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The Western Washington Conference

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 28, 1906

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 83, No. 26.

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The Western Washington Conference

By W. C. Raley

In the meetings of the fifth annual session of the Western Washington Conference, held in connection with the camp-meeting at Puyallup, Wash., May 10-20, 1906, the following business was transacted. Ninety-one delegates were seated, representing twenty-five of the thirty-four churches of the conference.
Two new church organizations, Meadow Glade and Lynden, were represented, and by vote these organizations were accepted and recognized as regular members of the conference. The Meadow Glade church has, as a help in its work, the Meadow Glade Industrial School, which is being established in the southern part of the conference.
For the year beginning May 1, 1906, credentials were granted to E. L. Stewart, W. W. Sharp, W. C. F. Ward, A. J. Stover, H. C. J. Wollekar, T. Godfrey, T. H. Watson, O. E. Davis, J. T. Clark, F. M. Burg, J. A. Holbrook, and Joel C. Rogers. Brother O. E. Davis was ordained on Sabbath, Jan. 27, 1906, and Brother Joel C. Rogers was ordained on the camp-ground, Sabbath, May 26. Ministerial licenses were given to W. J. Boynton and J. E. Van De Mark, and missionary licenses to David Dodge, W. H. Coffin, Jack Johnson, J. A. Bartow, T. J. Linrud, J. H. Wiertz, R. T. Cornell, H. B. Ham, W. C. Raley, Mrs. W. W. Sharp, Miss M. Belle Shryock, Mrs. J. A. Holbrook, and Mrs. L. E. Cox.

Resolutions

Among the resolutions recommended by the committee on plans, and adopted, were the following:—
“That we recognize God’s special care over his work and workers in our conference during the past year, and hereby return thanksgiving to our Lord, and renew our consecration to his service for quickly giving this gospel message to the world.”
“That we express to our brethren of the Pacific Union Conference and the Pacific Press Publishing Company our deepest sympathy in this their hour of calamity and loss, and that we will render whatever financial assistance we are able in this time of perplexity and trial.”
“That we as conference officers, ministers, and people generally, resolve that from this meeting we will renew our efforts in the line of a reviving of the subscription-book work among us, giving special prominence to the sale of such books as ‘Great Controversy,’ ‘Daniel and the Revelation,’ and ‘Heralds of the Morning,’ which contain truths of so much importance to the people just now.”
“That we will endeavor as a people to be more active and vigilant in tract and paper distribution, having this literature near us, that at favorable opportunities we may sow the seeds of truth beside all waters, that in due season fruit may appear for the kingdom.”
“That the executive committee of this conference take into careful consideration the advisability of the conference supplying at reduced rates such papers as The Signs of the Times, Liberty, Life and Health, and possibly our foreignpapers, to our workers who will enter our larger cities and sell the same from door to door among the people.”
“That our ministers and other conference laborers, and also our church elders and librarians, put forth during the coming year earnest efforts to secure from the members of every church in the field subscriptions to our periodicals, especially the REVIEW AND HERALD, Signs of the Times, North Pacific Gleaner, and Life and Health; and we recommend further that each church provide a sufficient fund to supply the REVIEW AND HERALD to such of its members as are not financially able to pay for the paper.”
“Whereas, The holding of Sabbath-school and missionary and also young people’s conventions has in many conferences proved a means of much help in these several lines of work, affording a good opportunity for interchange of thought and for counsel as to plans and means for carrying the work forward successfully; therefore,—
“We recommend, That these conventions be held in the Western Washington Conference during the coming year at such time and place as the executive committee may arrange.”
“Whereas, The Lord has spoken clearly regarding the sacred responsibility of his people to provide Christian education for the children and youth; therefore,—
“Resolved, That we as a conference recognize this sacred trust, and that we pledge ourselves to the support of the educational work among us, financially and otherwise; and we recommend the adoption of such plans by the executive committee in reference to the church-school work, and also our intermediate schools, as will give stability and permanence to both these important phases of the educational interests among us; and also plans looking toward a more satisfactory organization of the same; and in the carrying forward of such plans we pledge all necessary support.”
“That our church-school and intermediate-school teachers be encouraged, by some financial help if found necessary, to attend the institute for teachers which the North Pacific Union Conference is planning to hold at or near Tacoma in August.”
“That immediate steps be taken to open a training-school for Bible workers; that persons having a talent for this work be sought out and encouraged to enter this training-school; and that qualified instructors be employed.”
“That a workers’ institute be held at some convenient time during the winter months for the study of the Bible, the Testimonies, and methods of work; and that all conference laborers and church officers be urged to attend.”
“Whereas, God has greatly blessed our conference in funds since adopting a broad mission policy,—
“We recommend, That this policy be continued, and that we still hold our workers and funds ready for any call from the Mission Board, in consultation with our executive committee.”
“That we donate the missionary boat, the ‘Evangel,’ to the British Columbia Conference, and that Brother David Dodge be permitted to accompany it to that field, as requested by said conference.”
“That this conference take steps to organize and vigorously prosecute the work of religious liberty.”
“That the executive committee select such a person as may be adapted to the work to act as secretary of the religious liberty movement among us, and that as far as practicable each church place this line of work upon a proper person who shall give special attention to its development and prosecution.”
“Whereas, Considerable perplexity arises in our auditing boards with reference to settling the accounts of the wives of our ministers who to a more or less extent accompany their husbands in labor, the board finding it difficult to know where to draw the line on this question without being partial, which it earnestly desires to avoid; therefore,—
“Resolved, That in the cases where wives of our ministers accompany their husbands in labor we do not hereafter grant them a separate wage from their husband’s salary.”
“We would, however, recommend to the auditing board that it carefully take into account when settling with our workers whose wives labor with them, the following considerations: (1) The character and extent of this kind of labor; (2) the cost of railway fare, etc., that the worker is to incur in transportation of his family to his field; (3) the comparative cost of living where the laborer is working, with other fields in the conference; (4) the situation surrounding his family; namely, size of same, demands on the worker in a financial way, and other considerations of a like nature.”
“That we favor a liberal and generous policy in settling with our conference workers, but in the interests of harmony, impartiality, and good feeling, the wage of the husband must hereafter cover the labor of his companion.”
“That we release in favor of the General Conference the note which we hold against it for the sum of twelve hundred dollars.”
“Whereas, We are confronted at the present time with some very grave dangers against which we ought especially to safeguard our young people who are desirous of becoming workers for God, and are seeking a preparation for some line of work in the cause, and who may, without counsel from those who are more mature and whose experience qualifies them to give safe advice at this critical time, come under influences and instruction which will unsettle them in their faith; therefore,—
“Resolved, That we counsel our young people who are contemplating entering sanitariums, restaurants, and other institutions for education and training, to first advise with our ministers, conference officers, and other responsible persons with reference to their plans.”

Officers

Officers for the ensuing year were elected as follows: President, F. M. Burg; Secretary and Treasurer, W. C. Raley; Educational Secretary, Joel C. Rogers; Executive Committee, F. M. Burg, J. A. Holbrook, J. R. Clark, H. C. J. Wollekar, R. T. Cornell; Board of Directors of the Meadow Glade Industrial School, J. R. Clark, A. J. Stover, A. C. Hardy, James Watson, W. H. Battson; Board of Directors of the Forest Home Industrial Academy, L. I. Stiles, J. E. Van De Mark, W. W. Sharp, E. D. Slossin, E. H. Little.

Financial

During the year ending April 30, 1906, there had been received by the treasurer $16,774.24 tithe, a per capita payment of $13.54, and $5,649.74 donations for the various lines of work at home and abroad. Of the amount of donations received, $4,345.52 was for work outside of the Western Washington Conference, and $3,128.94 of this amount was for work outside of the United States.
The following statement shows some of the receipts for the year in comparison with the receipts for the year ending April 30, 1905:—
1905 1906
Tithe, $11,961.83 $16,774.24
Annual offerings, 716.83 1,275.74
Weekly offerings, 780.29 762.39
Sabbath-school offerings, 822.31 970.77
Haskell Home offerings 149.23 99.85
Special Mission Board offering 65.75
W. C. RALEY, Secretary.