendations, calculated to increase the offerings for foreign missions, namely:— “(a) That the second Sabbath of 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 the monotony. “(c) 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,” therefore,— “Resolved, That we urge the adoption of this plan in all our churches, and that all our conference laborers and church officers keep before our people the subject of the increase of the weekly offerings for missions. “Resolved, That we give the Sabbath School Worker our hearty support, and that we endeavor to increase its circulation by placing it not only in the hands of all Sabbath-school officers, but also in the homes of our people generally. “Resolved, That all our Sabbath-schools be urged to plan to increase their donations, both by increasing proper economy in their local expenditures and by more liberal giving, that the message may be given speedily to the regions beyond. “We recommend, That the holding of Sabbath-school conventions be continued and encouraged, that the importance of the Sabbath-school work be brought more vividly before our people. “In view of instructions given through the spirit of prophecy for the young to organize for active missionary work, and realizing the need of such organizations in this conference, therefore,— “We recommend, That the church officers of the different churches encourage and aid the young people in organizing into Young People's Societies where advisable. “Resolved, That the earnest campaign begun in behalf of our ‘most able minister,’ the REVIEW AND HERALD, be continued, and that we endeavor to place it in the home of every Sabbath-keeper in our conference. “Resolved, That we give the sanitarium at Keene our hearty support by recommending it to those in need of sanitarium treatments. “We recommend, That where a member removes from one church to another, he or she ask for a letter and place the membership with the nearest church.” Ministerial credentials were granted to Clarence Santee, T. W. Field, H. B. French, C. W. Miller, W. W. Eastman, D. U. Hale, Andrew Nelson, E. B. Hopkins, W. M. Cubley, J. P. Lorenz, and W. A. McCutchen; honorary credentials to A. W. Jensen and N. J. Etheredge; ordination and credentials, N. V. Wilkes; ministerial licenses, E. L. Neff, W. L. Brandon, and J. I. Taylor; missionary licenses, W. E. Hancock, E. Harris, Lottie White, Jessie Hunter, Ida A. Nelson, Mrs. E. L. Neff, Jessie Robbins, Mrs. Ella E. Hughes, Mrs. J. I. Taylor, William Field, Isora Watts, Bertie Taylor, Mrs. W. M. Cubley, Dr. D. C. Ross, Ava Hopkins; colporteur's licenses, G. A. Lagrone and N. J. Etheredge. The following officers were elected: President, Clarence Santee; Secretary, Ida A. Nelson; Treasurer, E. Harris; Conference Committee, Clarence Santee, T. W. Field, C. W. Miller, W. M. Cubley, W. W. Eastman, D. U. Hale, J. J. Cochran; State Agent, W. W. Eastman; Secretary and Treasurer of Texas Tract Society, E. Harris; Secretary and Treasurer of the Sabbath-school Department, Ida A. Nelson; Superintendent of Church-school Department, Mrs. Ella E. Hughes; Sanitarium Board, Clarence Santee, Dr. D. C. Ross, L. B. Wallen, C. B. Hughes, T. B. Creager; Transportation Agent, C. N. Woodward; Trustees of Texas Seventh-day Adventist Association, Clarence Santee, C. N. Woodward, J. D. Matthews, Sidney Smith, C. B. Hughes. At the close of the last meeting, the brethren and sisters, by a rising vote, expressed their appreciation of Elder N. P. Nelson's untiring labor and efforts, and of his remaining with them as long as he had in spite of his ill health.