Autumn Council of the General Conference Committee by William Ambrose Spicer

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 23, 1911

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 88, No. 47.

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Autumn Council of the General Conference Committee

By William Ambrose Spicer

Third (and Last) Report

Distribution of Laborers

The following further recommendations may be reported:—

Dr. W. C. Dunscombe, of Edinburgh, Scotland (formerly of Japan), to England, to engage in sanitarium work.

Herman Olson, of America, to study in the University of Upsala, Sweden, in preparation for teaching.

Miss Gertrude Johnston, of the Foreign Mission Seminary, to engage in Bible work in Virginia.

A. L. Shidler, of the Foreign Mission Seminary, to Mexico, to engage in the book work.

Elder J. C. Rogers and his wife, of the Nyassaland Mission, Central Africa, to come to America for the furlough voted at the Friedensau council.

Ben. Hoffman and his wife, of the Foreign Mission Seminary, to Japan, to engage in evangelistic work.

Miss Anna Hoffman, of Oakland, Cal., to Washington, D. C., as stenographer and assistant in the office of the Sabbath-school Department.

Church Missionary Work

Study was given to plans for increasing activity in home tract and missionary work. The following actions were taken:—

Whereas, The responsibility for the development of the church missionary work rests primarily upon church and conference officers and other laborers, representing the work of the cause as a whole, instead of resting largely upon any one department; and,—

Whereas, The work of the Publishing Department has so developed as to make it difficult for that department to give attention to the church missionary work which its great importance demands; therefore we recommend,—

1. That provision be made by conference and church officers for a strong, active development of the church missionary work.

2. That conference laborers be urged to take this responsibility, and enter actively upon the work of leading our churches into all important lines of missionary activity, and of instructing the churches how to do the work.

3. That each conference tract society be given sufficient help to enable the secretary, or some one appointed for that purpose, to give primary attention to the development of church missionary work, both by correspondence and by personal labor in the field.

4. That conference and church missionary conventions be held, as the needs may require, for the promotion of this work, and for giving help and instruction to conference laborers, church officers, and members.

5. That the General Conference employ an experienced missionary secretary to labor for the organization and advancement of the church missionary work.

Religious Liberty

The situation confronting us in this country, regarding the constant pressure for religious legislation, was reviewed, and the following actions taken:—

Inasmuch as there is great need for the enlightenment of all the people on the subject of the principles of religious liberty, which increases with each new day; and,—

Whereas, There are now measures pending before Congress, and to be submitted to Congress, affecting these principles; and,—

Whereas, There are movements in this country, propelled by Roman Catholicism as well as apostate Protestantism, with which our people and the world should become conversant and understand the meaning thereof; therefore we recommend,—

1. That union and State conferences be urged to supply Liberty regularly to State, county, and municipal officials, legislators, judges, and attorneys in their respective fields.

2. That campaigns be inaugurated with local churches, to take Liberty in clubs for missionary purposes and to secure individual subscriptions; also that competent persons be selected to engage in the work of selling the magazines.

3. That local and union conferences place “American State Papers” in all public libraries, and supply it to governors, legislators, judges, and other public officials.

4. That the publishers of “American State Papers” issue a subscription edition, and that special efforts be made to place it in the hands of editors, educators, and the legal profession throughout the United States generally.

5. That religious liberty institutes be held in churches and local and union conferences where arrangements can be made and competent persons can be provided for conducting them.

6. That we ask the union conferences to devote a reasonable time, during the coming biennial sessions, to the study of the religious liberty interests.

Medical College

The following action was taken in behalf of the Loma Linda (Cal.) Medical College:—

In view of the great need of additional facilities at the Loma Linda College of Medical Evangelists in the way of buildings, more properly to carry on the work of the institution,—

We recommend, That a fund of $10,000 be raised for this purpose during 1912, said amount to be apportioned to the General, union, and Southern California conferences as follows:— Pacific Union .......... $ 1,500 Southern California .... 1,000 General Conference .... 1,000 Central Union .......... 1,500 Lake Union ............. 1,500 North Pacific Union .... 1,000 Northern Union ......... 500 Southwestern Union .... 500

Southern Union ........ $ 250 Southeastern Union .... 250 Columbia Union ......... 500 Atlantic Union ......... 300 Canadian Union ......... 100 West Canadian Union .. 100

Total ................. $10,000

Publishing Work

The representatives of the publishing houses and the field book work held frequent councils. Actions were taken relating to—

The manufacture of the larger subscription books in foreign languages in the United States by the Pacific Press.

The manufacture and sale of the smaller foreign books by the International Publishing Association.

The circulation of the ten-cent magazines in every part of the country.

In response to calls from the fields, the officers of the Publishing Department were asked to select workers as follows:—

Two canvassers from Mexico for Central America.

Two canvassers from the United States for Mexico.

One canvasser from Mexico for Cuba.

One canvasser for Colombia, South America.

One canvasser for India.

Thus the calls come, year after year, for more workers. And the work itself, spreading constantly and rapidly, calls ever for dedication of lives and of means to the missionary cause.

To the last day of the council, Elder C. B. Haynes furnished reports to the Washington papers and the news agencies. Asked as to the circulation of the reports, he said: “The aggregate number of Washington papers circulated, containing reports of the council, was 1,636,000. This is the actual number of copies, not readers. In addition, the Associated Press sent out over the country briefer reports; but it is of course impossible to count these papers.”

W. A. SPICER, Secretary.