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PROCEEDINGS OF THE KANSAS CONFERENCE

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 12, 1879

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 53, No. 24.

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PROCEEDINGS OF THE KANSAS CONFERENCE.

By George I. Butler; Smith Sharp

The fifth annual session of the Kansas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists convened at Emporia, Kan., May 28, 1879, at 9 o'clock A. M. The president being unable to preside, the meeting was called to order by the secretary. Prayer by Eld. Geo. I. Butler. Bro. Butler was elected president pro tem. Twenty-two delegates presented credentials from churches belonging to the Conference, and were admitted to seats in the Conference. The organized churches at Great Bend, Empire, Solomon Valley, Elivon, Big Timber, Peru, and Ward were then admitted with their respective delegates.
Voted, That Bro. and Sr. White and Bro. Corliss be invited to take part in all our deliberations.
Voted, That all persons of good standing in any S. D. A. church be invited to participate with us in our deliberations. The minutes of the last annual meeting were read, and after being amended so as to say that the company at Elymer were taken under the watchcare of the Conference instead of admitted to the Conference, were adopted.
Voted, That the executive committee appoint the usual committees, which appointments were made as follows:—
Committee on nominations, Jas. White, J. Lamont, J. A. Ashbaugh; committee on resolutions, J. O. Corliss, W. E. Dawson, L. D. Santee; auditing committee, J. D. Rockey, Wm. McMoran, A. G. Miller, L. A. George, O. J. Hill, Levi Crawford; committee on credentials and licenses, Smith Sharp, J. M. Stansbury, John Heligass. Adjourned to call of Chair.
SECOND MEETING. May 23, 9.30 A. M. Prayer by Smith Sharp. Seth Warren, from Marsh Creek, John Lawson, from Peru, S. A. Dick, from Ozawkie, and John Gibbs, from Rock Creek, having arrived with credentials since the last session, were admitted. Ira Fulton was accepted as a delegate from Independence.
Voted, That the chairman appoint a committee of three to audit the treasurer's books.
The committee on credentials and licenses reported, recommending that the credentials of J. N. Ayers, J. H. Cook, C. F. Stevens, J. Lamont, L. D. Santee, and Smith Sharp be renewed, and that W. E. Dawson be ordained and receive credentials; which recommendations were adopted, excepting in the case of W. E. Dawson, whose ordination was deferred upon his request. Bro. Butler and Sister White spoke at some length on the subject of licenses. Adjourned.
THIRD MEETING. May 23, 4.30 P. M. Prayer by Bro. Stevens. Philip Herzer, having arrived with credentials from the Amity church, was admitted as a delegate.
The committee on credentials and licenses further reported, recommending that W. E. Dawson, John Gibbs, Marshall Enoch, Hattie Enoch, G. H. Rogers, J. S. Thorp, George Kennedy, Clarence Santee, N. W. Vincent, and R. F. Barton receive licenses, which recommendation was adopted.
A. G. Miller, John Gibbs, and R. F. Barton were appointed to audit the treasurer's books.
Voted, That we pay a tithe of our S. B. quarterly to the General Conference.
Voted, That we pay $100 of the funds now on hand to the General Conference.
The committee on nominations then reported as follows:—
For president, Smith Sharp, Ottawa, Kan.; for secretary, W. E. Dawson, Brookdale, Kan.; for treasurer, A. G. Miller, Topeka, Kan. Executive committee, Smith Sharp, J. H. Cook, Ft. Scott, Kan., W. E. Dawson, Brookdale, Rush Co., Kan.
Each nominee was then voted upon separately, and elected. Adjourned.
FOURTH MEETING. May 26, 8.30 A. M. Prayer by Bro. Corliss. Dr. J. H. Kellogg and W. C. White, being present, were invited to take part with us.
The committee appointed to audit the treasurer's accounts reported that the treasurer's books showed that he had received $2256.00. Amount reported to secretary, $1713.24. Amount paid out by treasurer, $1953.75. Amount in treasury, $302.85.
The name of the Independence church was changed to Harrisonville. The name of the church at White Water was changed to Clarion.
Voted, That the chair appoint a committee of three to district the State, and assign fields of labor to the different ministers. Smith Sharp, C. F. Stevens and J. H. Cook were appointed as said committee.
Voted, That we call for donations and subscriptions to raise a permanent camp-meeting fund.
The friends of the cause in N. E. Kansas tendered a new 40-ft. tent to the Conference, with a request that it should be used the coming season in N. E. Kansas. By vote of the Conference the tent was accepted.
Reports of the churches as far as heard from show about 500 members; but so many churches have failed to send in their report that it is no index to the actual number of members.
The committee on resolutions reported the following:—
Resolved, That it is of the greatest importance to the permanency of the cause that ministers raising up new companies of believers should stand by their work until thorough instruction has been given on all points of the truth, faithful efforts made for the conversion of souls, organization completed where it is practicable, and the church reaches a position where it can become an active force in the cause of God; also that our churchesreceive all the labor that is necessary for their prosperity and efficiency.
Whereas, The duty of paying a tithe of our income to the cause of the Lord is clearly shown by the Scriptures to be binding upon us, and whereas some fail to pay the Lord's tithe as received, but use it for themselves, hoping to meet the obligation at a future time, and whereas they thus frequently, by inability to pay at the appointed time, cause trial to themselves and embarrassment in the finances of the Conference, therefore
Resolved, That all our brethren and sisters should regard it their duty to tithe all their income at the time they receive it.
Whereas, We find that the works of Sister White, when read and heeded, increase our devotion to the cause of God and guard us against the evils of our times, therefore
Resolved, That we earnestly recommend each of our churches to procure a set of the books known as the “circulating library.”
Resolved, That we earnestly request our ministers to be thorough in teaching the principles of health reform, and to give special attention to this important branch of the work.
We do thankfully recognize the hand of God in the prosperity attending our work, and express our thanks to Bro. and Sr. White for their able counsel and efficient labor at this camp-meeting.
The first resolution was spoken to at length by Elds. Geo. I. Butler, J. O. Corliss, and Sister White, and then passed unanimously. Remarks were made on the second resolution by W. C. White and others, and it was then unanimously adopted. The third resolution was unanimously adopted. The fourth resolution was strongly advocated by Sister White, and passed without a dissenting voice. The last two were adopted without debate.
W. C. White introduced the following resolution, which received the sanction of the entire assembly:—
Resolved, That we recommend to the members of this Conference that they co-operate heartily with the Health and Temperance Association recently organized, and that State and local organizations be effected as rapidly as the officers of the Conference deem best.
Whereas, In the mysterious providence of God, he has seen fit to remove from us our beloved brother J. N. Ayers, therefore
Resolved, 1. That we bow in meek submission to the will of the Lord. 2. That in the death of Eld. Ayers the church has lost a faithful member of the Conference, an efficient officer, and his family a kind husband and father. 3. That we tender the bereaved family our heartfelt sympathy in their deep affliction.
Resolved, That a copy of the minutes be sent to the REVIEW for publication. Adjourned sine die.
GEO. I. BUTLER, Pres. pro tem.
SMITH SHARP, Sec.