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Greater New York Conference

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Jan 28, 1904

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 81, No. 4.

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Greater New York Conference

By H. W. Cottrell; R. H. Martin

The second annual session of the Greater New York Conference was held Nov. 12-17, 1903. The President, Elder H. W. Cottrell, presided throughout the session, and there were seventy-eight delegates seated, representing eight churches, and including the delegates at large.
The Chairman appointed the following committees: On nominations, E. H. M. Sell, A. G. Daniells, J. J. Kennedy, O. E. Reinke, Lewis Hansen; On Plans, C. H. Edwards, E. E. Franke, G. E. Langdon, Louis Klebahn, E. H. Hall, R. H. Martin, G. M. Chaffee, A. Anderson, G. A. King, J. C. Hennessy; Credentials and Licenses, J. L. Johnson, Chas. Eliason, J. M. Calvert, Steen Jensen, D. MacPherson.
Among the resolutions adopted during the session were the following:—
“Whereas, The prospering hand of God has been with us during the past year, in spiritual blessings and in an increase of means, therefore,—
1. “Resolved, That as a conference we hereby express publicly our gratitude to the Lord for this prosperous year, and we hereby pledge ourselves to a new and more complete consecration to his service, and we humbly pray that the same prospering hand may be with us in the year to come.
2. “Resolved, That the conference ascertain if possible what work has already been done in the sale of ‘Christ’s Object Lessons,’ and that the work of disposing of our quota be vigorously pushed, and we recommend that all our laborers and church elders take an active interest in finishing the work to the glory of God.
3. “Resolved, That we give special attention to the Capital and Labor number of The Signs of the Times; that we encourage every member of every church, and all the children as well, to place this special copy in the homes of the people, and that all who circulate this paper be instructed to keep a record of the places in which it is left, so that an effort can be made to secure yearly subscriptions; and further, that we hold ourselves responsible to furnish a copy of this issue of The Signs of the Times to the editors of the papers in Greater New York, and to all the ministers of all denominations and nationalities in this city.
“Whereas, The REVIEW AND HERALD is our recognized church organ, and The Signs of the Times is our pioneer missionary paper, and the Atlantic Union Gleaner is the official paper of the Atlantic Union Conference, and the Bible Training School is a valuable Bible workers’ help, therefore,—
4. “We recommend that our people subscribe for these papers, and we further recommend that our workers report more frequently through the Gleaner.
“Whereas, The foreign papers Christlicher Hausfreund (German), Sions Vaktare (Swedish), and Evangeliets Sendebud (Danish) are our pioneer missionary as well as church papers among those nationalities, therefore,—
5. “We recommend that the workers among these nationalities do all in their power to encourage their circulation.”
“Whereas, The General Conference Association has invited the union conferences to assume their pro rata of the old debt, therefore,—
6. “Resolved, That this conference assume its pro rata, the same as our neighboring conferences have done.”
“Whereas, We believe the Sabbath-school to be the nursery of the church, therefore,—
7. “We recommend that more interest be taken in this branch of the work by our brethren and sisters, and that Sabbath-school conventions be held as often as convenient.
8. “Resolved, That this conference encourage the formation of Young People’s Societies to be conducted on a strictly Bible plan, and that the general organization be under the supervision of the conference Sabbath-school secretary.
9. “We recommend that the Home Department of the Sabbath-school be given more attention in the future, to the end that absent members may be encouraged to retain their membership.
10. “Resolved, That in consequence of the departure of the Pacific Press Publishing Company from this city, this conference shall organize a tract society, the headquarters to be located as centrally as possible.
“Whereas, The Testimonies state that treatment rooms are of great assistance in setting forth the principles of health reform, and as they are an important means of presenting present truth, therefore,—
11. “We recommend that steps be taken at as early a date as possible to follow the plans laid down in the Testimonies, and that our people as a whole give this move their hearty financial support.
“Whereas, The Lord has spoken of the importance of establishing church schools; and, whereas, there is and has been for years past a real need of church schools in this conference, therefore,—
12. “We recommend that early steps be taken to carry out this work, and that we invite our people to assist in it.
13. “Resolved, That a competent field secretary who will devote his time and energies to the work of reviving and carrying forward the canvassing and colporteur work be employed by this conference as soon as practicable, and that he be given liberal moral and financial support.
14. “Resolved, That we pay the salary of a teacher in the South Lancaster Academy for the current school year, not to exceed twelve dollars a week.”
The following-named officers were elected for the ensuing year: President, Elder C. H. Edwards; Recording Secretary, R. H. Martin; Corresponding Secretary and Treasurer, E. H. Hall; Executive Committee, C. H. Edwards, O. E. Reinke, L. H. Proctor, Steen Jensen, R. H. Martin, E. H. M. Sell, E. H. Hall, L. Klebahn, G. M. Chaffee, Medical Department: Committee, G. M. Chaffee (chairman), R. Bryant Leake, H. P. Vaughan, J. A. Wood, O. E. Reinke. Sabbath-School Department: Secretary, Mrs. L. H. Proctor. Educational Department: Secretary, R. H. Martin.
The following-named persons were granted credentials: C. H. Edwards, O. E. Reinke, G. E. Langdon, A. Anderson, L. H. Proctor. Ministerial license was given to G. A. King; and missionary licenses to J. J. Kennedy, J. C. Hennessy, J. K. Humphrey, G. A. Roggenkamp, P. L. Hoen, Mrs. R. Leo, Mrs. E. H. Hall, Miss Bessie Shonsbye, Miss Carrie Wentland, Miss Alice Williams, Miss Bessie MacPherson.
Much of the session was taken up with reports of workers; these were very encouraging. The Secretary’s report showed a net gain in the conference membership of ninety-two during the conference year.
The following General and Union Conference workers were present at all or part of the session: Elders A. G. Daniells, R. A. Underwood, J. E. Jayne, and Brother F. E. Painter. We also had a visit from our old friend, Elder C. H. Keslake.
H. W. COTTRELL, President, R. H. MARTIN, Secretary.