The General Conference Committee Council
By Arthur G. Daniells
WE have just closed a very pleasant, profitable, and encouraging council of the General Conference Committee. Owing to the pressure of work in all parts of the field, and the arrangement to hold a full meeting of the committee in the spring of 1907, it was hoped that it would not be necessary to call a meeting this spring. But during the winter so many important questions came from all parts of the great field in which we are operating for the officers of the General Conference Committee to deal with, it was deemed necessary to call a meeting of the members residing in North America. About thirty persons attended this meeting. These consisted of the officers of the General Conference, seven union conference presidents, three vice-presidents, the chairman and secretary of the Sabbath-school Department, chairman of the Educational Department, chairman and secretary of the Medical Department, Brethren Haffner, Reinke, and Mortensen of the Foreign Department, G. M. Brown, superintendent of the Mexican Mission field, and Elder A. O. Tait, representing the Pacific Press, and the officers of the publishing committee; Elders C. H. Edwards and Morris Lukens, who were called in to aid in the auditing work, attended a portion of the council. We were pleased to invite Elder J. H. Morrison, who was in Takoma Park, to be free to attend our meetings. The council did not attempt to deal with the details of administration. Only the large, weighty matters were taken up. These related to every department of our work in both home and foreign fields. The following were some of them: Time and place of the full meeting of the committee which is to be held in 1907; the subject of the next week-of-prayer readings, and the selection of the writers; supplying help for the summer camp-meetings; the next fall and winter missionary campaign; the educational convention for 1906; the fall campaign for the special number of The Signs of the Times; organizing and developing the Medical Department of our cause; development of the Foreign Department work; strengthening the work in all Canada, especially the western part; providing General Conference laborers to attend union conference sessions in Europe, Africa, and Australasia; holding general council meetings in India, China, and Japan during the winter of 1906-07; raising funds for the rapid extension of our work in all lands, and selecting efficient young men to fill a number of pressing calls in mission fields. We arranged to hold three sittings each day—from 9 to 12 A. M., and from 2 to 4 and from 5 to 7 P. M. The early morning and evening hours were given to the committees to prepare reports on questions assigned them. The council was appointed to hold one week, but it continued ten days. One afternoon was taken by the brethren to visit the Supreme Court then in session, and the Senate and House of Representatives. During the entire council the members gave close, earnest, serious attention to the weighty matters before them. Some of the questions were very perplexing and far-reaching in character.6But they were dealt with in a patient, harmonious, courageous manner, that solved many of the difficulties and brought relief and courage to the officers of the General Conference. The most important decisions will be written up for the REVIEW from week to week. It was a pleasure to have with us at this meeting, Elder Geo. I. Butler, who has had a long, varied, and valuable experience in this cause. Brother Butler is enjoying the best of health, and is hopeful regarding the final triumph of this message. His firm, sturdy, courageous counsel from the beginning till the close of the meeting was greatly appreciated. To our brethren and sisters it may be said that the outlook before us never appeared brighter than it does this day. Let us all thank God and take courage.