p. 17 | North Carolina Conference Proceedings

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 8, 1906

North Carolina Conference Proceedings

By Jessie V. Bosworth

The sixth annual session of the North Carolina Conference was held in connection with the camp-meeting at High Point, N. C., Sept. 7-16, 1906.

The newly organized church of twelve members at Wilmington was admitted to the conference. Each member in good standing was considered a delegate.

The following resolutions and recommendations, which are among those passed, will give some idea of the deliberations of the conference:—

“Whereas, There is a growing demand for religious legislation, which is evident from the frequency of the introduction of Sunday bills in the United States Congress and in State legislatures, therefore,—

“1. Resolved, That each church shall elect a local religious liberty secretary.

“2. Resolved, That we recognize in the magazine Liberty a timely publication, and recommend that it be given a wide circulation; (a) that our conference meet the expense of placing upon the subscription list the names of State legislators and other State officials, namely, prominent judges and lawyers; (b) that our local churches supply this magazine to county and town officials; (c) that as many individual subscriptions be secured as possible.

“3. Resolved, That we encourage our people to use the public press in disseminating

the principles of religious liberty.

“4. Resolved, That we encourage our ministers to lecture upon the subject of religious liberty, when consistent to do so, where Sunday closing crusades are being held.

“Whereas, We are plainly told that in the last days some shall depart from the faith, and,—

“Whereas, Doubts entertained concerning the Testimonies is the almost invariable cause of such backsliding and giving up the truth, therefore,—

“5. Resolved, That we hereby declare again our faith in the spirit of prophecy, our loyalty to the General Conference, and our confidence in its present management.

“Whereas, There is a great lack of workers throughout the entire South, and,—

“Whereas, We have many young people who would with proper training make valuable workers; and as workers are needed who have a higher literary training, therefore,—

“6. Resolved, That as a conference we do all in our power to encourage young people to enter the Southern Training-school, and that we otherwise encourage and foster the work of that institution.

“7. Resolved, That as a conference we lend our hearty support to schools established by private persons among us which are conducted on right principles; that church officers aid in securing the attendance of worthy students only; that the conference committee act as an advisory board to such schools.

“8. Resolved, That this conference, in harmony with the General Conference, favor the support of faithful laborers and their families who may be unable to support themselves because of sickness, declining years, or death; that this support be freely given as unto the Lord; that these workers be kept upon the regular pay-roll.

“Whereas, There is a crying need and call for Christian schools in our conference, and,—

“Whereas, One great reason for a lack of such schools is insufficient means to provide for the support of teachers, therefore,—

“9. Resolved, That we bestir ourselves to a realization of this need, and individually and collectively pledge ourselves to stand by the educational secretary, and help to support the teachers where such conditions are found.

“10. We recommend, That our schools frequently hold Sabbath-school conventions.

“11. Resolved, That in view of the great need of funds with which to carry the message to the regions beyond, we recommend that our Sabbath-schools donate all their contributions to missions.

“In order to establish order and uniformity among our churches,—

“12. We recommend, That so far as practicable our church elections be held at the quarterly meeting in January of each year.

“13. Resolved, That the publication of the North Carolina Messenger be continued, and that we make an earnest effort to increase our subscription list.”

A resolution recommending the establishment of treatment rooms in some town or city was discussed with much interest, but on account of the financial problem connected therewith, it was referred to the conference committee, with the hope that some plan may be devised whereby such a work may be carried on in our conference on a self-supporting basis.

The reports of the secretaries of the different departments were of an encouraging nature, showing real progress. During the past year the book sales in our State have amounted to over seven hundred dollars more than during the previous year. The educational secretary reported nineteen Sabbath-schools, with a membership of two hundred and fifty-eight; and ten day-schools, with an enrolment of one hundred and sixty-five.

The following officers were unanimously elected: President, T. H. Jeys; Vice-President, D. T. Shireman; Executive Committee, T. H. Jeys, D. T. Shireman, W. H. Armstrong, B. A. Rogers, J. W. Beach, T. J. Woodall, F. A. Slate; Secretary and Treasurer, Jessie V. Bosworth; Field Missionary, Horace G. Miller; Secretary Sabbath-school and Educational Department, Mrs. Emma B. Rogers; Secretary Medical Department, M. H. Johnston; Secretary Religious Liberty Department, T. H. Jeys.

Ministerial credentials were granted to the following-named persons: T. H. Jeys, D. T. Shireman, W. H. Armstrong, J. O. Johnston, Albert Carey; ministerial license to George Crawford, J. W. Beach, W. L. Killen; missionary credentials to Horace G. Miller, Mollie R. Miller, Jessie V. Bosworth, Emma B. Rogers, M. H. Johnston, Robert L. Underwood, Burton Church, W. E. Lanier, E. R. Allen, John S. Killen, Harry Smallwood. Of these, eight are wholly or partially supported by the conference.

JESSIE V. BOSWORTH, Secretary.