FIFTEENTH ANNUAL SESSION OF THE GENERAL CONFERENCE OF S. D. ADVENTISTS by James White; Uriah Smith

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 5, 1876

FIFTEENTH ANNUAL SESSION OF THE GENERAL CONFERENCE OF S. D. ADVENTISTS.

By James White; Uriah Smith

The Conference was opened at Lansing at the hour appointed, Sept. 19, at 2 P. M., by the singing of hymn 16. After opening remarks by Eld. James White, prayer was offered by Eld. S. H. Lane. The Conference then joined in singing the hymn, “When faint and weary toiling.”

The following-named brethren appeared as delegates from their respective States:—C. W. Stone, from Vermont, S. N. Haskell, from New England, D. M. Canright, from New York, H. A. St. John, from Ohio, D. H. Lamson, H. M. Kenyon, Franklin Howe, S. Howland, S. Brownsberger, from Michigan, S. H. Lane, from Indiana, J. E. Morin, from the French in Illinois, H. W. Decker, from Wisconsin, J. H. Morrison, from Iowa, E. B. Lane, from Virginia, and Jas. White, from California. A delegate was appointed from the newly organized Conference of Kentucky and Tennessee, but was absent on account of sickness. The Conference was admitted by their request, to the General Conference, and Eld. D. M. Canright, having recently visited the State, and assisted in the organization of the Conference, was appointed to be the acting delegate.

The present standing of the Conference is approximately represented by the following figures.

GENERAL CONFERENCE STATISTICS FOR 1876.

NAME OF CONFERENCES	Ministers	Licentiates	Churches	Members	S. B. Pledges
Maine	2	1	13	238	$794.50
Vermont	6	2	14	323	1,275.00
New England	3	1	20	350	2,300.00
New York and Pa.	8	4	35	591	2,799.22
Ohio	8	4	18	390	2,721.63
Michigan	20	14	80	3,150	10,000.00
Indiana	3	4	11	300	900.00
Wisconsin	8	8	43	1,048	3,863.00
Illinois	4	6	22	350	1,800.00
Minnesota	9	6	35	750	2,500.00
Iowa and Nebraska	14	9	52	1,123	6,450.00
Missouri	4	2	13	322	907.40
Kansas	4	4	16	355	881.29
California	3	4	17	511	5,925.43
Kentucky	2	1	6	93	350.00
Swiss Mission	3	—	8	150	531.00
Total	96	70	398	10,044	$43,998.47

In the foregoing exhibit, the report from Michigan is incomplete, and the reports from New England, New York, and Illinois, are given as last year with a few known changes that have taken place, the reports from those States for the present season not having yet come in. But imperfect as it is, and none of the figures go beyond the reality, it shows a gain over last year’s report, of twenty-seven ministers, fifty-nine churches, two thousand and twelve members, and eleven thousand two hundred and seventy-nine dollars, and eighty-five cents, in Systematic Benevolence.

Besides these, there are companies organized in Texas, Virginia, and Maryland. Eld. C. W. Whitford, delegate from the S. D. Baptists, was introduced by the President, and made appropriate remarks, relative to his position as delegate, and the relation of the two bodies of Sabbath-keepers, the S. D. Baptists and the S. D. Adventists.

Eld. Jas. White followed with an appropriate response, referring to the pleasure and the blessing we have received by interchange of courtesies with the S. D. Baptists.

Eld. D. M. Canright reported as delegate to the S. D. B. General Conference of 1875.

Reading of minutes of last session, they being quite lengthy, and having already been published in the Review, was waived.

On motion, the Chair was empowered to appoint the committees, (1) on Nominations, (2) on Resolutions, (3) on Auditing accounts.

Adjourned to call of the Chair.

The committees were subsequently announced as follows:—On Nominations, C. W. Stone, of Vt.; E. H. Root, of Mich.; J. H. Morrison, of Iowa; On Resolutions, U. Smith, D. M. Canright, S. N. Haskell.

SECOND SESSION.

5:30 A. M., Sept. 23. Prayer by D. M. Canright. The nominating committee reported as follows:—For President, Jas. White; Secretary, C. W. Stone; Treasurer, U. Smith; Gen. Conf. Committee, Jas. White, S. N. Haskell, D. M. Canright.

Committee on Resolutions reported the following, which were taken up singly, and after some remarks, were adopted.

THE HEALTH REFORM.

Whereas, we see a growing inclination among many of our people to neglect the health reform and to gradually go back to old, unhealthful habits of living, and

Whereas, we believe this will work only evil to this people and will displease God by despising the light which he has given, therefore,

Resolved, That we again warn our brethren and sisters of their danger in this matter, and that we urge our ministers to practice the reform themselves and to teach it to the people on all suitable occasions.

WANT OF PREACHERS.

Whereas, there is an increasing need of laborers in this message, and

Whereas, God has accepted and greatly blessed the labors of very common, humble men in preaching this truth, therefore

Resolved, That we believe there are very many more young men and middle-aged men among us who ought to give themselves to teaching the truth and to the work of the ministry, and that we urge them to do this.

THE INCREASING PUBLIC INTEREST IN OUR CAMP-MEETINGS.

Resolved, That we recognize the opening providence of God in the greatly increased public interest manifested this season in our camp-meetings, and that we make still greater efforts to improve these opportunities to get the present truth before the masses of the people.

REPORTING THE CAMP-MEETINGS.

Resolved, That we heartily approve the plan carried out by Eld. White in obtaining so able a reporter, Miss M. L. Clough, and in securing so extensive publication of these reports in the leading papers of the various

States, and that we recommend that the same plan be carried out next season.

THE SOUTH.

Resolved, That we feel a deep interest in the spread of the present truth of late in the Southern States, and that we will aid this work as fast and as far as our means and men will allow.

SCATTERED SABBATH-KEEPERS.

Whereas, There are individuals and companies embracing the Sabbath in different parts of the world which have no personal acquaintance with this people, and yet are desirous to co-operate with us,

Resolved, That we recommend that special efforts be made to secure their interests in our Tract and Missionary work.

THE SCHOOL.

Whereas, It is seen from the prosperity which has thus far attended our school, and the influence it is beginning to exert, what a power for good it might be with proper patronage, therefore

Resolved, That we commend this institution still to the confidence of our people, as a place to which they would do well to send their children, and we earnestly urge all to contribute liberally to place it upon a good financial basis.

THE EUROPEAN PRESS.

Resolved, That we hail with joy the appearance of the French paper issued by Bro. Andrews in Europe under the direction of the General Conference Committee. And while the publication of this paper marks a new era in the work there, it lays us under renewed obligation to do what is required of us to support that branch of the work.

SYSTEMATIC BENEVOLENCE.

Resolved, That the gospel does not make the financial obligation of the people of God to the cause of truth any less than it was in previous ages; and we believe that God justly requires of us a tenth of our income; and how can we expect the blessing promised by the Lord through Malachi, till we comply with the condition upon which it is suspended, and bring all our tithes into the storehouse?

UNION.

Whereas, Notwithstanding our field of operations has within a few past years greatly enlarged, and our work increased, there never was a more wide-spread and cheering state of union among us, therefore

Resolved, That we hereby record our gratitude to God for the complete state of harmony and co-operation that exists with this people as a body.

Resolved, That we gratefully acknowledge the evident interposition of the Lord in behalf of his servants, Bro. and Sr. White, in sustaining them so remarkably during the heavy strain of care and labor that has come upon them the present camp-meeting season, and giving them such liberty in preaching the word; and believing it is safe to follow where the blessing of the Lord indicates the way, we pledge them our cordial sympathy and co-operation in their work.

Resolved, That we recognize with gratitude the continued and growing feeling of fraternity between the two bodies of Sabbath-keepers, the S. D. Baptists and our people, and we extend to their delegate to our present session, Pres. C. W. Whitford, a cordial welcome, and recommend that Eld. Jas. White with D. M. Canright alternate, be chosen delegate to the next session of the General Conference of the S. D. Baptists.

The case of Eld. M. E. Cornell, was taken up, and, on motion, was submitted to a committee of three, appointed by the Chair as follows: D. M. Canright, S. N. Haskell, and J. H. Morrison.

Adjourned to call of Chair.

THIRD SESSION.

5:30 A. M., Sept. 24. Prayer by Eld. Haskell. The committee in the case of Eld. M. E. Cornell reported by submitting the following resolution:—

Whereas, Eld. M. E. Cornell has for several years past been guilty of immoral conduct which has brought irretrievable disgrace upon himself and deep reproach upon the precious cause of Christ, and

Whereas, he has been repeatedly warned and reproved upon this very subject both by the officers of the General Conference and of State Conferences where he has labored, and also directly through the Testimonies, and

Whereas, while he has repeatedly acknowledged the truthfulness of the charges and the justice of the reproofs, yet he has entirely failed to reform his life until we dare trust him no longer, therefore

Resolved, That it is but justice to the cause of God and ourselves that we publicly announce that he receives no further countenance from us as a laborer in the cause of God.

Report adopted, and ordered to be published in the Review, with the minutes of the Conference.

TREASURER’S REPORT.

Mrs. F. H. Sisley in account with the General Conference, Dr. Aug. 9, 1875, To cash on hand, $1104.12 To amount rec’d during the year, 5089.97 Total, $6194.09 Cr. Sept. 15, 1876, By cash paid out during the year, 5414.27 Balance on hand, 779.82 Total, $6194.09 Mrs. F. H. Sisley, Treasurer.

Moved and carried that the Chair appoint a committee of three to write an address to the brethren in Texas. Whereupon, Brn. Canright, King, and Haskell were appointed as said committee.

Adjourned sine die.

Jas. White, Pres.

U. Smith, Sec.