Your ShelfYour Projects

Business Proceedings

1%

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 22, 1870

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 35, No. 14.

Read the full edition

Business Proceedings

By James White; Uriah Smith

OF THE EIGHTH ANNUAL SESSION OF THE GENERAL CONFERENCE OF S. D. ADVENTISTS.
Conference assembled, according to appointment in Review, March 15, 1870. Singing, Calvary. Prayer by Eld. Geo. I. Butler, of Iowa.
Delegates being called for, credentials were presented by the following brethren:
Iowa Conference. Elds. Geo. I. Butler, D. M. Canright.
Ill. & Wis. Conference. Elds. Robt. F. Andrews, T. M. Steward.
Ohio Conference. Oliver Mears.
N. Y. & Pa. Conference. Ira Abbey, Henry Hilliard.
Michigan Conference. Aaron Hilliard, G. H. Bell, Wm. Carpenter, Franklin Howe, Chas. Jones, S. A. McPherson.
Vermont Conference. Elds. A. C. Bourdeau, A. Stone.
Massachusetts. Eld. S. N. Haskell.
Minnesota. By letter.
California. H. T. Hewett.
Maine. Eld. C. Goodrich.
Rhode Island. Eld. P. C. Rodman.
Missouri. Eld. H. C. Blanchard.
New Hampshire. W. H. Ball.
Switzerland. James Ertzenberger.
Other brethren present from the several States were invited to take seats with the delegates, to take part in the deliberations of the Conference.
Minutes of last meeting read and accepted.
Treasurer's report presented, showing the following standing of the Conference funds:
Cash on hand May 1, 1869, ........................................ $ 191 97 Cash received to March 15, 1870, .............................. 2,555 91 ____ 2,747 88 Paid out as per Treasurer's book, .............................. 3,020 78 ____ Present indebtedness of the Conference, $ 272 90
Reports from State Conferences being called for, the following were presented, showing the standing of State Conferences as follows:
Gen'l Conference Summary For the Year 1870.
Names of Conferences Ministers Members Churches S. D. Fund Pledged S. B. Fund used in the Churches S. B. Fund Pledged to Conference S. B. Fund Pledged to General Conf. S. B. Fund on hand
Iowa 2 1 17 470 $2624 38
Maine 3 1 17 298 678 79
Michigan 11 15 51 1749 6732 40 $2475 43 $4256 97
Minnesota 2 2 8 217 915 00 915 00
N. Y. & Penn. 5 5 24 589 2954 07 201 54 2752 53
Ohio 5 5 11 185 1132 78 30 26 1122 52
Vermont 5 2 12 256 1447 00 125 00 1322 00
Wis. & Illinois 5 8 24 717 3314 00 662 80 2651 20
N. E. Mission 2 1 17 779 1224 00 130 00 1044 04
California Mis'n 1 4 130 800 00 800 00
European Mis'n 50
Total 37 35 179 5440 $21822 46 $3665 03 $13020 22 $1844 04
Missionary reports were presented from J. N. Loughborough, D. T. Bourdeau, John Matteson, S. N. Haskell, P. C. Rodman, M. E. Cornell, I. D. Van Horn, R. J. Lawrence, James White, J. N. Andrews, and J. H. Waggoner.
Interesting remarks were made by Elds. White, Andrews, and Waggoner, in reference to their respective fields of labor.
On motion, the chair appointed the following committees.
Auditing Committee. O. Mears, Ohio; Wm. Carpenter, Indiana; Ira Abbey, H. Hilliard, New York; G. H. Bell, Chas. Jones, Michigan.
Committee on Resolutions. J. N. Andrews, J. H. Waggoner, G. H. Bell.
Committee on Nominations. S. N. Haskell, S. A. McPherson, W. H. Ball.
Adjourned to 2 P. M.
SECOND SESSION. Prayer by Eld. A. Stone, of Vermont.
Committee on Nominations reported the following for the officers of the Conference the coming year: President, Jas. White; Secretary, U. Smith; Treasurer, G. H. Bell; Executive Committee, Jas. White, J. N. Andrews, J. H. Waggoner.
These nominations were thereupon ratified by vote of the Conference.
Committee on Resolutions reported by offering the following, which were unanimously adopted:
Resolved, That while our sympathies are drawn out toward our brethren in other lands, we are not forgetful of the interests of those in our own land, who are of foreign birth, and speak other languages. Their devotion to the truth has won our warmest regard, and we pledge to them all the aid and encouragement that our ability and circumstances will permit. In this direction we will do all that lies in our power to publish works in their respective languages to correspond as nearly as possible in price with similar works in English.
Resolved, 1. That we approve of the recent action of the Battle Creek Church, and indorse the resolutions adopted by it. And we further express, as the mind of this General Conference, that the Publishing Association has a right to insist that the influence surrounding its office shall be of the best kind. And it is our decided opinion that when unconsecrated persons, without advice, move into the neighborhood of the Office, and call the editor, officers, and employes away from their business to attend to their personal difficulties, they are hindering the cause of God, and robbing the Lord's treasury, by occupying the time of those who are called and employed to devote their strength and energies to this sacred work.
2. That in view of our past experience, and the troubles arising in this direction, we disapprove of, and protest against, persons moving into the neighborhood where the office is located, without first consulting the Executive Committee of the General Conference.
Resolved, That in view of the repeated admonitions of the Spirit of God of the alarming prevalence of licentiousness in its various forms, and of the purity of life requisite to stand before a holy God; and of the sad instances of depravity manifested by some professing to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Christ, we regard the book recently published, entitled, “Solemn Appeal,” as most timely, and we cordially recommend it to all as a valuable and much-needed work.
Resolved, That for the sake of our blessed Redeemer we desire to cultivate fraternal feelings, and maintain friendly relations, with all who name the name of Christ; and in particular with those who in common with us hold to the unpopular doctrine of the second advent of our Saviour near.

SPIRITUAL GIFTS.

Whereas, We as a people have held the doctrine of the perpetuity of Spiritual Gifts, and professed to believe that “the spirit of prophecy” was manifested among us as “the remnant,” (Rev. 12: 17; 19: 10.)
And whereas, Our faith on this subject has been, to a very great extent, a merely nominal or dead faith, as the following facts bear witness:
1. The Testimonies of the Spirit have faithfully warned against the spirit of worldliness and selfishness, yet very many of the persons professing to believe the Testimonies have manifested this spirit in their lives.
2. The Testimonies have spoken most pointedly of the danger arising from the licentious tendencies of the age, and of the necessity of purity of heart and life, yet we have had a most deplorable case of depravity developed by a minister and in a church professing also to believe the warnings.
3. The Testimonies have, from time to time, warned of the danger of pursuing certain courses of action by those having charge of, or laboring in, the Review Office for several years past; yet those in the Office where these Testimonies were published, and whence they were sent forth, have, in many important particulars, pursued exactly the course against which they were warned, thereby contradicting their profession and wounding the cause; therefore,
Resolved, That we will humble ourselves before God for these things, and endeavor to so walk in harmony with the teachings of the Spirit, as no longer to present such inconsistency in our lives, and to grieve God's Spirit away from us.
And whereas, In these things we have seen that those who disregard these Testimonies, whether in private or public life, have shown themselves to be lamentably weak in judgment, and have wounded themselves and the cause by their unfaithfulness; therefore,
Resolved, That we recognize the wisdom of God in the “Testimonies to the Church,” and that it is dangerous and destructive to disregard or neglect their instructions; and we confess our weakness and inability to carry on this sacred work to divine acceptance, without their aid.
Resolved, That we express our high regard for the labors of Bro. James White, not only as a minister and a writer, but also for his efficient management of our publishing department; and we further express our perfect confidence in his integrity as an honest man and a devoted Christian; and we request him to accept the oversight of our business affairs, for the coming year.
Resolved, That we deplore the errors and wrongs committed by those who had the management of the Publishing Association and the Health Institute during the period of Bro. White's prostration by sickness, and that we acknowledge the painful experience as teaching us the lesson that those who neglect the Testimonies of the Spirit of God, will be sure to commit serious errors in the work of the third angel's message.

SWITZERLAND.

Resolved, 1. That we recognize the hand of God in the establishment of a body of S. D. Adventists in Central Europe.
2. That we extend to them our love and Christian salutation, and the expression of our fellowship and esteem.
3. That we acknowledge the representative of these brethren, James Ertzenberger, who has been with us since June last, as a beloved brother in Christ; whose gifts and graces give the most satisfactory evidence that he is called of God to participate in the great work of preaching the final warning to men.
4. That we set him apart to the work of the Christian ministry, that he may return to Switzerland to preach the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
Resolution 4 elicited quite a lengthy and interesting discussion, as also No. 8, accompanied by a very touching appeal from Bro. Ertzenberger.
At this point Eld. J. N. Andrews introduced an interesting letter of inquiry from H. Malcom, D. D., of Philadelphia.
Elder I. Sanborn having written stating circumstances which would prevent his attending the Conference, it was
Voted, That we approve of the course of Eld. Sanborn in attending to the urgent interests of the cause in his section, rather than discontinuing his discussion to attend this Conference.
Some time was then occupied in discussing the California mission, and listening to the recital of interesting facts respecting that work.
Eld. Jas. White then spoke of the importance of issuing an Appeal to the Public to correct certain misapprehensions which exist in the minds of the people concerning us. He spoke further of the importance of establishing a Ministerial Institute to aid in the work of preparation for the ministry.
Voted, That Eld. White preach on this subject at his own convenience.
Adjourned to call of Committee.
THIRD SESSION. Thursday, 8 A. M. Prayer by U. Smith. Minutes of the last meeting omitted for want of time.
On motion of Eld. J. N. Andrews, Prof. Allen, delegate from the S. D. Baptists, was unanimously received as a member of this body.
The following resolution was then read, and after interesting remarks from Eld. J. N. Andrews, Prof. Allen, Elds. Cottrell, Waggoner, Bates, and White, was unanimously adopted.

SEVENTH-DAY BAPTISTS.

Resolved, That we cordially welcome the representative of the Seventh-day Baptist denomination, a people whom we esteem for their adherence to the Sabbath of the Lord. That we express an earnest desire to maintain with them relations of Christian friendship, and, as far as the circumstances of our respective bodies permit, to co-operate with them in leading our fellow-men to the sacred observance of the fourth commandment.
On motion, the foregoing resolution was unanimously adopted by the entire congregation.
The following resolution was then offered by Bro. Andrews, and after remarks by Bro. White, and other brethren, it was amended by adding, “with liberty, if he shall be unable to attend, to appoint his alternate,” and as amended, was unanimously passed.
Resolved, That we appoint Eld. James White as a delegate to the Seventh-day Baptist General Conference, with liberty, if he should be unable to attend, to appoint his alternate.
Bro. Andrews then raised the question, What can we do for Switzerland, which elicited many interesting remarks from the brethren.
Adjourned to call of chairman.
FOURTH SESSION. Met Friday, at 2½ P. M., March 18, 1870. Prayer by Bro. White. Subject of Camp-meetings introduced, and discussed at length.
On motion of Bro. Andrews, the chair appointed a committee consisting of one brother from each State, to take this matter into consideration.
On motion of Bro. Bourdeau, Bro. White was added to the committee.
Bro. Waggoner introduced the subject of a New England Conference.
Voted, To recommend the formation of a New England Conference, to embrace all the N. E. States.
The chair appointed the following as the committee: Minnesota, Jas. White; Iowa, G. I. Butler; Wisconsin, P. S. Thurston; Illinois, R. F. Andrews; Michigan, John Byington and S. H. King; Ohio, O. Mears; New York, J. M. Lindsay; Vermont, A. C. Bourdeau; Massachusetts, S. N. Haskell; Rhode Island, P. C. Rodman; Maine, J. B. Goodrich.
At this point, the Conference was pleased to listen to interesting matter from Sr. White respecting ministers, their failures and their duties.
Moved by Bro. Waggoner, That this Conference show its concurrence in the remarks of Sr. White, by ordering their publication. Carried.
Voted, That the President of the Conference take into consideration the subject and the subjects of ordination.
FIFTH SESSION. Sunday, at 8 A. M. Prayer by Bro. Bell.
Voted, In view of the formation of a Conference in New England, to release the brethren there from paying into Gen. Conf. Funds, except as a donation, from this date.
Bro. White reported on Book Fund.
Voted, That we hereby express our confidence in the wisdom and integrity of Bro. White in his management of the Book Fund, and that we request him to continue to have charge of it.
Missionary work was taken into consideration. Bro. Bourdeau made some interesting statements respecting the work and prospects in Canada.
Voted, To leave the matter of providing assistance for Bro. Ertzenberger in preparing works in the German, with Gen. Conf. Com., also the Canadian mission.
Adjourned to call of chairman.
SIXTH SESSION. Prayer by Bro. Van Horn. Camp-meeting committee reported. Report accepted and referred to Gen. Conf. Committee.
Committee in reference to California mission reported. Report accepted.
Moved, To pay the California missionaries their own fare to field of labor, transportation of tent, and tent and traveling expenses for themselves, and a weekly allowance equal to the highest amount paid to any laborers in the Conference.
On Motion, Bro. Bell was authorized to prepare blanks for ministers, to secure uniformity in their accounts to Conference.
Adjourned to call of committee.
JAS. WHITE, President.
URIAH SMITH, Secretary.