Business Proceedings of the Ohio Conference by Wm. Chinnock; John Mears

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 24, 1871

Business Proceedings of the Ohio Conference.

By Wm. Chinnock; John Mears

According to notice in the Review the Ohio State Conference of Seventh-day Adventists was held near Mansfield, in connection with the camp-meeting, Sept. 28, Oct. 3, 1871. Conference was called to order by the president. Prayer by Bro. Littlejohn. In the absence of the Secretary, J. Mears was elected Secretary pro tem. Credentials of delegates were called for and presented, showing a delegation of nine, representing seven churches. On motion Brn. Waggoner, Littlejohn, and all members in good standing, were invited to take part in the deliberations of the Conference. On motion Bro. D. S. Plum was elected to act as delegate for the church at Troy.

Voted, That the constitution be so amended as to allow six lay members to act with the Executive Committee as auditing committee.

On motion the following committees were appointed: On Nominations, Wm. Cottrell, Geo. Smith, and H. A. St. John. On Resolutions, W. H. Littlejohn, H. A. St. John, O. F. Guilford. Auditing, O. Mears, O. F. Guilford, J. Mears, Wm. Herald, Geo. Smith, O. Kassen.

Report from churches called for but none read. Adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Second Session. Prayer by Bro. Littlejohn. Secretary's report of the last Conference called for and read. After some corrections it was accepted. A call was made for other delegates if present. A letter from the church at Defiance was read requesting to be united to the Conference. On motion they were annexed. A body of unorganized Sabbath keepers residing at Melmore wished to unite with the Conference. It was voted to receive them after they should be properly organized. On motion Bro. I. Edgerton was appointed to act as delegate for the church at Strongsville.

A call was made for the church at Wayne. None present.

Voted, That we strike its name from the list of churches belonging to this Conference; and worthy members are requested to unite with the church at North Bloomfield.

The church at Fremont called for and the case of H. Hodgson, its Elder, brought before the Conference.

On motion a committee was appointed to investigate his case. Dr. Mitchell then arose and gave a short account of the Sabbath-keepers in Muskingum Co.

On motion licenses were granted to H. A. St. John, O. Mears, A. A. Hutchins, and W. Cottrell. The name of W. F. Crouse was presented and referred to the executive committee.

Third Session. Prayer by Bro. Cottrell. The case of H. Hodgson again taken up, and the committee brought forward the following resolutions:

Whereas, The church in Fremont is small in numbers; and

Whereas, The usefulness of its members has been greatly crippled, if not utterly destroyed, by the unconsecrated course of its present elder, Henry Hodgson; therefore

Resolved, That we strike its name from the list of churches belonging to this Conference, and that we recommend that it should be disbanded, and that those of its members who have shown themselves worthy of a place with the people of God unite with the church at Clyde.

O. Mears, W. Chinnock, W. Herald, were appointed as a committee to carry the resolutions into effect.

The committee on Resolutions reported the following:

1. Whereas, There are certain persons within the limits of this Conference who are indebted to the Publishing Association upon subscription for the Review, Health Reformer, and Instructor; and Whereas, We are unwilling that the Association should lose anything on account of individuals residing within our boundaries; therefore Resolved, That we will assume the collection of all such outstanding matters of account.

2. Whereas, We believe the Health Reformer to be intimately connected with the Third Angel's Message; therefore Resolved, That we recommend all those of our brethren who have not heretofore done so, to subscribe for and interest themselves in the circulation of the Health Reformer, which is especially devoted to this branch of the work.

3. Resolved, That our annual camp-meetings furnish material aid in the work of increasing the spirituality of the church, and that we earnestly exhort all our brethren in this State to make special efforts to be present at each one of them in the future.

4. Resolved, That we express our continued confidence in the work of the third angel's message as carried on by Seventh-day Adventists, and that we recognize the spirit of prophecy as developed among us as that which is indispensable in carrying forward the work, and necessary to our identification with those spoken of in Rev. 12: 17 and 14: 12.

The committee on Nominations reported as follows: For President, Wm. Chinnock; Secretary, E. W. Hutchins; Treasurer, J. Mears; Committee, Wm. Chinnock, Sanford Rogers, J. Q. A. Haughey. This report was accepted and the nominees unanimously elected.

A motion was made that a committee of three be elected to act with the executive committee as Camp-meeting committee. The selection of this committee was referred to the Nominating committee.

Fourth Session. Prayer by Bro. Waggoner. The committee on Nominations reported the following as Camp-meeting committee: O. F. Guilford, Geo. Bisel, Wm. F. Crouse. They were therefore elected.

On account of the negligence of church treasurers, the State Treasurer was unable to report until this session. Money received during the Conference year $2108.88, paid out $1723.99; remaining in the treasury $384.89. Of this $150 was donated to the General Conference, the remainder sent to Battle Creek to be used until called for.

H. A. St. John, H. H. Hutchins, and Wm. Cottrell reported labor. Twelve churches were represented either by delegate or letter, and two not represented. The number of members at the commencement of the year 217, present number 239. The amount of S. B. pledged by nine churches $1231.00. Three failed to report.

Wm. Chinnock, President.

John Mears, Secretary pro tem.