p. 5 | An Important Council by Arthur G. Daniells

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Sep 24, 1903

An Important Council

By Arthur G. Daniells

The fall council of the General Conference Committee will be held in Washington, D. C., October 7-21. This arrangement has been made with members of the Committee, after as mature counsel as conditions have permitted. On account of the expense, loss of time from active work in the field, and numerous inconveniences involved in holding such a council, we have hesitated to meet this fall. But the questions requiring the immediate study and decision of the whole Committee are so many, so important, and so imperative that we believe the cause will suffer if we fail to come together at an early date.

That our people may understand in some measure the important, far-reaching questions with which the Committee will have to deal, I will here mention some of those already on the list:—

1. The Approaching Union Conference Sessions.—When and where shall they be held? How shall they be conducted so as to secure the largest results possible? What general help shall be furnished each? What can be done to perfect the organization of each?

2. Work With “Christ’s Object Lessons.”—Shall this work now be dropped? Shall it be left to drift? Shall the plans for conducting this work be reorganized? If so, what general arrangement can be made that will give promise of good returns?

3. The Week of Prayer.—Preparation of readings. What can be done to secure a general observance and larger results? Shall the old plans be followed?

4. Home Missionary Work.—Should not a great forward movement, or winter missionary campaign, be set on foot at an early date this fall? If so, what shall be the general plan? Who can be selected to take charge of the plan, and push it vigorously in all parts of the home field? Shall this plan embrace efforts—

(a) To place every minister who can possibly be spared for that purpose, in a new field; well supplied with literature, to carry on an earnest effort to lead people to accept the truth?

(b) To place at work in our cities capable Bible workers, to hold Bible readings and distribute literature?

(d) To enlist the rank and file of our people in America in an earnest and continuous effort to place our papers and tracts in the hands of all their neighbors? What special literature should be prepared for such a missionary effort? and who should be selected to prepare it?

5. Finances.—What can be done during the coming winter to raise sufficient means to meet the appropriations voted by the Committee last spring in the general council at Battle Creek, for both the evangelical work and the establishment and equipment of institutions? Furthermore, what can be done to dispose of the General Conference overdraft of thirty-four thousand dollars, the accumulation of deficits covering a number of years? And still further, what steps should be taken to close out the assets and liabilities of the General Conference Association? These assets and liabilities are about even, and amount to two hundred thousand dollars. Instead of the General Conference Association being able to render the cause valuable service, it is in its present condition really a burden. Can not its affairs be wound up, and a new and better arrangement be made?

6. Camp-Meetings.—Do they pay as now conducted? How can they be made more profitable to the cause? What steps can now be taken thoroughly to reorganize and revitalize this plan of gathering and teaching and reviving our people?

7. Washington Enterprises.—When shall definite steps be taken to develop the work in Washington in harmony with the instruction from the spirit of prophecy?

(a) Shall vigorous efforts be made this winter to preach the third angel’s message in the city of Washington, and to carry on a strong Bible-reading and house-visitation work? Shall special efforts be made while Congress is in session to carry on religious-liberty work? Who can be secured for all these lines of work? and how can they be supported?

(b) Shall good, creditable treatment rooms for medical missionary work be opened in Washington before Congress convenes? If so, who shall take the work in charge?

(d) Shall the work of clearing the ground and erecting the school be started this fall on the tract of land purchased in Takoma Park?

(e) What plans shall be laid for the erection of a sanitarium on the same tract of land?

(f) How shall all the plans affecting the development of the work in Washington be arranged? Who shall be secured to carry them forward? and from what source shall means be raised for the work?

8. Should Arrangements be made at an early date by which members of the General Conference Committee can visit the European and other foreign fields during the year 1904?

9. The Education and Work of our young men and young women.

(a) By what means can we place in our training-schools for Christian workers the thousands of our young people who are attending worldly schools?

(b) What plans can be laid to set to work in the field the young people who attend our schools?

These are some of the general questions affecting the development of our work at home and abroad, that should receive earnest, extended, and prayerful study of the members of the General Conference Committee. They are problems that are daily facing the officers of the Committee. We are unable to settle them; it is not our place to do so; they rest with the whole Committee, and but little progress can be made in the solution of these problems until the entire Committee shall meet and deal with them.

Owing to the great scope of the work to be done at the coming council, and the intelligent, strong co-operation we must have from the State conferences, we have invited the State conference presidents who can consistently do so, to join us. We shall need their counsel very much, and they will need the information that can be secured only by being present.

This is especially true of that part of our work that relates to the development of the publishing interests in the East. The territory of the new Review and Herald Publishing Association that has been incorporated in Washington is composed of the Atlantic, Canadian, Lake, and Northern Union Conferences, and all the members of these union conference committees, with the General Conference Committee, have the responsibility of shaping the policy of this corporation. They have not had an opportunity to meet since the new corporation has been formed. Broad, progressive plans should at once be laid for the development of this work. This will be a most opportune time to do this.

Much more might be said regarding the work the Committee will have to do, but I believe that the brief outline given above will help our brethren and sisters to appreciate the fact that our task is great, and, further, that it will help you to pray for us during the council.

A. G. DANIELLS.