p. 430 | Pacific Coast Council

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jul 17, 1884

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 10, No. 27.

Pacific Coast Council.

The Council was held at the East Portland camp-ground June 23–30, 1884.

FIRST MEETING, JUNE 23, 5 P. M.

Prayer by Eld. J. N. Loughborough. Introductory remarks were made by Eld. W. C. White, who nominated Eld. J. H. Waggoner for chairman. Eld. A. T. Jones was elected secretary.

Remarks were made by the chairman upon the objects and the future organization of the Council. Elder White stated that Elder Waggoner had drafted some rules for the government of the Council, and called for their reading.

RULE 1.—The Conferences shall be represented as follows: One delegate to the Council, for every five delegates in the State Conference. And the delegates present shall cast the full vote of their respective delegations. The delegates shall be elected by the annual Conferences or appointed by the Conference Committees.

RULE 2.—The officers of the Council shall be: One to preside, and one to record the proceedings. And each Council shall choose its own officers.

RULE 3.—The object of the Council shall be: (1) To unify and strengthen the work on the Pacific Coast; (2) to devise ways and means for introducing the work into destitute fields in the Pacific Coast States and Territories; (3) to extend the missionary work within these Conferences; and (4) to foster our educational interests on the coast.

RULE 4.—The time and place of meeting shall be appointed by the presidents of the coast Conferences; the appointment for each year to be made before the annual camp-meeting for that year in either Conference.

RULE 5.—The decisions of this Council shall be only advisory.

After some discussion, with slight amendments, the rules were adopted. It was decided that the presidents and representatives of the Conferences present should name the delegates to the Council.

SECOND MEETING, JUNE 26, 1:45 P. M.

Delegates reported present as follows:— California.—Elders Waggoner, White, Ings, and Corliss, and Prof. Brownsberger. Upper Columbia.—Elders Loughborough and Jones. North Pacific.—Elder Boyd, and Brethren Benham and Starbuck.

Elder Waggoner was elected chairman, and Eld. A. T. Jones, secretary.

The following points of business were suggested: (1) What can be done to strengthen the Upper Columbia Conference, and to occupy Idaho? (2) What can be done to help the North Pacific Conference? (3) What is the relation of the Healdsburg College to the work on the Pacific Coast? (4) Is it advisable for these Conferences to send delegates to each other's annual meetings? (5) Shall these Conferences send delegates to the General Conference?

Elders White, Boyd, and Loughborough were appointed a committee to present business to the next meeting.

Remarks were made about the wants of the various fields.

THIRD MEETING, JUNE 30, 8 A. M.

Business was presented by the committee as follows:—

We recommend, 1st, that Elder Loughborough assist Elder Boyd, in such way as they may judge best, to establish the work in the North Pacific Conference.

2d, That the Pacific Coast Conferences send delegates to the annual meetings of each other.

3d, That the Pacific Coast Conferences send delegates to the General Conference.

4th, That the brethren encourage those in these Conferences who desire to fit themselves for work, not only as preachers, but as canvass

ers, colporters, and teachers, to go to Healdsburg College.

5th, That Elder Raymond attend the Healdsburg College.

6th, That Eld. A. T. Jones labor in California under the direction of that Conference.

The first two were fully discussed and adopted. (The first was afterward adopted by the N. P. Conference.) The third was spoken upon by Elders Waggoner, Corliss, Boyd, Loughborough and White. In the past, these Conferences, especially the two northern, have requested some one who would attend the General Conference, to represent them, though they did not belong to the Conferences. It was urged that each Conference should have a representative from its own membership in each General Conference; that only in this manner can they keep well acquainted with the action and spirit of these important meetings; and in this manner alone can their wants be fitly represented; that it will serve as a bond of union between the General Conference and the State Conferences, and that inasmuch as the delegate can carry back to his own State the experience of the workers in the whole field, and the reasons on which the several actions of the General Conference are based, the money expended in sending a delegate would be more profitably employed than if used to pay laborers at home. It is only by such representation that the distant Conferences can keep pace with the work; and the caution was given that delegates be sent who will well represent the Conferences. Do not send men who are but half converted to the truth, or who are chronic fault-finders.

On the fourth, remarks were made by Professor Brownsberger. Owing to a lack of time, no others spoke on this point, though they desired to do so. (The remarks of Professor Brownsberger will be given hereafter.) All the recommendations were adopted and the Council adjourned.

J. H. WAGGONER, Chairman. A. T. JONES, Secretary.