Pacific Union Conference Notes
By F. M. Burg
In the sixth meeting of the conference held at 10 A. M. Feb. 19, 1906, the committee on plans submitted the following partial report:— “Whereas, God in infinite mercy has, during the past two years, granted us as a conference many blessings, both temporal and spiritual, and we are again assembled in conference, surrounded by so many evidences of his love; therefore,— “1. Resolved, That we express our thankfulness and gratitude for his kind providence; and that we hereby renew our covenant relation with him, and pledge ourselves to renewed energy and devotion to his service. “Whereas, A considerable number of delegates express a desire that the Pacific Union Conference be divided into two union conferences; therefore,— “2. We recommend, That this conference consider the advisability of dividing the territory, making the southern boundary of Oregon and Idaho the line of separation. And if such division is agreed upon by action of this conference, we further recommend (a) that the southern division retain the name Pacific Union Conference, and that the northern section assume the name North Pacific Union Conference; (b) that the funds now belonging to the Pacific Union Conference be divided in proportion to the number of Sabbath-keepers in each section; and (c) that the Pacific Union Conference take the oversight of, and provide for, the mission fields of Utah and Arizona; and that the North Pacific Union Conference take charge of, and provide for, the mission fields of British Columbia, Alaska, and Hawaiian Islands. “3. Resolved, That we heartily approve of the continuous missionary-campaign policy adopted by the General Conference, and recommend a united effort in the doing of the different items of work outlined; namely, (a) the placing of the REVIEW AND HERALD in every Sabbath-keeping home; (b) the liberal circulation of message-filled tracts, every Seventh-day Adventist using a pound of Signs Leaflets (about eighteen each of the different kinds) as an entering wedge; (c) a more general use of our missionary periodicals.—The Signs of the Times, Watchman, and Life and Health,—small clubs by isolated members, and large clubs by churches and companies; (d) the development of the interest thus created, by the sale of forty-per-cent books and the relief books, ‘Christ’s Object Lessons’ and ‘Ministry of Healing;’ (e) all these lines of work to be followed by Bible readings, cottage meetings, missionary correspondence, etc. “4. Resolved, That we also approve of the church-depository plan outlined by the Missionary department, whereby the department shall make up assortments of missionary publications valued at perhaps ten, fifteen, and twenty dollars, and we recommend all our churches to secure such assortments, that they may the more readily and effectually give a reason for the hope that is within them. “5. Resolved, That we recommend the more general adoption of the plan of devoting the fourth Sabbath donation to home missionary work.” It was moved to adopt the report by considering each item separately. The first item in reference to a division of the conference called out a lengthy and interesting discussion. When it came to the final vote at the afternoon session, thirty-three delegates supported the recommendation to divide the conference, and fourteen opposed the measure. On motion by Elder M. C. Wilcox, a vote was taken to make it unanimous for division. There was one dissenting voice. It has been especially gratifying to note the tender and brotherly feeling which prevailed in the discussion of this question of so much importance. Indeed, the evidence of divine presence with us has been very clear from the opening meeting of the conference. The delegates from the two sections respectively have been called together with a view to consummate an organization according to the provisions of the recommendation which had been adopted. The remainder of the report from the committee on plans, as given above, was adopted after a very interesting discussion of the several items.