p. 17 | East Michigan Conference by E. K. Slade; Frank Hiner

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Nov 2, 1905

East Michigan Conference

By E. K. Slade; Frank Hiner

As appointed, the East Michigan Conference and camp-meeting convened at Holly, Mich., September 12–19. The meeting was held on pleasant grounds within the village of Holly, and from the first, there was a good attendance from the village. The weather was favorable, which contributed much to the good attendance from the outside. The attendance from the churches throughout the conference was especially good, which was a very encouraging feature of the meeting. There was a fair representation from nearly every church, and a large number of children and youth were in attendance at the meeting.

We were favored at this meeting with the labors of several of our brethren from abroad. Elders K. C. Russell, F. C. Gilbert, and G. B. Thompson were with us several days, and their earnest and faithful labors were much appreciated. We were glad to have with us Elder A. T. Jones, who presented messages that were helpful and encouraging. Elders A. G. Haughey and S. E. Wight were in attendance during part of our meeting. Brother J. B. Blosser rendered timely help in the interest of the canvassing work.

Meetings were held with the conference laborers from the beginning of the workers’ meeting, and were characterized by a spirit of devotion and brotherly love, and a determination to stand right with God. It was the testimony of nearly all present that they had never before attended such a meeting. Every one seemed determined to be right with God and with his brethren, and this same spirit of earnestness and oneness continued throughout the meeting. Quite a large number were converted or reclaimed, and at the close of the meeting between thirty and forty were baptized. Aside from this, several chose to defer baptism until they reached home.

The business sessions of the conference passed off quietly, yet with a spirit of earnestness and careful regard on the part of the delegates present for the prosperity and advancement of every phase of the work. The recommendations that we discussed and adopted were studied carefully and adopted heartily. The following recommendations were adopted:—

“Whereas, the Word of God makes plain the imperative duty of the payment of the tithes, and,—

“Whereas, the Testimony of God’s Spirit has also spoken plainly upon this subject, and,—

“Whereas, at the last General Conference, resolutions were passed calling the attention of conference officers to the need of more careful attention to this matter, therefore,—

“1. We recommend, That this conference withhold the credentials of any laborer who does not pay his tithes, as recommended by the General Conference.

“2. We recommend to our ordained ministers that they do not ordain local church officers unless such officers are faithful upon the tithing question.

“Whereas, There is an increasing demand for religious legislation throughout the country, and,—

“Whereas, all such legislation is a menace to religious freedom, resulting in a union of church and state, therefore,—

“3. Resolved, That we urge upon all our people the necessity of engaging enthusiastically in the work of disseminating literature upon the principles of religious liberty, that all the people in our conference may be enlightened upon this subject.

“4. Resolved, That this conference elect a competent person, who shall be known as Religious Liberty Secretary, and who shall devote such time as shall be necessary to religious liberty work.

“Whereas, The Bible work is an important factor in proclaiming the third angel’s message, therefore,—

“5. We recommend, That all laborers be constantly looking for suitable persons to enter this line of work, and that the education and training of such persons be carried on at the Adelphian Academy.

“6. We recommend, That the General Conference plan of one treasurer in each local church be adopted in this conference, and that the conference treasurer be the custodian of all funds raised in the conference.

“7. We recommend, That the office of secretary and treasurer of this conference be located at Holly, and that the By-laws be so amended that one treasurer shall be the treasurer of all departments.

“8. We recommend, That the executive committee of the conference publish the East Michigan Banner weekly as soon as suitable arrangements can be made.

“Whereas, The Lord has plainly said, through the spirit of prophecy, that where there is one canvasser in the field, there should be one hundred, and that men and women consecrated to God should be educated to enter at once upon this line of work, therefore,—

“9. Resolved, That the president of this conference and others in responsible places encourage consecrated men and women to enter this work, and that our brethren and sisters throughout the conference extend to canvassers while laboring in their vicinity the same hospitality as is extended to workers in other lines.

“Whereas, There is a dearth in the treasury, and the Lord has expressly told us how this can be avoided by rendering to the Lord his own of tithe and first-fruits, and that the tithe is not sufficient for the proper advancement of the message, therefore,—

“10. Resolved, That we urge all our people to be faithful in bringing in the first-fruits of all their substance, in addition to the tithe.

“11. We recommend, That the treasurer of the conference visit each church, giving instruction in keeping their books, and auditing their books at least once a year.

“Whereas, The REVIEW AND HERALD is our church paper, ordained to keep this people in touch with the progress of the third angel’s message, therefore,—

“12. We recommend, That our ministers and others in places of responsibility, as well as all the members of the church, do all in their God-given power to place the REVIEW AND HERALD in every Adventist family in the conference.

“Whereas, The tract depository and health food store in Lansing is exerting an influence for good in that city,—

“13. Resolved, That we encourage the conference committee to continue the operation of that department, and that special attention be given to the connecting of the spiritual and evangelistic work with the commercial phase of the enterprise.

“Whereas, The church-school problem is confronting us at this time, and the wage paid to our faithful church-school teachers is inadequate for them to increase their proficiency, therefore,—

“14. We recommend, That teachers competent to receive credentials be paid seven dollars a week or its equivalent, that teachers holding licenses be paid six dollars a week or its equivalent, and that teachers holding permits be paid five dollars a week or its equivalent.

“15. That our church-school boards be encouraged to hire only those teachers who hold certificates of qualification from the conference.

“16. Resolved, That we indorse the action of the conference committee in locating the Adelphian Academy at Holly, and that we encourage them to proceed in the erection of the necessary buildings for the conduct of the school.

“Whereas, A large per cent of the population of this conference lives in cities, and the work in the cities will be sooner hindered than will the work in the country, and,—

“Whereas, The spirit of prophecy has said, ‘The time has come to make decided efforts to proclaim the truth in our large cities,’ therefore,—

“17. Resolved, That we heartily indorse the strong effort put forth in Bay City, and other city work carried forward the past year, and also that we ask the incoming executive committee to give special attention to city work the coming year.

“Whereas, There are in the conference many parents who can not conscientiously permit their children longer to attend the public schools, and,—

“Whereas, Some of these are situated so that their children can not receive instruction in our denominational schools, therefore,—

“18. Resolved, That we ask the Adelphian Academy to undertake the work of conducting correspondence schools with such parents and children as may wish to avail themselves of this form of instruction, and that the rates of tuition for these grades of instruction be fixed by the conference committee.

“Whereas, The Sabbath School Worker is the official organ of the Sabbath-school Department of the General Conference, and some of the best talent is secured to make the Worker a practical help in the school, therefore,—

“19. We recommend, That all conference and Sabbath-school officers give

special attention to encouraging all our schools to take a club of the Worker large enough to supply all officers, teachers, and parents in the school, and that the subscription price be paid by the individual receiving the paper.

“Whereas, The General Conference Sabbath-school Department has advised that each school set aside one or more Sabbaths in each quarter to receive offerings to be used in purchasing supplies for the school, and that the offerings of the remaining Sabbaths be given to missions, therefore,—

“20. We recommend, That all our schools adopt this plan.

“Whereas, The October number of the Sabbath School Worker will be a special Convention Number, therefore,—

“21. We recommend, That our schools be encouraged to hold a convention, two or three schools uniting at one place, where practical.

“22. Resolved, That we express our gratitude to the common council of the village of Holly for their courtesy in supplying the camp with light and water, and that we express our heart-felt appreciation of the courtesy extended by the business men and citizens of Holly in providing our camp-ground free, and otherwise showing such a cordial spirit of welcome to the East Michigan Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Further,—

“23. Resolved, That this resolution be transmitted by the president of the conference to the president of the common council, and that the same be published in the papers of Holly.

“Whereas, The East Michigan Banner has proved an effective means of service in the conference during the past year, and under a previous resolution it will undoubtedly be published once each week during the next conference year, therefore,—

“24. Resolved, That we urge our people everywhere to subscribe for this paper at once.

“Whereas, There is a growing tendency among our people to marry those not of our faith, and, whereas, the Word of God is explicit in regard to being unequally yoked together, therefore,—

“25. Resolved, That we urge our ministers to refuse to perform the ceremony, and to discourage, as far as possible, such unwise marriages.”

On report of the nominating committee the following conference officers were unanimously elected: President, E. K. Slade; Vice-President, E. I. Beebe; Secretary and Treasurer, E. I. Beebe; Executive Committee, E. K. Slade, E. I. Beebe, G. G. Brown, J. G. Lamson, A. R. Sandborn; Superintendent of Education, E. K. Slade; Secretary of Educational Department and Sabbath-school Work, Tillie E. Barr; Superintendent of Missionary Department, H. E. Fairchild; Secretary of Missionary Department, Frank Hiner; Superintendent of Medical Department, Jean A. Vernier, M. D.; Secretary of Medical Department, Jessie L. Kinneburgh; Religious Liberty Secretary, Prof. J. G. Lamson; Auditors, Daniel Hale, Myron Day, John Keiser, Dr. P. E. Marsh, E. N. Hatt, Wm. A. Brace.

Credentials and licenses were granted as follows: Ministerial credentials, E. K. Slade, L. G. Moore, J. L. Edgar, A. R. Sandborn, B. F. Stureman, C. N. Sanders, Wm. Ostrander, M. Shepard, O. F. Butcher, O. Soule, J. G. Lamson; for ordination and credentials, E. I. Beebe; ministerial licenses, Delmer P. Wood, Emil R. Lauda, F. G. Lane, P. C. Hayward; missionary licenses, Clara Kiep, Lucy Tyte, Marie P. Harriman, Mina Pierce, Anna L. Boehm, Tillie E. Barr, Frank Hiner, Nina Nelson, Anna B. Bern, Ethel Burnett, Daniel Wood, H. E. Fairchild, Ida Dunlap.

We believe that this meeting will have its influence throughout the conference, and that the spirit of earnestness and the harmony and oneness that characterized the meeting will prove a blessing to the work in every church.

E. K. SLADE, President, FRANK HINER, Secretary.