General Conference Committee Council
By W. A. Spicer
Autumn Session, Beginning Nov. 23, 1910
This first report of the autumn council is written while as yet the council is only fairly getting into its routine work. In our next report we shall be able to present more actions and recommendations. Inasmuch as there will not be the usual spring council next year, the autumn meeting has been a full one, and the members present have been busy from early morning till night. One thing impresses every participant and onlooker in these councils, and that is the tremendous spread of this work from year to year, and even from season to season. The consideration of the call to turn a stronger measure of resources of means and laborers into the populous city centers has led to the gathering of quite a number of conference presidents, as well as members of the General Conference Committee. The following is the list of the members who have been in attendance:— MEMBERS OF GENERAL CONFERENCE COMMITTEE: A. G. Daniells, G. A. Irwin, O. A. Olsen, W. T. Knox, Allen Moon, R. A. Underwood, W. B. White, E. T. Russell, B. G. Wilkinson, C. W. Flaiz, Chas. Thompson, C. F. McVagh, Wm. Guthrie, W. C. White, C. H. Jones, A. J. Haysmer, H. R. Salisbury, M. E. Kern, K. C. Russell, E. R. Palmer, G. F. Watson, H. S. Shaw, and W. A. Spicer. CONFERENCE WORKERS FROM ATLANTIC UNION: O. Montgomery, W. H. Holden, H. C. Hartwell, C. H. Edwards, J. W. Lair, R. D. Quinn, S. B. Horton, G. B. Starr, O. O. Bernstein, J. F. Piper, F. M. Dana, H. W. Carr, T. B. Westbrook, C. S. Longacre, F. E. Painter, J. K. Humphrey, F. C. Gilbert. COLUMBIA UNION: B. F. Kneeland, W. H. Heckman, I. N. Williams, R. T. Baer, F. H. Robbins, S. Kime, C. F. Wiest, R. E. Harter, W. G. Kneeland, C. B. Haynes, E. R. Brown, G. W. Spies, W. H. Smith, J. L. McElhaney, A. R. Bell, W. A. Hennig, R. D. Hottel, H. H. Burkholder, James Shultz. CANADIAN UNION: B. B. Noftsger, M. C. Kirkendall. LAKE UNION: M. Lukens, S. E. Wight, E. K. Slade. NORTHERN UNION: S. E. Jackson, M. N. Campbell, C. M. Babcock, C. J. Buhalts, W. D. Parkhurst. SOUTHERN UNION: E. L. Maxwell, E. G. Hayes, A. F. Harrison. CENTRAL UNION: A. R. Ogden, C. R. Kite, L. W. Terry. SOUTHWESTERN UNION: C. N. Woodward, J. W. Norwood, D. Voth, W. A. McCutchen. PACIFIC UNION: E. E. Andross, J. O. Corliss.14 NORTH PACIFIC UNION: G. E. Langdon. GENERAL: N. Z. Town, C. M. Snow, Dr. D. H. Kress, A. J. S. Bourdeau, L. A. Hansen, F. M. Wilcox, I. A. Ford, J. N. Anderson, H. E. Rogers, T. E. Bowen, L. H. Christian, S. N. Curtiss. A large proportion of the time in the earlier days of the council has been given to the topic of work for the populous centers, in order that conference presidents and city workers might be released to return to their work, while the General Committee continues with routine business. It is impossible to give here even a summary of the papers presented, or of the earnest discussions of the various questions involved. It was voted to print the papers in a pamphlet later for the study of those interested. The following outline will, however, show the scope of the matters discussed:— 1. “The Meaning of the Call to Work the Cities; the Field Embraced in This Call.” By A. G. Daniells. 2. “The Magnitude of the Work to Be Done.” By C. H. Edwards. 3. “Upon Whom Should Rest the Responsibility of This Work?” By W. B. White. 4. “Agencies, Methods, and Plans in City Work.” By R. D. Quinn, C. B. Haynes, O. O. Bernstein. 5. “The Relation of This City Work to Our Foreign Work.” By W. A. Spicer. 6. “What Steps Should Be Taken to Secure Able Speakers and Efficient Bible Workers for City Work?” By K. C. Russell. 7. “How Shall the Necessary Funds Be Raised to Carry on This Work?” By G. A. Irwin, E. T. Russell, Allen Moon. 8. “The Use That Can Be Made of the Public Press.” General topic. 9. “The City Mission, and How to Conduct It.” By G. B. Starr, W. H. Saxby, Mrs. S. N. Haskell. 10. “The Part Our Literature Is to Act in Working the Cities.” By N. Z. Town. 11. “How to Carry on Medical Missionary Work Efficiently in This Movement.” By Drs. D. H. Kress and David Paulson. We may add, in a few words, that there was hearty agreement that the stronger and less populous fields must help the weaker and the more populous in this work of evangelizing the unwarned millions still beyond the reach of our efforts. The spirit of brotherhood ran strong and true through all hearts in the council, and by a united effort the work is to be done. As the chairman expressed it in the opening of the discussion on city work, this call that has come sounds like the last call to arms for the attack upon the great centers of population in all the world, that is to bring the finishing of the work. All were agreed also that there could be no thought of drawing back and doing less abroad, in order to do more in the home land. The far greater efforts called for in the city centers in America must be made by redistribution of resources in this land, and the increase of resources. Workers who have been engaged in the city efforts have again and again expressed gratitude for the privilege of meeting others engaged in the same work, and interchanging experiences and ideas; and all in the council have been helped and inspired by the discussion of this great question. One of the most important questions before the council was that of mission finance,—the supplies for the needy fields abroad and for the city work and other needy fields in this country. The hearts of the brethren were mightily stirred as they reviewed in detail the lack of support in mission fields. The General Conference of 1909 had enthusiastically declared for bringing up gifts, and for sharing a definite proportion of tithe with mission fields. In harmony with this policy, the following plan of mission finance was adopted by the council:— Whereas, The prosperity and permanence of this work are in a large measure dependent upon an adequate and regularly supplied amount of funds; and,— Whereas, We have been instructed through the spirit of prophecy that a full tithe and liberal offerings paid into the treasury would provide ample funds for the support of all the world-wide evangelistic work which God has committed to this people; and,— Whereas, There is a shortage of funds necessary to prosecute our foreign enterprises, making it apparent that there has not been that faithfulness in the matter of tithes and offerings that there should be; and— Whereas, In these matters the people are largely dependent upon the teaching and example of the ministry, making it apparent that we have failed in properly keeping the financial obligations of our people before them; therefore— We recommend: 1. That the General Conference acquaint our people with the present financial situation. 2. That urgent and very active effort in all conferences be made to bring up mission offerings for this and every succeeding year to an average of at least ten cents a week a member. 3. That conference forces be organized for work among the churches during the week of prayer, at which time our present financial condition be placed before the people, with strong appeals for large donations. 4. That an extra effort be made by conference officers and laborers in closing up the Harvest Ingathering campaign, in order that the fullest returns may be realized. 5. That we request all conferences in North America receiving a tithe of less than ten thousand dollars, to pay, beginning Jan. 1, 1911, from five per cent to ten per cent of their tithe, according to their ability, to the General Conference for mission fields; and all conferences receiving ten thousand dollars and more, to pay from ten per cent to twenty-five per cent, according to their ability; and that this plan be regarded as a permanent arrangement, upon which the General Conference may depend for the prosecution of its work. 6. That we emphasize the importance of promptly forwarding all trust funds from each local conference to its union conference, and that these in turn be transmitted without delay to the General Conference. 7. That all conferences, either local or union, having money that can be spared from their operating expenses, be requested to make such donations as the present situation demands. 8. That request be made to the union conferences to devote to the General Conference such portion of their income as can be saved by careful and frugal management. 9. That we recommend that all conference committees carefully consider the work of their laborers; and that where any are found to have failed to give evidence of their call to the work of the ministry by fruit-bearing, or if in their lives they have failed to adorn this sacred office, earnest effort be put forth to remedy this situation; and if this can not be accomplished, that such laborers be advised to engage in other lines of work. 10. That the General Conference Committee be requested to assist such conferences as may require their aid in making a satisfactory disposition of their force of workers, so as to enable them to participate in the suggested plan of the division of their income. 11. That we advise the Mission Board to proceed as rapidly in the expansion of its missionary operations as the funds in its treasury will warrant; and further, considering the great need of efficient laborers, and especially of able ministers of the Word, to enter the cities, we suggest that the General Conference Committee set apart a day for earnest prayer and fasting, to the end that the Lord of the harvest may send forth his Spirit and qualify laborers to meet the urgent demands of the hour, and that he may also so move upon the hearts of the people that sufficient means may be quickly supplied to enable us to greatly enlarge our mission work, both at home and abroad. We suggest that Sabbath, Jan. 21, 1911, be the day thus set apart for prayer and fasting. 12. That the General Conference furnish the union conference presidents a monthly statement showing the condition of the treasury, also the standing of each union and local conference in the matter of the ten-cent-a-week fund; that this information be passed on to the local conference presidents; and that each local conference president be requested to place in the hands of the elder of each church in his conference a statement showing the actual standing of the church regarding this fund. 13. That in view of the great need of the foreign fields, we urge those conferences in America which are receiving financial assistance from the General Conference, to develop their work as rapidly as may be, so that they may fully care for their own needs at as early a date as possible.15 The discussion of this report was very thorough. It was more than a discussion. Again and again the council knelt in prayer, to ask for God's special help in shaping the plans and the work, so that the stronger should help to bear the burdens of the weaker, and all be given a direct and constant part in lifting the cry of this message to the loud note that shall carry the voice of the third angel to every unwarned field. All in the council felt that the Lord had guided to a plan which the conferences and believers will carry through from this day till the work is done, with an ever-increasing flow of consecrated means. The council earnestly asked that, during December, specially large gifts shall be kept flowing into the treasuries for the mission fields, so that our workers who are suffering for lack of means, and whose hands are tied, may again be supplied. It is a situation that touches every Seventh-day Adventist heart. This report will reach most of the churches at the beginning of the week of prayer. The brethren representing the various fields in this country believe that the call of the week-of-prayer offering will meet a response this year which will give assurance to our brethren on every mission station in the world that the believers in the home lands will truly stand by the missionary advance. Further report of the council will be given next week.