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MICHIGAN CONFERENCE

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 4, 1877

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 50, No. 14.

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MICHIGAN CONFERENCE.

By E. H. Root; D. H. Lamson

The seventeenth annual session of the Michigan State Conference of S. D. Adventists was held on the camp-ground at Lansing, Mich., Wednesday, Sept. 19, 1877, at 2 P. M. The president, Eld. J. Fargo, being absent on account of sickness, Eld. E. H. Root, a member of the Conference Committee, was called to the chair. The meeting being called to order, prayer was offered by Eld. E. R. Jones.
Fifty-six churches were represented by sixty-seven delegates.
On motion, The following churches were admitted into the Conference, or taken under its watch-care, viz., the churches at Diamondale, Leslie, and Adrian, which were fully organized; and those at Sheridan, Summit, and Fowlerville, partially organized. The minutes of the Conference of 1876 were read and accepted.
It was moved and sustained that the chairman, E. H. Root, appoint the usual committees.
Adjourned to call of Chair.
The committees subsequently announced were as follows: On nominations, E. R. Jones, Franklin Howe, W. C. White; on resolutions, D. H. Lamson, H. M. Kenyon, M. B. Miller; on credentials and licenses, S. Brownsberger, John Day, W. C. White; on auditing, Francis Nelson, John Day, Wm. Potter, E. S. Griggs, J. S. Wicks, A. W. Maynard.

SECOND SESSION.

Meeting called to order by Eld. James White. Prayer by Eld. E. H. Root. Minutes of previous meeting read and accepted. Delegates were admitted from Colon, Monroe Center, Fair Grove, Orleans, Watrousville, Dryden, and Elmwood. Reports of committees being called for,the Committee on Nominations reported as follows: For President, J. Fargo; Conference Committee, J. Fargo, E. H. Root, S. Brownsberger; Secretary, A. B. Oyen; Treasurer, Mrs. F. H. Sisley. The report was accepted, and these persons were elected separately.
The Committee on Credentials and Licenses made the following report: For credentials, Eld. James White, Mrs. E. G. White, J. H. Waggoner, John Byington, A. O. Burrill, E. B. Lane, D. H. Lamson, R. J. Lawrence, I. D. Van Horn, Sands H. Lane, H. M. Kenyon, U. Smith, E. R. Jones, John Corliss, J. B. Frisbie, Orlando Soule, M. B. Miller, E. Van Deusen, J. Fargo, and E. H. Root. For licenses: Wm. Potter, H. S. Guilford, E. S. Lane, Dolphus Wellman, J. L. Edgar, John Sisley, Gardner Owen, August Rasmussen, R. T. Sisley, Frank Starr, Delmar Wellman, I. A. Olmstead. The report of the committee was accepted, and credentials and licenses were granted according to the above recommendations.
Calls were made for petitions from churches, whereupon the church at Hillsdale, through their delegate, requested the privilege of using their s. b. to repair their church. The request, after consideration, was left to the Conference Committee. The church at Flint preferred the request to be allowed to retain their s. b., to aid in building a house of worship. The request was granted. The churches at Fair Grove and Diamondale were also allowed to retain their s. b. for the coming year, for the same purpose.
The matter of the church at Locke was referred to the Conference Committee.
After the reading of the treasurer’s report, the meeting adjourned to call of Chair.

THIRD SESSION.

Meeting called to order by Eld. James White. Prayer by Eld. J. H. Waggoner.
The Committee on Credentials and Licenses recommended a renewal of credentials to James Sawyer, and that license be granted to M. S. Burnham and L. A. Kellogg. The request in reference to C. C. Doren was left with the Conference Committee.
The request of the church at Sheridan to retain their s. b. was left to the Conference Committee.
The matter of the church at Locke was placed again in the hands of the Conference. That body accepted the trust, and disposed of the matter by recommending the Conference to send a letter to the church, to relieve them if possible. The recommendation was put in the form of a motion, and a vote was taken to carry it out.
The motion of W. C. White, to issue a colporteur’s license, after remarks by himself, and Elds. Haskell and Waggoner, was sustained by Eld. E. R. Jones and carried.
Moved, That the Chair appoint a committee to provide a form of license.
It was moved to send a minister to assist the class at Olivet, either in a reorganization, or in the best manner possible. The request of the delegate from Mattawan was left with the Conference Committee.
The motion of Eld. E. R. Jones, to reprint the Constitution of the Michigan Conference, and to print some regulations respecting the government of our churches, was amended by a motion for a revision of the Constitution, by a committee appointed by the Chair. J. H. Waggoner, D. M. Canright, and U. Smith were appointed such committee.
The committee to create a colporteur’s license were James White, U. Smith, and S. N. Haskell.
The Committee on Resolutions reported as follows:—
Whereas, There is yet a great lack on the part of our church clerks, in making reports of the churches to the Conference, so that it is an absolute impossibility to obtain complete returns as to their standing, financial condition, and pledges of s. b., either to State or General Conference, and
Whereas, This subject has been noticed heretofore by our Conference; therefore
Resolved, That we repeat the resolution of 1874; which reads as follows:— “Resolved, That we deem all such neglect on the part of said clerks, an evidence of a deplorable lack of interest in the cause in which we are engaged, and that such a course is worthy of censure.”
And we recommend that whenever such failures occur in the future, without just reason, the clerks so failing be removed, and others be elected to fill their places.
Resolved, That we recommend that the reports of the pledges of s. b., to the Conference, be forwarded to the secretary at the beginning of each year; viz., Jan. 1.
Resolved, That we consider the recommendation of the General Conference Committee for all our churches to hold quarterly meetings regularly, beginning with the first Sabbath in January of each year, to examine church records, and to inquire into all matters pertaining to their spiritual progress, is counsel founded upon true wisdom, and in the order of God; and it is hereby expressed as the judgment of this Conference, that it should, without one single failure, be heeded.
Whereas, Churches have been added in different parts of our State, and our membership correspondingly increased, and yet it is a deplorable fact that our spiritual prosperity has not kept pace with our increase in members; therefore,
Resolved, That we earnestly exhort our brethren and sisters to make the distinction wide between themselves and the world, following more closely in the footsteps of our great Pattern, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Resolved, That the undeniable evidence of the progress of the truth we love, in all parts of the world, should be the occasion of the most unfeigned thanksgiving to God; and that the prayers and efforts of the members of this Conference as a whole, as well as of the churches and people individually, should still be untiringly directed to its advancement.
Resolved, That the missionary work is worthy of our most earnest attention, and that the general success that has attended it, whether guided by the body of the people or by personal effort, should be the cause of the most sincere gratitude to the Lord, and an incentive to the greatest and most continued exertion.
Resolved, That the Michigan Conference of S. D. Adventists, above all others, should feel and express their appreciation of the persevering labors and untiring energy of our beloved Bro. and Sr. White, for our good; and that our hearts are saddened by their recurring infirmities resulting from burdens they have so cheerfully borne. And we once more resolve to stay up their hands, and take every burden from their hearts that can possibly be borne by us; this being the best and only means by which desires for their welfare can be made effectual.
Resolved, That the grateful thanks of the Michigan Conference of S. D. Adventists are due to the railroad companies which have granted us such favorable terms of passage, viz., the Detroit and Milwaukee, and the Detroit, Lansing and Northern Railroads; and that such thanks are especially due to the Chicago and Lake Huron, and Chicago and Northeastern Railroads, for the unusual regard they have shown us during the entire camp-meeting.
Resolved, That this Conference and people as a body hereby tender a vote of thanks to O. F. Camp, the owner of the ground upon which we are located, for favors shown us beyond contract.
Moved, By Eld. M. B. Miller, That we as a people express our thanks to Bro. E. H. Root for the earnest and cheerful manner in which he has borne burdens connected with this camp-meeting, especially the additional ones coming upon him in consequence of the sickness of other members of committees to which he belongs. Sustained and carried by a rising and unanimous vote.
The following addition and amendments to the Constitution of the Michigan Conference of S. D. Adventists were offered by M. B. Miller, and were accepted by a unanimous vote:—
The addition of a section to be known as Section 5, Article II, to read as follows: It shall be the duty of the Executive Committee to fill between sessions, by appointment, the vacancies that may occur, by death or otherwise, among the officers of the Conference.
The amendment of Section 3, Article III, by striking out the clause, “Except when it be preferable to give it, or a portion of it, directly to preachers who labor among them.” And that we strike out of the Constitution Section 5, of Article III.
The amendment of Section 1, Article VI, so as to read, It shall be the duty of the ministers of this Conference to make a written report to each annual meeting thereof, of their labors each week, and of the amount of their receipts and expenditures during the Conference year.

FOURTH SESSION.

The reading of the minutes of last session was waived. The question of donations to the General Conference called for a reading again of the treasurer’s report, which showed a balance in the treasury of the Conference of $10,435.99. Out of this the accounts of the ministers the past year are to be paid. It was moved to donate to the General Conference $2000.00. Carried.
The following preamble and resolution was offered by Bro. M. B. Miller:—
Whereas, There is at present a lack of uniformity in our church records, therefore,
Resolved, That we recommend our churches to procure and use certain books now in preparation at the Review Office for church clerks and s. b. treasurers.
After remarks by Eld. S. N. Haskell the resolution was carried.
Request was preferred by the delegate from Potterville for permission to aid the church at Diamondale with one-half of their s. b. Remarks were made by several persons, explanatory and otherwise, and the request was finally granted.
Adjourned to call of Chair.
E. H. ROOT, Pres.
D. H. LAMSON, Sec.