Iowa Conference Proceedings
By Flora V. Dorcas
The forty-first annual session of the Iowa Conference convened on the camp-ground at Colfax, June 3-12, 1904. Four churches were added to the list. Ministerial credentials were granted to thirteen, ministerial licenses to twenty-one, missionary licenses to twenty-four, church-school teachers’ credentials to three, and licenses to twelve. The following resolutions were passed:— “Whereas, Most stirring Macedonian calls for help are continually coming from destitute mission fields; and,— “Whereas, The third angel’s message has been preached in the Iowa Conference for nearly half a century, and has been attended by the blessing of God so that we have a large number of believers, a large annual tithe, and a large band of workers; and yet we find that the preaching of the word in our home field in Iowa is not attended with the reward of souls as in the early days of the message; and, believing that our laborers of to-day are no less faithful, devoted, and earnest than those of former times, we, therefore, conclude that the failure to gather fruit is not a result of a lack of honest effort, but rather to the preaching of the gospel of the kingdom in a field in which the real Macedonian cry for help does not exist at this time. Therefore, be it,— “1. Resolved, (1) That we instruct our conference committee to place at the disposal of the General Conference Committee one half of our laborers and one half of our time to the filling of calls in destitute and needy fields; (2) that it be the policy of our conference in the future to use the forces and resources of the State of Iowa as a recruiting and training ground for needy fields that are calling for help, believing that in the future when the tide of battle shall turn again to this country in the great closing conflict of the ages, many strong, experienced workers will be furnished us from other lands in response to our cry for help then offered. “Inasmuch as the numerous and various calls for means to be used in the establishment and equipment of our many institutions, both in this State and in the general work, render it impossible in many cases for us as individuals to give to all, that each and all may have a part in all these institutions,— “2. We recommend, That as a conference we endeavor to raise during the coming year the sum of fifteen thousand dollars, to be divided as follows: Washington work, fifty per cent; Iowa Industrial Academy, fifteen; Iowa Sanitarium, fifteen; Southern field, fifteen; tent fund, five. “Whereas, The canvassing work is a means ordained of God for the spread of the truth, we most earnestly request that this department receive special attention in our conference this year. “3. We recommend, As a means of building up this work, that the executive committee arrange for one of our ministers and the State agent to visit the churches in the interest of this work. “Whereas, The General Conference publishing committee has set aside certain denominational books for the use of home workers, as a means of encouraging and developing regular canvassers,— “4. We recommend, That an effort be made to secure one or more persons in each church to engage in the sale of these books. “Whereas, The series of readings called The Family Bible Teacher presents a means by which any one can do thorough missionary work,— “5. We recommend, That our people make a liberal use of them in presenting the truth to their friends and neighbors, and that this be followed by an effort to sell pamphlets and small books. “Whereas, Our Sabbath-school lessons are designed to educate our people in the truths for this time, that they may be prepared to give the light to others; therefore,— “6. Resolved, That we use every possible means to encourage thorough, systematic study of the same. “Whereas, Those who are so situated that they can not attend the Sabbath-school are just as greatly in need of the truths found in the lessons; therefore,— “7. Resolved, That each Sabbath-school take active measures to have all in its vicinity become members of its home department, supplying them with lesson pamphlets and report blanks, and by kindly Christian sympathy encouraging them to become workmen that need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. “8. Resolved, That we continue to acquaint our Sabbath-schools with the situation in other lands, and that we keep before them the need of liberal contributions, that as Sabbath-schools we may do our part in carrying the message to all the world. “Whereas, The Lord has said the Sabbath-school is one of the most efficient means of bringing souls to Christ; and, whereas, he has given so much instruction as to the best way to do this work,— “9. Resolved, That we continue to study the light given in Sabbath-school Testimonies, and that we follow the instruction of our Great Teacher. “Whereas, There is need of trained and intelligent officers and teachers in all our Sabbath-schools; and, whereas, the Sabbath School Worker is a valuable helper and counselor in all branches of the Sabbath-school work; therefore,— “10. Resolved, That we welcome the Sabbath School Worker as an old and tried friend, and that we recommend all who bear responsibilities in our schools to study and practise the instruction it contains. “11. Resolved, That we encourage parents, and also our young people, to subscribe for the Youth’s Instructor, and that we will do all in our power to increase its circulation and usefulness. “Whereas, God has called upon this denomination to maintain a system of Christian education that shall include the home-school, the church-school, the intermediate school, and the training-school, not only as a means of salvation for our children, but also as a means of evangelizing the world; therefore,— “12. Resolved, That we urge all our ministers and other workers to study the subject of Christian education, and present it to our people very much more frequently than they have in the past. “13. Resolved, That we pay the traveling expenses of all our teachers to whom we grant teachers’ licenses to and from the union conference summer school at Atchison, Kan. (This was amended to provide that they expect to teach a regular church-school the coming year.) “14. Resolved, That the workers co-operate with the educational superintendent to give the literature prepared by the Educational Department of the Central Union Conference, together with the books, “Education,” “Bible in Education,” and Volume VI of the “Testimonies,” as wide a circulation as possible. “15. Resolved, That we encourage the employment of our young ministers and Bible workers as church-school teachers in such places as the conference committee deems advisable, with the understanding that they lead in the missionary work of the church, and that they spend their time when school is not in session in conference work in the vicinity, thus building up a strong work with the church, the conference bearing the expense while such laborers are in its employ, and that, when necessary, it assist even during the school term. “16. Resolved, That we create a conference educational fund to be used under17the direction of the conference committee to assist in maintaining schools where the churches are unable to do so themselves, providing they come into harmony with the spirit of prophecy regarding the establishment of church-schools; first, by taking a collection on this camp-ground, second, by carrying out any plan that the conference committee may deem best, such plan to be prepared as soon as possible. “17. We recommend, That the plan of organization for our young people as set forth in the Testimonies, that of forming small bands of two or three, for the purpose of prayer and personal work for the salvation of souls, be encouraged and worked out as fully as possible in this State. “18. We recommend, That the State workers and leaders of the young people make a special study of the Testimonies, and meet at some convenient time and place for the exchange of thought, that God’s plan for this work may be more fully developed; and as there is a lack of suitable leaders, we would suggest that the ministers and leaders of churches select those having ability to act as such, and place them under instruction, that they may learn how the work should be carried on. We would suggest that as far as practicable this work of training and instructing leaders be carried on at our camp-meetings this year; and that one or more be selected whose whole time be devoted to training these leaders, and to visiting churches and companies, encouraging the young people to set themselves to work for the Master. “19. We recommend, That our young people, who are more or less inclined to engage in amusements and recreation, be encouraged to participate in those only which tend toward mental, physical, and spiritual development. “Whereas, The Bible training-school for workers has developed a number of efficient and successful Bible workers,— “20. We recommend, That this school be continued, and that at least one person from each church in the State, where possible, be encouraged to attend; and if there are those having ability to do Bible work, but who are unable to meet their expense at the school, we would suggest that the church assume the responsibility of their training for the work. We further recommend that the school be continued in Des Moines, that the nurses may receive the benefit of a Bible training. “Whereas, The health work is to the message as the right arm to the body; and, whereas, this work centers in and radiates from our sanitarium, therefore,— “21. Resolved, That we ask our people to remember the work our sanitarium is doing, and urge all to give it their hearty support. Inasmuch as there is no charge for advice by mail, we invite our people to correspond with the sanitarium concerning home treatments in case of illness. And, further, we ask our laborers to recommend to the sanitarium such of our young people as should take up that work, and to put them in communication with the managers. “Whereas, The sanitarium bakery is thoroughly prepared to furnish the best quality of health foods at the very lowest prices; and, whereas, owing to a heavy increase in the cost of raw material since the present prices were established, the volume of business must be largely increased in order to maintain the present low prices,— “22. Resolved, That our people be urged to give the bakery their patronage and hearty support, and also to work up a demand for these foods by introducing them among their friends and neighbors. “Whereas, One of the principal objects of our camp-meetings should be the evangelization of the communities in which they are located; therefore,— “23. Resolved, That in the future it be the policy of our conference, as far as possible, to go to those cities that have never had the benefit of our meetings, and that we do our best to secure grounds near the center of the cities where we go. Further, we suggest to our executive committee the favorable consideration of such cities as Dubuque, Davenport, Muscatine, Burlington, Council Bluffs, Sioux City, and other cities and towns of like character. “24. Resolved, That we express our regret that so many of our people plan to come to the camp-meeting so late, thereby losing in a large measure the blessing and benefits of the meeting, and that we earnestly entreat our people in the future to put forth greater effort to come at the beginning and stay until the close. “25. Resolved, That we ask our conference committee favorably to consider the advisability of subsidizing persons to sell The Signs of the Times and The Southern Watchman.” The following-named officers were elected for the coming year: President, L. F. Starr; Secretary, Mrs. Flora V. Dorcas; Treasurer, C. W. Larson; first member of committee, B. E. Fullmer; second, Chris Juhl; third, J. W. Dorcas, superintendent of Missionary Department; fourth, Dr. J. E. Colloran, superintendent of Medical Department; fifth, J. O. Beard, superintendent of Educational Department; sixth, C. H. Parsons. Trustees of the Iowa Seventh-day Adventist Association are as follows: L. F. Starr, C. A. Washburn, C. G. Johnston, C. H. Parsons, C. W. Smouse, Chris Juhl, and C. J. Robinson. MRS. FLORA V. DORCAS, Secretary.