THE MICHIGAN STATE CONFERENCE by John Norton Loughborough; I. D. Van Horn

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

THE MICHIGAN STATE CONFERENCE.

By John Norton Loughborough; I. D. Van Horn

Its Seventh Annual Session.

Pursuant to the call of the Committee through the Review, this Conference assembled in session at Battle Creek, Mich., Wednesday, May 15, 1867, at 9 A. M. Opened with prayer by Elder Joseph Bates. The delegates to the Conference were then called and their credentials examined. The number of delegates present duly authorized was forty-four, representing thirty churches. Twelve churches were represented by letter, leaving four that did not report.

On motion the church at Tuscola, Tuscola Co., Mich., was admitted into the Conference.

It was moved that the resolution recommended by the General Conference, admitting lay members to participate in the discussion of all business, but not to vote, be adopted. Carried. The minutes of the last Conference were then read and approved.

Written reports of the labors of ministers were called for and the following brethren present responded: Joseph Bates, James White, M. E. Cornell, R. J. Lawrence, J. H. Waggoner, J. N. Loughborough, John Byington, D. M. Canright and I. D. Van Horn.

The following resolution was then offered and adopted:

Resolved, That the church of Tompkins be permitted to disband and unite with the church at Jackson; and that the Conference Committee be requested to assist them in making this change.

The request of the church at Watson to be allowed to disband and unite with other churches was read, and by a vote of the Conference they were permitted to do so.

The request of the church at Tyrone to be allowed to change the name of the church to Holly, was read, and approved by the Conference by a unanimous vote.

The Conference then proceeded to amend the Constitution of the Mich. State Conference as follows, viz.:

Amendment to Art. III, Sec. 2. Add the words, “When a member takes a letter of commendation from a church, he still remains a member of that church; and he should pay his s. B. accordingly, giving due notice when he joins the church in another place.”

Add to Art. IV the following, calling it sections 3 and 4.

SEC. 3. The expulsion of members from church fellowship should never be effected by less than a two-thirds vote of the entire membership of the church in question; and such action should not take place without previous faithful labor with the erring member, and also due notice of the trial. The only circumstances under which these regulations should be departed from at all are in the case of outrageous crime in which the guilt is manifest; in which case, at the discretion of the church this previous labor may be dispensed with.

SEC. 4. In the case of church trials involving the expulsion of members, our brethren, if possible, should secure the aid of some experienced preacher; if this is not consistent they should make application to the State Conference Committee for the aid of some experienced and judicious lay-brethren to aid by their counsel and advice, excepting such cases only as are excepted in the preceding section.

Add to Art. VII the following, as Sec. 3: “This Conference may, at its discretion, invite all persons present, who are members of our churches in good standing, to take part in the discussion of business, but not to participate in voting.”

The Treasurer’s report was then called for, read, and approved, showing the following result.

Amount of funds on hand at the time of last report, $2190.18 Amount received during the year, 4813.53 $7003.71 Amount paid out to sundry persons during the year, $3569.81 Bal. in the Treasury May 1, 1867, 3433.90 $7003.71

GEO. W. AMADON, Treasurer.

Moved and voted that a committee of three be appointed to nominate officers for the coming year; whereupon brethren R. J. Lawrence, J. H. Waggoner, and John Byington were appointed as said committee.

Moved and voted that a committee of six be appointed to audit and settle the accounts of ministers for the past year. Brethren James Harvey, E. H. Root, John S. Day, Wm. S. Higley, Francis Nelson, and Cyrenius Smith, were named as said committee. The wants of churches in regard to labor was considered, to which several responded. Referred to the Conference Committee.

Adjourned till 2:30 P. M.

AFTERNOON SESSION.

Prayer by Bro. Waggoner.

Committee on nominations reported, naming the following persons for officers for the ensuing year, viz.: For President, J. N. Loughborough; Secretary, I. D. Van Horn; Treasurer, G. W. Amadon; Conference Committee, J. N. Loughborough, Uriah Smith, and J. M. Aldrich.

On motion it was voted that the election of these officers nominated be acted upon as a whole; whereupon they were thus unanimously elected.

The following resolutions were then taken up and unanimously adopted.

Resolved, That this Conference appropriate $700.00 of its funds now on hand, toward the cost of the meeting house in Battle Creek.

Resolved, That this Conference appropriate $1000.00 of its funds now on hand, to the General Conference Missionary funds.

Resolutions on the following points passed by the General Conference were unanimously adopted, (See report of Gen. Conf.) viz: Health Reform, Health Institute, Dress, Ordinances, Patent Rights, Persons traveling about without license, Better to live out the truth than to be constantly contending about it, and Members moving without good cause. Also resolutions on War, and Ministers leaving their fields of labor too soon, and Letters of Commendation.

Adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Conference called in session again Thursday P. M.

The renewing of minister’s credentials was brought before the Conference, and the following ministers were granted credentials for the ensuing year, viz.: James White, Joseph Bates, J. N. Loughborough, R. J. Lawrence, J. H. Waggoner, John Byington, M. E. Cornell, I. D. Van Horn, and D. M. Canright.

The case of Eld. J. B. Frisbie, with reference to credentials was called up and considered. He responded by making a few remarks. By motion his case was referred to the Mich. Conference Committee.

Adjourned to the call of the Committee.

Fourth Session. Conference called together by the Committee, Friday P. M., May 17.

The financial condition and standing of the Conference was read before the meeting for the consideration of all concerned.

Blanks, to aid churches in making their reports to the Conference, were distributed among the delegates. Adjourned.

Another short session was held evening after the Sabbath, May 18, in which the following resolutions were passed:

Resolved, That this Conference request the churches composing it to arrange their s. B. figures each year at the first of May, and have our fiscal year and our quarterly reports reckon from that time.

It was moved and voted that the license of Bro. Philip Strong be renewed for the ensuing year.

The Committee to audit and settle accounts with ministers was read, and approved.

Moved and voted that the minutes of the proceedings of this Conference be published in the Review.

Adjourned to the call of the Committee.

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH, President.

I. D. VAN HORN, Secretary.