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BUSINESS PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD SPECIAL SESSION OF THE GENERAL CONFERENCE OF S. D. ADVENTISTS

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 7, 1878

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 51, No. 10.

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BUSINESS PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD SPECIAL SESSION OF THE GENERAL CONFERENCE OF S. D. ADVENTISTS.

By S. N. Haskell; Uriah Smith

The Conference met according to appointment, in Battle Creek, March 1, 1878.
The president, Eld. James White, being absent, the meeting was called to order by the secretary, and Eld. S. N. Haskell was chosen president pro tem. Prayer by Eld. D. M. Canright.
The object of the meeting, and a general view of the business to come before it, was presented by the chairman.
Delegates were present as follows: R. F. Andrews and G. W. Colcord, from Illinois; H. A. St. John from Ohio; W. H. Hall, from Minnesota; A. W. Maynard, M. J. Cornell, J. Fargo, A. B. Oyen, W. K. Loughborough, J. S. Day, J. O. Corliss, and E. R. Jones, from Michigan; S. H. Lane and J. D. Shilling, from Indiana; D. M. Canright, from New England; H. W. Decker and Geo. C. Tenney, from Wisconsin; O. A. Olsen, from the Scandinavians of Wisconsin; B. L. Whitney from New York; A. S. Hutchins, from Vermont; S. H. King, from Texas, and W. C. White, from California.
Letters were read from J. N. Ayers, president of the Kansas Conference, Geo. I. Butler, president of the Missouri Conference, and John Fulton, from Ontario.
Remarks were made on the matters introduced in these letters, by Elds. S. N. Haskell, D. M. Canright, H. A. St. John, and E. W. Farnsworth.
Moved, That a committee of three be appointed by the Chair, to present a resolution on the time of holding camp-meetings, and on any other subjects to be considered by the Conference.—Carried.
The Chair thereupon appointed D. M. Canright, A. Swedeberg, and B. L. Whitney, as said committee.
The hour having arrived for the meeting of the Health Institute, the Conference adjourned till 2 P. M.

SECOND SESSION.

Met according to adjournment. Prayer by U. Smith. Minutes of last session read and approved.
The reading of letters was resumed. Communications were presented from Elds. J. G. Matteson and A. C. Bourdeau. Remarks were made on the Danish mission by O. A. Olsen and A. B. Oyen, and on the work in Canada by A. S. Hutchins.
Spirited remarks were made by Brn. Canright, Colcord, Farnsworth, Hutchins and Hall, in reference to the wants of their respective States, in the line of camp-meetings.
Moved, That the Chair appoint a committee of five to arrange the time for camp-meetings, and the distribution of labor the coming season.—Carried.
The following brethren were thereupon appointed as said committee: J. Fargo, of Michigan, W. H. Hall, of Minnesota, E. W. Farnsworth, of Iowa, B. L. Whitney, of New York, and A. S. Hutchins, of Vermont.
A letter was presented from E. B. Lane, of Virginia, and the remainder of this session was occupied in remarks upon the mission in that State.

THIRD SESSION.

Sunday, 8:30 A. M. Prayer by J. H. Waggoner. Minutes read and accepted.
A letter was presented from A. O. Burrill, of Alabama, followed by remarks from the chairman on the southern field. Letters were then read from J. N. Andrews, of Bâle, Suisse, and Dr. Ribton, of Naples, Italy. These called out full remarks upon the European mission by W. C. White, D. M. Canright, H. W. Decker, and J. H. Waggoner.
A resolution was thereupon offered and adopted, expressing thankfulness for the success of the European mission, and the openings for a wide-spread work among the nations, and again appealing to the friends of the cause to donate of their means to sustain the mission, as the General Conference Committee may suggest.
Interesting remarks were then made on the extent of the work, the greatly increased demands upon us, and the more complete facilities now possessed by the offices of publication, and other branches of the cause, for a rapid and extended work.
The committee on camp-meetings reported, suggesting that camp-meetings be held as follows:
Missouri, May 15-20.
Kansas, " 22-27.
Wisconsin, (1) May 29-June 3.
" (2) Sept. 11-16.
New York, (1) June 5-10.
" (2) Sept. 4-9.
Vermont, June 12-17.
Minnesota, " 19-24.
Ohio, Aug. 7-12.
Indiana, " 14-19.
Michigan, " 21-26.
Illinois, Sept. 4-9.
Iowa, " 18-23.
Nebraska, " 25-30.
New England, — —
Maine, — —
They recommended that one or more of the General Conf. Committee attend each of the camp-meetings.
The committee to draft a resolution touching the time of holding camp-meetings reported by submitting the following:—
Resolved, That we recommend to those Conferences which hold two camp-meetings, that the sessions of the State Conference be held in connection with one, and the annual meeting of the T. and M. Society with the other, thus giving a better opportunity for transacting the business of these meetings without interfering with the interests of the camp-meeting. Adopted.

FOURTH SESSION.

This session was devoted wholly to a consideration of the Sabbath-school interest, and the result of the session is embodied chiefly in the following resolutions:—
Resolved, 1. That an increase of interest and action in Sabbath-school work is greatly needed among us.
2. That a systematic and uniform method is necessary to greater efficiency in S. S. instruction.
3. That a General S. S. Association should be organized by our people, with State Conference auxiliary associations.
4. That a committee on Sabbath-school interests be appointed by this Conference, with instruction to report at its earliest convenience.
A committee, in accordance with the above, was thereupon appointed, consisting of Brn. W. C. White, G. H. Bell and A. C. Spicer, who reported a form for constitution, which upon consideration was referred back to the committee; and Elds. Waggoner and Canright were added to their number.
A committee to nominate officers for the contemplated S. S. organization was thereupon appointed as follows: Brn. Canright, Decker, and Brownsberger.
It was thought best not to delay the paper, which goes to press at this point in the session, leaving the remainder of the proceedings to the next issue.
S. N. HASKELL, Pres. pro tem.
U. SMITH, Sec.