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Third Meeting

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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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Third Meeting

By G. A. Irwin; W. A. Spicer

The third meeting of the session was called May 12, at 9:30 A. M., G. A. Irwin being in the chair.
A. T. Jones led in prayer. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved.
The following additional delegates answered to the roll-call: N. W. Kauble, R. C. Porter, H. M. J. Richards, M. E. Cady, W. A. Westworth, Charles Khalstrom, A. F. Ballenger, C. W. Weber, C. P. Bollman, Dr. G. A. Hare, Dr. D. C. Ross, Dr. W. S. Swayze, Dr. J. H. Neall.
A partial report on standing committees was presented by the executive committee, as authorized the previous day, and was unanimously adopted, as follows:—
On credentials and seating delegates: A. J. Breed, S. H. Lane, J. M. Rees.
On nominations: G. A. Irwin, R. M. Kilgore, O. A. Olsen, W. S. Hyatt, G. F. Watson, Allen Moon, P. A. Hansen, W. H. Thurston, H. S. Shaw, Dr. A. J. Hoenes, N. P. Nelson, M. C. Wilcox, F. Griggs.
The executive committee further placed in nomination the name of Elder L. C. Sheafe as a delegate from the District of Columbia. The conference unanimously voted, accepting Elder Sheafe as a delegate.
The chairman then stated that the order of the morning would be the report of the Washington “Surprise Party,” by which is indicated the spontaneous movement which sprang up in California and extended to all parts of the field, with the idea of having the delegates come to the General Conference with gifts in their hands for the Washington work and for the mission fields.
W. C. White led out with a statement that this had truly been a surprise in the heartiness and rapidity with which the idea had been acted upon by our people. He called for reports first from those who had brought less than one hundred dollars, and laid upon the table ninety dollars from a brother and sister of St. Helena. Then the brethren came forward with cash and checks, while the treasurer and his assistants took names of individuals and churches making the gifts, together with the amounts. Delegates from Maine to California, and from the South to the North, brought in the money, with reports of the interest and enthusiasm and blessing with which this enterprise had been taken up. Hearts were stirred, and eyes were dimmed, as special incidents were related concerning individual and church efforts.
One of the most touching gifts was that presented by Brother O. R. Staines, of $87.55 from the Colored Training-school in Huntsville, Ala. The conference recognized that it was indeed out of deep poverty and need that the young people and workers in that place had joined in this offering.
Similarly Hildebran, N. C., presented additional gifts, in continuance of monthly offerings in the past.
A substantial sum came in from a company of widowed sisters in Oklahoma, as the widow’s mite.
From various States came amounts raised by special efforts in selling articles and literature, and missionary garden produce, the reports showing that aged people and little ones, persons in the church and out of it, were moved by one common impulse to do quickly what they could.
The meeting broke over the bounds of the gifts of less than one hundred dollars, and those having larger offerings were constrained to report. L. R. Conradi laid down six hundred dollars from believers in the German Union Conference. They had not heard of this surprise party effort, but had been impressed to send this gift as a token of their interest in the common work.
The entire congregation sang, at this point, “Praise God, from whom all blessings flow.”
Elder Graf brought in four hundred and fifty dollars from College View, and reported a surprise of blessing in that community as the fund was made up.
Brother Adams, of Manitoba, brought in two hundred and twenty-four dollars for missions, and said the Washington fund would follow.
Brother Reinke brought one hundred and thirty-five dollars from the Brooklyn German church.
E. H. Gates laid down a five-dollar gold piece, given him for the Washington work as he passed through one-time cannibal Fiji, where now nearly two hundred Sabbath-keepers rejoice in the truth.
G. F. Haffner reported an increasing surprise on his own part at every one of the eight churches which he had time to visit. He received five hundred dollars in cash, and twelve hundred dollars in pledges.
A. E. Place brought a check for $348.37 from New England. Dr. Swayze brought in two hundred dollars from Mexico; M. C. Wilcox laid down three hundred and five dollars from Mountain View, Cal., where this movement first started.
Brother E. R. Palmer spoke of the origin of the movement. A sister in California who had once been abroad, had sent in to the General Conference an application to be sent to the mission fields. In response to this application, sent in through Brother W. C. White, Elder Daniells had written Brother White fully regarding the straitened condition in mission finance. This letter was read to the brethren at Mountain View. All hearts were stirred that it should be necessary to cut down appropriations and hold back workers. A collection was taken locally, with such surprising results that the idea of extending the movement took shape.
J. O. Corliss reported that he had only three Sabbaths in which to visit California churches, but he brought in over a thousand dollars.
It is impossible to mention in these minutes further reports of gifts piled up before the platform. I. H. Evans, the treasurer, reported that the hasty count showed $5,015 presented during the meeting.
Every heart was stirred with fresh inspiration at the splendid result of the hasty effort, and the knowledge that still the work was going on, and the fields were by no means heard from. It was the fitting climax of a happy idea.
W. C. White recounted again the manifold blessing of God in this effort, as a token that by a strong and a quick pull, even before this conference closes, the Washington fund might be lifted to the full one hundred thousand. Then all hands would be free to turn toward the next work to be done for unentered fields in the South and abroad.
He moved the following resolution, which was unanimously adopted:— “Resolved, That we undertake this afternoon to send out a large number of personal letters to individuals who can help, reporting the response in this morning meeting, and asking for a special effort to close up this fund before the conference closes.”
J. S. Washburn reported that there was now very nearly seventy-five thousand dollars in the office, leaving about twenty-five thousand dollars more to be raised. It was unanimously—
“Voted, That J. S. Washburn, J. O. Corliss, E. R. Palmer, act as a committee to prepare a brief statement regarding the results of this meeting, and the amount still needed, in such form that it may be sent out in the personal letters to be written this afternoon.”
G. A. Irwin, the chairman, spoke of the deep sympathy throughout Australia with the Washington effort. J. L. Shaw, of India, said that while the believers in that country were pressed with the tremendous need in the field, they had felt, after all, that if they joined in meeting the needs of the Washington work at this time, God might even more abundantly supply their own need. As a result over four hundred dollars had been raised in India and Burma, and sent in to the Washington work.
A number of delegates spoke of some who had longed to attend this General Conference, but who had felt constrained instead to remain at home and pray for it, giving to the Washington fund the money that would be required for the journey.
Elder A. G. Daniells spoke of the world-wide inspiration which this Washington effort had been to our people. “The unifying influence, the binding of heart to heart by this effort is worth far more than all the money that is given. There is something in this that means a mighty power in the proclamation of this message to the world. It is preparing this people to rise unitedly as one man to finish this work in all the earth, and to stand together as one in the time of trial that is coming. I thank God for this unifying influence that is working among the people throughout all the field.”
This was a meeting long to be remembered. Inasmuch as it continued through the hour assigned to the Bible institute, it was voted that Elder E. W. Farnsworth, who was to lead out in the institute, on the topic, “Our Message,” should be requested to present this topic at the eleven o’clock service to-morrow (Sabbath).
G. A. IRWIN, Chairman, W. A. SPICER, Secretary.