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The General Conference

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Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Dec 6, 1883

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 9, No. 46.

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The General Conference.

By Editor

BRIEF reference was made in last week's SIGNS to the annual session of the General Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists. We now add some interesting items condensed from the Review and Herald's report of proceedings.
The Conference assembled at Battle Creek, Mich., Nov. 8; Eld. Geo. I. Butler, President, presiding.
Delegates were present from California, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, the New England States, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, South Atlantic Mission, Wisconsin, the English Mission, and Sweden.
The Virginia Conference, with a membership of eighty-six, organized during the past year, was admitted to membership.
The President stated that a growing interest is felt among our people in the cause of foreign missions, and in the general work, as manifested in the liberality of their pledges the past season. Although the death of Eld. Andrews has been a sad blow to the cause in Europe, yet encouraging reports of the work there are being received. He further stated that a German paper is greatly needed, and also a paper in England. The Italian brethren are also calling for a paper, even if not more than a quarterly. Larger printing operations are required in Switzerland, and Eld. Matteson should have further assistance in his Scandinavian work. A mission should be established in Australia, and attention should be given to the islands of the Pacific, so that the truth may engirdle the earth. Calls for labor are coming from different quarters; there are many good openings; but where are the men who, in the fear of God and with the salvation of souls in view, will answer the calls? The bitter opposition waged against us this year is a source of encouragement, and we should be preparing to meet a still greater opposition in the near future.
Eld. Corliss gave a statement of the condition and wants of the South Atlantic Mission, which contains 267 white Sabbath-keepers and twenty colored. Laborers are wanted there to forward the work.
Eld. Loughborough, representing the English Mission, detailed the manner of working in that field, the obstacles to be overcome, and the results attained.
Eld. Rosqvist, of Sweden, reported progress in that country, showing how the Lord often uses the opposition and hatred of the evil one to advance the cause of truth. He says there are many openings for labor, but help is greatly needed.
Eld. E. R. Jones, of Colorado, urged the necessity of having another English and one Scandinavian laborer sent to that Conference.
A committee of ten, who had under consideration the matter of adopting a church manual, reported adversely upon the proposition, substantially as follows: We consider it unnecessary because we have already surmounted the greatest difficulties connected with church organization without one; and perfect harmony exists among us on this subject. It would seem to many like a step toward the formation of a creed, or a discipline, other than the Bible—something we have always been opposed to as a denomination. If we had one, we fear many, especially those commencing to preach, would study it to obtain guidance in religious matters, rather than to seek for it in the Bible and from the leadings of the Spirit of God, which would tend to their hindrance in genuine religious experience and in knowledge of the mind of the Spirit. It was in taking similar steps that other bodies of Christians first began to lose their simplicity, and become formal and spiritually lifeless. Why should we imitate them? The committee feel that our tendency should be in the direction of simplicity and close conformity to the Bible, rather than in elaborately defining every point in church management and church ordinances. The report was adopted.
A resolution was passed expressing grief for the death of Eld. J. N. Andrews, condolence with his bereaved family, and appreciation of his faithful and self-sacrificing labors.
Also, a resolution recognizing the necessity of publishing in Europe, papers in the English, German, Italian, and Swedish languages.
It was resolved that the Year Book be issued regularly, and as a committee to prepare the issue for 1884, the Chair appointed Elds. W. H. Littlejohn, H. A. St. John, and M. C. Wilcox.
Also, resolved that Eld. U. Smith be requested to revise for publication, articles written by Eld. Andrews, deceased, on "The Order of Events in the Judgment."
The matter of preparing a history of the manifestation of spiritual gifts in our midst, was referred to the General Conference Committee, with power to select such assistance as they may deem best. And it was voted that a tract of suitable size be published, containing the most pointed arguments on the perpetuity of spiritual gifts, and some of the clearest evidences of personal experience, referring to the larger work for more complete evidence.
It was recommended that our Conferences use all legitimate means to keep the ranks of canvassers well filled with earnest and efficient laborers.
The matter of changing laborers from one field to another was fully discussed, and it was decided that such changes would benefit both ministers and people.
It was resolved to have our leading denominational works translated into the languages of the countries where we have successful missions in Europe. And it was recommended that Bro. A. B. Oyen go, at his earliest convenience, to Europe to engage in this work.
It was voted to increase the General Conference Committee from three to five members; and it was recommended that Eld. Butler visit the missions of Europe as soon as consistent with other duties.
It was voted, as the sense of the Conference, that faithful report of all our general gatherings should be made for the leading papers, and that the services of good reporters, selected from our people, should be secured for this purpose at the commencement of the meetings.
A resolution was adopted amending Art. II, Sec. 1 of the Constitution so as to read as follows: "The officers of this Conference shall be a President, a Recording Secretary, a Corresponding Secretary, a Treasurer, and an Executive Committee of five, of whom the President shall be one."
[As the report from which the foregoing items were culled was not complete, further notes must be deferred until next week.]