Report of the Thirteenth Annual Session of the N. Y. and Pa. Conference by B. L. Whitney; S. B. Whitney

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 13, 1874

Report of the Thirteenth Annual Session of the N. Y. and Pa. Conference.

By B. L. Whitney; S. B. Whitney

CONFERENCE convened according to notice at Kirkville, N. Y., Sept. 10, 1874. Twenty-eight churches were represented by thirty-four delegates, and two by letter. Two new partially organized churches, at Corydon, Pa., and Silver Hill, St. Law. Co., were admitted to the Conference, and a company of believers at Pierrepont, St. Law. Co., was taken under its watchcare. The usual invitation was extended to other brethren present to engage in the discussion of business.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved, after which it was

Voted, To appoint a committee of three to examine the records of the Conference, in relation to the standing of the churches whose names appear therein. It was then

Voted, That the Chair appoint the several business committees. Objections being raised to that course, the President declined, whereupon it was

Voted, That R. F. Cottrell, S. B. Whitney, and C. O. Taylor be authorized to nominate said committees. Adjourned to call of Chair.

A short session was called at 10 o'clock, A. M., Sept. 11, to receive the nominations, when the following report was made. For Committee on Nominations: A. H. Hall, J. M. Lindsay, D. B. Green; Committee on Resolutions: R. F. Cottrell, S. B. Whitney, F. Wheeler; Committee on Credentials, &c.: S. N. Walsworth, Daniel Bowe, C. A. Osgood; Auditing Committee: A. H. Hall, Henry Brown, Daniel Bowe, M. S. Tyre, J. M. Lindsay, Wm. Coats; Committee to examine the Conference records, &c.: P. Z. Kinne, R. F. Cottrell, S. B. Whitney.

The report was approved and the nominees declared elected by a single vote.

Another session was called at 8½ o'clock, A. M., Sept. 14. The President being indisposed, B. L. Whitney was called to the chair. The following names were presented by the Nominating Committee for Conference officers, viz.: President, B. L. Whitney; Conference Committee, P. Z. Kinne, S. N. Walsworth; Secretary, S. B. Whitney; Treasurer, Chas. E. Green.

The report was accepted, and the officers elected in a body. The Committee on Resolutions made their report, which was approved, and the following resolutions adopted by a rising vote:—

1. That we deeply deplore our present condition of lukewarmness, and hereby express our gratitude to God and his servants for the strait testimony borne to us during this meeting; and we mean by God's grace to so receive and practice the same that we may see the cause rise and prosper among us, as we hear of it in other places.

2. That our confidence in the spirit of prophecy developed among us is increasing, and we more than ever before feel our great obligation to God for the benefit we have received through this channel, and especially in favoring us with the presence and labors of sister White at this meeting; and we hereby pledge anew our hearty co-operation with God's dear servants whom he has led and is still leading out in this work.

3. That we approve of the broader plans of operations proposed to our people, and esteem it a privilege as well as duty to aid in sustaining the cause and establishing a branch office of publication on the Pacific Coast.

The congregation was called upon to express themselves upon the second resolution which they did unanimously by rising.

In behalf of the chairman, Bro. Butler presented the Auditor's report, accompanied by close and timely remarks by himself and sister White, after which the following resolution was adopted:—

Resolved. That in the judgment of the Conference, the labors of our aged brethren, Wheeler, Cottrell, Edson, and Arnold, in case they receive credentials, should be mainly in a local sphere, looking to themselves mainly for their support.

The Committee on Credentials and licences reported as follows, viz.: For credentials, J. N. Andrews, S. B. Whitney, F. Wheeler, C. O. Taylor, R. F. Cottrell, D. Arnold, H. Edson, C. B. Reynolds. For licences, B. L. Whitney, A. P. Bump, Jacob Wilbur, D. B. Welch. The report was approved, and the recommendations confirmed in each case.

The committee appointed to examine the records of the Conference, reported that in their judgment, the best thing to be done was to make a selection of such churches as are known to be in comparatively good working order, to constitute the present Conference list, and accordingly present the following as such selection; suggesting that the name of the church in Clarkson be changed to Parma, and the condition of the church in Rochester be inquired into more fully than they had been able to; viz.: Adams Center, Allegany Co., Bangor, Brookfield, Buck's Bridge, Catlin, Chester, Clarkson, Corydon, Pa., College, East Elma, Farmington, Pa., Fine, Genoa, Keene, Kirkville, Lancaster, Mansville, Middle Grove, Norfolk, Olcott, Oswego, Parish, Pitcairn, Portville, Ridgeway, Rochester, Roosevelt, Silver Hill, Ulysses, Pa., Vermillion, Vermontville, Verona, West Monroe, and Wheeler.

It was also recommended that other companies of believers either disband and unite with other churches, or take steps to get into a condition to be properly united to the Conference. Report accepted.

The name of Clarkson was changed to North Parma. Rochester was referred to the Conference Committee. The foregoing list was then accepted as the present standing of the Conference.

The selection of a camp-meeting committee being considered, it was

Voted, That the President nominate such committee, whereupon the following persons were presented and duly appointed, viz.: Daniel Bowe, W. H. Eggleston, E. Wilbur Whitney.

The following resolution was adopted:—

Resolved, That we most earnestly request the General Conference Committee, if in their judgment it is at all consistent, to send Bro. Canright to labor in this State, according to the suggestion of Bro. White.

Voted, To appropriate $1000 to the General Conference.

Voted, To purchase the forty-foot tent that Brn. Kinne and Whitney have on hand.

Voted, That the entire sums of S. D. in the churches be placed in the Conference treasury.

Voted, To publish these minutes in the REVIEW. Adjourned sine die.

B. L. WHITNEY, Pres.

S. B. WHITNEY, Sec.