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Business Proceedings of the Iowa Conference

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 27, 1871

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 38, No. 2.

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Business Proceedings of the Iowa Conference.

By George Ide Butler; L. McCoy

The ninth annual Conference of the Seventh-day Adventists of Iowa, was held near Knoxville, Marion Co., Iowa, in connection with the camp-meeting, June 1–5, 1871.
Conference convened June 2, at 9 A. M. Eld. Geo. I. Butler, President, in the chair. Prayer by Eld. Littlejohn of Michigan. On examination of the credentials of delegates, all the churches in the State, twenty-four in number, were found to be represented, with the exception of one.
Voted, That Eld. James White and Eld. W. H. Littlejohn, and all members present of good standing in our churches, be invited to take part in the deliberations of this Conference.
Minutes of last session of Conference were called for, read, and approved.
On motion, the chair appointed the following Committees:
Auditing Committee: Brn. B. Auten, Daniel Andre, Jacob Hare, J. T. Mitchell, C. E. Moser, W. P. Andrews, and S. J. Hart.
Committee on Resolutions: Brn. W. H. Littlejohn, D. M. Canright, and J. H. Morrison.
Committee on Nominations: Eld. James White, Eld. W. H. Littlejohn, and Bro. Jacob Hare.
Credentials from newly organized churches were received as follows: Church at Adel, E. R. Payne, delegate; church at Woodburn, Thompson Lowry, and Jacob Shively, delegates; church at Onawa, Jefferson Bartlett, delegate.
On motion, these several churches were received into the Conference with their delegates present.
On motion, the company of Sabbath-keepers at Peru were received under the watchcare of the Conference, and their delegate present. Bro. Gifford was invited to act as their representative.
On motion, the church organization at Talleyrand was, at their request, discontinued, and their members granted the privilege of uniting with the church at Richland.
Urgent requests for labor from different parts of the State were then made. No action taken in regard to them.
Adjourned to call of Chair.

SECOND SESSION.

Conference met at the call of the President, June 4, 8 A. M. Eld. Butler made a report of his labors in Nebraska, and presented a statement and petition from brethren there to this Conference, asking admission; and,
On motion, the State of Nebraska was added to this Conference, under the name and style of the Iowa and Nebraska Conference of S. D. A.
On motion, the church at Decatur City, Neb., was received into the Conference.
The Committee on Nominations made their report recommending the present incumbents in office as the officers for ensuing year. Report adopted; and,
On motion, the following were elected officers for the present year: President, Geo. I. Butler; Secretary, L. McCoy; Treasurer, R. M. Kilgore; Conference Committee, Henry Nicola and J. T. Mitchell.
Auditing Committee made report showing settlement with ministering brethren and Conference Treasury.
Adjourned, to meet on call of Chair.

THIRD SESSION.

Conference convened at call of Chair, June 5, 9 A. M.
On motion, credentials were granted to Eld. D. M. Canright, Geo. I. Butler, and J. H. Morrison.
On motion, license was granted to Brn. Jefferson Bartlett, Henry Nicola, J. T. Mitchell, R. M. Kilgore, Squire Osborn, and C. A. Washburn. The question of granting license to Bro. R. H. Johnson, was referred to the Conference Committee.
On motion, the Iowa City church organization was discontinued at their request.
On motion, a committee was appointed to arrange the churches in districts for the purpose of holding quarterly meetings.
Committee made the following report:
First District, composed of churches at Waukon and West Union, to have meetings each quarter. Bro. C. A. Washburn is to attend. Second District, composed of churches at Marion, Lisbon, and Anamosa, to have meetings every two months. Bro. Mitchell is to attend. Third District, composed of churches at Pilot Grove, Brighton, Washington, Richland, and Sigourney, to hold meetings every two months. Brn. Nicola and McCoy are to attend. Fourth District, composed of churches at Monroe, Knoxville, and Sandyville, to hold meetings every two months. Fifth District, composed of churches at Afton, Woodburn, Peru, and Adel, to hold meetings every two months. Brn. Bartlett, Johnson, and Washburn, to attend. Sixth District, composed of churches at Onawa, Iowa, and Decatur City, Neb., to hold meetings each month. Bro. Bartlett, to attend.
The following is camp-meeting committee: Brn. Benn Auten, Daniel Andre, and L. McCoy.
The Conference was greatly aided and encouraged by the presence and timely remarks by Brn. White and Littlejohn, and the business much facilitated by their counsel. A spirit of union and forbearance characterized the entire proceedings. An appeal was made by Bro. White to sacrifice for the “Publishing Association,” and the “Health Institute,” which was well received and liberally responded to.
The financial condition of the Conference is good, the Treasurer’s report, showing a sum of $1814.00 received during the year on Systematic Benevolence fund, and a balance in the treasury of $309.00, after settling with the ministers and paying into the General Conference fund $475.00. There is also on hand a camp-meeting fund of nearly $300.00.
Financial and church reports were not full, and some had been wholly neglected. From reports received and estimates made, the following aggregate report may be relied upon as very nearly correct.
No. of churches at the beginning of year, 19 No. at present, 24 No. of members at beginning of year, 455 No. received by baptism, 185 No. received by letter, 40 No. of losses by death, 5 No. of losses by apostasy, 20 No. of losses by removal, 21 No. of members at present, 640 No. of Sabbath-school scholars, 300 No. paying Systematic Benevolence, 450 Amount of Systematic Benevolence pledged for the year, $3200.00.
The following report of Committee on Resolutions was unanimously adopted:
Resolved, That we discover in the present prosperity of the Health Institute, occasion for the most profound gratitude to God; and that we express an increasing confidence in the wisdom and economy with which it is at present conducted, as well as in the ability of the health reform, as a means of advancing the physical and spiritual interests of the people of God.
Resolved, That we will assume the responsibility of collecting for the Publishing Association all arrears on the subscriptions to the Review, Health Reformer, and Instructor, within the limits of our Conference.
Resolved, That we recognize the obligation under which we are placed to the General Conference, on account of labor which it has hitherto bestowed on our State; and that we donate to it from our funds, the sum of $400.00.
Resolved, That we tender our heartfelt thanks to Bro. and sister White and Bro. Littlejohn for their visit to our State at this time and for the unwearied efforts put forth in this camp-meeting for our spiritual welfare.
The following offered by Bro. Mitchell was adopted:
Resolved, That all S. D. Adventists applying for charitable aid at our Health Institute, shall do so through their respective churches to which they belong. And that each church should bear, at least one half the charity asked for its members and others under its watchcare.
Resolved, That the minutes of this Conference be published in the Review.
Several liberal propositions were made by persons at different places asking for the location of the next camp-meeting, all of which were referred to the Camp-meeting Committee.
Adjourned to meet at the call of the Chair.
GEO. I. BUTLER, Pres.
L. McCoy, Sec.