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General Conference of S. D. Adventists

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The Seventh-Day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 20, 1879

FromThe Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 54, No. 21

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General Conference of S. D. Adventists.

By James White; Uriah Smith

EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL SESSION, NOV. 7, 1879.
The Conference assembled, according to appointment, in the Tabernacle at Battle Creek, Mich., at 10:30 A. M., Nov. 7, 1879. The President, Eld. James White, announced hymn 164 of Spiritual Songs, after the singing of which the Conference was led in prayer by U. Smith. The hymn, “Nearer my God to thee,” was then sung, and brief opening remarks were made by the President.
Delegates being called for, thirty-three responded, representing sixteen Conferences and one mission. Others were afterward added, so that in all twenty Conferences and two missions were represented by thirty-nine delegates, as follows:— Maine: R. S. Webber. New England: D. A. Robinson, G. F. Haines. Vermont: C. W. Stone, R. S. Owen. New York: B. L. Whitney, M. H. Brown, E. S. Lane. Pennsylvania: D. B. Oviatt, J. G. Saunders. Ohio: D. M. Canright, G. G. Rupert. Tennessee: G. K. Owen. Michigan: W. H. Littlejohn, J. Fargo, Wm. Ostrander, M. B. Miller, E. R. Jones, W. C. White, E. B. Lane. Indiana: S. H. Lane, W. W. Sharp. Illinois: A. A. John, G. W. Colcord. Wisconsin: H. W. Decker, O. A. Olsen. Minnesota: Harrison Grant, L. H. Ellis, A. Mead. Dakota: S. B. Whitney. Nebraska: C. L. Boyd, A. J. Cudney. Iowa: L. McCoy. Missouri: G. I. Butler. Kansas: Smith Sharp, W. E. Dawson. Texas: G. I. Butler. California: S. N. Haskell. North Pacific: S. N. Haskell. Colorado Mission: A. O. Burrill. Ontario: “ John Fulton.
Minutes of last session read and approved. The Chairman appointed the usual committees, as follows:—
On Nominations: J. Fargo, O. A. Olsen, S. B. Whitney. On Resolutions: Smith Sharp, H. W. Decker, S. H. Lane, A. O. Burrill, B. L. Whitney. On Auditing: H. W. Kellogg, Franklin Howe.
Reports of committees appointed at last Conference, being called for, were presented as follows:—
1. The Committee having in charge the matter of the Russian Sabbath-keepers in Dakota, requested Eld. S. B. Whitney, who had been laboring near them, to report. He said that a brother who speaks their language had visited them, and found them holding fast, and anxious to become identified with us as a people. He thought the prospect good for success in that field.
2. The Committee on Blanks for Church Reports reported that the blanks had been printed, and were ready for use.
3. The Committee on the question of unhappy marriages and tobacco-selling reported progress in the investigation of these questions, but all the members of the Committee not being present, the final report was deferred till they should have opportunity for mutual consultation on the subject.
4. The Committee on the question of financial help for Bro. A. Vuilleumier to enable him to enter the work of the ministry, reported that some help had been obtained for him in New York.
5. The Committee on the Preparation of a Church Manual reported that they had not had opportunity for mutual consultation on the subject, but the chairman of the Committee had written out the main points of the work, which he was ready to submit to the examination of the Conference in any way they might think proper.
Adjourned to 2:30 P. M.
SECOND MEETING. 2:30 P. M., Nov. 7. Prayer by Bro. White. Minutes of previous meeting read and approved.
On motion, a committee of five was appointed by the Chairman to have in charge the matter of furnishing reports of the meeting to leading papers in this and adjacent States. This committee was composed of D. M. Canright, S. H. Lane, A. O. Burrill, J. Fargo, and A. A. John.
A report was read from A. C. Bourdeau respecting the work in the Province of Quebec, and one from J. N. Andrews respecting the work in Europe.
Interesting remarks were made by the Chairman and W. C. White respecting missionary fields, and particularly the work in Europe.
J. Fulton gave a verbal report of the work in Ontario. He reported a great change for the better within the past two years. It is becoming a very important field. There are two organized churches and about 70 Sabbath-keepers in that Province. He considered the prospect for the spread of the truth there as good as in any other field.
The necessity of the creation of a Missionary Board, to give more especial attention to missions, was spoken upon, but no action was taken.
Adjourned to Nov. 8, at 7:30 P. M.
THIRD MEETING. It having been found advisable to occupy the evening after the Sabbath in devotional exercises, the Chair called the third meeting of the Conference at 2:30 P. M., Nov. 10. The hymn, “Waiting and Watching,” was sung, and prayer was offered by the Chairman.
Minutes of the previous meeting read and approved.
The Committee on furnishing papers with an account of the meeting reported that they had corresponded with various papers, and that reports were being prepared for the same by Sister B. L. Whitney.
The Committee on Nominations presented a report, recommending officers of the Conference for the coming year, as follows:— For President, Eld. James White. “Secretary,” U. Smith. “Treasurer,” Mrs. M. J. Chapman. “Executive Committee,” Eld. James White, S. N. Haskell, Geo. I. Butler.
On motion, these names were acted upon separately, and each nominee was unanimously elected.
The Committee on Resolutions made a partial report, as follows:—
1. Whereas, The system of districting States has proved a success in those Conferences where it has been introduced, therefore
Resolved, That we recommend each State Conference to divide its State into districts, assigning to each minister a district in which to labor, under the direction of the Conference Committee.
This resolution was adopted, after being discussed by S. N. Haskell, D. M. Canright, H. Grant, M. B. Miller, W. C. White, G. W. Colcord, and Jas. White.
2. Resolved, That it is the sense of this Conference, that it is the duty of each Conference Secretary to furnish quarterly to the Secretary of the General Conference a statistical and financial report of the churches of his Conference.
This was discussed by W. C. White, S. N. Haskell, Jas. White, and B. L. Whitney, and adopted.
3. Resolved, That this Conference elect annually a Mission Board of five, who shall have the special oversight of all our foreign missions, under the advice of the General Conference Committee; said Mission Board to report annually to the General Conference.
The motion to adopt was spoken to by S. N. Haskell, W. C. White, Jas. White, and C. L. Boyd; and while the question was pending, the Conference adjourned to the call of the Chair.
FOURTH MEETING. Wednesday, Nov. 12, 3 P. M. The hymn, “Long for my Saviour I’ve been waiting,” was sung, and prayer was offered by Eld. H. W. Decker.
Minutes of previous meeting read and approved.
The discussion of the third resolution being resumed, it was referred to a special Committee of three to be appointed by the Chair.
Elds. S. N. Haskell, B. L. Whitney, and Smith Sharp were thereupon appointed as said Committee.
4. Whereas, The “Song Anchor” has received universal approbation wherever it has been introduced, and
Whereas, Its present popular price is favorable to its general introduction, therefore
Resolved, That we not only recommend its use among our people, but that we urge our brethren everywhere to do all in their power to bring the book into use, as far as possible, among those not of our faith.
Adopted without discussion.
5. Whereas, The holding of our General Semi-annual and State Conferences and our general camp-meetings necessitates extensive travel on the part of our people, and
Whereas, The transportation of our publications constitutes a large and increasing business, involving the outlay of a considerable amount of funds, therefore
Resolved, That this Conference appoint a Committee of five, whose duty it shall be to have in charge the work of securing such reduction of passenger and freight tariff, as should be obtained.
This was amended by striking out that part of the preamble and resolution that related to freight tariff, and, as amended, it was adopted.
The following-named brethren were then elected by vote of the Conference as the Committee called for by the resolution:— Elds. S. N. Haskell, B. L. Whitney, G. W. Colcord, L. McCoy, and Geo. I. Butler.
6. Resolved, That it should not be considered that any minister has fully discharged his duty in any new field where a company of Sabbath-keepers has been raised up, until he has fully advocated, in public and in private, the subjects of Health and Temperance and Spiritual Gifts, and organized Systematic Benevolence; and a failure in this shall be considered worthy of censure; and the Auditing Committee should take this into account when settling with him.
Adopted.
Adjourned to call of Chair.
FIFTH MEETING, Nov. 13, 3 P. M. Prayer by O. A. Olsen. Minutes of previous meeting read and approved.
The following question was presented to the Conference for answer:— “What is the position of a leader of a church when there is no elder? What are his duties? and what is his authority?”
This was referred to the Committee on the Church Manual.
A communication was read from Eld. S. Osborn, of Kentucky, and one from L. P. Hodges, of North Carolina.
Moved, That we recommend the General Conference to furnish credentials and licenses to all those laboring in its employ.—Carried.
A communication was then read from Eld. C. O. Taylor, of Georgia, on consideration of which it was
Moved, That the Chairman appoint a Committee of three who shall inquire more particularly into the status of the cause in the entire Southern field, and report to the General Conference Committee.—Carried.
7. Resolved, That this Conference cordially invite our beloved brother and sister, Eld. James White and wife, so far as possible, and consistent with their many other duties, to attend one general meeting in each Conference annually, that the benefit of their great experience and their verbal testimonies may be enjoyed in all parts of the great field.
Adjourned to call of Chair.
Jas. White, Pres. U. Smith, Sec.