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Atlantic Union Conference

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Dec 3, 1903

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 80, No. 48.

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Atlantic Union Conference

By Hampton W. Cottrell; William A. Wilcox

The second biennial session of the Atlantic Union Conference was held according to appointment at South Lancaster, Mass., Nov. 4–11, 1903. A full delegation was present, representing each conference and institution in the union conference. Elders Daniells and Prescott were present during the last half of the session, and gave timely help in the preaching services and in counsel.
As the Pennsylvania and New England Conferences had been divided during the past year, the territory of the former Pennsylvania Conference was recognized as the Eastern and Western Pennsylvania Conferences, and as such was received into the union conference; and the Southern New England Conference was admitted as one of the conferences of the Atlantic Union Conference.
The Committee on Plans submitted the following recommendations, which were adopted:—
1. That F. E. Painter be seated as a delegate at large, representing the union conference.
2. That the Atlantic Union Conference Constitution be so amended as to adapt it to present conditions.
3. That all our churches enter at once upon a vigorous missionary campaign.
4. That during this campaign we endeavor to circulate not less than our pro rata share of one million copies of the special Capital and Labor number of The Signs of the Times.
5. That in connection with, and following, this effort on the special Signs, we endeavor to dispose of the remainder of our quota of “Christ’s Object Lessons,” and to sell other of our smaller denominational publications.
6. That Article III of the Constitution be amended to read as follows:—
“The Atlantic Union Conference shall include all local conferences and mission fields in the following-named States; viz., Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland (Takoma Park township excepted), Virginia, and West Virginia.”
7. That Article VI of the Constitution be amended to read as follows:—
“Section 1.—The officers of this conference shall be a president, a secretary, a treasurer, a financial secretary, and an auditor, and an executive committee consisting of the president and secretary of the union conference, the president of each local conference in the union conference, one representative from each of the following lines of work; viz., educational, publishing, and medical missionary, and three other persons.”
8. That the conferences of the union (Vermont, New England, Virginia, and West Virginia excepted) be invited to become responsible for their pro rata share of $1,650; the same being the unassumed portion of the General Conference Association liabilities assumed by the Atlantic Union Conference in the year 1901. That this pro rata share be based upon the membership of the aforementioned conferences, Jan. 1, 1901, and reported on page 51 of the General Conference Bulletin for April of that year.
9. That as far as consistent in each local conference where a tract society department does not now exist, one be arranged for at as early a date as possible.
10. That such conferences have control of the book work within their respective territories, and that they establish a safe and practicable financial basis of dealing with canvassers.
11. That each such conference appoint and maintain a competent field secretary, and that he be given liberal moral and financial support, and the hearty sympathies and co-operation of conference committees, ministers, and people.
12. That steps be taken speedily by each conference, and all our ministers and church elders, to encourage suitable persons to engage permanently in the canvassing work.
13. That we indorse the action of the General Conference in adopting a cash basis; and that we follow the same policy in the conduct of the business of the Atlantic Union Conference.
14. That the ministers of the Atlantic Union Conference be urged to give more personal attention to perfecting and extending the organization of Sabbath-schools.
15. Whereas, We believe the Sabbath-schools are one of God’s appointed means for instructing his people in Bible knowledge; therefore,—
We recommend, That our workers urge upon all the necessity of connecting with either a church or State Sabbath-school, in harmony with the plans for the home department.
16. That our conferences recognize the Sabbath-school work to the extent of employing secretaries to devote the time necessary to the proper development of the work.
17. That Sabbath-school conventions be held as frequently as practicable.
18. We recommend to the favorable consideration of the Sabbath-school Department of the General Conference the advisability of preparing and publishing at an early date a series of topical lessons upon the vital points of present truth.
19. Resolved, That we suggest to each of our conferences composing the Atlantic Union Conference, the appointment of an educational secretary to look after the educational interests of the young people in that conference, whose duties shall be to obtain the name and address of every child and young person of school age in the conference, to open correspondence with all young people who attend our training school, become acquainted with the circumstances surrounding them, and with their purposes, so as to assist them in securing an education for, and connecting with, a definite line of our work, and to concern himself especially with the establishment and maintenance of church schools wherever they can be properly established and carried forward.
20. Resolved, That we urge upon all our ministers the importance of co-operating with this secretary in seeking out our young people of promising ability, and assisting them in any way possible in obtaining an education for our work.
21. Resolved, That a special effort be made to induce young men and women who have a right experience and apparent qualifications, to prepare for and enter the ministry and Bible work.
22. Resolved, That a more earnest effort be made to get the young people attending our union conference training school, into various lines of denominational work.
23. Whereas, It is a fact that the worst features of the papacy are embodied in our Sunday laws of to-day; and,—
24. Whereas, It is also a fact that there is at the present time a mighty advance movement of the Sunday-law forces throughout the country and the world, for the rigid enforcement of these wicked laws, and for new and more stringent Sunday legislation, the result of which will be to retard the work of the third angel’s message; and,—
25. Whereas, The Lord has plainly told us that we are not doing the will of God if we sit in quietude, doing nothing to preserve liberty of conscience; therefore,—
26. Resolved, That the Atlantic Union Conference take measures to extend the light to the people on this great subject.
27. Resolved, That literature be prepared adapted to the several States composing this conference, showing the unconstitutional character of these Sunday laws, that they are a denial to the people of the right of judgment as to which day of the week is the Sabbath, or Lord’s day, or whether any or all days of the week are sacred; which right lies at the basis of religious liberty, which is guaranteed to citizens in the Declaration of Rights of the different States, and,—
28. Resolved, That this literature be sent as far as possible to judges, State, county,city, and town officials, and members of the legislatures.
29. Resolved, That literature be prepared for ministers, showing the unchristian character of Sunday laws; and for the Woman’s Christian Temperance Unions, showing that a day of idleness enforced upon the people creates a condition unfavorable to morality, and therefore against their work; and for the leaders of labor organizations, showing the tyranny of these laws; and that measures be adopted to distribute this literature in each of our conferences.
30. Resolved, That we indorse the Sentinel of Christian Liberty, and do what we can to aid in its circulation.
31. That the medical missionary work in all its features receive the same fostering care and financial support from the conference organizations, churches, and people that is given to other branches of our work.
32. That this branch of our work be made the medical missionary department of our conference organization.
33. That the general advisory work of this department in the union and State conferences be placed in the hands of department committees of suitable size and experience properly to develop the medical work.
34. That the real estate and personal property of the medical institutions created and supported by conferences be held in trust for said conferences by a legal corporation to be created by the conferences, and that the trustees of said corporation have the executive management of the institution belonging to the corporation of which they are trustees.
35. That the constituencies of departments and the executive committees afore mentioned, shall be elected by the conferences in session.
36. That nine persons be elected by this conference to be the advisory committee of the medical department of the Atlantic Union Conference.
37. We recommend, That we recognize the providence of God in the removal of the New England Sanitarium from South Lancaster to Melrose, and his blessing in re-establishing the institution in its new field; and that we pledge our hearty co-operation in sustaining and advancing its work.
38. (a) We recommend, That immediate steps be taken to procure a sufficient supply of the forthcoming special issue of the Signs on Capital and Labor, and appropriate tracts, to meet the present emergency in Boston.
(b) That conferences encourage contributions to the Missionary Acre Fund.
(c) That we request the board of trustees of the New England Sanitarium and Benevolent Association, and the International Medical Missionary and Benevolent Association, of Battle Creek, Mich., to transfer all real estate and other property of the New England Sanitarium located at Melrose, Mass., to a corporation to be created by the Central New England Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, to hold sanitarium property for the aforementioned conference.
39. That the rate of wages allowed by the Auditing Committee to Atlantic Union Conference laborers for the past year, be the salary for the coming year; such rate being subject to change by the Executive Committee, whenever in their judgment a change is proper.
40. That we highly appreciate the excellent character of the Atlantic Union Gleaner; and believing that it would be helpful in every home, that its general circulation would materially assist in maintaining a strong bond of sympathy throughout the union, we therefore earnestly request all local conferences to do everything within their power to secure a subscription for it in every family in their respective conferences.
41. (a) We recommend, That this conference recognize and commend the good work being done by our faithful canvassing evangelists in the field; and that we show our appreciation of their services by offering them encouragement in every possible way; by frequent letters and words of encouragement expressing our interest in their work as shown in their reports, and letting them know that they have our sympathy and our prayers.
(b) That one or more canvassers’ institutes be held in each conference before June 1, 1904.
(c) That the conferences adopt a liberal policy in assisting canvassers in meeting the expenses incident to attending the institutes.
(d) That suitable ministerial help be furnished these institutes; and that when necessary, State agents from neighboring conferences be invited to assist in giving instruction.
(e) That each conference arrange for a special season of prayer and for consideration of the canvassing work in the churches, and that suitable readings be prepared by the State agent, president of the conference, and others, and furnished to the churches.
Recognizing in our church organ, the REVIEW AND HERALD, a strong factor in the presentation of the principles of the message for this time which should govern the lives and mold the hearts of believers; therefore,—
42. We earnestly urge all our people to give this paper a thorough, steady, and careful reading, that its molding influence may be manifest in their lives; and we ask our laborers to make earnest efforts to secure this desired result.
43. (a) That we grant the request of Virginia, Eastern Pennsylvania, and New Jersey Conferences for a cash appropriation of six hundred dollars each for 1904, to be paid in twelve equal instalments due the first of each calendar month of that year.
(b) That the title of Article VIII of the Constitution be amended to read, “Corporation Trustees, Departments, Committees, and Agents.”
44. Resolved, That we invite the academy board to take steps to have the academy property transferred from the stockholding corporation to one which shall be organized to hold this property.
45. That Article VIII of the Constitution be amended so as to read, “This conference shall authorize the creation of corporations necessary for the execution of its business or the operation of its institutions, and shall at each regular session elect the board of management of such institutions and enterprises as are or may be operated by this organization in accordance with the acts governing the same; and this conference shall operate such departments, and employ such committees, agents, ministers, missionaries, and make such distribution of laborers as may be necessary effectually to carry on its work. It shall also give credentials or licenses to such ministers as may be employed by the union conference.”
46. That we instruct the Conference Committee of the Atlantic Union Conference to appoint persons, as may be required by the laws of the commonwealth of Massachusetts, to form a corporation to hold the property of the South Lancaster Academy, providing the academy stockholders agree to make the transfer of the same, and providing the property can not be held by the Atlantic Union Conference Association.
The Committee on Nominations submitted the names of the following persons for officers of the Atlantic Union Conference:—
President, Hampton W. Cottrell; Secretary and Treasurer, William A. Wilcox; Executive Committee, in addition to the Atlantic Union Conference president, and secretary, and presidents of local conferences, we suggest as representatives of the educational, publishing, and medical missionary departments, the following-named persons: Frederick Griggs, George W. Palmer, C. C. Nicola, S. N. Curtiss, and F. E. Painter.
For members of the constituency of the Atlantic Union Conference Association of Seventh-day Adventists, for a term of two years, the following-named persons were elected to take the places of those whose terms of office expire at this session: Hampton W. Cottrell, William A. Wilcox, Frederick Griggs, George W. Palmer, J. Edward Jayne, Dwight B. Parmelee, and Preston F. Bicknell; for advisory committee for the advancement of the medical missionary work in the Atlantic Union Conference, Drs. C. C. Nicola, A. J. Read, and A. R. Satterlee; J. R. Scott, of Washington, the head physician of the Washington Sanitarium, Elders J. E. Jayne and M. D. Mattson, Dr. E. H. M. Sell; for auditor of Atlantic Union Conference, J. E. Jayne.
The following persons were chosen as officers and board of trustees of the Atlantic Union Conference Association: President, Hampton W. Cottrell; Secretary and Treasurer, William A. Wilcox; Auditor, J. Edward Jayne; Board of Trustees, Miles D. Mattson, Albert E. Place, J. Edward Jayne, Hampton W. Cottrell, George W. Palmer, William A. Wilcox, Preston F. Bicknell.
To complete the Atlantic Union Conference Committee list, E. E. Miles. For members of the Atlantic Union Conference constituency, Edgar E. Miles, J. Edward Jayne, George W. Palmer, Frederick Griggs, Charles C. Nicola, William A. Wilcox, Hampton W. Cottrell, Preston F. Bicknell, Charles H. Edwards.
The Committee on Credentials and Licenses submitted the following:—
That credentials be renewed to H. W. Cottrell, S. N. Haskell, and E. E. Franke, that F. E. Painter receive ministerial license, and that missionary credentials be granted to Mrs. S. N. Haskell and J. L. Johnson.
The Committee on Distribution of Labor presented the following:—
1. That Elder H. C. Basney make Western Pennsylvania his field of labor.
2. That in harmony with the request of the president of the New York Conference, Capt. J. L. Johnson make Buffalo Harbor and vicinity his field of labor during the summer of 1904.
3. That Elder S. G. Huntington be invited to connect with the work in West Virginia.
4. That the Western Pennsylvania Conference send one of its ministers into the West Virginia Conference, and pay his salary for one year.
5. That the Virginia and West Virginia Conferences negotiate in counsel with the executive of the Atlantic Union Conference for an exchange of laborers.
A good spirit characterized all our counsels, and we can but believe that a new inspiration was received for the work before us.
H. W. COTTRELL, Pres., W. A. WILCOX, Sec.