CALIFORNIA CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS.
By E. A. Chapman
THE eighteenth annual session of the California Conference was held in connection with the Oakland camp-meeting, commencing September 26, the president, J. N. Loughborough, occupying the chair. Delegates to the number of 170 were present from 32 churches. The new churches of Susanville, Lockwood, Laytonville, and Pasadena were admitted into the Conference. The following were the committees appointed:—
On Nominations—Frank Brown, B. F. Winkler, and W. N. Glenn.
On Resolutions—W. M. Healey, H. A. St. John, and M. C. Wilcox.
On Credentials and Licenses—W. M. Healey, H. A. St. John, and Wm. Ings.
On Auditing—N. N. Lunt, Frank Brown, P. Scazighini, Joseph Leininger, M. J. Church, and Geo. C. Martin.
On National Religious Liberty Association—W. C. White, A. T. Jones, W. M. Healey, Geo. H. Derrick, and D. C. Hunter.
To consider a communication received from Dr. J. H. Kellogg, president of the American Health and Temperance Association—C. P. Bollman, W. C. White, and G. K. Owen. Officers for the coming year were elected as follows: For President, J. N. Loughborough; Secretary, E. A. Chapman; Treasurer, Pacific Press Publishing Co.; Educational Secretary, R. S. Owen; Executive Committee, J. N. Loughborough, W. C. White, W. M. Healey, N. C. McClure, R. S. Owen. The following resolutions were brought before the Conference and heartily adopted, the first two being indorsed by the congregation by a rising vote:— WHEREAS, We are again permitted to meet in our annual conference, and in reviewing the past year can see much advancement in the cause, Resolved, That we acknowledge the guiding hand of God in this work, and offer to him our sincere gratitude for the part he has given us to act, and will endeavor by his aid to be more efficient and faithful. WHEREAS, The Lord has given us a message to all the world, and we see in Utah and Arizona an unoccupied field; therefore, Resolved, That we annex those Territories to this Conference as requested by the General Conference Committee. Resolved, That the interesting address of our president be published in the Signs of the Times. WHEREAS, Our message is to the world, and to more readily reach all minds our work needs a careful preparation; and, WHEREAS, The Healdsburg College is well adapted to this purpose; therefore, Resolved, That we urge all our people to support said college by their prayers and patronage as far as consistent. Resolved, That we approve of the establishment of schools in our different churches where the same is practicable. WHEREAS, God has been pleased during the past three years to bless the Bible work in the California city missions, increasing the result of the labor performed, bringing many souls to the light of the truth, and assisting and encouraging our churches and tent laborers; and, WHEREAS, There is no lack of opportunities to reach the people, but rather an increased demand for this class of work; therefore, Resolved, That we give our moral and material support to those who engage in Bible work, and will encourage those to enter the work who may be fitted to do so, that souls may be saved and God glorified. WHEREAS, The publishing work is recognized by us as a people to be one of the most important agencies in giving to the world the last threefold message of warning; and, WHEREAS, The Pacific Press Publishing Company, which has done so much in this direction in the past, and whose main office is located in our midst, has felt called upon to greatly enlarge its work to meet the demands of the message by establishing branch offices in the great literary and commercial centers of the world, New York City and London, England; and, WHEREAS, This enlargement calls for an additional outlay of means (1) in maintaining a separate corps of workers at each one of these offices, and (2) in carrying a large and varied stock of all publications demanded by this time of the message and adapted to the different fields; therefore, Resolved, That we approve of the action taken by the stockholders in establishing these branch offices, and that we will heartily respond to the call of the directors for more means with which to carry forward the good work, (1) by taking stock in the Pacific Press Publishing Company and urging others to do so, as far as is consistent, and (2) by reducing to practice the recommendation of the General and State Conference that we should make this office a place of deposit. Resolved, That we request the Executive Committee of our Conference to publish, at their earliest convenience, in pamphlet form, the proceedings of the Seventh-day Adventist Conference of California for the Conference year ending September 1, 1889, and that they decide as to the number and expense of the same. Resolved, That it is the judgment of this Conference that its ministers, when actively engaged in labor for the salvation of souls, should briefly and frequently report their labors and experiences to the Signs of the Times for publication, that we may feel a closer sympathy and deeper interest in their labors. Resolved, That we extend our thanks to the daily papers of Oakland for the full reports published in regard to the meetings held in connection with this Conference. The committee to whom was referred the letter of Dr. J. H. Kellogg, president of the American Health and Temperance Association, submitted the following:— WHEREAS, Health and temperance principles are an important part of present truth; and, WHEREAS, It is desirable that our character as an aggressive and consistent temperance people should be everywhere known; and, WHEREAS, The circulation of health and temperance literature is an efficient means of preparing the minds of the people to receive the truths of the Third Angel's Message; therefore, Resolved, That we encourage suitable young persons to fit themselves to engage in the work of canvassing for health and temperance publications, and to teach to others the true principles of Christian temperance. Resolved, That we employ Brother G. K. Owen to devote himself to the health and temperance work during the coming year, and instruct him that in so doing he co-operate with whosoever shall have charge of the canvassing work for health and temperance literature. The following amendment to the constitution of the California Conference was adopted: ARTICLE 3, SECTION 2.—In case of surplus funds at the close of an annual settlement the Executive Committee shall have the power to invest two-thirds of the same as they may deem for the best good of the cause, provided, in such case at least $5,000 shall remain in the treasury. Resolved, That section 2 of article 3 of California Conference Constitution shall be numbered section 3, and section 3 shall be numbered section 4. It was voted to request the chair to appoint a committee of three to draw up a set of rules for the government of the deliberations of this Conference, the same to be printed in a convenient form for reference, before the next session. It was voted to request the church at Lafayette to disband and unite with the Oakland church, and that the company of Sabbath-keepers at Dayton, Nevada, unite themselves with the church at Virginia City. Credentials were granted to the following: J. N. Loughborough, N. C. McClure, W. M. Healey, J. H. Cook, E. A. Briggs, H. A. St. John, A. W. Bartlett, M. C. Wilcox, J. W. Scoles, John Fulton, Sanford Rogers, E. R. Jones, E. P. Daniels, Wm. Ings, R. S. Owen, and G. K. Owen. G. H. Derrick was ordained and received credentials. The following-named persons were granted ministerial licenses: Geo. Hollister, L. A. Scott, A. S. Hickox, Frank Lamb, Mrs. G. K. Owen, D. C. Hunter, Frank Thorp, and Philip Kent. Five meetings were held during the session, and the resolutions called out many interesting remarks, which lack of space forbids us to give.