The Northern Union Conference
By Alice H. Robinson
THE first regular session of this union conference, since its organization in the spring of 1902, was held at Millbank, S. D., Feb. 17-22, 1904. A full delegation was present, representing each conference and the Alberta Mission field, also nearly every laborer in the union. Owing to serious illness, our president, Elder C. W. Flaiz, could not be present, and his absence was deeply regretted by all. A letter from him was read in the opening meeting, in which he called the attention of the delegation to some important matters that should receive due consideration during the conference. Following the reading of the letter the meeting was thrown open for a social service, in which many testimonies of praise and thankfulness to God were borne. The testimonies were short and interesting, and gave evidence of victories gained, and a strong determination to press forward in the work of the Lord. Elder A. G. Daniells was present, and acted as chairman of the business meetings; he also gave timely help in the preaching services and in counsel. All were glad indeed to welcome him at this time. The meetings were well attended, and a deep interest was manifested in the various matters brought forth for consideration. The discussions were marked by unity, and a good spirit prevailed all through the meeting. The committee on plans submitted the following recommendations, which were adopted:—18 Whereas, True medical missionary work is an essential feature of the gospel as set forth in the threefold message of Revelation 14; and,— Whereas, We have been repeatedly counseled by the spirit of prophecy that true medical missionary work should not be separated from the gospel work of the conference, the church, and the people; therefore,— 1. We recommend, That the medical missionary work in all its features receive the same fostering care and financial support from the conference organizations, churches, and people that is given to other branches of our work. 2. That this branch of our work be made the medical missionary department of our conference organization. 3. That the general advisory work of this department in the union and State conferences be placed in the hands of department committees of suitable size and experience to properly develop the medical work. 4. That the real estate and personal property of the medical institutions created and supported by conferences be held in trust for said conferences by a legal corporation created by the conferences, and that the trustees of said corporation have the executive management of the institution belonging to the corporation of which they are trustees. 5. That the constituencies of departments and the executive committees aforementioned, shall be elected by the conference in session. 6. That five persons shall be elected by this conference to be the advisory committee of this department of the Northern Union Conference. Recognizing the need of well-qualified teachers for our church schools, and believing that a well-conducted summer school in this union conference would be a benefit to those now teaching, and who expect to teach in these schools,— 7. We recommend, That the Northern Union Conference conduct such a school during the coming summer, to continue eight weeks, in some suitable place; and that the school be placed under the direction of the union conference educational secretary in conjunction with the State educational secretaries. 8. We recommend, (a) That the conferences of this union maintain the same standard of examination for church-school teachers; (b) that all teachers who pass such examinations be granted certificates showing the grade of the examination passed; and that the educational secretary of the conference in which they labor be authorized to grant such certificates. Whereas, The Sabbath School Worker is again in the field, and is a valuable help in the Sabbath-school work, therefore,— 9. We recommend, (a) That a special effort be made to have each officer and teacher supplied with this journal; (b) that an earnest, systematic effort be conducted in each conference to build up a strong home department, and that these isolated families be urged by all conference laborers to engage in active missionary work, reporting the same to the Sabbath-school secretary of the State in which they reside; and further that united effort be put forth to establish home departments in our local schools. 10. We recommend, That two hundred and fifty dollars be raised by this Northern Union Conference for the purpose of aiding in the development of the work in Alberta, and that said fund be available by the fifteenth of May. 11. We recommend, That this conference select a man to represent it on the general publishing committee. 12. We recommend, That all our State conference officers and laborers return to the old-time spirit of selling books and taking subscriptions for our periodicals, and encourage suitable persons to engage in the regular canvassing work. 13. Resolved, That the Northern Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists extend hearty thanks to the citizens of Millbank for their great kindness in opening their homes for our entertainment; to the press of the city for the favors extended in opening its columns for reports and notices of the meetings, and to the Congregational brethren for the use of their commodious church building in which to hold the conference sessions. 14. We recommend, That the following be substituted for Article 4 of the Constitution: “The educational, missionary, and medical missionary work shall be departments of this conference. The Educational Department shall include industrial, church schools, Sabbath-schools, and Young People’s Societies. The Missionary Department shall include the regular tract and missionary work and the canvassing work. The Medical Missionary Department shall include sanitarium and health and temperance work.” 15. (a) That the words “field secretary” be substituted for the term “canvassing agent” wherever they are used in the Constitution or By-Laws; (b) that Article 6, line 6, read: “educational and field secretaries;” (c) that Section 4 of the By-Laws, line 7, after the words “second tithe,” read as follows: “and shall forward a tenth of the tithe of the union conference, together with the offerings and second tithe, to the treasurer of the General Conference.” 16. That the following be inserted in the By-Laws, and numbered “6,” and the remainder of the By-Laws be renumbered to correspond: “Medical Missionary Board. The duty of the Medical Missionary Board shall be to develop the general medical missionary work in this conference, under the direction of the executive committee.” The report of the treasurer, being called for, was read, showing the receipts of tithe and offerings to missions to aggregate $38,288.22. The time covered by this report dates from the organization of the conference to Dec. 31, 1903,—a period of one year and nine months. The report of the auditor was then read, as follows:— To the Executive Committee of the Northern Union Conference, and others whom it may concern: This is to certify that the undersigned has finished auditing the records of the treasurer of the Northern Union Conference, and has found the same to have been accurately kept. The cash on hand at the date of this audit exactly corresponds with the amount required to balance the cash journal. The ledger has been checked, and all footings proved to the close of Dec. 31, 1903. An independent trial balance of the accounts at the end of this period has been made, by which the treasurer’s trial balance of same date has been checked. The work has been done neatly, and all funds forwarded promptly. LYMAN D. RANDALL,
Auditor. Millbank, S. D., Feb. 18, 1904. The committee on nominations submitted the names of the following persons for officers of the Northern Union Conference: President, R. A. Underwood; Vice-President, C. A. Burman; Secretary and Treasurer, Mrs. Alice H. Robinson; Transportation Agent, C. M. Everest; Auditor, Ole Shager; Northern Union Conference member of General Publishing Committee, C. M. Everest; Board of Medical Department, E. M. Chapman, W. M. Adams, Daniel Isaac, C. L. Kendall, Dr. E. P. Hawkins; Executive Committee, President of the Northern Union Conference, Vice-President of same, President of each local conference in the Northern Union, Educational Secretary and Missionary Secretary. The appointment of the Department Secretaries was referred to the Executive Committee. The committee on nominations also presented the following:— Resolved, That we extend to Elder Flaiz our deepest sympathy in his affliction, and recommend that he make it his chiefest endeavor to recover his health, and that we extend to him our financial support and prayers for his complete recovery. Ministerial credentials were granted to R. A. Underwood, C. W. Flaiz, J. W. Boynton; ministerial license to Henry Block; missionary credentials to Stella B. Lowry. A vote of thanks was extended to the South Dakota Conference for the kind treatment and courtesy shown to all in attendance. This was followed by a most cheering social meeting, in which a note of praise and thankfulness was sounded by nearly all present. An earnest prayer, followed by the benediction, brought the proceedings to a close. The favors shown us by the citizens of Millbank were highly appreciated, and we feel sure this pleasant experience will long be remembered. MRS. ALICE H. ROBINSON,
Secretary.