Business Proceedings of the Fifteenth Annual Session of the Michigan State Conference by E. H. Root; J. W. Bacheller

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 26, 1875

Business Proceedings of the Fifteenth Annual Session of the Michigan State Conference.

By E. H. Root; J. W. Bacheller

The fifteenth annual session of the Michigan State Conference of the S. D. Adventists was held on the camp-ground at Battle Creek, Mich., Aug. 11, 1875, at 9 o’clock A. M. The meeting was called to order by the President. Prayer was offered by Eld. H. A. St. John.

Credentials for delegates being called for, it was found that thirty-nine churches were represented by sixty-one delegates. Delegates were by vote appointed to represent their churches as follows:—

Bro. Lewis, from Leighton; sister Smith, from Blendon; Bro. R. Griggs, from Owosso; Bro. A. Hamilton, from Parkville; Bro. E. A. Collard, from Deerfield.

On motion, the following churches were admitted into the Conference: Saranac, Carson City, North Shade, Northern Eaton Rapids, Marshall, Eaton Rapids, Jefferson, and Dryden.

The company of Sabbath-keepers at Mattawan requested organization, and admission into the Conference, which was by vote promised them.

On motion, all brethren present, in good standing, including ministers from other Conferences, were invited to take part in the deliberations of the Conference.

Minutes of the last meeting read and approved.

The Treasurer’s report was called for, and was read.

For the Conference year beginning Aug. 7, 1874, and ending Aug. 10, 1875, the Treasurer reports as follows:—

Amount on hand at last report, $4028.12 Received to date, 5351.89 Total, $9380.01 Paid out during the year, $4737.44 Balance in treasury, 4642.57 Total, $9380.01 Rec’d on tent fund, $54.80 ADDIE MERRIAM, Treas.

On motion, the report was referred to the Auditing Committee.

On motion, the President was authorized

to appoint the usual committees. The following were then announced:—

On Resolutions, U. Smith, S. Brownsberger, and J. H. Kellogg.

On Nominations, J. S. Day, J. H. Kellogg, and Alex Carpenter.

On Credentials and Licenses, E. R. Jones, J. F. Carman and I. A. Olmstead.

On Auditing, S. H. King, A. H. Hilliard, Francis Neilson, E. P. Giles, Franklin Howe, and J. Rumery.

On motion, the meeting adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Second Session.

The second session was called to order by the President, Aug. 11, at 5 o’clock P. M. Prayer by Eld. S. N. Haskell.

Minutes of last session read and approved.

Reports of committees being called for, the Committee on Nominations presented the following: For President, E. H. Root; Secretary, S. Brownsberger; Treasurer, Miss Freddie House; State Conference Committee, J. S. Day, J. Fargo.

On motion, the report was accepted, and voted upon collectively, resulting in the unanimous election of the ticket.

The Committee on Resolutions presented the following report:—

Whereas, Michigan has sent forth able men to labor in other States, to the great detriment of the work in our own Conference, therefore,

Resolved, That in our judgment the condition of the cause in this State at the present time demands the labor of experienced brethren; and we therefore invite Eld. S. N. Haskell to labor for a time in the Tract and Missionary work in this Conference; and we invite Eld. J. N. Loughborough to visit all our churches, and set things in order among them.

Resolved, That we deplore the course of some whose services the cause greatly needs, who by their actions seem to interpret the Saviour’s language in this manner: Seek ye first your farms, or other worldly occupations, instead of the kingdom of God, and all things needful shall be added unto you.

Resolved, That the success of some of our young men who have recently entered the ministry, is a sufficient evidence that scores of others might make themselves efficient in the cause if they would take hold of the work with a spirit of consecration and reliance upon God; and we see not how they can longer bear the responsibility of delaying to take hold of the work.

On motion, the report was accepted. The Resolutions were then read separately, a few remarks made upon them by Eld. James White, and by vote adopted.

The Committee on Credentials and Licenses presented the following report, recommending that the credentials of the following ministers be renewed: James White, Mrs. E. G. White, J. H. Waggoner, John Byington, E. B. Lane, D. H. Lamson, S. H. Lane, R. J. Lawrence, I. D. Van Horn, H. M. Kenyon, C. Stoddard, U. Smith, E. H. Root, J. O. Corliss, J. B. Frisbie, and E. R. Jones.

Voted, That the credentials of these ministers be renewed.

The committee also recommended that the following persons receive licenses, M. B. Miller, D. W. Milk, I. A. Olmstead, E. Van Deusen, J. Fargo, Wm. Potter, H. S. Guilford, John Sisley, R. T. Sisley, Delphus Wellman, Delmar Wellman, sister E. S. Lane, and sister Roby Tuttle.

Voted, That licenses be granted to these persons.

Voted, That Bro. A. O. Burrill receive ordination at the hands of this Conference at the first opportunity.

Voted, That the Chair appoint a camp-meeting committee for the ensuing year.

On motion, the meeting adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Third Session.

Meeting called to order by the President, Aug. 15, at 4 o’clock P. M. Prayer by Eld. John Byington.

Voted, That Bro. E. S. Griggs receive a license.

On motion, one thousand dollars were pledged to the General Conference.

Delegate from Oakland requested that their church be released from their pledge to the Conference for the ensuing year, that they may remove their church building from Oakland to Rochester. On motion, their request was granted.

Delegate from Burlington requested that their church be released from their pledge for the ensuing year, in order to enable them to complete their church building, now in the process of erection. Their request was granted.

Voted, That the minutes of this meeting be published in the Review and Herald. On motion, the meeting adjourned to the call of the Chair.

E. H. ROOT, Pres. J. W. BACHELLER, Sec.