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Proceedings of the Eleventh Annual Meeting of the General Conference of S. D. Adventists

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 18, 1873

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 41, No. 14.

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Proceedings of the Eleventh Annual Meeting of the General Conference of S. D. Adventists.

By George I. Butler; Uriah Smith

CONFERENCE convened, according to appointment, in Battle Creek, Mich., March 11, 1873, at 9 A. M.
Prayer by Bro. Andrews. The following delegates were present:—
N. E. Conf., S. N. Haskell. Vermont, A. S. Hutchins. N. Y. and Pa., E. B. Gaskill, H. Lindsay. Ohio, Oliver Mears. Michigan, H. S. Woolsey, T. D. Van Horn, P. Strong. Indiana, Isaac Zirkle. Wisconsin, O. H. Pratt. Illinois, R. F. Andrews. Iowa and Nebraska, R. M. Kilgore, Geo. I. Butler. Minnesota, D. M. Canright. Kansas and Missouri, T. J. Butler. California, James White. Swiss Mission, A. Vuilleumier. Danish Mission, J. Matteson.
By vote, all the friends of the cause present were invited to participate in the deliberations of the Conference.
Minutes of last meeting read and accepted. State Conference reports show the following exhibit of the standing of the General Conference at the present time:—
General Conference Summary for 1873 Licentiates Churches Members S. B. Fund Pledged S. B. Fund in the Churches S. B. Fund Paid S. B. Fund General Conf. S. B. Fund on hand
Maine 1 2 9 178 $1102.13 $1102.13 $100.00
N. E. Conf. 2 1 15 325 3000.00 3000.00 3000.00 600.00
Vermont 5 5 14 323 1782.22 1782.22 1782.22 75.00
N. Y. & Pa. 9 1 34 656 3785.15 378.51 34064.62 957.49
Ohio 4 4 9 785 1479.50 123.43 13567.07 250.00
Michigan 13 19 54 1616 6528.72 2615.86 3912.86 1500.00
Indiana 5 5 1000.00 1000.00 100.00
Wisconsin 3 17 25 650 2517.20 500.00 2017.20
Illinois 3 7 12 260 1600.00 200.00 1400.00
Minnesota 2 7 15 400 2000.00 2000.00
Iowa & Neb. 8 9 30 700 3118.00 623.00 2495.00
Kansas & Mo. 2 10 6 120 375.00 375.00
California 1 1 7 238 2151.57 2151.57
Swiss Mission 1 4 74 250.00 250.00
Totals 51 83 230 5875 $28687.49 $440.80 $26246.69 $3582.49
The address to be presented by Bro. White was made the special order for the opening of the afternoon session.
On motion, the following committees were appointed by the Chair.
On Auditing. Harmon Lindsay, O Mears.
On Nominations. J. N. Andrews, D. M. Canright, A. S. Hutchins.
On Resolutions. U. Smith, J. N. Andrews, J. H. Waggoner.
On Preaching. H. S. Woolsey, Harmon Lindsay, E. B. Gaskill.
On motion, a committee of three was appointed to report improvements in the general workings of our Conference. The following persons were appointed by the Chair as that committee: J. N. Andrews, U. Smith, H. S. Woolsey.
Reports from missionaries being called for, the following brethren responded: Bro. White, Bro. Canright, Bro. Matteson.
Adjourned to ½ past two P. M.

SECOND SESSION.

Met according to adjournment. Prayer by Eld. D. M. Canright. Bro. White not being present, the regular business, hearing reports from missionaries, was resumed. Eld. S. N. Haskell spoke in reference to his labors in New England and New York. Bro. White then followed with an interesting and stirring address.

THIRD SESSION.

Prayer by S. N. Haskell. Eld. S. Burdick was received as delegate from the S. D. Baptist General Conference. Remarks by Elds. Andrews and White. Bro. Matteson spoke further of the Danish Mission, followed by Bro. Rasmussen.
The question of brethren moving to Battle Creek, was introduced. Bro. White stated that the thing was working slow but well. Bro. Andrews spoke, Bro. Butler followed. The question was referred to a committee of three, appointed by the Chair, as follows: J. N. Andrews, D. M. Canright, R. M. Kilgore.
The matter of the school was introduced and discussed by Bro. Andrews and referred to the General Conference Committee, they to report to this Conference some steps to be taken to accomplish the object in view.
Adjourned to ½ past 2 P. M.

FOURTH SESSION.

Met according to adjournment. Prayer by Bro. White. The Committee on Nominations reported the following brethren for the officers of the Conference the coming year, who were thereupon unanimously elected: President, Geo. I. Butler; Secretary, U. Smith; Treasurer, E. B. Gaskill; Conference Committee, Geo. I. Butler, S. N. Haskell, Harmon Lindsay.
The Committee on Resolutions reported the following, which were adopted:—
Resolved, That we greatly rejoice in the success of Missionary labor in its various branches. The wonderful conversions which have taken place from the reading of our publications should stimulate all to renewed efforts in the work of the Tract and Missionary Society. And the success of the Danish Mission encourages us to make more earnest efforts to present the truth to people of other tongues.
Resolved, That we regard the Health Reform as an important part of our work, and that we learn with great pleasure of the prosperity of the Health Institute, which we believe is designed at Providence to exert a great influence, not only in healing the sick, but in imparting light and knowledge on the subject of our responsibility to regard the laws of our being.
Resolved, That we regard it as the imperative duty of S. D. Adventists to take immediate steps for the formation of an Educational Society, and the establishment of a denominational school.
Resolved, That while steps should be taken to secure a good moral influence in the community where the school shall be located, as a safeguard to its best interests, some provision should also be made to guard the community (as well as the school) against evil influences which may be imported in the persons of unsanctified and ungovernable pupils; and we therefore recommend that those who have charge of the school shall require a certificate, from proper sources, that the applicants for admission are persons suitable to be received into the school, and that whenever their course is detrimental to the school, or the community, they shall be promptly discharged.
Resolved, That while we cherish a deep and abiding regard for the precious truths which have been brought out for this time, we can but esteem highly, for their works’ sake, those who have been instrumental in their promulgation; and we pledge ourselves to stand by and strengthen the hands of those who are called to occupy the most prominent places in this cause which we so dearly love.
The question of translating tracts into other languages, was discussed by Eld. White, Eld. Matteson, and Eld. Jorgensen.
Resolved, That we recommend to the Trustees of the Publishing Association that they put forth an earnest effort to secure the preparation of a suitable series of tracts for translation into other languages, and to secure the best translators for these tracts, and also, by all possible means to oversee this work of translation, that it be done in the best manner possible.
The committee appointed to report improvements in the workings of the General Conference, submitted the following report:—
The Committee to whom was referred the question, “What can be done to render our General Conference of greater interest to the mass of our people?” recommend the following as worthy of trial:— 1. That our Conference should be opened with an anniversary sermon, and that several discourses suitable to different portions of our Conference work shall be preached as introductory to those proceedings. We specify, in particular, a missionary discourse and one concerning the proper education of men for the Christian ministry. We suggest, also, the appointment of persons to speak on subjects of interest to be selected by the Conference, these appointments to be made one year in advance.
2. We propose that all the members of our churches who may be present shall be considered as members of the Conference and entitled to act as such. This is not designed to supersede the sending of regular delegates from each Conference, nor is it designed to change the relative strength of the State Conference as each Conference in case of a contested vote shall count according to the number of delegates to which it is entitled.
This report was laid on the table.
The Treasurer’s report was read as follows:

TREASURER’S REPORT.

Amount on hand at the time of last report, Dec. 25, 1871,                                 $916.99 Amount received during the year,                                                             $5624.31 Total,                                                                                                 $6541.30. Amount paid out during the year,                                                         $2164.67 Balance in treasury at the present time,                                                 $4376.63. Mrs. A. P. Van Horn, Treasurer.
The report was referred to the Auditing Committee.
Adjourned to call of the Chair.

FIFTH SESSION.

Called Thursday at ¼ past 3 P. M. Prayer by Bro. Andrews. The committee on removals to Battle Creek, reported verbally through the Chairman, recommending “that this Conference request the General Conference Committee to continue the same course of action as that which has been pursued the past year, relative to removal of families to Battle Creek.” Which recommendation was adopted.
The report of the committee on the workings of our Conference, which was laid on the table, was now taken up and discussed by Geo. I. Butler, J. N. Andrews, and H. S. Woolsey. The report was amended by striking off the second recommendation, and the report was then adopted.
It was moved and carried, That the Chairman appoint a committee of three to make the appointments called for in the report. The following were appointed as that committee: S. N. Haskell, U. Smith, E. B. Gaskill.
Among the papers presented to the Conference, were reports from Switzerland, Indiana, Alabama, Chicago, California, and Minnesota.
The California Conference and the Indiana Conference were received into the General Conference.
The Michigan Conference was requested to grant a request from Eld. J. N. Loughborough to be transferred to California, where he is now located.
Adjourned to 9 A. M., Friday.

SIXTH SESSION.

Prayer by Eld. S. Burdick. The committee to whom was referred the matter of the school, submitted the following report:—
Whereas, The opening fields of labor before us demand laborers who can teach the word in several languages. And, Whereas, The peculiar wants of our people, in order to properly educate their sons and daughters make it necessary that we should establish a denominational school. Therefore, Resolved, That while it becomes our duty to pray to the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers, we also regard it as our duty to establish a school, guarded by sound moral and religious influence, where those who give themselves to the work of the Lord may discipline their minds to study, and at least qualify themselves to read, speak, and write the English language correctly; where our people can send their sons and daughters with comparative safety; and where men and women may study those languages especially now spoken by the people of those nations from whom we hope to gather a harvest of souls to the Lord:—
This resolution was adopted.
The following resolution was offered by Bro. White, and was adopted:—
Resolved, That the establishment of the school be placed in the hands of the General Conference Committee.
The question of courses of lectures in different parts of the field was discussed by U. Smith, S. N. Haskell, R. M. Kilgore, G. I. Butler, R. F. Andrews, P. Z. Kinne, and James White, who offered the following resolution which was adopted:—
Resolved, That with great pleasure we consider the subject of Biblical Lectures by Bro. Uriah Smith in the several divisions of the wide field, and, with deep interest for the success of the enterprise, confide it to the management of the General Conference Committee to make the proper arrangements with Bro. Smith and with the State Conferences that shall desire the lectures.
Adjourned to ¼ past 2 P. M.

SEVENTH SESSION.

Prayer by Bro. Haskell. The wants of the different Conferences were considered. Bro. Canright spoke for Minnesota, Bro. Haskell for New England, Bro. White for California, Bro. Hutchins for Vermont, R. M. Kilgore for Iowa, Bro. Mears and T. J. Butler for Ohio, R. F. Andrews, Bro. White, and Bro. Matteson, for Illinois, Bro. Zirkle, Bro. Butler, Bro. Carpenter, Bro. Waggoner, Bro. Lane, and Bro. White, for Indiana and Tennessee. Sr. White for the general interests of the cause.
Adjourned to call of the Chair.
GEO. I. BUTLER, Pres. U. SMITH, Sec.