Michigan Conference of S. D. Adventists.
At the call of the Committee, this Conference met on the camp-ground, Battle Creek, Mich., Sept. 5, 1872, at 9 o'clock A. M. Meeting called to order by the President, and opened with prayer by Eld. Geo. I. Butler. The number of delegates presenting credentials to the Conference was forty-four, representing thirty-eight churches. Several churches were not represented. On motion, all brethren in good standing were invited to participate in the deliberations of the Conference. Moved, That the following churches be admitted under the watchcare of the Conference: Fair-grove, Oceana, Olivet, Vernon, Greenwood, Smith's Creek. Carried. Minutes of last meeting read and accepted. The Treasurer's report of S. B. funds of the Conference was read and accepted, as follows:— Of the Mich. State Conference of S. D. Adventists from Feb. 7, 1871, to Sept. 5, 1872. Amount on hand at last report, $3894.61
Received to date, 4329.69 Total, $8224.40
Paid out during the time, 1223.81 Balance in Treasury at date, $7000.59
ADDIE MERRIAM, Treasurer. The following letter to the Conference from Bro. White was read by the President:— To the Michigan Conference: DEAR BRETHREN, I am happy that you have the labors and counsel of Bro. Butler. It is his place to witness all your doings and give you counsel in all matters of importance. May God bless your assembly, and direct to this important hour. I am grieved that I cannot be with you. But long-endured toil and sadness have brought me where I cannot help you. I have labored to do you good, and only good. Pardon my many errors, and pray God to raise me up again, if he has anything for me to do in his cause. I have hoped since I have been in the West that I might be able to take some care of things at Battle Creek, and have allowed business letters to pass to and fro. But as these have grown perplexing, my mind has become troubled about matters there, and I am obliged to refuse all such correspondence. For a time, brethren, let me rest. I will not be chargeable to your Conference, or any Association, or Institution, while thus resting. God is with his truth in Michigan, as well as all parts of the field where earnest, good and able men preach it. And while I cannot labor with you, I will rejoice with you in the prosperity of the cause. God gives us intelligent and kind friends here who treat us with great tenderness and hospitality. The attachment of these worldly relatives of Mrs. W. grows stronger each week we remain, and their acts of regard for me in my worn condition, and their earnest efforts to do for us, astonish us. It may be that God has sent us to these Rocky Mountains for succor as he sent Elijah to the heathen widow. I resolve to lay down my pen at present, and give myself to prayer, rest, and recreation, in the pure, mountain air. Affectionately,
JAMES WHITE. This letter was referred to the Committee on Resolutions. On motion, The Chair appointed the following committees:
Auditing Committee: D. R. Palmer, F. Howe, S. H. King, James Harvey, S. A. McPherson, Cyrenius Smith. Committee on Resolutions: I. D. Van Horn, E. B. Lane, D. H. Lamson. Committee on Nominations: J. H. Waggoner, Wm. Carpenter, P. Strong. Adjourned to call of Chair. Opened with prayer by Bro. Waggoner. The Committee on Nominations reported the following persons for Officers for the ensuing year: President, E. H. Root; Secretary, I. D. Van Horn; Treasurer, Addie Merriam; Conference Committee, E. H. Root, D. H. Lamson, S. H. King. These were elected by a unanimous vote. On motion, it was voted, That credentials be renewed to the following ministers: James White, E. G. White, J. H. Waggoner, J. Byington, M. E. Cornell, E. B. Lane, D. H. Lamson, R. J. Lawrence, I. D. Van Horn, J. N. Loughborough, P. Strong, C. Stoddard. On motion, The matter of granting licenses was left with the Conference Committee. Adjourned to call of Chair. Opened with prayer by Bro. Littlejohn. The Auditing Committee reported that their settlement with ministers had taken the sum of about five thousand dollars, leaving two thousand dollars still in the treasury. Committee on Resolutions reported, offering the following, which were adopted:— Resolved, 1. That we, the Michigan Conference assembled, do hereby express our grateful acceptance of the letter of our much-esteemed brother, Eld. James White, and, while we greatly regret that he could not be with us in our meeting, we do heartily reciprocate the Christian feeling and love therein manifested. 2. That we hope he may soon be restored to health, and fill the place to which the Lord has so evidently called him in the work of the third angel's message; and our prayers unite, that this end may be attained. 3. That this Conference will esteem it a pleasure to defray all the expenses of himself and family in his efforts to regain health in the pure, mountain air of the West. 4. That we can never forget the years of toil, the sacrifice of means, the sighs and tears, the weariness of body unselfishly suffered by himself and wife in this glorious cause. We earnestly pray that we may be forgiven our lack of sympathy in their afflictions, and energy in taking a full share of the burdens which they have so long and cheerfully borne; and we unreservedly pledge our future sympathy and support, with the help of God, in bearing the burdens we have so long neglected. Resolved, That we acknowledge the gift of prophecy through Sr. White as the direct testimony of God to us. We deeply lament our evident neglect of this means of grace, and determine in future to pay earnest heed to the instruction and admonitions therein contained, hoping God will pardon our past indifference, and help to carry out this resolution. Resolved, That, as a tribute of respect, we recognize in the decease of our beloved Bro. Joseph Bates the loss of a great and good man; eminent for piety and Christian virtue; a pioneer in the third angel's message, always at his post of duty. We miss him in our assemblies, at our Conference, in our churches, at our fireside homes; and while we deeply mourn our loss, we will remember his counsels, imitate his virtues, and endeavor to meet him in the kingdom of God. The Conference was petitioned to change the name of the church of North Plains to Matherton. Granted by a unanimous vote. Moved and voted, That the following brethren receive license for the coming year:
W. H. Littlejohn, E. H. Root, S. H. Lane, U. Smith, H. M. Kenyon, Chas. Jones, H. S. Gurney, D. W. Milk, E. R. Jones, Madison Miller, J. O. Corliss, A. Weeks, A. N. Fisher, W. B. Castle, W. H. Haskin, Chas. A. Russell, Ezra Brackett Jr., Wm. Potter, Alvin Marsh, J. P. Hoffman. The committee recommended that Brn. S. H. Lane and H. M. Kenyon receive ordination. Brethren from Indiana who have heretofore received licenses were referred to the Indiana Conference, when it shall be organized. The question of re-ordination of ministers was briefly discussed, and was referred to the General Conference. By vote, This Conference appropriated to the General Conference fund $1500.00. Bro. Waggoner offered the following preamble and resolution, which were unanimously adopted:— Whereas, The brethren of Indiana have expressed a desire to form a separate Conference at the time of their coming camp-meeting, therefore, Resolved, That Bro. Littlejohn and Lane be requested to act in behalf of the Michigan Conference in regard to any action that may be taken in this matter at that time. Bro. Butler made some remarks in regard to inviting brethren to move to Battle Creek, to help sustain the cause at that place. Moved, That the Chair appoint a committee to take into consideration the matter introduced by Bro. Butler, and bring it before the meeting in form of a resolution. The following persons were named to act as such committee: Geo. I. Butler, W. H. Littlejohn, Ira Abbey. Adjourned to call of Chair. The last-named committee requested that the question of moving to Battle Creek be left with the Mich. Conf. Committee and Gen. Conf. Committee. Granted. On motion, The Chair appointed the following brethren as a Camp-meeting Committee: S. A. McPherson, D. R. Palmer, Wm. Potter. Moved, That the vote to have the Conference year begin with the time of holding the Conference be rescinded. Carried. Moved, That we recommend each church to begin their Systematic Benevolence year with the first of January. Carried. Adjourned to the call of the President.
U. SMITH, President.
J. R. TREMBLEY, Sec'y.