p. 37 | Appeal to the Members of the N. Y. and Pa. Conference

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 16, 1872

Appeal to the Members of the N. Y. and Pa. Conference.

By P. Z. Kinne; E. B. Gaskill; Harmon Lindsay

DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: In view of our deplorable condition as brought to view in Testimony No. 21, we feel the need of consecrating ourselves more fully to the Lord and his service, and we earnestly entreat you, and especially the ministers in the Conference, to unite with us in seeking God, so that we may come up to our camp-meeting and Conference prepared to take hold of the work of the Lord with repentance for our past failures, and a determination to serve him more faithfully.

It is a lamentable fact that we, as a Conference, have been backsliding in the Health and Dress Reforms, and that now there are but few real health reformers among us. The light has been given us, and we are accountable for the manner in which we improve it; and now, although we have grieved the Spirit of the Lord from us repeatedly in this matter, shall we not humble ourselves before God and begin again to act upon the light given us, and thereby avert his frown so that he will return to us and lift the reproach from off the cause? Let us, from principle, begin the work of reform at home, then when we come to camp-meeting we shall see uniformity in dress, and a healthy diet. To wear the reform dress, and live on proper diet at the camp-meeting, while we violate the principles at home, will not stand the test of the Judgment.

In the matter of Systematic Benevolence, also, there is a manifest lack on our part in coming up to the plan which we have professed to adopt. In some of our churches there has been so little regard for order, that even the S. B. blank books have not been procured, quarterly reports have not been made, and the moneys raised have been handed out without regard to the Conference regulations in these matters. And we very much fear that none of our churches have come up in amount to the required plan.

With a membership in the Conference of over five hundred, our S. B. is but $2,500 or $2,600 a year, an average of about $5.00 per member, while in the New England Conference, for instance, where, to say the least, the ability to do does not exceed ours, the S. B. amounts to $10.00 per member. Let us at once take hold of these matters in earnest, and, as far as possible, have them set in order before the coming Conference.

Let every church that has not already done so, at once re-arrange its S. B. figures, and be ready with its pledge for the coming year. Let us make a diligent effort on our part to act up to the light God has given us on these points, and see if we cannot secure his blessing upon us as a Conference and have his prospering hand with us. The suggestion of the Camp-meeting Committee, in regard to promptness in being on the ground at the commencement of the meeting, and remaining till its close is one that should be heeded. It is certainly very discouraging to those who labor with us, and detracts very much from the interest and profit of the meeting to have brethren coming in one, two, or three days after it has commenced, or leaving the ground before its close while there are important matters to be considered which should interest all.

In view of the fact that there is to be a meeting of the Tract and Missionary Society in addition to the usual Conference business, it has been thought best to have the meeting commence this year, one day earlier than usual. We trust that the brethren will remember that the meeting commences, Tuesday, Aug. 6, and continues through Monday of the following week, and will make the necessary sacrifice on their part in order that they may be on the ground the entire time.

Those wishing tents should send their orders so that they will reach Bro. Lindsay as early as Monday, July 29.

We heartily concur in the invitation of the Camp-meeting Committee to Bro. and sister White, and would also invite Brn. Butler and Haskell to attend if consistent.

P. Z. KINNE, N. Y. E. B. GASKILL, Conf. HARMON LINDSAY, Com.