p. 102 | Business Proceedings of the California State Conference

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 11, 1873

Business Proceedings of the California State Conference.

By John Norton Loughborough; S. B. Bresee

The fifth annual session of the California State Meeting of Seventh-day Adventists, was held in Bloomfield, Feb. 15, 1873, commencing at 7 o'clock P. M. Meeting called to order by the President, J. N. Loughborough. Prayer by Bro. Ferguson. The State Secretary being absent, S. B. Bresee was chosen Secretary pro tem. Six churches were represented by nine delegates. The Woodland church was not represented. All brethren present were invited to take part in the deliberations of the meeting. Bro. and sister White were invited to take part. Report of the State Secretary of last year's meeting, read and accepted. A report was made on the resolution passed last year to contribute of our means to the Health Institute, Publishing Association, General Book Fund, and other general interests of the cause, made by the State Treasurer as follows:—

Paid from our State funds to General Conference, $ 300.00 To S. D. A. P. Association, 420.00 Health Institute, 650.00 Book Fund, 353.00 Premium on Gold, 152.00 Hygienic Book Fund, 50.00 Total, $1925.00

Reports of ministers being called for, a written report from Bro. Kellogg was presented, also Bro. Loughborough's report, in writing, and a verbal report from Bro. Ferguson.

Treasurer's report read and accepted as follows:—

In the Treasury after the State meeting, $ 13.82 Received during the year, 2092.37 Total, $2106.19 Paid out as per Treasurer's book, $1387.06 Balance, $ 719.13 Paid by order of Auditing Committee during the State meeting, $ 108.79 Balance in Treasury after the State meeting, $ 610.34 J. N. Loughborough, State Treas.

The chairman was authorized to appoint six laymen to act with the Executive Committee in auditing and settling Conference accounts with ministers. The Chair appointed as Auditing Committee, Brn. H. S. Stipp, J. W. Cassidy, T. B. Gourley, John Judson, J. W. Bond, and S. B. Breese.

The chairman was authorized to appoint a Committee on Nominations, and named Brn. G. D. Hager, W. T. Ross, and Wm. Harman, as said committee. Brn. White, Loughborough, and Ferguson, were chosen as a Committee on Resolutions. The following motion was then made:—

That this State organization now resolve itself into a Conference, to be known as the California State Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. After appropriate remarks upon the subject by Bro. White and others, the above motion was unanimously adopted.

At the second session, 9 A. M., Feb. 16, the following resolution was unanimously adopted:—

Resolved, That we request the General Conference to receive this Conference as a member of its organic body. Statistics concerning our numerical and financial strength accompany this resolution. A report of our standing as a Conference was then made as follows:—

No. of members in six organized churches, 193 In one church partly organized, 20 Number of sabbath-keepers not in churches, 25 Whole number of sabbath-keepers in the State, 238 Amount of S. B. in six churches, $2151.51 One church S. B. not yet organized.

Committee on Nominations reported the following officers:—

President, J. N. Loughborough, Santa Rosa, Cal.; Secretary, S. B. Bresee, Santa Rosa, Cal.; Treasurer, T. M. Chapman, Petaluma, Sonoma Co., Cal.; Executive Committee, John Judson, Jackson Ferguson, Bloomfield, Sonoma Co., Cal.

On motion, the above board of officers were declared elected. The following resolutions were then unanimously adopted;

Resolved, That we express anew our recognition of the hand of God in the work of the third angel's message, which is calculated with its kindred truths to prepare a people for the coming of the Lord; and that we also accept it as a fulfillment of his prophetic word in connecting with this message the manifestation of the gift of prophecy, by which errors, sins, and liabilities to depart from the way of Scripture truth and holiness, are pointed out and corrected.

Resolved, That we hereby express our gratitude to God that in his providence it has been our privilege to enjoy the society and labors of Bro. and sister White upon this coast; and to listen to their excellent instruction and counsel. We deeply regret that they have been pained and burdened with our trials, and we hereby express our hearty approval of their labors to correct wrongs they found in our midst. Especially would we recognize the hand of God in the faithful reproofs given by the gift of prophecy through sister White. Our sympathies shall go with them as they return to the important General Conference in Michigan. We trust they may see their way clear to visit us again next winter, and that we shall be better prepared to receive them and make their stay pleasant.

Resolved, That we rejoice in what we have heard from the lips of Bro. White, of the leading and prospering hand of God in bringing the publishing department of Seventh-day Adventists to its present unembarrassed condition; and we recognize it as an evident token of the immediate and rapid spread of this truth, that we as a people have such excellent publishing facilities.

Whereas, We have heard a straight-forward statement of the trials and embarrassments through which the publishing interests have passed in coming up from small beginnings to their present successful achievements and triumphs, therefore,

Resolved, That it is with pleasure we express our conviction that God, in his providence, raised up Bro. White, blessing him with clear perception and business tact, to lead out in, and establish the Publishing Association upon a firm basis. From a careful examination of the past with the figures and facts before us, we claim, that his course is above the suspicion and calumny that some enemies of the truth would fain throw upon it; and we further assert, that any who will carefully examine the facts will see that his business course has been one of conscientious and unselfish interest for the success of the cause, and is in marked contrast with, and a standing rebuke upon, the self-serving financiering of most of the denominational publishers of this day.

Resolved, That we recommend our brethren and sisters to give more earnest attention to missionary labor, which is designed to give each individual an opportunity for personal efforts in advancing the truth.

Resolved, That the time of our annual Conference be changed to the fall of the year, to be held in connection with our camp-meeting.

Resolved, That the Executive Committee are hereby empowered to appoint, and arrange for a camp-meeting the coming fall, at such time and place as they see fit; and they are empowered to select such committee for camp-meeting as they deem necessary.

THIRD SESSION.

Met the 16th, at one P. M. Prayer by Bro. White.

On motion, the credentials of Bro. Loughborough were renewed, a license was granted to Bro. Ferguson, and the following resolutions were passed:—

Resolved, That Bro. Loughborough be authorized to purchase a new tent for California, of such size and arrangements as his judgment may dictate.

Moved, and carried unanimously, to pay for the new tent independent of our S. B. pledges.

Resolved, That we request Bro. White to represent this Conference in the next General Conference to assemble soon at Battle Creek, and we request the General Conference to take such action as they see fit relative to the wants of the cause on the Pacific coast.

Resolved, That the matter of reorganizing quarterly meetings be left to the Executive Committee.

A vote of thanks was given to the Bloomfield church for entertaining the Conference.

A brief session was held at the close of the service on the evening of the 16th, in which the following resolutions were passed.

Resolved, That all moneys drawn from the State Treasury shall be by an order signed by the Executive Committee.

Resolved, That the minutes of this Conference be published in the ADVENT REVIEW. Adjourned sine die.

J. N. Loughborough, President. S. B. Bresee, Secretary.