Nebraska Conference Proceedings
The twenty-fifth annual session of the Nebraska Conference was held in connection with the camp meeting at Lincoln, September 3–13. Nine meetings were held, thirty-three delegates being present at the opening meeting. Others came in later. From reports given we mention the following items of interest: four thousand dollars received from the sale of “Christ’s Object Lessons” has been turned over to Union College in the past year. The canvassers’ and office sales have amounted to $12,690, which, with the amount received on “Christ’s Object Lessons,” makes a total of $16,690. The conference treasurer’s report showed $23,673 tithe received, which would amount to about nine dollars a member. The amount contributed to foreign missions amounted to $5,669.41, or about $2.18 a member. The usual committees were appointed by a large advisory committee. Thirty resolutions bearing on the different phases of the third angel’s message were passed, among which are the following:— Resolved, That much prayerful study be given the question before a church school is organized, and that in every case the church-school superintendent be counseled, and that due care be exercised in the selection of a teacher who is best suited to the existing circumstances. Resolved, That promising young men and women be encouraged to secure a training which will fit them for the church-school work. Resolved, That the church-school superintendent be satisfied as to the moral and intellectual fitness of each teacher, and that each one be required to pass an examination not less rigid than that required by the county superintendent, and that each teacher who passes a satisfactory examination be granted a certificate from the conference, signed by the president and the church-school superintendent. Resolved, That we hereby request Union College to conduct a special course for canvassers and missionary workers, covering about the same length of time as last year. Resolved, That as a conference we will dispose of the remainder of our quota of “Christ’s Object Lessons,” accomplishing the work, by the grace of God, by Jan. 1, 1903. We recommend, That all our conference laborers give earnest attention to the lines of old-time missionary work, by selling books and tracts from the public desk, by introducing to our people the new books as they come out, by organizing and building up the tract and missionary work in all our churches and companies, by assisting in the selection of agents, by soliciting subscriptions for our periodicals, and by doing all in their power to place some definite missionary work in the hands of every Seventh-day Adventist. Whereas, The present church enrollment does not show the exact status of our church membership on account of the many removals to other States, we therefore,— Recommend, That the district superintendents do all they can to encourage the members to unite with the churches where they reside. We recommend, That the ten-cent-a-week plan for the support of foreign missions be continued. We recommend, That all donations, for whatever department of the work, be solicited only under the direction of the conference, and that all donations be forwarded through the State office. Resolved, That we co-operate with the American Medical Missionary College in the training of capable men and women for the important work of the Christian physician, by entering heartily into the plan of buying the Battle Creek College buildings by means of the Missionary Acre Fund, and that we do not encourage our young people to attend a cheap medical school where they can obtain only an inferior preparation. Whereas, The editors of the Scandinavian papers are to issue an extra double number of said papers about the first of October, this important issue taking up the third angel’s message, therefore,— Resolved, That we as a conference take hold in earnest, and as far as possible bring these papers to every Scandinavian family in Nebraska. Resolved, That as a conference we will encourage the work among the blind by recommending that each church subscribe for one copy of the Christian Record, to be used in missionary work. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year:— President, N. P. Nelson; Vice-President, G. M. Brown; Secretary and Treasurer, C. H. Miller; Conference Committee, N. P. Nelson, G. M. Brown, J. J. Graf, G. A. Kirkle, A. C. Anderson; Missionary Secretary and Treasurer, M. F. Beatty; State Agent, F. Jencks; Conference Association, N. P. Nelson, J. Sutherland, T. McAlpine, G. Mathieson, and R. F. Andrews; Educational Secretary, G. M. Brown; Secretary and Treasurer of Sabbath-School Department, Ida Nelson; General Conference delegates, N. P. Nelson, G. M. Brown, J. J. Graf, A. C. Anderson, and J. H. Wheeler. Credentials were granted to N. P. Nelson, W. B. Hill, R. F. Andrews, J. J. Graf, J. H. Wheeler, L. E. Johnson, G. H. Smith, G. M. Brown, A. C. Anderson, P. P. Gaede, and Daniel Nettleton. Ordination and credentials were given to C. R. Kite and G. W. Berry. Ministerial licenses were granted to O. E. Jones, O. A. Hall, W. H. Campbell, F. W. H. Shroeder, Charles Swenson, B. M. Garton, N. C. Nelson. Missionary licenses were granted to Mrs. E. M. Peebles, Mary F. Beatty, W. F. Surber, C. H. Miller, W. J. Wilson, Robert Ryan, Esther Smith, Albert Anderson, J. B. Mourer, Ida Nelson, G. P. Loy, William Batterson, and Susan Isaac. Colporteur licenses were granted to C. S. Wilbur, L. B. Porter, E. L. Cook, J. W. Beams, and J. H. Johnson.