CONFERENCE-DISTRICT 3 by A. J. Breed; J. W. Collie

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 2, 1900

CONFERENCE—DISTRICT 3.

By A. J. Breed; J. W. Collie

(Concluded.)

Sixth Meeting.

This meeting was called at five o'clock. Prayer was offered by Elder Anderson, of Wisconsin. Secretary's report accepted. The following resolution was presented by the committee:—

“Whereas, The Spirit of Prophecy has pointed out the fact that the churches are withering up because they have failed to use their talents in diffusing the light of truth to others, and—

“Whereas, There is a great work to be done in spreading the message for this time, before the Saviour shall come in the clouds of heaven, therefore,—

“7. Resolved, That we recommend our churches, companies, and isolated members throughout the District to join the Missionary Reading Circle, and follow carefully the lessons on the message and the field as an aid in preparing them for the missionary work in which they are engaged. We also recommend that Conference and tract society officers, ministers, and workers make a special effort to encourage the Reading Circle work throughout the Conferences; and we further recommend, as of primary importance, the consecutive reading and study of the Scriptures by all Seventh-day Adventists everywhere.”

It having been made apparent that the time had come for a more formal organization of the Conference, the chairman was authorized to appoint a committee of six, whose duty it would be to frame a constitution, and present it to the Conference for approval. J. D. Gowell, N. W. Kauble, E. D. Starr, E. J. Van Horn, R. S. Donnell, and J. N. Anderson were appointed as said committee. Meeting then adjourned.

Seventh Meeting.

The seventh meeting of the session was held Thursday, at 11:30. Minutes of previous meeting approved. Committee on Constitution submitted the following:—

ARTICLE 1.—NAME OF ORGANIZATION.

“This Conference shall be known as the District Conference of General Conference District 3, including Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Ontario. The object of this Conference shall be to further the cause of the third angel's message, and to transact such business as may come under its supervision.”

ARTICLE 2.—OFFICERS.

“The officers of this Conference shall be a president and a secretary. The General Conference superintendent of District 3 shall, by virtue of his office, be president of this Conference. The secretary shall be chosen at each session.”

ARTICLE 3.—MEETINGS.

“The sessions of this Conference shall be held biennially, or more often if necessary, alternating with the sessions of the General Conference.”

ARTICLE 4.—MEMBERSHIP.

“The various State Conferences in the District shall be entitled to as many delegates in the District Conference as there are members on their respective executive committees, the selection to be made by said Conferences. Also that each association and institution in the District be entitled to one representative in the deliberations of the Conference.”

ARTICLE 5.—AMENDMENTS.

“This constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote of all the delegates present at any session of the Conference.”

The constitution was adopted to go into effect at the close of this session.

Resolution 8 was then read by the secretary, and pending its discussion, the time arrived for the close of the meeting.

Eighth Meeting.

After the opening exercises the secretary's report was read and accepted. In the place of resolution 8, which had been presented the day before, the Committee on Plans presented another resolution, and asked the privilege of withdrawing the first one. Granted.

“Whereas, We recognize the importance of church schools, and—

“Whereas, Hasty moves in the matter of their organization and management can only result in defeat of their purpose, therefore we—

“8. Recommend that great care be exercised in the organization of such schools, and the selection of proper instructors; and—

“Whereas, There is danger of disbursing the tithe fund through improper channels, we therefore—

“Recommend that funds for our primary schools be provided by tuitions, subscriptions, and contributions, leaving the tithe to be used for purposes designed by the Testimonies and Conference provisions.”

Ninth Meeting.

The ninth meeting of the Conference was held Friday, at 11:30. Minutes of previous meeting accepted. Committee on Plans further reported:—

“Whereas, The sale of publications has been and will be an important factor in getting the truth before the people, we would, therefore,—

“9. Recommend that our ministers and Bible workers take advantage of this privilege by selling and

distributing as many books, tracts, and papers as they can in connection with their work, and, further, that they encourage others to do the same.”

Sister Haskell spoke of the excellent opportunity offered our Bible workers in getting the truth before the people, and thought every one should use this means in his work. E. P. Boggs advanced the thought that if our ministers would engage in this work, it would be an incentive to the younger workers, and prove a blessing to both. The resolution was adopted.

“10. Resolved, That we give our most hearty support to the Signs of the Times, and, further, that it is the sense of this body that the paper would be better and more representative if the able articles of the special numbers were distributed throughout the regular issues.”

“Whereas, The value and importance of the canvassing work is repeatedly urged upon us by the Testimonies, therefore,—

“11. Resolved, That we recommend that more careful consideration be given to this line of work at all our annual camp-meetings; and that the meetings held in the interests of this line of work partake of the nature of missionary meetings.”

“Whereas, We are exhorted through the Spirit of Prophecy constantly to extend the knowledge of the truth in regions beyond, we therefore,—

“12. Recommend that our ministers in this District be encouraged to labor in new fields the present winter, in so far as this can be done and not prove detrimental to lines of work now in operation.”

These resolutions were spoken to by several of the delegates, and afterward adopted.

It was moved and carried that a copy of the minutes be furnished each State Conference, for publication in its paper.

Resolution 13 was handed in by the committee, and after it was discussed quite freely, was adopted.

“Whereas, The Missionary Magazine is the medium through which the Foreign Mission Board gives information concerning the work in the different fields where missions and missionaries are situated, and—

“Whereas, We are desirous that all our people become better acquainted with the work in the fields, we therefore—

“13. Recommend our ministers and workers generally to use every reasonable effort to place the Magazine not only in the homes of our own people, but in the hands of others as well.”

The business of the session being completed, Elder Breed, the chairman, expressed his pleasure at the privilege which had been afforded in this meeting, and the good feeling which had characterized all the deliberations, and expressed the hope that the good principles which had been brought out in the meeting might be placed in operation in the various Conferences.

The meeting was closed.

A. J. BREED, Chairman, J. W. COLLIE, Sec.