North Michigan Conference Proceedings by S. E. Wight; E. A. Bristol

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Nov 3, 1904

North Michigan Conference Proceedings

By S. E. Wight; E. A. Bristol

The second annual session of the North Michigan Conference was held at Mancelona, Mich., on the camp-ground, Sept. 1-12, 1904. Eight meetings were held in all.

The treasurer's report was presented, as follows, and adopted by vote:—

RECEIPTS

Amount on hand, July 1, 1903. $ 446 13 Tithe .................... 6,684 05 Lake Union Conference .... 383 00 West Michigan Conference .. 753 00 Total ..................... $8,266 18

DISBURSEMENTS

Labor and traveling expenses.. $7,000 75 Expenses ..................... 220 32 Lake Union Conference ....... 720 86 One-third cost of mimeograph. 16 42 Tract society bank .......... 307 83 Total ....................... $8,266 18

The Clarence and Whittemore churches were received into the conference by vote, each having twenty members.

The Chair was empowered to appoint the committees, and the following persons were named: On resolutions, Ethel Peters, Lillie Warren, and T. S. Parmalee; on credentials and licenses, Andrew Maples, M. C. Guild, James O'Reilly, W. R. Matthews, and J. J. Irwin; on nominations, C. A. Hansen, D. B. Voorheis, M. Stephens, C. Wood, and J. A. Conklin.

The following recommendations and resolutions were adopted:—

“Whereas, The blessing of God has attended the work of establishing this new conference from its very beginning until now, and,—

“Whereas, An encouraging degree of success has attended its workers, therefore,—

“1. Resolved, That we hereby express our sincere gratitude to God for his blessing; and humbly acknowledge our entire dependence upon his mercy for every blessing that we enjoy.

“2. Resolved, That in response to the request of the Superior Mission field for the North Michigan Conference to consider the advisability of uniting our interests in one conference, thereby eliminating the expense of conducting one conference, we hereby do heartily express ourselves in favor of such a move, and petition the Lake Union Conference Committee to consummate such a union.

“3. Resolved, That we will follow up every opportunity to establish church-schools and provide for the education of our people, especially the children and youth.

“4. Resolved, That Sabbath-school secretaries purchase their supplies as far as possible from the home tract society, and that the surplus donations be sent through the regular channel to the conference treasurer.

“5. Resolved, That we encourage our Sabbath-schools to take the Sabbath School Worker; and that we ask our conference workers to take a special interest in building up the Sabbath-schools wherever they go.

“6. Resolved, That as the Testimonies inform us that there is no more important work than getting our literature into the hands of the people, our efforts in this direction be not allowed to slacken; but that earnest, systematic effort be put forth to persuade all the old canvassers to re-enter the field, and to enlist all others who ought to be in the work.

“7. Resolved, That inasmuch as God has prospered Seventh-day Adventists and others in this territory, that many be encouraged to enter the work and become self-supporting missionaries.

“8. Resolved, That the annual meeting for the election of church officers be held in the beginning of the fourth quarter.

“9. Resolved, That we encourage our people to adopt the envelope plan for the collection of the weekly offerings for foreign missions.

“10. Resolved, That pains be taken to discover and encourage talent; that every means possible be used to develop workers, and that we stand ready to furnish means and workers as the needs of the whole field may require.

“11. Resolved, That, in harmony with the recommendation passed by the Lake Union Conference at its last biennial session, the term of the office of educational secretary expire with the calendar year.

“12. Resolved, That the Almira church be called the Cedar Run church.

“13. Resolved, That all the laborers and church officers in the conference co-operate in urging our people to report to the librarians, and the librarians to promptly report to the secretary.

“14. Resolved, That we earnestly co-operate with the committee appointed by the General Conference to arrange for a missionary campaign this winter, and that this campaign be opened by a missionary convention in each church the first Sabbath in November, and that at these conventions plans be laid for each to devote as much time as possible to missionary work, using the literature that will be especially prepared for this campaign, as well as other literature.

“15. Resolved, That we believe the taking of our church paper to be an indispensable means of keeping in harmony with the advance of the third angel's message, and of avoiding perplexing mistakes, and that we will not be satisfied with our work of extending its circulation until the REVIEW AND HERALD is in every family of our people.

“16. Resolved, That every proper means be taken to pay our share of the General Conference Association debt as speedily as possible, and that we raise at least three hundred and fifty dollars this conference year.”

The following officers were elected for the ensuing year: President, S. E. Wight; Secretary, Edith McClellan; Treasurer of Conference and Secretary of Tract Society, E. A. Bristol; Educational Secretary, Myrta M. Kellogg; Field Secretary, to be filled by the conference committee; Executive Committee, S. E. Wight, W. R. Matthews, M. C. Guild, Andrew Maples, C. A. Hansen; North Michigan Conference Association Committee, S. E. Wight, J. J. Irwin, E. A. Bristol, W. R. Matthews, M. W. Lewis.

Ministerial credentials were granted to S. E. Wight, W. R. Matthews, M. C. Guild, J. J. Irwin, C. Wood, C. A. Hansen; ministerial licenses to O. Montgomery, T. G. Lewis, E. A. Bristol; missionary licenses to E. Jenny Lane, Nellie

Clough, Ethel Peters, Mrs. M. M. Faulkner, Myrta M. Kellogg, Edith McClellan; canvasser's licenses to Moses Whitmarsh, Nellie Whitmarsh, A. M. Byers, C. J. Tolf, Anna Jorgensen, W. S. Wilson, Myrtle House, Effie Walker; church-school teacher's licenses to Mrs. C. J. Tolf, Amy Du Bois, Nona Carr, Zona Carr, Mable Griffin; church-school teacher's permits to Mina Rickerd and Gertrude Wahl.

The last day of the meeting forty were baptized.

S. E. WIGHT, President, E. A. BRISTOL, Secretary.