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MICHIGAN CONFERENCE

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 16, 1879

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 54, No. 17.

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MICHIGAN CONFERENCE.

By J. Fargo; A. B. Oyen

The nineteenth annual session of the Michigan Conference of S. D. Adventists was held in connection with the camp-meeting at Lyons, Sept. 25–30, 1879. The first meeting was held Sept. 26, at 9 A. M., the president, Eld. J. Fargo, in the chair. After singing, prayer was offered by Eld. G. W. Colcord.
Fifty-eight delegates, representing forty-six churches, took their seats in the Conference. By vote, Eld. E. R. Jones was received as a representative for Marshall, Sister Anna Mills for Genoa, and Sister L. E. Carey for Deerfield.
On motion, Eld. G. W. Colcord, and all brethren and sisters in good standing in the Conference, were invited to take part in the deliberations of the session.
By vote of the Conference, the Chair was empowered to appoint the different committees. They were announced as follows: Nominating committee, W. C. White, M. B. Miller, and E. R. Jones; ministerial committee, E. H. Root, E. B. Lane, and R. J. Lawrence; committee on resolutions, G. W. Colcord, D. H. Lamson, and A. B. Oyen; auditing committee, Alex. Carpenter, Francis Nelson, A. W. Maynard, E. S. Griggs, J. Rumery, J. F. Carman. Meeting adjourned to call of Chair.
SECOND MEETING. The second meeting was held Sept. 28, at 8:30 A. M. Prayer by Eld. James White.
Eight delegates, representing three additional churches, were received into the Conference, and Bro. Lewis was admitted as a delegate from Dimondale.
The following new churches were admitted into the Conference: Whitewater, Grand Traverse Co.; Rapid River, Antrim Co.; Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co.; Cedar Lake, Montcalm Co.; Seville, Gratiot Co.; Mt. Pleasant, Isabella Co.; Sidney, Montcalm Co.; Brookfield, Eaton Co. The unorganized companies of Sabbath-keepers at Sand Lake and Stanton were taken under the watchcare of the Conference.
According to the request of the Genoa church, its name was changed from Genoa to Howell.
The report of the previous meeting was then read and approved.
At this stage of the meeting, pointed remarks were made by Eld. James White in reference to the spiritual standing of our churches. He stated that only about one-third of the ministers belonging to the Conference are laboring in the State; hence the churches are in such a poor condition. Michigan should have more help. Young men should be encouraged to enter the work of the ministry.
Several requests for ministerial labor, from churches and unorganized companies, were, by vote, referred to the Conference committee.
The subject of dividing the Conference and distributing labor was next brought up, and after remarks by several, the chairman was empowered to appoint a committee to consider this matter, and report at this session. The committee was announced as follows: James White, W. C. White, E. H. Root, H. W. Kellogg, and J. S. Day.
The committee on resolutions then presented the following:—
Resolved, That we recommend to our brethren and sisters a careful reading of the articles in Review Vol. 54, Nos. 3 and 11, written by Sr. White and Bro. G. I. Butler, on the subject of attending our camp-meetings and other general gatherings; and we urge all to act in harmony with the instructions therein given, by attending the entire sessions of all such meetings.
Whereas, It is painfully manifest that many of our church-members have departed from the simplicity of the gospel in the matter of dress, therefore, Resolved, That we earnestly entreat all to strive to develop and cultivate the grace of humility, and that we hereby instruct our ministers and elders to frequently present this duty to our brethren, and to insist on a scriptural form of discipline.
Resolved, That we hail with joy the movement that has been inaugurated among us in reference to the subjects of health and temperance, and
Whereas, A State Health and Temperance Association has been organized in our Conference, therefore
Resolved, That we recommend that all our people sign the teetotal pledge, and so far as possible become full members of the association, and aid in the work of organizing local clubs, and of generally prosecuting this noble enterprise.
The first resolution was adopted both by the Conference and by a rising vote of the congregation; the second and third were unanimously adopted.
The meeting then adjourned to call of Chair.
THIRD MEETING. The third meeting convened Sept. 28, at 6 P. M. Prayer by Eld. G. W. Colcord.
One additional delegate was received. The minutes of the last meeting were read and accepted.
The report of the committee on credentials and licenses being called for, they presented the following:—
For credentials: James White, Mrs. E. G. White, J. H. Waggoner, John Byington, D. H. Lamson, R. J. Lawrence, I. D. Van Horn, E. B. Lane, A. O. Burrill, H. M. Kenyon, U. Smith, E. R. Jones, J. O. Corliss, O. Soule, M. B. Miller, E. Van Deusen, E. H. Root, James Sawyer, W. H. Littlejohn, J. Fargo.
For licenses: W. C. White, H. S. Guilford, Mrs. E. S. Lane, J. L. Edgar, G. K. Owen, Frank Starr, Geo. Gilbert, Isaac Morrison, Knud Bronson, A. B. Oyen, E. P. Daniels, L. A. Kellogg, Wm. Ostrander, B. F. Richards, Jacob Jacobson.
It was also recommended that D. A. Wellman and John Sisley receive ordination and credentials, and that the case of J. B. Frisbie be referred to the Conference committee.
All these names were voted upon separately, and the recommendations of the committee were adopted.
The committee on resolutions reported still further:—
Resolved, That we heartily approve of the action of our brethren in Battle Creek and the General Conference committee, in building the Dime Tabernacle; that we consider it necessary to the good of our institutions and of our youth and friends connected with them; and that we manifest our interest in it, as individual members of our several churches, by liberal donations to help pay the existing debt.
Resolved, That we heartily welcome to their home-Conference our dear Bro. and Sr. White; that we rejoice that we may again listen to their words of admonition, counsel, and encouragement; and that we hereby express our sincere gratitude to God for thus sparing them to us and the cause of the Lord.
These resolutions were unanimously adopted. The treasurer then presented the following statement of the financial standing of the Conference:—
H. W. Kellogg, treasurer, in acc’t with the Michigan Conference of S. D. Adventists.
Dr. Oct. 1, 1878, to cash on hand, $10,555.04 To cash rec’d from the different churches from Oct. 15, 1878, to Sept. 25, 1879, $8,280.48 Total, $18,835.52 Cr. By cash paid out from Oct. 1, 1878, to Sept. 24, 1879, $11,070.20 Cash on hand to balance, $7,765.32
On motion, the above report was accepted by the Conference.
Adjourned to call of Chair.
FOURTH MEETING. The fourth meeting was held at 9:30 A. M. Sept. 29. Prayer was offered by Eld. D. H. Lamson. In the absence of the secretary, Sr. Jennie Thayer acted as secretary pro tem. The report of the previous meeting was read and accepted. Eld. James White, acting as chairman of the committee appointed to consider the divisions of the Conference, submitted the following:—

REPORT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEE.

Your committee beg leave to make the following report:—
In view of the fact that the Michigan Conference occupies a large territory, and that its number of churches is too large for one officer to preside over alone, we recommend that the Conference be divided into three sections, with one president as chairman of an executive committee of five, the second, third, and fourth members of the committee to be ministers, each to take charge of a division under the general supervision of the president.
All of which is respectfully submitted. JAMES WHITE, H. W. KELLOGG, J. S. DAY, E. H. ROOT, W. C. WHITE, Committee.
It was moved and seconded to accept this report. A second reading was called for, when it was suggested that the constitution must be amended before this report could be adopted.
Art. 2, Sec. 1, of the constitution was then read as follows: “The officers of this Conference shall be a president, secretary, treasurer, and an executive committee of three, of whom the president shall be one; and they shall be elected annually.”
W. C. White then offered the following resolution:—
Resolved, That the constitution be so amended that Art. 2, Sec. 1, shall read, “an executive committee of four, of whom the president shall be one.”
After some remarks by Eld. White, explaining the seeming necessity of this division, the above resolution was adopted, and the report of this committee accepted.
The following resolution was then read:—
Resolved, That it is the duty of those members of the Conference committee who have special charge of the three sections of our Conference to take an active interest in the missionary, temperance, and Sabbath-school, as well as in the Conference, work, and that they should take special charge of, and be held responsible for, the prosperity of all these branches of the work in their sections, and that the president of the Conference take the general supervision of all branches of the work in the entire Conference.
After some discussion, this resolution was adopted.
W. C. White, chairman of the committee on nominations, then submitted the following:—
President, J. Fargo; secretary, A. B. Oyen; treasurer, H. W. Kellogg; executive committee, No. 2, E. R. Jones; No. 3, A. O. Burrill; No. 4, M. B. Miller; No. 5, S. Brownsberger.
On motion of M. B. Miller, these nominations were considered separately, and the nominees were unanimously elected.
The summary of church reports was then read and accepted. Reports from seventy churches show that there were nineteen hundred and twenty-eight members last year, and that there are twenty-five hundred and twenty-two members at the present time. Twenty churches have failed to report. Eight new churches have been added during the year, and two unorganized companies were taken under the watchcare of the Conference.
Eld. Fargo then stated that the church at Morley had made application to be received into the Conference. On motion of M. B. Miller, this church was received. This made the number of churches received during the year read nine instead of eight.
The Educational Relief Fund was next considered. W. C. White moved that the Conference endorse the following resolutions, which were presented at the Eaton Rapids camp-meeting:—
Whereas, The demands for efficient labor in the cause of God are very great, and
Whereas, The laborers already in the field are so few that scarcely half of the calls for help in the various departments of the missionary field can be met, therefore
Resolved, That this Conference recommend that a State Educational Relief Fund be raised, and managed as specified hereafter.
Resolved, That we recommend that this fund be made up by loans and donations; that the loans be made for three years in sums of not less than $10, without interest; that donations to this fund be made in sums of not less than one dollar; and that three trustees be elected by this Conference to take charge of this fund, to decide who are proper persons to receive aid from it, and to grant all such persons aid to the extent that seems best in the judgment of the committee.
Resolved, That at the first appointment one of these trustees be elected for a full term of three years, one for two years, and the third for one year, and at each annual meeting, ever after, there be one trustee elected to fill the regularly recurring vacancy.
Resolved, That one-third of the fund actually under the control of the trustees at any one time be kept in the treasury as a reserve to secure the payment of loans falling due.
Resolved, That the time for which any loan is made will begin when the money is actually paid into the treasury.
After some very interesting and pointed remarks by Bro. and Sr. White and others, these resolutions were adopted; and, on motion, Eld. Fargo appointed W. C. White, E. H. Root, and J. S. Day, a committee to nominate three persons who shall act as trustees for the Relief Fund provided for in the above resolutions. The names presented by the committee were as follows: S. H. King, one year; J. Fargo, two years; H. W. Kellogg, three years. These persons were, by vote, elected separately.
It was moved by W. C. White that the Chair appoint a committee of three to consult with the Conference Committee in regard to dividing the State. Eld. J. White, W. C. White, and G. H. Bell were appointed as such committee.
It was further moved, that those members of the Conference Committee who have charge of the three divisions be a committee to select and suggest persons who should receive help from the Educational Relief Fund, and also to solicit funds.
Several applications in regard to furnishing aid for repairing meeting-houses were referred to the Conference Committee.
A vote of thanks was tendered Mr. Roof, for the free use of the grounds on which the meeting was held.
The meeting then adjourned to call of Chair.
J. FARGO, Pres. A. B. OYEN, Sec.