The Michigan Camp Meeting
THE annual conference and camp meeting for the State of Michigan opened at Alma, on Monday, August 25. There was a departure from the usual program this year in having the conference precede the camp meeting, so that the last week of the gathering might be free from any business meetings. The most important matter considered in the business sessions was the question of dividing the conference. Owing to the large territory included in the two peninsulas, and the fact that there are now about two hundred churches, it has been found impracticable for one committee and one president to give proper attention to the care of the work already in hand, and at the same time to push the development of the work in the unworked portions of their field. The advisability of dividing the conference was first considered by the workers in a meeting especially called for this purpose. Time was then taken for individual consideration of the matter, after which it was again taken up. Elder A. G. Daniells reviewed the experience in the various fields, showing that greater efficiency had resulted from dividing large conferences and placing responsibility upon a larger number of men, thus relieving a few from too heavy burdens, and giving others an opportunity to develop greater usefulness. The workers then gave expression to their convictions that a division of the conference would be expedient. The matter was then presented in the open session of the conference, and a recommendation offered that the Upper Peninsula be set off as a mission field, and that the Lower Peninsula be divided into three conferences. A full statement was made of the reasons leading to this recommendation, and information was given as to the practical effect which it would have upon the division of the membership, the tithe, the property of the conference, etc. The conviction seemed to press itself upon the minds of the people that the step was a right one, and by a rising vote the recommendation was unanimously adopted. A committee was then appointed to establish the lines of division, and to make an equitable division of the conference property. The committee on nominations, previously appointed, was enlarged by the addition of several brethren from the more distant parts of the field, and it was then instructed to bring in recommendations for the officers of the four divisions contemplated in the action already taken. The committee on division of territory and property recommended that the line running east and west, and south of the counties of Mason, Lake, Osceola, Clare, Gladwin, and Arenac, and the line running north and south, and east of the counties of Isabella, Montcalm, Ionia, Eaton, Calhoun, and Branch be the dividing lines of the three conferences to be known as the Northern Michigan Conference, the Eastern Michigan Conference, and the Western Michigan Conference; that the Upper Peninsula be recommended to the Lake Union Conference as a mission field, and that the Battle Creek church be recommended to the watchcare of the General Conference, and that it pay all its tithe to that body. A division of the property interests, based as far as practicable upon the per capita principle, was also reported. These recommendations were adopted with hearty unanimity. The following officers were chosen for the different fields:— Upper Peninsula Mission Field: Superintendent, E. R. Williams; Secretary and Treasurer, Mrs. Florence Hutchinson; Canvassing Agent, E. F. Hutchinson; other members of the committee, O. F. Campbell, M. W. Lewis, Freeman Harris. Northern Michigan Conference: President, S. E. Wight; Secretary, E. A. Bristol; Treasurer, Mrs. M. C. Kenyon; Educational Secretary, John Irwin; Canvassing Agent, A. J. Olsen; other members of the committee, W. R. Matthews, Andrew Maples. Eastern Michigan Conference: President, J. D. Gowell; Secretary and Treasurer, E. I. Beebe; Educational Secretary, S. M. Butler; Canvassing Agent, O. F. Butcher; other members of the committee, E. K. Slade, A. R. Sandborn. Western Michigan Conference: President, A. G. Haughey; Secretary and Treasurer, D. W. Reavis; Canvassing Agent, J. B. Blosser; other members of the committee, I. H. Evans, W. C. Hebner, Dr. S. P. S. Edwards. Leaving out the membership and tithe of the Battle Creek church, the membership and tithe of the several divisions will be approximately as follows: Upper Peninsular Mission Field, membership 130, tithe $1,000; Northern Michigan Conference, membership 650, tithe $4,000; Eastern Michigan Conference, membership 2,100, tithe $16,000; Western Michigan Conference, membership 2,400, tithe $16,500. While the conference was considering these important actions, which have such a marked bearing upon the future of the work in Michigan, several brethren referred to the satisfaction which they felt in recognizing the spirit of harmony which prevailed. Every step was taken with the unanimous concurrence of all the brethren and sisters present, and all seemed to be impressed that as a result of these changes there would be more strength and progress in the future work. The camp meeting will continue until September 7.