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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 14, 1871

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 37, No. 9.

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Business Proceedings

By James White; Uriah Smith

OF THE NINTH ANNUAL SESSION OF THE GENERAL CONFERENCE OF S. D. ADVENTISTS.
CONFERENCE assembled according to appointment in REVIEW, Feb. 7, 1871. Prayer by Eld. J. N. Andrews.
Delegates being called for, credentials were presented by the following brethren:
N. Y. & Pa. Conference. J. N. Andrews.
Ohio. I. D. Van Horn (by invitation of Conference).
Mich. & Indiana. Jas. White, D. R. Palmer, S. H. King, E. H. Root, Jas. Harvey.
Illinois. R. F. Andrews.
Wisconsin. C. W. Olds.
Iowa. Geo. I. Butler, D. M. Canright.
Minnesota. Stephen Pierce.
Maine. J. H. Waggoner (by invitation of Conference).
New England Conf. S. N. Haskell. By invitation of Conference, M. E. Cornell also acted as delegate from New England.
Kansas & Mo. R. J. Lawrence (by invitation of Conference).
On motion, all ministers present were invited to participate in the deliberations of this Conference.
Minutes of last Conference read and accepted.
Gen’l Conference Summary for the Y’r 1871.
Names of Conferences Ministers Licentiates Churches Number of Members S. B. Funds Pledged S. B. Funds raised by the Churches S. B. Funds pledged to Conference S. B. Funds pledged to Gen’l Conf. S. B. Funds on hand
Maine 1 5 9 194 $950.00 — $10.00 $940.00 $500.00
New England 2 2 16 300 3044.60 — — 3044.60 $160.00; $500.00
Vermont 5 4 12 262 1501.34 172.01 1329.33 $50.00 34.00
N. Y. & Penn. 5 5 24 589 2954.07 201.54 2752.53 — —
Ohio 4 4 10 194 1220.01 108.50 1111.41 — 675.25
Michigan & Ind. 11 14 53 1543 5779.81 3851.93 3927.88 — 2000.00
Wisconsin 2 4 17 450 2551.00 — 2551.00 530.00 100.00
Illinois 2 4 8 178 875.00 — 875.00 — —
Minnesota 2 2 9 250 990.50 — 990.50 100.00 —
Iowa 2 4 18 400 2400.00 — — 300.00 650.00
Kansas & Mo. 1 — 5 — — — — — —
California Mis. 1 — 4 130 800.00 — 800.00 — —
Swiss Mission 1 — — 60 — — — — —
Total 35 34 185 4550 $23066.42 $2343.98 $18322.25 $1110.00 $3959.25

COMMITTEES APPOINTED.

Auditing Committee. E. H. Root, Jas. Harvey.
On Nominations. Geo. I. Butler, J. Sanborn, E. H. Root.
On Resolutions. J. N. Andrews, D. M. Canright, Jas. Harvey.
Eld. H. P. Burdick, S. D. Baptist, being present, was invited to participate in the deliberations of the Conference.
Missionary reports were called for, and presented by the following brethren:
Eld. J. H. Waggoner spoke of his labors in Maine, giving an encouraging account of the prospects of the cause in that State.
Bro. Cornell spoke of the cause in Boston, Mass., and vicinity.
Bro. Lawrence spoke of labors in Kansas and Missouri. Reported five organized churches in that Conference, and four other places where regular meetings are held.
Bro. Matteson spoke of his labor in the same field. He also gave a very encouraging account of the interest he found among the Danes and Norwegians in Michigan and Wisconsin.
Bro. White spoke of his labors in different parts of the field, especially during the camp-meeting season, referring for particulars to his reports published in the REVIEW.
Treasurer’s report presented, showing the following result:
Indebtedness of Conference at last report, $272.90 Received from March 15, 1870, to Feb. 7, 1871, $3261.42 Pd. out as per book, during same time, $2535.16 Bal. in Treas. Feb. 7, 1871, 453.36 $3261.42
Report accepted.
By vote it was left to the Gen. Conf. Committee to arrange for preaching during the Conference.
Adjourned to 3 P. M.
SECOND SESSION. Committee on Nominations reported, for President, the coming year, Jas. White; Secretary, U. Smith; Treasurer, A. P. Van Horn; Executive Committee, Jas. White, J. N. Andrews, W. H. Littlejohn.
These persons were thereupon elected to their respective offices.
Committee on Resolutions reported the following for the consideration of the Conference:
1. Resolved, That we recognize in the present condition of the Pope of Rome and the Sultan of Turkey, unmistakable evidence that we have reached the very conclusion of the great lines of prophecy, and that our confidence in the speedy advent of our Lord is unwavering. Adopted.
2. Resolved, That we cherish the cause of the Sabbath, identified as it is with that of the moral law, as holy and elevated, and that we pledge ourselves to continue earnest effort that we may lead many to its sacred observance. Adopted.
3. Resolved, That we deeply regret the circumstances which rendered it impracticable that our delegate to the Seventh-day Baptist General Conference should attend the session of that body last September. We recall with much satisfaction the visit of their delegate, Prof. Jonathan Allen, at our session one year since; and we express anew our earnest desire to maintain with this body of Sabbath-keepers the most friendly Christian relation. And as the most suitable manner to give effect to this feeling, we again appoint our esteemed Bro. Eld. Jas. White to represent us as a delegate to this people, with power, in case of inability to attend, to appoint a substitute.
After interesting remarks by Elds. J. N. Andrews and H. P. Burdick, this resolution was adopted.
4. Resolved, That we highly appreciate the faithful and abundant labors of Eld. Jas. White in many departments of the work as preacher, writer, general publishing agent, and editor, and also as having the care of many other matters pertaining to the advancement of the cause, and the well-being of mankind. We consider that the prosperity which has attended his management of our publishing interests fully sustains and justifies the statements of the Testimonies relative to his call to this position. And while we earnestly invite him to retain his oversight of the work of publication, we do, as an act of justice, request him to take a furlough that shall be sufficient to enable him fully to recover his wonted strength. We judge that a much smaller amount of business might be well for some months to come, and that this could be placed in the hands of others, who should act with his counsel. Adopted.
5. Resolved, That we re-affirm our abiding confidence in the Testimonies of Sr. White to the church, as the teaching of the Spirit of God, and that we have each year continual and growing evidence that they are such. Adopted.
6. A sixth resolution touching the Health Reform, after remarks by Brn. Waggoner, White and Burdick, was recommitted to the committee for a revision of its phraseology.
7. Resolved, That we express our deep interest in the work of Bro. Matteson in carrying the truth to the Danes and Norwegians in our country, and that we assure him of our sympathy and support. Adopted.
8. Whereas, God has shown that there should be picked men at the heart of the work, and, Whereas, Heretofore the cause has suffered for the lack of such men who would help to bear burdens, and, Whereas, We think there are those among us who would please God and relieve his overtasked servants by coming and helping in such things as they could do, therefore, Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to select such men to remove to Battle Creek, as they shall think duty calls to this place. Adopted.
9. Resolved, That we regret the lack of a missionary spirit among our people, and that we encourage proper men and women, especially the young, to consecrate themselves to the work of God; not simply as ministers and lecturers, but as helpers in the various departments of the cause, in organizing Sabbath-schools, visiting from house to house, circulating books, &c., where our lecturers have first opened the way. Adopted.
Adjourned to 6:30 P. M.
THIRD SESSION. This session was occupied with a general consideration of the wants of the cause in all parts of the field. Remarks were made by Brn. Pierce, White, Andrews, Haskell, Canright, Waggoner, and others. From Maine to Minnesota, and in Washington Territory, Oregon, and California, most pressing needs exist; and from all these places most urgent calls come in. Most stirring remarks were made on the duty of all to take hold of the work, and do what they can, in any manner they can, to forward the work, to avoid sectional feeling, as the cause is one, and to pray the Lord of the harvest to raise up laborers to go forth into his vineyard.
FOURTH SESSION. Wednesday, 4:30 P. M. The Chair, being empowered to nominate the Committee called for in Resolution 8, presented the names of the following persons, who were chosen to do the work there specified: E. H. Root, S. H. King, J. F. Carman.
FIFTH SESSION. Feb. 11, 6 P. M. Bro. H. W. Kellogg of Vermont, having arrived, presented credentials as delegate from that Conference.
The Committee on Resolutions presented Resolution 6 as amended:
Resolved, That while we humbly confess and deeply deplore the fact that errors have been committed in the management of the Health Institute and Health Reformer, we yet express our heartfelt thanks that they have been the means of spreading much light and doing much good in this sacred work, and we invite our people to give them their support; and we hereby pledge ourselves to unite with them all in renewing our interest in the cause of health reform. Adopted.
On motion, it was left with the General Conference Committee to secure laborers for the camp-meetings.
Fourteen camp-meetings were called for by the delegates from different States.
The President of the Conference was requested, by vote, to prepare a work on the subject of camp-meetings.
SIXTH SESSION. Sunday, 7:15 P. M. Bro. Andrews spoke in regard to the Benevolent Association, formed in 1868, and read from the REVIEW the objects for which the organization was instituted.
Brn. E. H. Root, S. H. King, and J. F. Carman were authorized to act with the Gen. Conf. Committee to induce such persons to remove to Battle Creek as can be a help in the work, and effect the removal from the place of such persons as can be of no help here.
The Library fund was left in the care of the Trustees of the Publishing Association.
Bro. Harvey having to leave, Bro. S. H. King was chosen to supply his place on the Auditing Committee.
SEVENTH SESSION. The Chairman being empowered to appoint a committee to designate certain persons to write essays on the objects of the Missionary Society, Benevolent Association, Health Reform, &c., declined to act; whereupon the matter was left with the Committee on Publications.
Brn. Andrews, Cornell, and Canright, were chosen to arrange time and subjects for the lecture course.
JAS. WHITE, Pres. U. SMITH, Sec’y.