General Conference Committee Council by W. A. Spicer

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 14, 1910

General Conference Committee Council

By W. A. Spicer

THE spring Council of the General Conference Committee opened at Takoma Park, April 5. As we go to press, it has been in session five days. The presidents of all the North American union conferences are in attendance, and L. R. Conradi, of Europe, is present.

It is the time of the annual audit of general and mission field accounts, and as the eight persons to join the presidents of unions and officers of the General Conference in making up the auditing committee, the following persons are appointed: A. T. Robinson (Nebraska), M. N. Campbell (Iowa), M. Lukens (Indiana), H. H. Burkholder (Ohio), F. H. DeVinney (New York), B. F. Kneeland (New Jersey), and F. M. Wilcox and E. W. Farnsworth, of Washington.

Others present from outside Takoma Park are W. C. White, W. H. Anderson of South Africa, G. F. Haffner, W. A. Hennig, C. B. Haynes, G. P. Gaede, and E. R. Numbers.

The report of the treasurer for 1909 was presented by I. H. Evans, and adopted after thorough discussion. It shows the highest receipts ever reported, $371,854. The financial statement will be printed later.

The union presidents at the opening meeting made most encouraging reports as to plans for the special $500,000 Fund. The Southeastern, Central, Northern, Lake, and Atlantic unions are planning to raise their entire apportionment in a year. Others hope to follow close after. The report is that the churches generally feel like making up the average of five dollars a member within the year, so that this fund may be doing its grand work in the mission fields.

Considerable progress has been made with the estimates from the mission fields of needs for the current year. Glad as the Council was at the cheering financial report, it is evident that the income must still enlarge greatly to meet the increased calls.

In the discussion of the midsummer offering, of July 2, it was decided that the entire denomination should rally to make that offering $25,000. Last year's midsummer offering was $19,960, the largest ever made, but the fast-vanishing funds in the treasury and the absolute necessities of the fields indicate that at least $25,000 in the July offering will be required to meet the situation, in addition to the regular weekly offerings.

Some invitations have been given relating to transfers and appointments. As there has been no time yet to communicate with the individuals, we can not give the names. The following recommendations have been made:—

A president for the Chesapeake Conference.

A principal for the Riversdale School, Jamaica, West Indies.

Office help for the Shanghai, China, headquarters.

The first $10,000 of the $300,000 Fund is appropriated to China, to begin the establishing of the Shanghai printing-plant, and for the building of a house ($500) in the Hakka country, China, where J. P. Anderson is laboring.

A teacher to be supplied China, to open a school in September for children of missionaries.

A teacher to Guatemala City, Guatemala.

An evangelist to Japan.

The Publishing Department submitted an outline for the stronger organization of the home missionary work, which was adopted. It will be published. It was also voted,—

"That the Publishing Department be instructed to communicate with the proper officers of the union conferences and make arrangements so far as possible for a convention for missionary secretaries in each union in North America."

W. A. SPICER, Secretary.