p. 158 | Proceedings of Cal. State Conference

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 10, 1874

Proceedings of Cal. State Conference.

By John Norton Loughborough; Wm. Saunders

In accordance with appointment the third annual session of the California State Conference was held near Yountville, Napa Co., in connection with the camp-meeting.

FIRST SESSION.

Friday, Oct. 2, 1874, at 5 P. M.

Conference was called to order by the President, Eld. J. N. Loughborough, and opened with prayer. Delegates being called, fourteen churches were represented by delegates whose names were read as follow:—

Green Valley,—W. T. Ross.

Healdsburg,—Wm. Harmon, G. W. Mills.

Woodland,—H. C. Yerby, Geo. N. Andrews, G. C. Martin.

Santa Rosa,—Geo. D. Hager, John Morrison.

San Francisco,—E. A. Stockton.

Bloomfield,—John Judson.

Petaluma,—Edwin Moore.

Napa,—John Custer.

St. Helena,—E. J. Church.

Red Bluff,—J. D. Bandy.

Oakland (not fully organized),—D. B. Rickey, J. W. Cronkwite, John I. Tay.

Vallejo (not fully organized),—J. S. Howard.

Santa Clara (not fully organized),—Eld. D. M. Canright.

San Jose (not fully organized),—Juan M. Santa Ana.

The President reported the presence of Eld. G. I. Butler, delegate from the General Conference, who, with Elds. M. E. Cornell and D. M. Canright, members of the Michigan Conference, was invited to take a part in the deliberations of the meetings. All members in good standing in our churches were invited to take part in the deliberations of the Conference, except in voting.

The Conference being now fully organized and ready for business, the proceedings of the last Conference were read by the Secretary, and approved.

Eld. Butler, delegate from our General Conference, by invitation of the President, made some general remarks as to matters which would come before this Conference, and in relation to standing committees of the Conference, and the usual mode of selecting them.

It was then voted that the Chair appoint a committee of three on nominations, a committee of six laymen to act with the executive committee in auditing and settling accounts, a committee of three on credentials, and a committee of three on resolutions.

SECOND SESSION.

Monday, Oct. 5, at 8½ A. M.

Session opened with singing, and prayer by the President.

Admission of churches to the Conference came up, and on motion the churches at St. Helena, Red Bluff, and Napa, were each separately received into the Conference.

Voted, that the watchcare of the Conference be extended to the churches at Oakland and Vallejo, they having so requested by resolution.

The President announced the appointment of Committees as follows:—

Committee on nomination of officers,—Wesley Diggins, J. S. Howard, and E. Moore.

Auditing committee,—George N. Andrews, Wesley Diggins, John Morrison, Wm. Harmon, D. B. Rickey and John Custer.

Committee on Resolutions,—G. I. Butler, M. E. Cornell and D. M. Canright.

Committee on Credentials,—J. W. Bond, G. D. Hager and E. J. Church.

The President made a report on the cost of double tent arrangement made for the Conference, as follows:—

No. 2 double-top tent and fixtures, $670 00 Cost of splicing with No. 1, 184.00 Cost of three camping tents, 49.00 Total, $903.00

Size of double tent, 125 by 60 feet, with capacity for seating comfortably 2,000 persons.

The following Tent Report was made by Eld. Loughborough on running expenses with the tent: Received collections and for rent of tent, $166.20 State funds to balance, 35.40—$201.60 Total, $201.60

THIRD SESSION.

Tuesday, Oct. 6, at 4½ P. M.

Conference opened with prayer by the President.

Eld. G. I. Butler, General Conference delegate, read an address by Eld. James White, President of the General Conference, in which the brethren of California were urged to duty, and offering a donation of six thousand dollars from the eastern brethren, to purchase steam press and all material complete sufficient to print the Signs of the Times under the supervision of the General Conference Committee.

A recommendation was made by the Auditing Committee that the Conference accept the liberal proposition of the General Conference and that it take the Signs of the Times and assume the control and support of that paper in accordance with the proposition in Bro. White's letter.

The Committee on Nominations made its report, recommending the officers of last year as officers of California Conference for the next year, as follows:—

President, J. N. Loughborough; Secretary, Wm. Saunders; Treasurer, T. M. Chapman; other members of the Executive Committee, J. Judson, J. W. Bond. Being put to a vote of the Conference, these officers were unanimously elected.

The recommendation of the Auditing Committee concerning the Signs of the Times being called up, Eld. Butler was requested to express his views, which he did freely and fully, referring to the recommendation made by the Auditing Committee, that the California Conference take charge of the publication of the Signs of the Times in harmony with the proposition made by the General Conference. He further explained the communication of Eld. James White made to the Conference, and stated that in addition to the 6,000 donated by the brethren at the East for the benefit of the publishing interest on this coast, it was also proposed by them to start a pioneer paper at Battle Creek, for use especially in new fields. He also spoke of Bro. White's connection with this cause from the first, that he had intended to continue the publication of the Signs here himself, but that circumstances had called him back again to act a part at the head of the work, and that in response to urgent and repeated calls from those in charge of the work there, he had finally consented and returned to Battle Creek, where he is now laboring with might and main.

Moved by Bro. Moore, and carried by vote of the Conference, that a committee of three be appointed by the Chair to inquire into the financial standing of the Signs of the Times. Wesley Diggins, D. M. Canright, and Wm. Saunders, were appointed.

FOURTH SESSION.

Wednesday, Oct. 7, at 4 P. M.

Committee on financial standing of Signs reported in favor of adopting the recommendation of the Auditing Committee to accept the proposition of the eastern brethren. The committee also stated that they had examined an inventory of type and materials on hand amounting to between $800 and $900, and that it was all just such material as would be necessary in the publication of the Signs, and the prices were reasonable. They also reported that the estimated cost of $150 per number for publishing the first seven numbers of the Signs, was a fair estimate.

Report of committee was accepted by unanimous vote of the Conference.

FIFTH SESSION.

Thursday, Oct. 8 at 8½ A. M.

Conference opened by prayer, after which the President stated that the matter of printing would be first in order, and as the Committee on Resolutions had handed in a preamble and resolution touching the matter of the Signs of the Times, the Secretary was called on to read, as follows:—

Whereas, In the providence of God, the third angel's message is now being extensively proclaimed upon this coast, and we have strong hopes and good prospects that it will be greatly extended in the future; and, Whereas, A weekly paper advocating these views is needed for the benefit of the church, for the missionary work, and to aid our lecturers in their work in new fields; and it is a great disadvantage on account of distance and time required to do all our business through the Office at Battle Creek; and, Whereas, Such a paper as we shall need has already been started here; and it would be a great discouragement to the friends of the cause everywhere, and a disgrace to the cause here to allow the paper to be taken from the coast; and, Whereas, Our brethren east of the Plains now offer to help us so liberally; and, Whereas, In our judgment, the strength of the cause here is now sufficient to warrant the undertaking of such an enterprise; therefore, Resolved, That we accept the offer of the General Conference made through Eld. James White, and purchase the Signs of the Times with the material on hand, and assume the work of publishing it hereafter.

Several brethren made remarks setting forth their views in favor of the proposition. Eld. Canright, chairman of the Committee on Resolutions expressed his views of the importance not only of having a regular weekly paper, but also of having a depository for books, tracts, etc., in connection therewith as important aids to the general spread of the work. Elds. Butler and Loughborough also expressed similar views.

After another reading of the Preamble and Resolution the question was called for, and upon being submitted to the delegates received a unanimous vote, every one voting in favor of the resolution.

The delegates requested an expression from the audience, which was taken by a rising vote. With one or two exceptions the whole house arose.

Bro. Morrison moved, and it was voted, that the Chair appoint a camp-meeting Committee of three for the ensuing year. G. D. Hager, D. B. Rickey and Wm. Harmon were appointed as such Committee.

SIXTH SESSION.

Thursday, Oct. 8, at 5½ P. M.

Session opened with prayer. President called up the matter of publishing, etc., when a resolution from the Committee on Resolutions was introduced that “the oversight of the business of purchasing and publishing the Signs of the Times be committed to the California Conference Committee.”

This resolution drew out remarks from several delegates and other brethren, when the following amendment was proposed to be added to the resolution—“until such time as a legally organized Association shall be formed and its officers elected.”

The resolution was passed as amended, by a unanimous vote of the delegates and by a unanimous rising vote of the congregation.

Resolutions were passed in the same manner thanking Bro. and sister White for their labors on this coast; thanking the friends East for their liberal donation for establishing a publishing house on this coast, and also recommending careful attention to the testimony given through sister White.

A motion to raise a Tent Fund of one thousand dollars was passed unanimously.

Conference voted to renew the credentials of Eld. J. N. Loughborough.

SEVENTH SESSION.

Friday, Oct. 9, at 8½ A. M.

Committee on Credentials and Licenses reported in favor of granting Minister's Credentials to Bro. M. G. Kellogg; and in favor of granting licenses to improve the gift to the following brethren: W. N. Healey, E. F. Uhl, C. A. Carey, Andros Brosen, Knud Brosen, E. A. Stockton, J. S. Howard, A. W. Bartlett and John Judson.

Report of committee accepted. Eld. Butler spoke to the point, reciting the imperative necessity of more laborers in the field in order to spread these living but unpopular truths, and what he considered to be the necessary endowments and qualifications the men should possess to whom licenses are granted to preach the word of God under the sanction of the Conference; and stated further, that unless those who go out to labor in this direction do benefit the cause, the Conferences generally do not feel under obligations to pay them for their time and efforts; but that it has been the rule to pay all successful laborers. Also, that when any that have been granted license to preach are found to injure rather than benefit the cause, the Conference Committee may revoke such license.

Eld. Loughborough also made remarks for the benefit of these candidates, cautioning them of the danger of getting puffed up, and of the great need of care as to how they demean themselves.

By a vote of the Conference, licenses were granted according to the recommendation of the Committee.

Eld. Butler remarked that he hoped every one of the brethren to whom a license had been granted would start out with a determination to succeed—not to expect to do so very much at the

outset, but working with determination in the smallest and most remote fields at first if need be with all their might; and success would crown their efforts.

Eld. Loughborough counseled them as a general rule to avoid commencing labors in meeting houses of other denominations which would be closed against them as soon as an interest was awakened.

By request of the Conference the Chair appointed D. M. Canright, Alfred Mason and C. A. Carey as a committee to examine church and Systematic books, and sisters Lucie Bush, Emma White and Sarah Judson as a committee to assist the Secretary in examining church Reports.

The following resolution was then introduced by Eld. Canright, of the Committee on Resolutions:—

Resolved, That the Ministers laboring in this Conference be hereby instructed to solicit pledges of means to be paid within the coming Conference year, for the purpose of establishing a publishing office upon this coast and issuing reading matter upon the great principles of the present truth.

After remarks by several persons, the resolution passed by a unanimous vote.

EIGHTH SESSION.

Sunday, Oct. 11, at 5 P. M.

Conference opened with prayer, after which the president called up the matter of the Camp-meeting Fund, and made some remarks as to the disposition of the moneys of that fund during the past year. Following is the report:—

Bal. of fund rec'd from State Treas., $137.06 Rec'd for lumber during camp-meeting, 39.42 Sale of Serra tent, 15.00 Rent of Restaurant, 20.00 Donated toward Expenses, 4.50 Total Receipts, $215.98

Paid for meeting of 1874. Printing, Lumber, Freight, Oil, &c., $148.64 Watching gap ten days, 20.00 Five cords Wood for camp fires, 25.00 To Mr. Bram for examining Tent, 4.00 Total Expenses, $197.64 Balance on hand, $18.34.

The President announced that the time had now come to receive pledges to the Publishing Fund, stating the desirability of raising at least ten thousand dollars, to be paid any time before Jan. 1, 1876. One brother started the list with a thousand dollars, a sister followed with another thousand, several followed these with $500, others $300, $250, $200, $150, and then followed a list of fifty with $100, and many $50, $30, $20, and $10, pledges, in all amounting to $19,414.

A subscription was also taken to a Tent Fund for purchase of tents, amounting to $1616.20; these subscriptions to be paid by Oct. 1, 1875.

The State Treasurer, T. M. Chapman, made his annual report showing:—

On hand from last year, $705.16. Rec'd during Conference year, 3150.83 Amounting to, 3855.99 Paid out at different times, 3447.95 Balance on hand, 408.04

Report accepted by vote of the Conference.

The following resolution was unanimously adopted by vote of the Conference:—

Resolved, That in view of past benefits received from General Conference laborers, we donate $500 of our State funds to the General Conference fund.

Eld. Butler thanked the California Conference in behalf of the General Conference for the donation.

The amount of Systematic Benevolence pledged by the fourteen churches represented in this Conference, per year, based upon reports for quarter ending Oct. 1, was shown to be $4127.64.

There being no other business to transact by the Conference, it was proposed by Bro. Diggins of San Francisco to take the double tent to that city, and he would find a place to erect it, pay the expense of seating and carpeting with straw, all free of charge to the Conference.

After some little friendly discussion, it was decided by vote of the Conference to accede to Bro. Diggins' proposition and erect the tent in San Francisco and give a course of lectures therein as soon as this meeting closes.

A vote of thanks was tendered to Mr. Finnell for the free use of the camp-ground.

Voted, That the proceedings of this Conference be published in the REVIEW AND HERALD, and in the Signs of the Times.

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH, Pres. WM. SAUNDERS, Sec.