North Michigan Conference Proceedings by Edith McClellan

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 18, 1906

North Michigan Conference Proceedings

By Edith McClellan

The fourth annual session of the North Michigan Conference convened at East Jordan, Mich., in connection with the camp-meeting, Aug. 31 to Sept. 9, 1906.

In addition to the local conference laborers, Elders Allen Moon, E. K. Slade, A. G. Haughey, N. W. Kauble, W. D. Curtis, J. G. Lamson, S. M. Butler, M. S. Burnham, B. F. Stureman, and Brethren S. A. Wellman, J. B. Blosser, and E. A. Merriam were present a portion or all of the time.

The Leetsville church, with a membership of twenty-one, and the Cadillac church, with fifteen members, were admitted to the conference.

It was voted that we extend our thanks to the East and West Michigan Conferences for their financial aid to the North Michigan Conference the past year.

Reports were given by the secretary and treasurer of the tract society and by the educational superintendent.

The following resolutions and recommendations were adopted:—

“1. We recommend, That all our churches heartily co-operate with the plans of the General Conference for a missionary campaign that will not cease until this work is finished.

“2. We recommend, The adoption of the dates for the holding of missionary conventions and special efforts with our periodicals and books as suggested by the General Conference.

“3. We recommend, That a colporteurs’ institute be held April 19-30, 1907, and that our brethren and sisters remember to pray for and encourage these workers in every possible way.

“Whereas, Our conference tract and missionary society is carrying a large number of accounts, and,—

“Whereas, This department should be on a sound financial basis,—

“4. We recommend, That our librarians make an especial effort to collect this money and remit it to the society at an early date, and that by precept and example we encourage our brethren to pay cash for their supplies.

“Whereas, There is at present an almost universal demand for religious legislation, as is shown by the many National Reform conventions and by the frequency of religious bills introduced before Congress during the past months, and,—

“Whereas, There is need of immediate action on the part of liberty-loving people to save the cause, and educate the State, municipal, and public officials in general upon this subject, therefore,—

“5. We recommend, That each of our churches as far as consistent, elect a local religious liberty secretary, whose duties shall be to look after the local interests and keep in touch with the conference secretary of the Religious Liberty Department, and,—

“6. We recommend, That our churches as far as possible and consistent see to it that all county and municipal officers be placed as regular subscribers to Liberty, and that we also use our influence to place it in the hands of other influential persons, such as principals of schools, teachers, ministers, lawyers, editors, etc.

“7. We recommend, That our churches hold one or more local religious liberty conventions each year.

“8. Resolved, That we urge suitable persons in every church to utilize the public press in advocating the principles of religious liberty.

“Whereas, Our church-school teachers are doing a work which calls for the most untiring effort, in the performance of which there are great perplexities, and,—

“Whereas, The successful conducting of our church-schools calls for thorough preparation on the part of the teachers, therefore,—

“9. Resolved, That we urge upon our churches everywhere the importance of paying these self-sacrificing workers a salary in keeping with their qualification and services.

“10. We recommend, That as far as advisable the conference provide employment for teachers when not engaged in school work, placing them at work, selling publications, giving Bible readings, assisting in tent-meetings, etc.

“11. Resolved, That we adopt the recommendation of the General Conference

Educational Convention of College View, Neb., relative to the courses of study and text-books.

“12. We recommend, That church-school boards be elected at the regular election of church officers.

“13. We recommend, The placing of all our children and youth in our denominational schools at the earliest possible moment.

“Whereas, There are throughout this conference many young men and women of promise, who are unable to obtain an education necessary to properly qualify them to be workers in the cause of present truth, and,—

“Whereas, The Lord has said, ‘In each conference a fund should be raised to loan to worthy poor students who desire to give themselves to the missionary work; and in some cases, they should even receive donations’ (Vol. VI, page 213), therefore,—

“14. We recommend, That the executive committee be authorized to call for donations to a fund to be used under the direction of said committee, in aiding worthy poor students to obtain an education for the Master’s work.

“Whereas, There is great need of more thorough preparation for Sabbath-school work on the part of officers and teachers, therefore,—

“15. We recommend the use of the Sabbath School Worker.

“16. We recommend, That the executive committee take under consideration the advisability of purchasing suitable property in the city of Hancock for the establishment of a mission school in that city, and we hereby authorize them to solicit a fund for the same.

“17. In harmony with the recommendation of the Lake Union Conference we would urge upon our Sabbath-schools the importance of setting apart the collections of one or more Sabbaths in each quarter for defraying the expenses of the school, the remainder to go to foreign missions.

“Whereas, Experience has demonstrated the value of the Sabbath-school Home Department, therefore,—

“18. Resolved, That we urge upon each of our schools the importance of establishing such a department, and the regular election of a Home Department secretary with the other Sabbath-school officers.

“Whereas, There is great need of a more thorough knowledge of Bible history among our youth, therefore,—

“19. We recommend, The use of Bell’s Series of Bible Lessons in the junior departments of our Sabbath-schools.

“Whereas, The Sabbath-school is a department of the church, therefore,—

“20. We recommend, The election of Sabbath-school officers by the church.”

Ministerial credentials were granted to S. E. Wight, W. R. Matthews, Geo. G. Johnson, M. W. Lewis, and M. C. Guild. Brother O. Montgomery was ordained to the ministry and given credentials. Ministerial licenses were given to R. J. Bellows, E. A. Bristol, T. G. Lewis; honorary ministerial license was given to H. S. Guilford; missionary credentials were given to Isabella Campbell, Ethel Peters, Myrta Kellogg, Inez Lay, Sophie Wahlberg, Edith McClellan, H. W. Johnson; colporteur licenses to I. O. Stedman, K. V. Bjork, A. M. Myers, Florence Crouch, Myrtie Clough, Alma Du Bois, Ettie Young, and Etta Goff.

Officers for the coming year were elected as follows: President, S. E. Wight; Secretary, Edith McClellan; Treasurer, North Michigan Tract Society; Secretary and Treasurer of Tract Society, E. A. Bristol; Field Secretary, H. W. Johnson; Educational Superintendent, Myrta M. Kellogg; Executive Committee, S. E. Wight, W. R. Matthews, O. Montgomery, Geo. G. Johnson, M. Stephens; Trustees of North Michigan Conference Association, S. E. Wight, W. R. Matthews, E. A. Bristol, O. Montgomery, M. Stephens.

EDITH MCCLELLAN, Secretary.