Visit to the Seventh-Day Baptist General Conference.
By John Nevins Andrews
The fifty-ninth session of the Seventh-day Baptist General Conference was held at Westerly, R. I., Sept. 10–14, 1873. In connection with the conference, the Missionary Society, the Educational Society, and the American Sabbath Tract Society, each held its anniversary. Providential circumstances hindered the attendance of those who would most fittingly have represented us at this conference, and thus the duty devolved upon myself. The General Conference is composed of delegates from the several churches of the Seventh-day Baptist denomination. These delegates are generally the pastor and such members of each of these churches as may be present, though in some cases the ones authorized to act as delegates are all named. The vote of each church counts one; but no question is often so closely contested as to require anything beyond the decision of a majority of the delegates present. The conference was opened by a sermon from Eld. A. H. Lewis. Text, Isa. 21:11: “Watchman, what of the night?” The speaker said nothing concerning the prophetic allusions involved in the text and its connection, but confined himself to the circumstances of the denomination. In his judgment, the system of organization is defective, and not adapted to enable the body to put forth its strength in a united and efficient manner. He also expressed the conviction that the spirit of sacrifice was greatly lacking. The sermon contained valuable practical suggestions. After its delivery, the Chair appointed a nominating committee, and the conference adjourned till afternoon. The business of the afternoon was the election of officers for the ensuing year, the reading of reports from the several churches, the receiving of communications from corresponding bodies, and the appointment of committees. Eld. L. C. Rogers was chosen chairman, and the secretary of last year, Eld. Platts, was re-elected. The reading of the letters from the churches showed, I judge, a small diminution in the membership of the body. Probably, however, the additions reported in the work of the Missionary Society will make this good. In the evening, an essay was read on the best system of raising means for the cause of God, which objected to any special method other than that of soliciting it from time to time; also one on the evil of using tobacco, and one on the proper management of Sabbath-schools. The next morning, an essay was read by Eld. D. E. Maxson, on the subject of Communion, in which the author ably vindicated the doctrine known as “close communion.” He maintained that those who partake of the supper should be commandment-keeping Christians who have entered the church by scriptural baptism, and who are amenable to the discipline of that body with which they partake. After the essay was read, the Missionary Society held its anniversary, and occupied the most of the day. The society employs several preachers in the home missionary work, who give either a portion or all of their time to work in new fields, especially on the southern and western borders of the denomination. These laborers report some success, and that there are ears to hear, and earnest calls for help, in their fields of labor. The report from the mission in China is interesting. There is at Shanghai a church of some twenty native Chinese Sabbath-keepers, who were raised up through the instrumentality of Elders Wardner and Carpenter, and who have remained steadfast for the long period of nine years in which they have been left alone. Eld. Carpenter and wife have now returned to them. The report which they give of their reception by these Chinese brethren shows them to be noble, whole-hearted Christians. I thought this case admirably adapted to teach a valuable lesson. If this church in China could sustain itself and fully hold its own in that heathen land for nine long years, could not the American Seventh-day Baptist churches, strong as they are in numbers, in talent, and in means, and in the truth of God, venture to get along for as many months, while they should send out their pastors into the field of the home missionaries? The churches could thus sacrifice a little for God in sustaining their ministers as missionaries, and doing without their ministrations that others might be benefited; the preachers would have the privilege of carrying God’s precious truth into missionary fields, at the expense of the comforts and privileges of home, and the churches would have opportunity to sustain the work at home by learning to work themselves. The church at Shanghai has set a noble example. Who can doubt that the members of this church are individually stronger to work for God than are the members of those churches who depend mainly upon the labors of their pastors? Indeed, one of the oldest of the ministers present at this conference declared that the preacher has no right to settle down as the pastor of a church, but should give his life to laboring for the unconverted in new fields. I think he is at least much nearer the truth than are those who give their lives to pastoral labor in old churches. Those who hallow the seventh day, either have no right to exist as a distinct people because the Sabbath is of no practical consequence, or they have committed to them one of the living oracles of God which all the world is trampling in the dust, and which they must bring to the knowledge of those who thus profane it. The Sabbath truth alone would constrain all ministers of Christ to be missionaries, and indeed the gospel of Christ does the same. In the evening, Eld. D. E. Maxson read a powerful essay against secret societies in general, and Free Masonry in particular. I cannot see how any who heard him can in good conscience embrace Masonry, or hold fast to it if already identified with it. I should have mentioned the fact that Eld. N. Wardner, in the afternoon, read a valuable essay on Communion, similar in its teaching to that of Eld. Maxson on the same subject. The next day (sixth day) was principally devoted to the proceedings of the Educational Society. The Seventh-day Baptists have colleges at Alfred, N. Y., and Milton, Wis., and an academy at Albion, Wis., and one or two elsewhere. The capital invested in the grounds, buildings, libraries, etc., of these institutions, is about $225,000. There are some twenty-five teachers employed in these institutions, and about eight hundred students in attendance on their instruction. The session of the Educational Society was opened by the reading of an essay on Education from Eld. D. E. Maxson. After this society had concluded its session, Eld. L. Crandall read an essay on Communion, agreeing in substance with those already read by Elders Maxson and Wardner on the same subject. The evening with which the Sabbath commenced, and Sabbath morning, were devoted to social worship. Sabbath forenoon, Eld. L. C. Rogers preached the missionary sermon from Acts 17:6. It was an able and instructive discourse. After the discourse, a collection was taken amounting to $200. After this, the Lord’s supper was celebrated. There were supposed to be about one thousand Sabbath-keepers present, and about thirty ministers of the gospel. Elders N. V. Hull and C. M. Lewis officiated. In the afternoon, Eld. N. Wardner preached an excellent discourse from John 15:12. It contained many precious thoughts, and was well adapted to teach the nature of Christian love. In the evening, the business of the General Conference was resumed. Resolutions were adopted to the effect that missionary work is the grand work of the Christian church; that at least a tenth of our income should be given to the cause of God; that those members who do not keep the Sabbath in a suitable manner should be disciplined; and others, proposing steps toward a reorganization of the conference. First-day morning, after some business of the conference, the American Sabbath Tract Society commenced its session. Eld. Stephen Burdick preached the opening discourse from Gen. 2:2, 3; Ex. 20:11; Rom. 3:31. He showed the divine harmony between the law and the gospel, and vindicated the perpetuity of the law and the Sabbath. The report of the Tract Society showed that they had somewhat extended their work during the year past. They have sold and given about 140,000 pages of tracts. In bound books they have done but little, only eleven copies having been circulated. The Sabbath Recorder is reported to be self-sustaining. It has about 3,000 subscribers. Eld. L. C. Rogers was chosen delegate to our Conference. The sessions of the conference and of the several societies were generally well attended from morning till evening. I think our people might profitably follow the example of the Seventh-day Baptists in this thing. Perhaps with us there is too little discussion of business questions, for the reports of committees are generally accepted from a conviction that they have been maturely considered by those who have the best interests of the cause at heart. But our Seventh-day Baptist brethren go to the opposite extreme and very fully discuss every question. But, I note with pleasure the fact that there was far less of sharpness in debate this year than two years since. As a friend of the Bible Sabbath, I cannot but feel a deep interest in the work of that people who for so many years stood before the world as its only advocates and observers. I therefore speak freely with respect to the obstacles in the way of their success. One of these is found in the lack of a sense of the sacredness of the Sabbath on the part, I fear, of a considerable number. Those who do not properly appreciate the sacredness of this divine institution as set forth in the moral law, will not hallow the day in such manner as the Bible requires; nor will they feel the importance of sending the light of this great truth to those who sit in darkness. Nor is this the only evil resulting from this fault. The children of such parents will not generally grow up to be Sabbath-keepers, nor will their neighbors be impressed with the duty to observe it. There will be, therefore, losses at home sufficient to offset the gain from the labor of those who go out into new fields unless the evil can be put away. There is also apparent a serious lack with respect to giving in the cause of God. And here I think the evil is directly traceable to a failure on the part of the ministers of Christ in teaching this great lesson to the people, and perhaps also in setting the example of sacrifice. The mission to China needs to be re-enforced by the addition of a young minister, devoted and self-sacrificing. The denomination lacks neither talent, nor education, nor wealth, but the man for this post of labor and of sacrifice is sought in vain. I had the privilege of forming many new acquaintances at this meeting, and of renewing acquaintance with many whom I have met before. I received a kindly, Christian greeting, which I felt heartily to reciprocate. I hope to meet many of these dear friends in the kingdom of God. J. N. A. Lancaster, Mass., Sept. 21.