The General Conference Committee Council at Gland, Switzerland by William Ambrose Spicer

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 27, 1907

The General Conference Committee Council at Gland, Switzerland

By William Ambrose Spicer

Fourth Report

The council afforded opportunity for those specially connected with the publishing work to lay plans for strengthening this department. Actions were taken covering the following points:—

Publishing Work

The wider use of the literature brought out in Europe by our forces in America and other lands where the European languages are spoken; the Hamburg house to act as wholesale agent for Europe, for literature in languages other than the English; and recommendations to our publishing houses as to terms and basis of co-operation.

Plans were laid by which, through the General Conference Publishing Department, the printing houses among us can keep in closer touch with one another as regards stock of books, new editions, or translations into other languages.

In view of calls for an Italian paper in Italy, New York City, and other parts, it was voted that as soon as possible an Italian illustrated quarterly journal be brought out in Italy.

The following actions were taken:—

Whereas, Through the blessing of God, our literature has been the means of bringing many souls to a knowledge of the third angel’s message; and,—

Whereas, Our means and workers are insufficient to do for many needy fields what ought to be done there in evangelistic lines; therefore,—

We urge upon all the managing boards in our mission fields that they give special attention to the preparation and distribution of suitable literature, clearly setting forth the message for this time.

That all our fields be urged to consider the matter of producing leaflets bearing on special features of the message, to be sold at a nominal price for free distribution, also of planning an extensive and judicious use of the same.

That for the preparation and distribution of literature we make an appropriation, for the year 1907, of five thousand dollars, this sum to be paid out under the direction of the Mission Board, as the need arises, and as the money can be raised.

Whereas, Our people in the United States have within their own borders an extensive and needy foreign field, representing a large number of nations; and,—

Whereas, Periodicals containing the third angel’s message are now being published among many of these nations in their own countries; therefore,—

Resolved, That we appeal to all our brethren in the United States to take advantage of this means of reaching the stranger within their gates, by subscribing for clubs of such papers wherever there is opportunity to use them; and—

That we further appeal to all our churches to carefully consider this matter in their planning for missionary work.

That in fields where, on account of the poverty of the people, it is impossible for them to purchase our books as originally produced, we encourage the publication of abridged editions in the cheapest possible form.

Whereas, Some of our foreign papers published in America can not be used in other lands at the regular rates, on account of disproportion in the value of money; therefore,—

Resolved, That where such is the case, our foreign periodicals be supplied to such fields at the actual cost of material and labor.

Medical Missionary Work

The subcommittee on medical work made a report which was the basis of a most helpful and interesting discussion in the council. The following actions were taken:—

Whereas, We find that recommendation three (3) under resolutions No. 17 of the proceedings of the thirty-sixth session of the General Conference provides for the appointment of medical departmental committees in each union conference; and,—

Whereas, We can not find from the Year-book that any such committees have been appointed in Europe,—

Resolved, That we recommend (1) that the union conferences of Europe be urged to act in harmony with the above-referred-to resolution and appoint in each a committee whose duty it shall be to plan for and look to the prosecution of aggressive medical missionary work in that union; and (2) that the officers of these committees keep in close touch with the medical secretary of the General Conference and the officers of the union conference in which they are working.

Resolved, That we encourage the unifying of opinions and plans for the prosecution of the medical missionary work by requesting (1) that there be held a European medical convention, which shall be attended by as many doctors, nurses, conference officers, and laymen as possible, for the purpose of studying principles and methods of work; (2) that one special point to be considered at the convention be the fixing of a standard curriculum for our nurses’ training-schools; (3) that the chairman or secretary of the Medical Department of the General Conference be requested to be present at this convention; (4) that we hasten forward the preparation and circulation of literature, especially in the form of small tracts and pamphlets, which shall define these principles from the standpoint of the Bible and the Testimonies; (5) that our physicians be encouraged to take an active part in the preparation of this literature by each one’s writing at least twenty-five pages a year, the manuscript of the same to be sent through the medical secretary to the General Conference Publishing Committee.

Whereas, The spirit of prophecy has repeatedly emphasized the importance of our ministers’ giving a helping hand in the medical missionary work, by means of health and temperance lectures in connection with their public efforts; and,—

Whereas, Those who have followed this instruction have been blessed in their efforts, and have found it a valuable aid in holding the interest and confidence of their hearers; therefore,—

We recommend, That the union and local conference committees be requested to encourage their workers to act in harmony with recommendation “e” of resolution 19, of the General Conference proceedings of the thirty-sixth session, which reads as follows:—

“By inviting all our ministers to unite heartily in this campaign by preaching more frequently on health and temperance, and encouraging all our churches to engage in this work.”

The latter resolution called forth remarks from many laborers, who told of blessings experienced in presenting health and temperance topics in connection with evangelistic work in America, New Zealand, Russia, Scotland, Sweden, Germany, France, England, and India. Wherever this message is received, it leads people to the platform of Bible temperance and healthful living.

Credentials

Credentials were granted to a number of new workers in the mission fields, and the following report of the committee on the credentials granted two years ago to Elder A. T. Jones was unanimously adopted by the council:—

In the matter of the ministerial credentials held by A. T. Jones, declaring him to be an ordained minister of good standing in the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, we present the following statement and recommendation:—

That Alonzo T. Jones’s work and influence have ceased to be helpful to the denomination from which he received his credentials; that his public utterances and published statements which have been widely circulated, show his attitude to be antagonistic to the organized work of the denomination which granted him his credentials.

We therefore make this protest against his course as not being consistent with right principles, in view of the fact that he has during this time retained the ministerial credentials granted to him by this body before such evidence of his disaffection had appeared, and we hereby declare that he does not now properly represent this denomination before the public, that he is no longer authorized by this body to do so, and we request

him to return to the General Conference Committee the credentials which were granted to him.

The Mission Fields

During the session of the council the meetings of the Latin Union Mission field and of the French-Swiss Conference were held. Elder L. P. Tieche, president of the French-Swiss Conference, was elected superintendent of the Latin Union. The Latin Union training-school, which Elder J. Vuilleumier has been conducting at Gland, received encouraging consideration. It was voted to raise three thousand dollars as an educational fund, to be used in training the youth of these dark Catholic fields as workers in the message. When a young Catholic in France or Spain or Italy takes hold of this truth, help is needed to afford this necessary training. The local believers propose to raise one thousand dollars of the fund, and the council approved of calling for the two thousand dollars from America. Half the amount to be raised locally was pledged at the meeting, within a few minutes. The brethren and sisters of the French-Swiss and Latin Union fields love the message, and are ready to do their utmost to send it forward.

As representatives of France, French Belgium, and Flemish Belgium told of the use that could be made of tents for public meetings, different union conference brethren present from America cheered the hearts of these workers by promising to lay the need before their committees.

It was voted to open medical missionary work in Italy, and to send another German nurse to Syria. It was advised that the believers in France be organized into a conference. It was agreed that Prof. W. E. Howell and family should make Athens their first place of labor in Greece.

Day by day, throughout the council, the reports from the fields have been presented. Elder G. A. Irwin presented the needs in the South African Union, which calls for a number of additional workers. These calls made deep impressions on the hearts of all, as also the appeals brought by Elder W. W. Prescott from the far East. In Japan, Korea, and vast China, our missionaries are looking with anxious eyes to see helpers coming in to occupy unentered posts and to strengthen work already established. Brother Prescott devoted two evening sessions to the far East, besides presenting detail needs in the business meetings of the council. We are working in but four of China’s eighteen provinces, and the blessing and success attending this beginning but urge us on toward the many hundreds of millions beyond. From Peking southward Brother Prescott traveled many hours by train through populous regions before reaching our northernmost China stations. In South Africa our missionaries, working single-handed in stations already established, long for helpers to join them so that they themselves can go on to seek new outposts still farther into the depths of Africa’s regions beyond.

Elder O. A. Olsen, of the Australasian Union, with its fifty millions among the islands, and Elder J. W. Westphal, of the great South American Union, sent addresses to the council, reviewing the blessings and progress of the last two years, and setting forth immediate needs in a way that touched all hearts, and made the council feel that surely the grace of God will help this people to respond to the calls of Providence as never before. Elder I. H. Evans spoke on Sunday afternoon of the work in the West Indian Union, with its more than three thousand believers, and of the experiences in the Kingston earthquake.

The summarizing of the calls from the fields and of further addresses by European workers in attendance must be deferred to another report. From morning to night the council is reviewing the mighty work of God in sending the message onward, and through it all sounds the solemn call to consecrate all to service and attempt yet greater things for God.

W. A. SPICER, Secretary.