GENERAL CONFERENCE OF S. D. ADVENTISTS by James White

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Oct 28, 1880

GENERAL CONFERENCE OF S. D. ADVENTISTS.

By James White

NINETEENTH ANNUAL SESSION, OCT. 6, 1880. THE Conference assembled, according to appointment, on the camp-ground at Battle Creek, at 4 P. M., Oct. 6, 1880, the President, Eld. James White, in the chair. After singing, and prayer by Eld. S. N. Haskell, the delegates handed in their credentials to the number of twenty. Eighteen were afterward chosen by vote as additional delegates from brethren present from other States and missions, making thirty-eight in all, representing twenty-one Conferences and five missions, as follows: Maine was represented by J. B. Goodrich; New England, G. H. Murphy, S. N. Haskell; Vermont, C. W. Stone; New York, B. L. Whitney, M. H. Brown; Pennsylvania, B. L. Whitney; Ohio, R. A. Underwood, W. J. Stone; Tennessee, G. K. Owen; Michigan, E. B. Lane, M. B. Miller, E. H. Root, H. M. Kenyon, D. A. Wellman, J. O. Corliss, J. Fargo. Isaac Gilbert, H. W. Kellogg; Indiana, S. H. Lane, J. M. Rees; Illinois, R. F. Andrews, T. M. Steward; Wisconsin, H. W. Decker, O. A. Olsen, C. W. Olds; Minnesota, W. H. Hall; Dakota, S. B. Whitney; Nebraska, C. L. Boyd; Iowa, H. Nicola; Missouri, G. I. Butler; Kansas, Smith Sharp, J. H. Cook; California, North Pacific, Upper Columbia Conferences, and the Nevada Mission, Eld. S. N. Haskell; Province of Quebec, Eld. James White; Virginia Mission, R. D. Hottle; Southern Mission, C. O. Taylor; Colorado Mission, E. R. Jones; Norwegian European Mission, J. G. Matteson. Reading of minutes waived. The chairman, under vote of the Conference, appointed the following committees: On Nominations: B. L. Whitney, H. W. Decker, J. B. Goodrich. On Resolutions: C. W. Stone, J. O. Corliss, E. R. Jones. On Auditing: W. H. Hall, G. H. Murphy. Eld. Geo. I. Butler spoke for the cause in Missouri, and presented the following paper: "The following resolution was passed by the Missouri Conference, Oct. 4, 1880, and endorsed by the congregation by a rising vote: "Resolved, That the General Conference be requested to send an active and efficient minister to labor in this Conference, and we as a Conference pledge ourselves to raise funds sufficient to support him, as well as the other ministers now with us.' Bro. Haskell spoke for Nevada, and Brn. Jones and Corliss for Colorado. The openings for labor are numerous; the calls for help, urgent; and the promises for support, ample. The Conference then adjourned to the call of the Chair.

SECOND MEETING, Oct. 11, 9 A. M.—Prayer by the chairman. Minutes of last meeting read and approved. The Committee on Resolutions presented the following which were unanimously adopted: Whereas, There is a growing tendency among our members to indulge in expensive dress, jewelry, and superfluous trimmings, therefore, Resolved, That the General Conference recommend a return to that simplicity of dress taught in the New Testament, believing that the blessing of God will attend such a reform; and that our ministers labor in all the churches to bring it about. Whereas, In the providence of God, under the labors of our missionaries, the cause of present truth has gained some ground in the Old World, therefore, Resolved, 1. That we express our gratitude to God for the good results thus far reached. And 2. That while we are cheered by the words of Christian greeting, thanks, and love, brought to us by Eld. J. Matteson, from the new friends of the cause in Norway, Denmark, and Sweden, we extend to him, and through him to them, heartfelt expressions of Christian fellowship and love, believing that out of the nations who hear the world-wide, closing messages of truth there will be called a people whose hearts shall beat as one in the unity of faith. And 3. That we tender Christian sympathy to our beloved absent missionaries, Eld. J. N. Andrews in Switzerland, Eld. J. N. Loughborough in England, and Eld. Erzenberger in Germany; and that we earnestly desire of God that he will restore Eld. Andrews to health, and bless the labors of those men and their co-laborers, while we pledge our support in every place where it is needed and possible. And 4. That we recommend a council in reference to foreign work, to be held by the General Conference Committee, Eld. J. G. Matteson, and other leading brethren, as soon as the General Conference Committee may appoint. Resolved, That while we are gratified at the manner in which our people have responded to the Bible plan of supporting the gospel, we would recommend that our ministers everywhere labor to bring every member up to the Bible rule in this matter, both that there

may be meat in the Lord's house, and that his blessing may rest upon us as a people. See Mal. 3.

Resolved, That no church should devote any portion of its tithe to the erection or repairing of its church, without the free consent of the State Conference Committee. Resolved, That the work on the Pacific coast and in the States of Virginia, Alabama, and North Carolina, be considered by the members of the General Conference Committee and Bro. and Sr. White, for the purpose of suggesting such measures as shall, in their judgment, be deemed advisable. Resolved, That the General Conference recommend Eld. E. R. Jones to labor in the State of Colorado the coming year. Resolved, That we recommend, that Eld J. H. Wagoner labor in connection with the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, the coming year. The Committee on Nominations gave a partial report, nominating the following officers: President, Geo. I. Butler; Secretary, U. Smith; Treasurer, Mrs. M. J. Chapman; Conference Committee, Geo. I. Butler, S. N. Haskell. The committee retired to complete their work, and the intervening time was occupied by Eld. S. B. Whitney in a strong appeal for the Scandinavians and German Russians in Dakota. The Committee on Nominations, having returned, completed their report by recommending that H. W. Kellogg be the remaining member of the General Conference Committee. The nominees were then unanimously elected.

THIRD MEETING, Oct. 12, 1880.—After prayer by the Chairman, the minutes of the last meeting were read and approved. The Committee on Resolutions presented the following, which was adopted: Whereas, Heavy financial burdens have for some time rested on our institutions at Battle Creek, thereby crippling their power for good; therefore, Resolved, That we recommend to our ministers of the several State Conferences, that in all their labors they bear in mind the wants of these branches of the work, and present before all our people, especially those who have recently come to the faith, the importance of paying the indebtedness on our College, Tabernacle, and tract societies, that the Publishing Association may be relieved of the heavy burden of carrying these debts, which greatly cripples its usefulness. And we further recommend that our people everywhere take stock in these institutions according to their ability, especially those who have never done so. Eld. C. O. Taylor spoke of the condition and wants of the cause in Alabama and North Carolina, and introduced the question of licensing some five individuals in those States whom he thought qualified to publicly present the truth. Eld. J. O. Corliss spoke in a similar manner of the cause in Virginia, and some who have embraced the truth there. After a time occupied in an informal consideration of the question, the matter of sending a man into the Southern field to labor, and to ascertain what help could be advantageously employed, was, by vote, referred to the General Conference Committee. Eld. J. G. Matteson spoke of the prosperity of the work in Denmark, giving an interesting account of the recent organization of a Conference in that country, and presenting their request to unite with the General Conference. Moved, by O. A. Olsen, That the Conference in Denmark be received into the General Conference.—Unanimously carried. Bro. Matteson also gave an encouraging statement of what had been done to the present time in the way of issuing publications and periodicals in Norway. Elder Underwood presented a request for the brethren in Ohio, that Eld. E. B. Lane and wife return to labor in Ohio; which request was referred to the General Conference Committee. The following resolutions were then presented and adopted: Resolved, That this Conference should select a minister to visit Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, and the South generally, to labor for the general interests of the cause, and to encourage such men as should be engaged in active labor to enter the field. Moved, That Elder James White and Mrs. E. G. White be requested to visit the Southern field taking with them such help as they need.—Carried. After another appeal by Bro. Butler in behalf of Missouri, the Conference adjourned to 7 P. M.

FOURTH MEETING, 7 P. M., Oct. 12, 1880.—Prayer having been offered, the minutes of the last meeting were read and approved. A report from Eld. J. N. Andrews was read, and remarks were made by Elds. Geo. I. Butler and S. N. Haskell, urging that some action be taken in response thereto. Moved, That J. O. Corliss be recommended to attend the camp-meeting in Kentucky, and work in the South according to the resolution already adopted on that subject, provided Eld. Jas. White and wife are not able to comply with the request of the Conference in this respect.—Carried. Moved, by G. I. Butler, That this Conference recommend our brethren to raise sufficient means to send one thousand copies of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES to England.—Carried. Moved, by B. L. Whitney, That the General Conference Committee, with Eld. Jas. White, apportion to each State the sum proper for it to raise for this object, in proportion to its tithe.—Carried. Adjourned sine die. JAMES WHITE, Pres. U. SMITH, Sec.