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Michigan Conference of S. D. Adventists

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 25, 1874

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 44, No. 10.

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Michigan Conference of S. D. Adventists.

By E. H. Root; John Harvey Kellogg

FOURTEENTH ANNUAL SESSION.

Pursuant to call of the State Conference Committee, the first session of this Conference was held at the camp-ground, Battle Creek, Mich., Aug. 6, 1874, at 5 o'clock P. M. The meeting was called to order by the President, and opened with prayer by Eld. G. I. Butler.
Credentials of delegates being called for, it was found that twenty-four churches were represented by thirty-six delegates.
Newly organized churches at Flushing, Antrim, and Quincy, were by unanimous vote received into the Conference in conformity with their request for admission.
John Wager, elder of the church at Flushing, and J. Trim, elder of the church at Antrim, were by vote appointed delegates to represent their respective churches.
Believers at Marshall and Hastings who had no church organization, were, according to their request, by unanimous vote received under the watchcare of the Conference until they should be fully organized as churches.
By vote, those brethren present who were members in good standing in this or some other Conference, though not regularly appointed delegates, were invited to take part in the deliberations of the Conference.
The minutes of the last annual meeting were read and accepted.
The following report of the Treasurer was then read and accepted:—

TREASURER'S REPORT

Of the Michigan State Conference of S. D. Adventists for the Conference year beginning Sept. 4, 1873, and ending Aug. 6, 1874. Amount on hand at last report,                     $3,496.64 Received to date,                                  5,874.84 Total,                                             $9,371.48 Amount paid out during the year,                    5,343.36 Balance in treasury at date,                       $4,028.12 Received on Tent Fund,                                $68.35 ADDIE MERRIAM, _Treas._
By vote of the Conference, the President, E. H. Root, was authorized to appoint the usual committees. The following committees were accordingly appointed and notified of their appointments after the close of the meeting:—
On Nominations, R. J. Lawrence, John Byington, S. H. King.
On Resolutions, J. H. Waggoner, U. Smith, H. M. Kenyon.
On Credentials and Licenses, Ira Abbey, J. Fargo, Wm. Potter.
Auditing Committee, E. B. Gaskill, John McGregor, John Day, A. H. Hilliard, D. R. Palmer, S. A. McPherson.
After remarks by Eld. J. N. Andrews regarding the propriety of an examination of the Treasurer's report by the Auditing Committee, the meeting was on motion adjourned to call of the Chair.

SECOND SESSION.

The meeting was called to order by the President, Aug. 14, at 8½ o'clock A. M. Opened with prayer by Eld. S. N. Haskell.
Minutes of the preceding session were read and accepted.
It being desired that as large a number as possible of the churches in the Conference should be represented, opportunity was again given for the presentation of credentials by delegates. Delegates were found to be then present from Bunker Hill and Burlington. Brethren from Alai-edon, Chesaning, Leighton, Owosso, and Williams, were on motion appointed to represent those churches in the Conference as they had sent no delegates. With the additions thus made, the number of churches represented was increased to thirty-seven and the number of delegates to fifty-three.
On motion, the church at Casnovia was disbanded.
The church at Centerville was dropped, by vote, as nearly all the members had removed from the place.
By unanimous vote, the action of the President in disbanding the church at Edenville was approved.
The report of the Committee on Nominations, being called for, was read and on motion accepted.
A few remarks being made by Eld. James White respecting the impropriety of overburdening some while the abilities of others were left undeveloped, it was moved and seconded that the vote just taken by which the report of the Committee on Nominations was accepted, should be rescinded, and the committee continued. Carried.
The report of the Committee on Credentials and Licenses was next presented, recommending that the credentials of the following ministers should be renewed: James White, E. G. White, J. H. Waggoner, John Byington, M. E. Cornell, E. B. Lane, D. H. Lamson, S. H. Lane, R. J. Lawrence, I. D. Van Horn, H. M. Kenyon, C. Stoddard, P. Strong.
Moved and seconded that the credentials of the above-named persons be renewed. Carried.
The Committee also presented the following names of persons whom they deemed worthy to receive licenses to preach: W. H. Littlejohn, J. O. Corliss, Chas. A. Russell, M. B. Miller, D. W. Milk.
Moved and seconded that the persons mentioned receive licenses to preach. Carried.
In accordance with the recommendation of the Committee, it was voted that Brn. U. Smith and E. R. Jones should be set apart to the work of the ministry by ordination and receive credentials.
The Committee on Resolutions reported the following which were unanimously adopted:—
Whereas, The failure of church clerks to make the required reports to the Conference has heretofore been a great source of embarrassment in the workings of the Conference, and Whereas, It will become a still more serious evil as the Conference enlarges its business, and increases in churches and membership, unless corrected, therefore. Resolved, That we deem all such neglect on the part of said clerks, an evidence of a deplorable lack of interest in the cause in which we are engaged, and that such a course is worthy of censure. And we recommend that whenever such failures occur in the future, without just reason, the clerks so failing be removed and others be elected to fill their places. Resolved, That we hereby express our gratitude to God for the results accomplished by the Tract Society in this Conference during the past year; and Whereas, Only about one-half of the membership of the churches of this Conference have as yet enrolled themselves as members of the Tract Society. Resolved, That we recommend and earnestly request all to join this organization, and become working members, that the whole strength of our Conference may be enlisted in the cause of present truth, and we may see a still greater work accomplished for our divine Master.
On motion, the meeting was adjourned to call of the Chair.

THIRD SESSION.

Meeting opened with prayer by Eld. Geo. I. Butler, after being called to order by the President, Aug. 14, at 2 P. M.
Minutes of last session read and approved. The Nominating Committee presented the following report as the result of further consideration:—
For President, E. H. Root, Secretary, J. W. Bacheller; Treasurer, Addie Merriam; State Conference Committee, E. H. Root, J. Fargo, M. S. Merriam.
On motion, the above report was accepted.
Moved and seconded that the above-named persons be elected to their respective offices by a single action. The motion was carried by unanimous vote, whereupon the persons named were declared the officers of the Conference for the coming year.
Moved and seconded that Bro. A. O. Burrill receive license to preach. Carried.
Moved and seconded that the sum of one thousand dollars be pledged to the General Conference for the next Conference year. Carried.
The church at Napoleon made application for admission to the Conference, and was by unanimous vote received.
The company of believers at Richfield was received under the watchcare of the Conference in accordance with their request.
Moved and seconded that the church at Partello be received into the Conference. Carried.
Excellent remarks were made by Eld. James White and Eld. J. N. Andrews respecting the obligation of the Conference to care for those under its watchcare.
On motion, the believers at both Assyria and Kendall were received under the watchcare of the Conference.
On motion, the Chair was empowered to appoint a Camp-meeting Committee of three. The following persons were appointed: J. F. Carman, J. Fargo, Wm. Potter.
Adjourned to call of the Chair.

FOURTH SESSION.

The meeting was called to order Aug. 16, 1874, at 5½ P. M., being opened with prayer by Eld. J. H. Waggoner.
A considerable portion of the time was occupied by Eld. James White in remarks upon the state and wants of the cause, the obligation to properly encourage young ministers, and the necessity for the labors of lay members of experience and judgment among some of the smaller churches.
Moved and supported that Bro. E. H. Root be recommended for ordination. Carried.
Moved and seconded that I. A. Olmstead be granted license to improve his gift during the ensuing year.
On motion, the Chair appointed a committee of three to determine who were proper persons to receive licenses to preach.
On motion, adjourned to call of the Chair. E. H. Root, Pres. J. H. Kellogg, Sec.