MICHIGAN CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS by J. D. Gowell; J. S. Hall

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 24, 1901

MICHIGAN CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS.

By J. D. Gowell; J. S. Hall

The forty-first annual session of the Michigan Conference was held at Lansing, Mich., on the camp-ground, Aug. 15-25, 1901. Nine meetings in all were held. On motion the reading of the minutes of the last session was waived. The Treasurer’s and Auditor’s reports were presented, as follows, and adopted by vote:—

Treasurer’s Report.

RECEIPTS.

Item	Amount
Cash on hand July 1, 1900	$3,102 17
Tithe for twelve months	36,895 62
Donation Mich. S. S. Ass’n	300 00
Camp-meeting Fund	2,574 98
Sanitarium Endowed Bed	14 59
Michigan Conference Ass’n	406 09
Total	$43,383 45

DISBURSEMENTS.

Item	Amount
Labor	$29,836 21
Donation to Southern schools	700 00
Sanitarium Endowed Bed	140 00
Camp-meeting Expenses	2,510 38
Mich. Conference Association	2,943 80
Tithe to General Conference	2,668 47
Tithe refunded to sanitarium	1,261 98
Postage, revenue, printing, books, and blanks	106 75
Cash on hand July 1, 1901	3,215 86
Total	$43,383 45

REVIEW AND HERALD, Treas.

Auditor’s Report.

Battle Creek, Mich., July 23, 1901.

THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That I have carefully examined the books of the Treasurer of the Michigan Conference, checking by vouchers and receipt stubs, and find them in perfect order and correctly kept. W. H. EDWARDS, Auditor Lake Union Conference.

The following churches were received into the Conference by vote: Glenwood, with twenty-four members; Rapson, with twenty-three members; and Iron River, with twenty-six members.

The Chair was empowered to appoint the committees, and the following persons were named: On Resolutions, S. M. Butler, F. D. Starr, and J. G. Lamson; on Credentials and Licenses, Wm. Ostrander, J. H. Thompson, F. D. Starr, C. N. Sanders, and E. N. Hatt; on Nominations, J. H. Thompson, D. Hale, R. C. Horton, O. F. Campbell, and W. R. Matthews; on Constitution and Laws, J. S. Hall, W. R. Matthews, and J. G. Lamson.

The following recommendations and resolutions were presented by the committee, and adopted:—

1. That it is inexpedient at this time to make the proposed change in the Constitution of the Conference so as to permit all members in attendance at any Conference session to be delegates.

2. That your committee deems it impracticable and unwise to recommend to the churches the election of one person as treasurer to receive all the church funds, such as tithes, Sabbath-school offerings, tract society money, and donations.

3. Inasmuch as a precedent has already been established in this Conference of calling in a number of leading brethren to consult with the President and Conference Committee relative to the appointment of standing committees, and to act as an advisory committee during the sessions of the Conference, it is deemed inexpedient for this Conference to pass a resolution which will bind the actions of future Conferences.

We recommend—

4. That an invitation be extended by this Conference to the Auditor of the Lake Union Conference to audit the books, and familiarize himself with the business of this Conference.

5. That all missionary money received by the Treasurer of the Michigan Conference be sent direct to the Missionary Treasurer of the General Conference, without passing through the office of the Lake Union Conference.

6. That this Conference continue to pay the salaries and traveling expenses of the Sabbath-school and church-school general officers.

7. That this Conference retain sufficient of the Sabbath-school donations to pay all incidental expenses connected with the Sabbath-school Department of the Conference, and that the remainder be sent to the Mission Board Treasurer of the General Conference.

8. That this Conference grant missionary teachers’ licenses to approved church-school teachers.

9. That this Conference elect a State canvassing agent in the same manner as Conference officers are elected, and that he be a member of the Executive Committee of the Conference.

10. The continuance of the Conference Board of Education, and that this board consist of the Conference Superintendent of schools, one member of the faculty of the Missionary College at Berrien Springs, to be chosen by them, and the Principal of the Cedar Lake Academy; that all applicants for positions as teachers in church schools pass a satisfactory examination before this board.

11. That the Board of Control of Cedar Lake Academy consist of the Conference Committee, the Principal of the faculty, and the Business Manager of the academy, and that this Board of Control choose its own chairman and secretary.

12. All relative to boards of control of other industrial schools was referred back to Committee on Plans, and was not reported on again.

13. That the Michigan Conference Committee be empowered to continue the maintenance of Elder Munson in the foreign field, in harmony with the resolutions heretofore passed by this Conference.

14. That this Conference indorse the action of the Michigan Conference Committee in maintaining Brother Byron Hagle in the Southern field for one year.

15. That the Michigan Conference indorse the action of the Michigan Conference Committee in re-establishing the Field Echoes, and that we encourage them to make the State paper still more efficient.

16. That the work heretofore carried on by the Michigan Tract Society be performed by a department of the Conference, to be known as the Missionary Department; that the one who shall have charge of this department be known as the Missionary Secretary and Treasurer; and that said Secretary and Treasurer be elected at each annual session of the Conference, in the same manner as other Conference officers.

17. That the work heretofore carried on by the Michigan Sabbath-school Association be performed by a department of the Conference to be known as the Educational Department; that the one in charge of this department be known as the Superintendent of the Sabbath-schools and church schools; that he be a member of the Executive Committee of the Conference; that this officer be elected at the annual session of the Conference; and that the Conference Committee be empowered to appoint a Corresponding Secretary and Treasurer of this department to assist the Superintendent.

18. That librarians render quarterly statements to church-members, and that the Conference Committee prepare suitable blanks for this purpose.

19. The adoption of the resolution of the Lake Union Conference relative to the scope of work of church schools and industrial schools, as follows: That church schools cover, ordinarily, six years of work, and that industrial schools cover four years of work; but that in special cases, either in church schools or industrial schools, more advanced work may be done, if it appears in the judgment of the managers and faculty that such should be the case.

20. That the postage and stationery expenses of the Superintendent of Schools be paid out of the Sabbath-school funds.

21. That the Executive Committee be empowered to support two more laborers in a foreign field during the ensuing year, provided the funds of the Conference will warrant them in so doing.

22. That this Conference instruct its representative on the board of trustees of the college farm as to the disposition to be made of that property. The Michigan representative was instructed to do his part toward selling the farm.

23. Resolved, That we urge upon our people a more general observance of the plan of paying ten cents per week for the support of missions.

The following was referred to the Executive Committee:—

24. Inasmuch as the cost of maintaining the Detroit Mission appears to be out of proportion to the results obtained, we therefore—

Recommend, That the Conference consider the advisability of selling the property as soon as practicable, and make other provision for the continuance of the work in that city.

The following were introduced from the floor, and adopted:—

Whereas, There is such an urgent need of Bible work in our cities, and we have so few workers in that line, we therefore—

Recommend, That a special effort be made to encourage and induce suitable persons to prepare for and enter the Bible work.

We recommend that greater efforts be made to extend the knowledge of the present truth among the Germans in this Conference.

Knowing that our esteemed fellow laborer and burden-bearer, Elder H. D. Day, has been and still is sorely afflicted, we extend to him and his family our heartfelt sympathy, praying that God may in a special manner bless and sustain them.

On motion it was voted to amend Article II, Section 1, of the Constitution, so as to read as follows: The officers of this Conference shall consist of a President, Secretary, Treasurer, and an Executive Committee of seven members, of whom the President shall be one.

The following were elected officers for the ensuing year: President, J. D. Gowell; Secretary, E. I. Beebe; Treasurer, Review and Herald; Superintendent of Sabbath-schools and church schools, Elder S. M. Butler; State Canvassing Agent, Elder S. E. Wight; members of the Executive Committee, J. D. Gowell, S. M. Butler, S. E. Wight, W. R. Matthews, E. K. Slade, M. J. Cornell, Dr. S. P. S. Edwards.

Ministerial credentials were voted to the following-named persons: E. H. Root, J. L. Edgar, J. D. Gowell, R. C. Horton, F. D. Starr, H. M. Kenyon, H. D. Day, O. F. Campbell, L. N. Lane, W. C. Hebner, S. M. Butler, W. R. Matthews, William Ostrander, C. N. Sanders, M. B. Miller, R. W. Munson, E. R. Williams, H. W. Miller, E. K. Slade, O. Soule, A. R. Sandborn, W. H. Falconer, M. C. Guild, B. F. Stureman, Eugene Leland, L. G. Moore, T. M. Steward, J. C. Harris, S. E. Wight, W. D. Parkhurst, John Irwin, Jr., C. P. Haskell, John W. Covert, H. R. Johnson, and M. W. Lewis.

The following received ministerial license: R. E. Harter, O. F. Butcher, Fred Brink, F. J. Harris, C. A. Hanson, C. E. Leland, M. Shepard, W. E. Videto, Chaney Wood, M. D. Warfe, J. G. Lamson, H. G. Lucas, T. G. Lewis, J. G. Wilson, Dr. S. P. S. Edwards, and Mrs. E. R. Williams.

Missionary license was given to E. A. Bristol, Mrs. R. W. Munson, Mrs. C. F. Beebe, Mrs. Mina Videto, Mrs. Mae R. Warfe, Mrs. Agnes Harris, Mrs. M. M. Faulkner, Mrs. Florence Hutchinson, Mrs. M. C. Kenyon, Maggie Banks, Emily Campbell, Clara Hildreth, Mina Hildreth, Clara Keip, Lucy Tyte, E. Jennie Lane, Minnie E. Lay, Mina Pierce, Emma Schilling, Alice M. Slade, Fannie Black, Bertha Snyder, Belle Campbell.

It is further understood that Brother L. Terry remain in the tract and missionary office, and C. G. Howell engage in church-school work.

Voted, that the surplus, or as much thereof as is needed, of the camp-meeting fund be loaned to

the Conference Committee to be used in improvements at the Cedar Lake school; that the Conference Committee be instructed to assist the Battle Creek College in defraying the expenses of the past year to the amount of $500; that Dr. Edwards be placed upon the Michigan Conference pay roll as a teacher in the Emmanuel Missionary College at Berrien Springs; that the Conference pay $700, in monthly installments, toward the support of the schools in the South. J. D. GOWELL, Pres. J. S. HALL, Sec.