p. 282 | THIS WEEK'S REPORTS by Editor

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 28, 1867

THIS WEEK'S REPORTS.

By Editor

In this number will be found extended reports of the various meetings that have been held during Conference week. In two respects, at least, the Conference just closed has surpassed any ever before held by us; namely, in the numbers in attendance, and the amount of business transacted. An idea of this, exceeding by nearly two-thirds the business of any previous meeting, may be gathered from the published proceedings. This made the week of the meetings and indeed a number of weeks previous, a period of severe taxation and labor for those upon whom the burden of these matters has rested. But their hearts were cheered by the interest manifested on the part of the brethren assembled in the discussion of the various steps proposed for the advancement of the cause, and the perfect unanimity of sentiment that prevailed in the action taken on the same.

We call the attention of the reader to the resolutions passed by the General Conference. These resolutions were not prepared without intense study, anxiety and prayer; and they should not be merely perused in a hasty manner, and then laid aside and forgotten. We firmly believe that individuals and churches will enjoy spiritual prosperity in proportion as they carry out these resolutions. Hence they should be studied till thoroughly understood and firmly fixed in the memory; and then our efforts should be earnestly and unwaveringly directed to living them out.

The resolution in reference to the humiliation that now becomes us in view of our past self-glorying and vanity over God's gracious dealings with us, was not passed merely by the General and Michigan Conferences in their business capacity; but on Sabbath morning while the house and gallery were crowded with a promiscuous assemblage of Sabbath-keepers, the resolution was read from the desk by Bro. White, and after some feeling and pointed remarks by him on the subject, the whole congregation gave it a hearty adoption by a rising vote. Then all bowed down and joined with him in a fervent prayer of penitence, confession, and supplication for God to forgive our wrongs, and remove his just displeasure from us. This was a point of most intense and thrilling interest and solemnity; and we trust the impression it produced will not soon fade from the minds of those who were present on the occasion.

On first-day morning, in the general congregation the following resolutions were also passed.

“Resolved, That we unite with Bro. White in the confession of our sin as a people, and that we pledge ourselves to continue in earnest prayer that the Lord against whom we have sinned, may speedily remove his hand from us, and turn again our captivity.”

“Resolved, That we appreciate the faithful and untiring labors of Bro. and sister White in the past history of this cause, and that we earnestly desire that Bro. White may be raised up to labor anew in the solemn work of preparing a people for the judgment of the great day.”

There were fifteen ministers at the meeting. Bro. White spoke twice, sister White three times. In addition to this we had seven discourses, one each by Bro. Sanborn, Fuller, Bourdeau, Waggoner, Van Horn, Canright and Andrews. Prayer meeting each morning, commencing with Wednesday. The meeting house was finished in good time for the meeting, and served its purpose well, there being but few, even on Sabbath and Sunday, the days of the largest gatherings, who could not find seats inside the doors. It is estimated that on Sabbath there were as many as eight hundred persons in the house. It could safely be put at over seven.

All seemed to enjoy the meetings much; and the remarks, What good meetings! What important and fitting instruction for this time! passed from lip to lip. The ministers felt the burden of the work, and gave their solemn words of instruction, counsel and exhortation as those that must give an account. The spirit that pervaded the meeting affords great ground of encouragement for the future. To retrace our steps in humiliation and contrition, wherein we see that we have erred from the right path, is the sure way and only way to secure a return of God's blessed favor.

The meeting has closed leaving a most encouraging impression upon all hearts so far as we have learned. Especially is this the case with the ministers. This results not from any excitement or strong flights of feeling, but from the evidence of a deep and genuine work of reform going on among us, and from the evident tokens that God is still leading his people. Hence though we are in the perils of the last days, and there is a shaking and testing time still before the church, our feelings for the future are confident and hopeful.

We thank our brethren and sisters, for so many of them favoring us with their presence at this meeting; and we trust that the good they received will more than compensate them for their sacrifice in attending. We believe a good influence will go forth, and the cause take a new start from this great convocation of the faithful, waiting, ones.