WISCONSIN CONFERENCE by H. W. Decker; E. R. Gillett

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 3, 1879

WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

By H. W. Decker; E. R. Gillett

This Conference held its ninth annual session at Madison, Wis., in conjunction with the camp-meeting, June 11–17, 1879.

Conference commenced June 12, at 9 o'clock A. M., the president, H. W. Decker, in the chair. Prayer by the president. The secretary, A. S. Osborn, not being present, E. R. Gillett was chosen secretary pro tem.

Report of last annual meeting called for, read, and, after slight amendment, approved.

Adjourned to call of Chair.

SECOND MEETING. June 12, 4 P. M. Prayer by Eld. Atkinson. Forty-one churches were represented by delegates. On motion, the following churches were admitted into the Conference: Little Falls, Stevens's Point, Clay Banks, Avalanche, Debello, Grand Rapids, and New London.

Voted, That the Chair appoint the usual committees, which were as follows: Nominating committee, O. A. Johnson, Eli Osborn, and T. B. Snow; auditing committee, B. Carter, A. Olsen, J. Tenney, A. C. Woodbury, S. D. Smith, and C. K. Ackley; committee on credentials, C. W. Olds, John Atkinson, and O. A. Olsen; committee on resolutions, G. C. Tenney, W. C. White, and S. S. Smith.

Adjourned to call of Chair.

THIRD MEETING. June 15, 5 o'clock P. M. Prayer by Eld. C. W. Olds. Minutes of last meeting read and approved. Committees being called upon to report, the committee on resolutions reported the following, which were adopted:— Resolved, That we hereby express our gratitude to God for the success which is attending our efforts as a people to advance his cause upon the earth; and for the prosperity of the cause in our own Conference during the past year.

Resolved, That we earnestly recommend to all our people, the isolated ones as well as those living near churches, to adopt the tithing system for the support of the ministry, according to the Bible plan as it is brought out in the pamphlet recently published at the Review Office.

Resolved, That we regard the present movement for the organization of health and temperance associations as an important event, and that we lend our aid in the organization of a State society and local auxiliaries in this Conference.

Whereas, There is in many places a great lack of earnestness in Bible study, and whereas the increasing dangers of our times demand the greatest diligence on the part of all, to fortify against temptation, by a thorough knowledge of the truth,

Resolved, That we regard the Sabbath-school as an important channel through which all may receive light on Bible truths; and that we recommend both old and young to enter heartily into the spirit of the work, and to act in harmony with the plans of the S. S. association as published in the Review and Youth's Instructor.

Whereas, Much is lost to the cause by our ministers leaving places where they may be laboring before the work is properly finished, therefore

Resolved, That our ministers be instructed to fully set before those who embrace the Sabbath truth, the whole doctrine of present truth, including practical godliness, spiritual gifts, health reform, and kindred truths, and not to withdraw their labors from any locality until it is evident that all have been reached who can be reached by their influence.

Resolved, That we regard it our duty to return to the simple and healthful manner of life taught by the leaders of the health reformation among us as a people; and that we entreat our ministers to set an example worthy of imitation, and also to faithfully instruct the people upon the subject.

Resolved, That we are thankful to God for the privilege of again meeting Bro. and Sr. White, and of enjoying the benefit of their labors.

On motion, W. C. White was invited to participate in the deliberations of this Conference.

The committee on credentials and licenses made the following report, each name being taken up and acted upon separately: For credentials, John G. Matteson, Isaac Sanborn, H. W. Decker, John Atkinson, Geo. C. Tenney, C. W. Olds, O. A. Johnson, J. P. Jasperson, and O. A. Olsen; for licenses, J. P. Smith, A. J. Breed, E. G. Olsen, Andrew Christian, Eli Osborn, P. S. Hoen, T. B. Waller, J. C. Nelson, N. Clausen, and E. M. Crandall.

The nominating committee submitted the following report: For president, H. W. Decker, Monroe, Green Co., Wis.; secretary, E. R. Gillett, Monroe, Green Co.; treasurer, Wm. Kerr, Monroe, Green Co.; executive committee, H. W. Decker, O. A. Olsen, and G. C. Tenney.

Adjourned to call of Chair.

FOURTH MEETING. This meeting was held June 16, at 9 A. M. Prayer by S. S. Smith.

Voted, That Eli Osborn represent the Kickapoo church in this Conference.

The committee on resolutions made further report, and asked to be discharged. Request granted, and resolutions adopted. They are as follows:—

Whereas, It is evident that God has greatly blessed us as a people by means of spiritual gifts as manifested among us, therefore

Resolved, That we recommend that our people thoroughly acquaint themselves with the writings of Sister White, and that our churches avail themselves of the liberal offer of the S. D. A. Publishing Association, by obtaining the church library.

Whereas, Much is being lost to our cause from lack of proper ministerial labor with our churches, the field being too wide for our president to attend to the spiritual wants of all, therefore

Resolved, That it is the judgment of this Conference that the different sections of our State Conference be placed under the special charge of the several ministers under the direction of the Conference or executive committee, and that the ministers thus appointed have special oversight of the spiritual condition of the believers in his district.

Resolved, That our Conference treasury pay quarterly to the General Conference a tithe of its receipts.

Voted, That a committee of three be appointed to divide the Conference into ministerial districts.

On motion, a vote of thanks was tendered to Mr. Briggs for the free use of these grounds.

Voted, That our thanks be tendered to Prof. Turner for his efficient help in presiding at the organ.

Voted, That the State Journal and the Madison Democrat have the thanks of this Conference for their candid and fair treatment, in reporting the proceedings of these meetings.

Eld. White presented the following, which was adopted:—

Resolved, That the case of Eld. David Downer, and of the Burnside church, and the cause in that portion of the State, be left with the Conference committee.

Adjourned to call of Chair.

FIFTH MEETING. Conference convened at 7 P. M., June 16. Prayer by Eld. Decker. Minutes of last meeting read and approved.

Committee on licenses made their final report, and were discharged. The committee recommended that the following brethren receive ordination and credentials: S. S. Smith, N. M. Jordan, and A. D. Olsen.

On motion, the name of the Black River church was stricken from the record.

Voted, That the Modena church be no longer considered a part of this Conference.

Voted, That twenty sets of the “Life of Christ” be purchased for the use of our tent companies.

On motion, the Chair was empowered to appoint a committee of three to devise means to send worthy young men to the Battle Creek College. The Chair appointed W. C. White, Geo. C. Tenney, and O. A. Olsen as such committee.

Adjourned to call of Chair.

SIXTH MEETING. Conference assembled at 9 o'clock A. M., June 17. Prayer by Bro. Tenney.

The committee appointed at the previous meeting to devise means for sending young men to college, reported the following resolutions:—

Resolved, That it is the sense of the Wisconsin Conference that a State educational relief fund should be raised by loans and donations, for the education of young men and young women, at the Battle Creek College, for home and foreign missionaries.

Resolved, That this fund be raised and sustained by donations of not less than one dollar from each church-member who is able to donate this sum, and by loans, without interest, of sums not less than ten dollars, for a period of three years or longer.

Resolved, That this fund be controlled by a board of three trustees, to be elected by the Conference for one, two, and three years. At each annual Conference, one trustee shall be elected to fill the vacancy of the one whose term of office has expired, said term of office to be three years.

Resolved, That the duties of the board of trustees shall be as follows:—

To encourage the best talent in the State to avail themselves of the benefits of our college.
To decide what persons need assistance from the fund, and who are worthy of it, and to whom it shall be loaned or donated, such donations in any year not to exceed one-half the amount of donations in the treasury.
To report at each annual meeting the amount of receipts and disbursements.

After some interesting remarks by Bro. and Sr. White, W. C. White, and others, the resolutions were unanimously adopted. In accordance with the above, Andrew Olsen, H. W. Decker, and A. C. Woodbury were chosen trustees,—Bro. Olsen for three years, Bro. Decker for two years, and Bro. Woodbury for one year.

On motion, the following resolutions were adopted:—

Resolved, That we approve of the action of the General Conference and our brethren at Battle Creek in the erection of the tabernacle, and that we do our part toward lifting its remaining debt of about four thousand dollars by filling up our quota of $1.20 each, and by larger donations as practicable.

Resolved, That we recommend that our ministers adopt the tithing system.

The treasurer made the following report:— On hand at beginning of the year, $891.73 Rec'd during the year, 3858.13 ————— Total, $4749.86 Paid out, $3729.30 ————— On hand, $1020.56

The secretary makes the following report:—

Whole number of churches, 52; number reported, 40; number not reported, 12. Number of members reported for 1878, 868; number reported for this year, 1107. Number S. S. scholars reported for 1878, 447; for 1879, 719. Number ordained ministers, 12; licentiates, 10.

Adjourned sine die. H. W. DECKER, Pres. E. R. GILLETT, Sec. pro tem.