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ILLINOIS CONFERENCE

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 18, 1879

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 54, No. 13.

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ILLINOIS CONFERENCE.

By R. F. Andrews; Nettie F. Craig

THE Conference held its ninth annual session at Bloomington, Ill., in connection with the camp-meeting, Aug. 27 to Sept. 2, 1879.
Conference convened Aug. 27, at 5 o’clock P. M., G. W. Colcord in the chair. Prayer by Eld. J. F. Ballenger. Twenty-three churches and one unorganized company were represented by twenty-seven delegates.
Voted, That Eld. D. T. Bourdeau, of the Vermont Conference, and all S. D. Adventists in good standing, participate in the deliberations of this Conference.
Report of last annual meeting read and approved.
Voted, That the Carbondale, Du Quoin, Gibson City, and Pittwood churches be admitted into the Conference, and the company at Clinton be taken under the watchcare of the same.
The Chair, having been previously authorized, appointed the following committees: On resolutions, R. F. Andrews, D. T. Bourdeau, and Lewis Johnson; on nominations, Alfred Nettleingham, M. L. Kittle, and L. O. Stowell; on credentials and licenses, L. A. Logan, W. A. Doyal, and J. W. Tait; auditing committee, J. H. Bates, J. H. Bennett, John Ely, Wm. Erb, A. J. Scott, J. E. Atchison.
Remarks by Elds. Andrews, Bourdeau, and others, on the propriety of districting the State for ministerial labor.
Voted, That the State be districted.
A letter relating to work among the Swedes, from J. D. Swanson, of Battle Creek, Mich., was then introduced and read.
Adjourned to call of Chair.
SECOND MEETING, Aug. 28, 5 P. M. Opened by singing and prayer. Thirty-one delegates responded to call of roll.
Voted, That Eld. A. O. Burrill be invited to participate in the deliberations of this Conference.
Voted, To approve of the action of our president in ordering one-tenth of our Conference fund to be paid to the General Conference, and that we continue to do so in future.
Report of ministerial committee read.
Voted, That G. W. Colcord, R. F. Andrews, C. H. Bliss, Lewis Johnson, B. F. Merritt, J. F. Ballenger, T. M. Steward, and G. F. Shonk receive credentials; and that Brn. A. A. John, A. H. Cleaves, C. H. Foster, J. B. Logan, E. O. Hammond, J. C. Wright, J. D. Swanson, and James Willoughby receive licenses.
Adjourned to call of Chair.
THIRD MEETING. Prayer by Eld. D. T. Bourdeau. Remarks by Eld. Bourdeau upon the consolidation of the French Kankakee church with the St. Anne church.
Voted, That the former be disbanded, and its name dropped from the Conference.
The nominating committee reported, and the following officers were elected for the ensuing year: For president, R. F. Andrews, Gilman, Iroquois Co., Ill.; secretary, Mrs. N. F. Craig, Cherry Valley, Winnebago Co.; treasurer, John Carlock, Watseka, Coles Co.; executive committee, R. F. Andrews, C. H. Bliss, and George Foreman.
Voted, That we express our gratitude for the faithful services of Bro. and Sr. G. W. Colcord during the past four years; and that we will support our newly elected officers in their labors, and work in harmony with them for the upbuilding of the cause of God in our Conference during the coming year.
Adjourned to call of Chair.
FOURTH MEETING, Sept. 1, 5 o’clock P. M. Prayer by A. A. John. After listening to interesting and instructive remarks on the subject of camp-meetings,
Voted, That we have a general camp-meeting in 1880, time and place to be left to the decision of the Conference and camp-meeting committees.
The committee on resolutions offered the following:—
Resolved, That in view of the great importance the Scriptures attach to the financial support of the gospel, and the pressing wants of the cause, we earnestly invite our brethren everywhere to heartily adopt the tithing system, and conscientiously carry it out.
Resolved, That it is the duty of all our young men and women, and especially those who intend to bear a part in the closing work of the third angel’s message, to make an earnest effort to obtain such an education as will qualify them to successfully labor in the cause; and that it is the duty of our people to encourage them, and, if necessary, help them so to do.
Resolved, That we heartily approve of and adopt the resolutions with reference to an educational relief fund lately passed by some of our Conferences under sanction of some of our leading experienced brethren; to wit,
Resolved, 1. That it is the sense of this Conference that there should be an educational relief fund raised in the State to aid worthy men and women to educate themselves for home and foreign missionaries.
2. That this fund be raised by donations of sums of not less than one dollar; and by loans for three years, without interest, of sums of not less than ten dollars.
3. That the sum so raised be controlled by a board of three trustees to be elected by the Conference, one for one year, one for two years, and one for three years; so that hereafter there shall be one elected annually, to hold his office for three years.
4. That the duties of these trustees be as follows: first, to encourage as many as possible to avail themselves of the advantages of our College at Battle Creek; secondly, to decide who need aid from this fund, and are worthy of it, and who shall be helped by loans, and who by donations, and to what extent in each case; thirdly, to report annually to the Conference all receipts, expenses, and disbursements, which report shall be submitted to the auditor appointed by the Conference.
Voted, That the president act as auditor for the coming year.
Voted, That the following persons serve as trustees; R. F. Andrews for one year; John Bates for two years; and John Bennett for three years.
Adjourned to call of Chair.
FIFTH MEETING, Sept. 2, 10 P. M. Prayer by Eld. Burrill.
Voted, That all of our ministers be appointed agents to solicit subscriptions for the educational fund. The matter of raising money to complete the Oakland meeting-house, and to assist in erecting one at Du Quoin, was discussed.
Voted, That it be left to the ministers having charge of those sections.
Voted, That the camp-meeting committee for 1880 consist of Geo. Foreman, A. Crav, and Benj. Mallernee.
On motion, a vote of thanks was tendered to the authorities of the city of Bloomington for the free use of water, also to the citizens for their respectful bearing and quiet behavior while on the grounds.
Voted, That our thanks be tendered to Eld. A. O. Burrill for his timely presence and faithful labors.
Voted, That the camp-meeting committee have the thanks of this Conference for the untiring zeal with which they have performed their duties.
Resolved, That a vote of thanks be extended to the I. C. R. R. for favorable rates of transportation.
The secretary reports as follows: Whole number of churches, 34; No. of members at commencement of year, 487; No. at present, 676; No. of S. S. scholars, 777; No. paying tithes, 353; amount of tithes paid for current year ending Sept. 2, 1879, $3084 28.
No. of ordained ministers, 9; licentiates, 11. According to previous vote, Dennis Morrison was ordained to the Christian ministry.
Adjourned sine die.
R. F. ANDREWS, Pres.
NETTIE F. CRAIG, Sec.