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Greater New York Conference

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 11, 1902

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 79, No. 45.

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Greater New York Conference

By H. W. Cottrell; R. H. Martin

THE first annual session of the Greater New York Conference was held Oct. 7-12, 1902, at 159 E. 112th St., New York City. The president, Elder H. W. Cottrell, presided throughout the session. Fifty-one delegates were seated, representing seven churches.
The first meeting was opened with the singing of the doxology, and prayer was offered by Elder S. N. Haskell. The president then read from the fifteenth chapter of Acts, and in his opening remarks expressed the wish that this session should be a model of Christian piety.
Elder Haskell presented the request of New York City English Church No. 3 to unite with the conference; it was accepted by vote, and its delegates were seated.
The usual committees were chosen, as follows:—
On Nominations: Luther Warren, E. H. M. Sell, C. Meleen, J. J. Kennedy, J. C. Hennessy.
On Ways and Means: E. E. Franke, Edward Nelson, C. H. Edwards, E. E. Miles, S. N. Curtiss.
On Credentials and Licenses: S. N. Haskell, Luther Warren, E. H. Hall, E. E. Franke, O. E. Reinke.
On Auditing: E. H. Hall, R. H. Martin, M. Sheldon, W. B. Walters, J. L. Johnson.
On Revision of Constitution: S. N. Curtiss, J. J. Kennedy, H. W. Cottrell.
Robert H. Martin was elected secretary for the session.
In view of the fact that so many of the brethren were obliged to work in the daytime, it was voted to hold the preaching service in the morning, and to devote the afternoon and evening to the business sessions.
The following resolutions were adopted during the session, after full and free discussion, with wonderful unanimity of sentiment:—
1. Recognizing the many blessings which our Heavenly Father has granted us in the past, and knowing from his messages to us that a wonderful work is to be accomplished in Greater New York, we consecrate ourselves anew to his service, and promise by his help to devote our lives more fully to his service.
And further, we thank him for the reproof and instruction so lovingly sent, and desire to remove every hindrance to the rapid progress of the message in this conference.
Whereas, The Lord has given to us special instructions through the Testimonies of his Spirit, for the work at this time, therefore,—
2. Resolved, That we urge all our people to get these Testimonies, especially Volume VI, and study them prayerfully and earnestly, so that we may advance with the message, and that the truth may lose nothing at our hands.
Whereas, The circulation of the printed page is one of the most effective means of reaching the masses, and,—
Whereas, All our people can do something in this work, therefore,—
3. We recommend the systematic use of tracts in envelopes, as proposed in the Free Fireside Circulating Library, or some similar plan, and urge each one of our people to take up this house-to-house work.
Whereas, The Sentinel of Christian Liberty is the only periodical in the United States devoted wholly to the propagation of the principles of the separation of religion and the state, and as God through his Spirit has highly commended the work of the same, therefore,—
4. We recommend, That our people throughout the conference not only study the periodical themselves, but also circulate it as far as possible, and that The Sentinel be furnished for one year to each of the members of the State Legislature who represent Greater New York City, and that the money for the same be raised at this meeting.
This resolution created much enthusiasm, and about twenty-five dollars was immediately raised toward this Legislature Fund.
5. We recommend, That our conference make an earnest effort to secure means to assist in the building or purchase of a suitable boat for use in New York harbor, to take the place of the small boat known as the “Sentinel.”
6. Resolved, That we recognize our moral responsibility for our quota of “Christ’s Object Lessons.”
In connection with the discussion of this resolution a canvass was made of the audience, resulting in the sale of eight hundred and sixty-two books.
Whereas, The publishing houses agreed to print three hundred thousand copies of the book “Christ’s Object Lessons” for the financial relief of the schools, free of cost, on the condition that the cost of material be met by the people, therefore,—
7. Resolved, That we become responsible for our apportionment of the expense for material, and that we take measures to secure the amount at once.
8. Resolved, That the members of the conference committee be constituted superintendents of districts, as follows: Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, the German work, the Scandinavian work; and that the manager of the Pacific Press Publishing Company be a member of the committee, representing the publishing interests; and that all work be under the general direction of the conference president.
9. Resolved, That a Scandinavian church of Seventh-day Adventists be organized in Manhattan as soon as possible after this meeting closes, and that our Scandinavian brethren and sisters in the other churches who reside in Manhattan be urged to unite with said church.
10. Resolved, That we pay the salary of a teacher in South Lancaster Academy, not exceeding twelve dollars a week, from Jan. 1, 1903, till the close of the school term.
11. Resolved, That we urge all our people to subscribe for the Atlantic Union Gleaner and The Bible Training School.
12. Resolved, That we do everything possible to bring up the standard of our Sabbath-school work, and to this end we recommend that Sabbath-school conventions be held from time to time to make a study of the best methods to be used in our Sabbath schools.
13. Resolved, That we make a special effort to circulate the extra editions of Zions Vaktare and Evangeliets Sendebud among the Scandinavian population of our conference.
14. Resolved, That as officers, ministers, and people we give our most hearty and intelligent support to the regular canvassing work, to the end that our publishing houses be more fully employed in the publication of present truth, and that the truth in printed form be given to the world.
The following officers were elected for the ensuing year: President, H. W. Cottrell; Superintendent of Bronx, C. H. Edwards; Superintendent of Manhattan, E. E. Franke; Superintendent of Brooklyn, Luther Warren; Superintendent of German work, O. E. Reinke, Superintendent of Scandinavian work, C. Meleen; Superintendent of mission, S. N. Haskell; Representative of publishing interests, S. N. Curtiss; Secretary, R. H. Martin; Treasurer, E. H. Hall; Auditor, George W. Palmer; Sabbath-school Secretary, S. N. Curtiss; Assistant Sabbath-school Secretary, Mrs. S. N. Curtiss; Educational Secretary, Luther Warren.
Credentials were granted to O. E. Reinke, C. Meleen, Luther Warren, C. H. Edwards, A. Anderson.
Ministerial Licenses were given to George A. King, W. R. Uchtmann, Geo. A. Stevens, and missionary licenses to Mrs. E. H. Hall, Bessie Shonsbye, Mary Hanniford, Mrs. R. Leo, Mrs. M. A. Neale, J. H. Carroll, J. J. Kennedy.
The laborers gave brief reports of their work during the year, and the president’s closing remarks were full of encouragement and good cheer. Meeting closed with benediction by Elder S. N. Haskell.
H. W. COTTRELL, President.
R. H. MARTIN, Secretary pro tem.