California Conference Proceedings.
The eighth annual session of the California State Conference of Seventh-day Adventists was held at the Healdsburg camp-ground, Sept. 18-23, 1879. FIRST MEETING, Sept. 18, 9 o'clock A. M.
Owing to the absence of a President the meeting was called to order by the Secretary. The Conference having no President, Eld. Haskell of the General Conference Executive Committee was called to preside at the meetings of the Conference. The President elect took the chair. Opening prayer was offered by Eld. J. H. Waggoner. The following delegates presented credentials from their respective churches:— Bloomfield,—Horace Lamb; Christine,—W. C. Grainger; Fairview,—E. L. McCapes, Joseph Hutchings, W. M. Smith, G. W. Hutchings; Healdsburg,—Geo. W. Mills, John Cook; Lemoore,—J. E. Yoakum; Lone Oak,—Bro. Hanseu; Middletown,—R. D. Hicks; Napa,—W. G. Myers; Oakland,—F. L. Holmes, P. M. Partridge, W. J. Bostwick, W. A. Harris, J. E. White, John I. Tay; Petaluma,—Edwin Moore; Red Bluff,—R. Fairbanks; Rocklin, Griffin P. Davis; St Helena,—E. J. Church, Geo. R. Drew; San Francisco,—M. C. Israel, Joseph Fieger, J. B. Dymot; Santa Rosa,—J. G. Hurley, Fidus Lyttaker, John Morrison; San Pasqual,—J. H. Waggoner; San Jose,—J. W. Croukrite; Sacramento,—Wm. M. Healey; Vacaville,—R. A. Morton, M. Swazey; Vallejo,—W. G. Whitney; Woodland,—Wm. Saunders, N. Grayson, T. H. Horn. Arbuckle and Nevada City were taken under the watchcare of the Conference, and J. D. Rice was appointed to act as delegate for them. All members in good standing were invited to take part in all the deliberations of the Conference except the voting. Wm. Saunders, of the Committee to defend our position before the Constitutional Convention on Sabbath observance, reported That the Committee had caused petitions to be circulated throughout the State which had received about 2000 signatures. That this petition had been duly presented to one of the delegates to the convention, but owing to the liberal disposition of that body in placing all religious denominations upon an equal footing, no action was taken upon the petition. Adjourned till 5 o'clock. SECOND MEETING, Sept. 18, 5 o'clock, P. M. Prayer by W. C. Grainger. The following committees were appointed:— Nominations—T. M. Chapman, Wm. Saunders, M. C. Israel. Resolutions—W. M. Healey, J. H. Waggoner, Wm. Saunders. Auditing—N. Grayson, G. D. Hager, J. E. Yoakum, T. M. Chapman, Wm. Saunders, John Cook. Credentials—J. E. Yoakum, T. M. Chapman, Wm. Saunders. Instructive remarks were made by the President on the duties of the committees, when the meeting adjourned. THIRD MEETING. Sept. 22, 10:15 A. M. Prayer by Eld. Waggoner. Eld. J. H. Waggoner in behalf of the committee on resolutions, submitted report as follows:— 1. Resolved, That we express our thanks to the General Conference for its interest in the cause in this State, and especially as shown in sending Elder S. N. Haskell to assist in our work. 2. That we appropriate one-tenth of the funds of our State Conference to the General Conference. 3. That we hereby express our confidence in the Testimonies, and recommend to our churches to procure libraries and have the books read by all the members. 4. That we recommend the adoption of the plan now acted upon in other States, of dividing the Conference into districts and assigning to each laborer his own field. 5. That it is the duty of every member of a Seventh-day Adventist church to pay something to the support of the ministry and for the spread of the truth, if it be but a small sum, but that all pay something, and thereby connect themselves more closely with the cause of God. 6. That we request our churches to consider that article of our State Constitution which provides that all funds be paid into the State Treasury and not into the hands of ministers and licentiates. 7. That the officers of the Conference be requested to restrain the ministers from drawing funds from the treasury in advance of their labors, as we consider it has a bad influence for them to become indebted to the Conference. 8. That we recommend the holding of our next Northern Camp-Meeting in Healdsburg providing that satisfactory arrangements can be made. 9. That we acknowledge our obligation to Messrs. Hassett for the use of the camp-ground and straw free of charge. 10. That our thanks are due to the San Francisco and North Pacific Railroad Company for favors received in transportation of tents free, and reduction of fares. The Resolutions were adopted; those relating to the Testimonies, and the interests of the cause, were also passed by a rising vote of the congregation. Bro. Saunders submitted the following:— Resolved, That we appreciate the services of Eld. Waggoner at this meeting, and we hereby express our thankfulness for his presence, counsel, and labors. Passed by a rising vote, but was strongly protested against by Eld. W. C. Grainger. The Nominating Committee submitted a report as follows:— For President,—Eld. S. N. Haskell; Secretary,—J. D. Rice; Treasurer,—Mrs. Emma L. White; Executive Committee,—John Morrison and M. C. Israel. On motion the meeting adjourned. FOURTH MEETING, Sept. 23, 5:45 A. M. Prayer by R. A. Morton. The motion of the previous meeting in reference to accepting the report of the nominating committee was then called up. Remarks were made by Eld. Haskell stating that if he were elected President it must be with the understanding that he could only spend a part of his time in the State as he was under obligation to other conferences. Further remarks were made by Eld. Waggoner to the effect that it was not only the best, but really the only thing that could be done under the circumstances, when the motion was put and carried. The Committee on Licenses submitted a partial report to the effect, That the following ordained ministers receive credentials, viz, M. C. Israel, J. L. Wood, J. D. Rice, B. A. Stephens and Wm. M. Healey.—Credentials granted. Moved by J. E. White that as Eld. Loughborough, missionary to Great Britain was still connected with this Conference, he receive a renewal of his credentials from it. The churches at Vacaville and Rocklin were received into the Conference. Further remarks were then made by Elds. Waggoner and Haskell on the duty of licentiates and colporteurs when the meeting adjourned. FIFTH MEETING Sept. 23, 4:15 P. M. Committee on Licenses submitted further report as follows:— We recommend that John Judson have his credentials renewed; that Brn. R. A. Morton, J. E. White, W. C. Grainger and J. S. Howard receive ministerial licenses; and that Brethren Edward Bush, Geo. Manuel, J. G. Hurley, E. L. McCapes, J. B. Dymot, W. M. Smith, M. D. Church, L. H. Church, R. D. Hicks, P. M. Partridge and Frank Lamb receive Colporteur's licenses. The names of M. G. Kellogg, A. D. Benton, W. E. Price and W. W. Smith were referred to the Conference Committee. Remarks were made by Eld. Haskell explaining the difference between Ministerial and Colporteur's licenses, and also giving instruction and advice to both classes. A request was presented from the Lemoore church asking to be received into the Conference. Request granted. The matter of the distribution of tent labor then engaged the attention of the Conference. No action was taken except the appointing of a meeting of the ministers, licentiates, colporteurs and those especially interested to arrange a plan of labor for the coming year. Meeting adjourned sine die.