Minority Meeting of the General Conference Committee by William Ambrose Spicer

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Jan 21, 1904

Minority Meeting of the General Conference Committee

By William Ambrose Spicer

THE following members of the General Conference Committee met for counsel in New York City, January 5 and 6: A. G. Daniells, W. W. Prescott, H. W. Cottrell, F. Griggs, Dr. A. J. Read, and W. A. Spicer. Brethren C. H. Edwards (president of the Greater New York Conference), Dr. E. H. M. Sell, J. M. Calvert, and J. Staby met with the members of the committee a portion of the time spent in counsel. The immediate occasion of the committee meeting was the necessity of holding the regular annual meeting of the legal Foreign Mission Board in New York on January 5. Following is the formal action taken by the legal Board in harmony with the recommendation made by the General Conference Committee at the Washington Council:—

Legal Mission Board

“Whereas, The foreign missionary work of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination is now under the direction of its General Conference Committee, with headquarters in Washington, D. C.; and,—

“Whereas, The General Conference Committee, in session of Oct. 22, 1903, has voted to form a corporation under the laws of the District of Columbia to hold such property of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination as may not be conveniently held by local or union organizations, and to transact business heretofore attended to by the General Conference Association, of Michigan, and the Foreign Mission Board, of New York, therefore,—

“Resolved, That we hereby authorize and instruct the officers of this Foreign Mission Board of Seventh-day Adventists to take action in conveying and transferring notes, stocks, or other properties held by this Board to such union or local organizations as may be in charge, and having oversight of the work in fields in which such properties may be located, provided such union or local organization is prepared to legally hold and administer the same for the benefit of the missionary work of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination; and further,—

“Resolved, That such properties or notes and possessions as may not be transferred to union or local organizations, and not otherwise conveyed by special action, be conveyed to the general corporation formed in the District of Columbia in accordance with the resolution of the General Conference Committee of Seventh-day Adventists; and further,—

“Resolved, That the officers of the Foreign Mission Board are hereby instructed to close up the affairs of this corporation, and to bring its corporate existence to an end as soon as may be practicable.

General Actions

The following is a summary of recommendations made in the minority meeting of the Committee, which may be of general interest:—

It was stated that P. T. Magan found it unadvisable, on account of other duties, to accept the secretaryship of the new Relief of the Schools Committee, as formed at the Washington Council, to co-operate with union conference departments upon which now rests the burden of completing the work in behalf of “Christ’s Object Lessons.” It was voted that the resignation offered be accepted, and that J. S. Washburn be requested to act as secretary.

The General Conference auditor, D. B. Parmelee, having given notice of his inability to give time to auditing the accounts of the General Conference, his resignation was accepted, and J. N. Nelson was appointed auditor.

Request having come from Europe for the supply of further help for the South England Conference, centering in London, with its important school and publishing and general interests, it was voted that with the consent of the Australasian Union Conference, Elder E. W. Farnsworth and his wife be invited to make England their field of labor, coming by way of America, with the idea of assisting in next summer’s camp-meeting work.

An American brother in Cuba, engaged in carpentry, volunteered for colporteur work, and it was decided to make arrangements for him to take up this work if references prove satisfactory. He has had some experience in selling books in America.

It was voted to provide the transportation of Dr. F. E. Braucht and family to Spanish Honduras, Central America, for self-supporting medical missionary work, in case arrangements for the effort can be perfected. Dr. Braucht was for years in charge of the Samoa Sanitarium, and was compelled to return on account of the health of his family. Brother H. A. Owen has for some time been in communication with him and with the Committee regarding openings in Spanish Honduras.

A cable message from J. L. Shaw, of India, asked if the Committee could provide two thousand dollars for extension of the facilities of the Calcutta Sanitarium, which has had a successful year, but which needs further facilities in order to do satisfactory work in training nurses as well as in treating the sick. Lease of the present premises was expiring, and the brethren wished information by cable. Inasmuch as the reports from the week-of-prayer offering will not be made up for some time to come, and new estimates for all the fields have not been made up, it was felt that, although the request was a reasonable one, it could not be unconditionally granted. It was decided to return answer that the amount would be made available if necessary, but that it might reduce the year’s appropriation for general work in India.

Questions affecting Africa, China, and other parts were also discussed, no definite action being taken.

W. A. SPICER, Secretary.