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The General Conference

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · May 18, 1905

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 82, No. 20.

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The General Conference

By A. G. Daniells; W. A. Spicer

THIRTY-SIXTH SESSION MAY 11-30

First Meeting

The thirty-sixth General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists was called to order at 10:30 A. M., May 11, at Takoma Park, D. C. The president, A. G. Daniells, was in the chair.
The Chairman invited to the platform Brethren Haskell, Butler, and Loughborough, the presidents of union conferences, the superintendents of mission fields, and other laborers of long years of service in the message.
After the hymn, “O worship the King,” the forty-ninth chapter of Isaiah was read by W. W. Prescott.
The congregation united in the hymn, “Hark, hark, hear the blest tidings.”
The conference was then led in earnest prayer by Elders J. N. Loughborough and E. W. Farnsworth. The presence of the Holy Spirit was very manifest as the conference unitedly dedicated itself to God.
The Chairman referred to the fact that the conference was to be held in the open air, according to the counsel that had been given. All were thankful for favorable weather, and for divine care over the delegates as they had come in from near and distant fields. It was stated that the General Conference was organized forty-two years ago this month, in a meeting held in Battle Creek, Mich. Of the delegates present at that meeting but four survive, Elders J. N. Loughborough, C. O. Taylor, Isaac Sandborn, and Washington Morse. Sister E. G. White was present throughout that meeting. The Chairman expressed in behalf of the conference thankfulness that in our present gathering we have Sister White and Elder Loughborough still with us.
Elder J. N. Loughborough spoke with feeling of the progress during the forty-two years since the organization of the General Conference, and the congregation heartily responded with the “amens” to the expression of his hope that he might witness the speedy finishing of the work.
Sister E. G. White, who was present on the platform, addressed the conference. She emphasized the need of repentance and humiliation before God and one another. In this last day of the great Day of Atonement it is time to make sure that every sin is confessed and forgiven. All through this meeting should be heard voices proclaiming, “He has pardoned my transgressions, he has made me clean from my unrighteousness.” “Clear the King’s highway,” is the word to us now. “Gather out the stones, that a path may be made clear for the Holy Spirit to go through our midst, that the blessing of God may come to us in this conference. Depart from iniquity, and the Lord will make your feet to stand upon high and holy ground.”
A praise service followed, the time being pressed full of testimonies. The keynote of these was that the workers had come from all the fields praying for God’s blessing to be upon this gathering.
The roll of delegates was called. (The list of delegates was printed in last week’s REVIEW. Nearly all were present at the roll-call.)
The Chairman presented the report of the executive committee, nominating chairmen for the current session of the General Conference, which was unanimously adopted as follows: G. A. Irwin, O. A. Olsen, A. G. Daniells, L. R. Conradi, W. W. Prescott, H. W. Cottrell.
The Secretary presented the following list of members of the various General Conference departments not otherwise represented among the delegates, whom the executive committee had appointed delegates at large:— Educational Department: E. A. Sutherland, F. M. Dickerson, Mrs. L. F. Plummer.
Sabbath-School Department: G. B. Thompson, Mrs. F. L. Bland, Estella Houser.
Religious Liberty Department: K. C. Russell, W. A. Colcord, C. P. Bollman, D. W. Reavis, J. S. Washburn.
Publishing Department: S. N. Curtiss, James Cochran, E. R. Palmer, S. D. Hartwell.
The Chairman stated that various union conferences had appointed as delegates medical members, who, joined by physicians in attendance, were to hold meetings for the consideration of this department of the General Conference work. The executive committee recommended the following-named physicians and men connected with institutional work to form the departmental committee on medical work during the sessions of the conference, and the recommendation of the committee was unanimously adopted by the conference as follows:—
Medical Department: Delegates already appointed from union conferences, Drs. Rand, Simmons, Martinson, Hayward, Colloran, Edwards, Hoenes, Nicola, George, Paulson, W. H. White.
Medical members hereby appointed delegates: Drs. Heald, Green, Froom, Hare, Ross, Fullmer, Farnsworth, Perrine, Swayze, and Neall.
Institutional workers on departmental committee, and delegate members where not already so appointed: F. M. Wilcox, W. C. White, A. E. Place, W. J. Fitzgerald, Smith Sharp, and W. C. Sisley.
It was voted that the usual standing committees should be nominated by the executive committee of the General Conference.
Meeting adjourned to 2:30 P. M.
A. G. DANIELLS, Chairman, W. A. SPICER, Secretary.