Iowa Conference Proceedings
By Flora V. Dorcas
The fortieth annual session of the Iowa Seventh-day Adventist Conference convened on the camp-ground at Colfax, Iowa, May 29 to June 7, 1903. At the first meeting the following motion was passed: “That the conference appoint a committee of fifteen to act in connection with the conference committee in the preparation of business matters to be brought before the conference at this time, and that the chairman of said committee be selected by the committee itself; also that the subcommittees on nominations, credentials, and licenses, plans of labor, and any other committees it may deem advisable shall be appointed by the above committee.” This committee and the subcommittees were appointed. The president’s address, and reports from those leading out in different departments of work, spoke encouragingly of the interest and the progress during the year. Six of our workers had gone to foreign lands, and our conference is supporting seven workers in other fields. The treasurer’s report showed a cash balance on hand of $6,843.42. The following recommendations were adopted:— “Whereas, The definite call that we should now rise and finish the work of carrying the third angel’s message to the world is also a call to us as individuals and churches to support the foreign mission work by our prayers and by our offerings; and,— “Whereas, The work in foreign fields is languishing because of our lack of support; therefore,— 1. “Resolved, That we will definitely work to the end that our mission contributions shall reach an average of ten cents a week for each member in each church, and that we urge ministers and church officers to agitate the matter until this plan is regularly and systematically carried out. “Whereas, To receive only is to become like the stagnant waters of the Dead Sea; and,— “Whereas, God has said that if there is one work more important than another, it is to get our publications into the hands of the people,— 2. “Resolved, That we urge all our people to be zealously active in selling and loaning books and in distributing tracts and papers, and that we ask our laborers to instruct and encourage them in this work. 3. “Resolved, That we urge our president and laborers to be on the lookout for suitable persons to enter the canvassing work and to use every proper effort to induce them to take up that work. “Whereas, God has plainly spoken concerning the importance of the education of our youth in the Word of God and in industrial pursuits; and,— “Whereas, The work of establishing an industrial academy is already begun,— 4. “Resolved, That we recommend that the work be pushed without delay, and that great care be exercised that the instructions given by God in the Testimonies be carefully studied and followed, and that we pledge our moral and financial support to make it what God would have it be. “Whereas, The General Conference has called an educational council to meet at College View, Neb., June 12-21, one of whose first duties will be to devise a feasible method of supporting our church school teachers; therefore,— 5. “Resolved, That we request our conference committee to study such plans as may be devised, and at an early date adopt such a plan for Iowa as may seem advisable. “Whereas, The principles of Christian education are vital truths at this time,— 6. “Resolved, (a) That we urge that a vigorous effort be made to instruct our churches in these truths; (b) That we request the conference committee to make diligent effort to obtain a properly instructed and trained corps of church school teachers. 7. “Resolved, That the conference committee be requested to provide a chaplain for our sanitarium who shall be competent to instruct the nurses and others in the great truths of the third angel’s message. 8. “Resolved, That the needs of the mission fields be kept before our Sabbath-schools as an incentive to liberal contributions. 9. “Resolved, That our Sabbath-schools set apart the contributions of one or more Sabbaths in each quarter, as may be necessary for the expenses of the school, all contributions of the remaining Sabbaths to be given to missions. It is understood that this does not affect the established plan of giving to the Orphans’ Home two yearly donations. 10. “Resolved, That we approve of the plan that Sabbath-school officers be elected by the church. 11. “Resolved, That the plans for the home department work and branch Sabbath-school work be pushed as vigorously as possible throughout the field.18 “That the conference committee be requested to appoint a religious liberty secretary, and that they assist him in stirring up our people on this important subject.” Credentials were granted to L. F. Starr, C. A. Washburn, L. F. Trubey, E. G. Olsen, B. E. Fullmer, B. L. Dieffenbacher, J. H. Kraft, C. T. Adams, T. H. Jeys, F. A. Washburn, W. B. Everhart, U. P. Long, E. E. Gardner, J. O. Beard, C. F. Stevens, W. E. Frederick, N. C. Bergersen. Ministerial licenses were granted to N. L. McClintock, J. W. Dorcas, Wm. J. Johnson, Mrs. G. R. Hawkins, Arthur McClintock, J. W. Crouse, Calvin Starr, Clarence Rentfro, Arthur French, George H. Skinner, Paul Curtis, F. M. Corbaley, Floyd Brailliar, H. L. Stenberg, G. A. Larson. Missionary licenses were granted to Mrs. Flora V. Dorcas, W. H. Cox, Earl D. Hahn, Katie Earle, Jessie Welsh, Della Wallace, J. N. Moore, Lloyd Manfull, A. F. Ferguson, Ed. Swap, J. C. Clemens, Margaret Young, Arthur Rhoads, Tillie Earle, Nellie McWilliams, Minnie Hahn, Anna Burke, Otis M. Kittle, E. J. Dietel, M. H. Serns, Fannie Black, A. A. Zipf, Emma Poch. H. Rorholm and G. R. Hawkins were recommended for ordination and credentials. The following conference officers were duly elected: President, L. F. Starr; Vice-President, B. E. Fullmer; Conference Committee, L. F. Starr, B. E. Fullmer, N. C. Bergersen, B. L. Dieffenbacher, C. A. Washburn, J. W. Dorcas, J. H. Kraft; Conference Secretary, Mrs. Flora V. Dorcas; Treasurer, J. W. Dorcas; Corresponding Secretary of the Sabbath-school Department, Mrs. Flora V. Dorcas; Assistant, Nellie McWilliams; State Agent, J. W. Crouse; Church School Superintendent, Floyd Brailliar; Corresponding and Field Secretary of the Young People’s Society, Della Wallace; Secretary of the Tract Society, J. O. Beard; Assistant, Mrs. Nettie Shaw; Stenographer and Office Helper, Teckla Nelson, Trustees of the Seventh-day Adventist Association, L. F. Starr, C. A. Washburn, C. G. Johnston, C. W. Smouse, J. W. Crouse, J. H. Kraft, N. C. Bergersen. MRS. FLORA V. DORCAS,
Secretary.