California State Conference.
THE seventh annual session of the California State Conference of Seventh-day Adventists was held at the Christian camp-ground near Yountville, Napa county, August 29 to September 5, 1878. FIRST SESSION—AUG. 29, 5 P. M. Meeting opened by Elder J. N. Loughborough, president of the Conference, who after some appropriate introductory remarks called for the credentials of delegates, when the following names were read by the secretary as having presented duly accredited credentials from the different churches composing the Conference :— Fair View church—J. D. Rice.
Bloomfield—Frank Lamb.
Napa—W. G. Myers, Joseph Eggleston.
Healdsburg—Wm. Harmon, John Cook.
St. Helena—W. A. Pratt, John Mavity.
Sacramento—Isaac Cross.
Santa Rosa—W. B. Dennison, John Morrison.
San Jose—J. M. Santa Ana.
Woodland—Wm. Saunders, Alfred Mason.
Petaluma—T. M. Chapman.
San Francisco—M. C. Israel, Joseph Fieger, Frank Brown.
Oakland—W. J. Bostwick, J. W. Cronkrite, Geo. Manuel, E. R. Gillett, John I. Tay.
Red Bluff—D. S. Hemstreet.
Vacaville—J. W. Bond. On motion, the following persons were authorized to represent companies not fully organized. Vallejo—D. P. Whitney.
Placerville—George Vickery.
Lafayette—Henry Brown.
Rocklin—B. A. Stephens.
Middletown—R. D. Hicks. J. D. Rice was then duly authorized to represent the companies at Lone Oak, Locust Grove, Lemoore and other bodies in Fresno and Tulare counties. On motion, by M. G. Kellogg, Lone Oak church was, in accordance with its request, received into the Conference. On motion, by Wm. Saunders, all members in good standing were invited to take part in all deliberations of the Conference, except voting. Minutes of last meeting read, and on motion corrected as follows : R. S. Rickett, delegate from Healdsburg, changed to Green Valley ; also statement that T. M. Chapman, John Cook and A. B. Atwood had received licenses. On motion, by E. L. McCapes, the chair was authorized to appoint committees and auditor. The president then stated that he wished time to consider further the matter of the committees, and that he would announce them at some future meeting. Meeting adjourned to call of the chair. SECOND SESSION—AUG. 30, 5 P. M. Meeting called to order by the president. The only business of any importance transacted was the announcement of the following committees : Committee on Nominations—T. M. Chapman, J. I. Tay, J. W. Cronkrite.
Committee on Resolutions—W. M. Healey, J. D. Rice, A. Mason.
Committee on Credentials—M. C. Israel, John Mavity, Wm. Healey.
Committee on Auditing—Wm. Saunders, Ruel Stickney, W. A. Pratt, John Cook, D. S. Hemstreet, Rufus Parker.
Conference Auditor—Wm. Saunders. THIRD SESSION—SEPT. 2, 11:30 A. M. Meeting called to order by the president. Minutes of last meeting read and approved.
Committee on nominations reported as follows :— For president, Geo. I. Butler ; secretary, Geo. Manuel ; treasurer, L. M. Hall ; executive committee, John Morrison, E. R. Gillett.
T. M. CHAPMAN,
J. W. CRONKRITE,
J. I. TAY,
Committee on Nominations. On motion, report of committee accepted and committee discharged. On motion, by John Morrison, the nominees were elected as a whole, after which the meeting adjourned to call of the chair. FOURTH SESSION—SEPT. 3, 4:15 P. M. Meeting called to order by the president.
Committee on resolutions submitted partial report as follows :— Whereas, In the good providence of God, we have been permitted to assemble in another annual gathering for the worship of our Creator, and to learn more of our duty toward him and our fellow man, Resolved, That we do most heartily thank him for the increase in our numbers, for the financial means necessary to carry on this work, for the many openings that have been presented before our ministers, and the spirit which has accompanied the word spoken by them, and the manifold blessings that have been bestowed upon us during the past year. Resolved, That we thank the General Conference and our Eastern brethren for their regard for us, and their liberal patronage of our publishing institution, and in this connection would especially remember the efforts of Brother and Sister White. Resolved, That we endorse the action of our General Conference committee for broadening our plans of labor in both Europe and America, and believe their suggestion for occasionally changing laborers is a good one, and promise if they see fit to send Elder George I. Butler to labor in our Conference, that we will give him a hearty welcome, and all assistance in our power to advance the cause. Resolved, That we tender our most heartfelt thanks to Elder J. N. Loughborough for his long and faithful labors upon this coast, and as other fields seem to require his removal from us, we shall miss his counsel and care, yet we feel that the cause is one, and wish him success in his new place of labor, and pray for the blessing of God to attend him. Resolved, That we thank our camp-meeting committee, G. D. Hager, E. R. Gillett, John Custer, and the brethren who have worked with them to prepare the camp-ground and labored in many other ways to make our meeting a success. Resolved, That we feel under obligations to Mr. George Linn, for the use of ground and straw furnished us free of charge for our camp-meeting. Resolved, That while we are grateful to God for his good Spirit, we will by his grace consecrate ourselves more fully to him, and desire to walk humbly in all his ways and purify ourselves in body and in spirit, and to this end feel the need of carefulness in our general demeanor, our dress, and the carrying out in our lives the principles of health laid down in the Bible, and taught by our people. Resolved, That we earnestly recommend all our churches to use only unfermented wine in the communion, as being more in harmony with scripture and our faith than the use of intoxicating wine. On motion, the report of the committee was accepted as far as read. On motion, the resolutions were adopted as a whole. On motion, by M. G. Kellogg, resolutions four and seven were again called for, and both passed by a rising vote of the Conference. Auditing committee reported as follows :— Your committee to whom was assigned the duty of examining and auditing accounts, etc., beg leave to report that we have examined all the accounts for ministerial labor, etc., for the past year, and made arrangements for the final settlement of the same. We have considered the recommendations of the president of the Conference in regard to the necessity of raising means to meet pressing demands against the Conference, to relieve the publishing house from debt, and to enable the great work in which we are all trying to bear an humble part, to go forward as the way seems to open in the providence of God, without being hampered from lack of the necessary means, and the committee heartily endorse the recommendations there made, trusting that they will be heartily responded to by Seventh-day Adventists, and with a liberality corresponding with the urgency of the case. WM. SAUNDERS, Chairman of Committee. On motion, the report of the committee was accepted as far as read. Committee on licenses reported as follows :— We, your committee appointed on licenses, beg leave to report as follows : After prayerful consideration over the business committed to us for our action, we would recommend that all the ordained ministers of this Conference receive credentials for the coming year, viz., Elders J. N. Loughborough, Wm. Healey, J. L. Wood, John Judson, M. G. Kellogg and M. C. Israel. We would also recommend that Brethren B. A. Stephens and J. D. Rice be ordained, and receive credentials, and that Brethren R. A. Morton, J. E. White, W. C. Grainger, S. M. Meeker, Wm. Price and E. L. McCapes have licenses granted them, to exercise their gifts in presenting, publicly or otherwise, the doctrines of our faith. We also recommend that Brethren Geo. Manuel, J. B. Dymott, D. Crouch, Millard and L. Church and Frank Lamb each receive colporteur's licenses. The case of G. A. Garey, as he is in the N. P. Conference, with others that have come before us we would submit to the Conference committee for their consideration. M. C. ISRAEL,
JOHN MAVITY,
W. M. HEALY,
Committee on Licenses. Moved, by Wm. Harmon, that all ordained ministers as recommended by the committee receive licenses. Carried. Moved, by J. W. Bond, that B. A. Stephens and J. D. Rice be ordained and receive credentials from the Conference. Carried. Moved, by J. I. Tay, that all the cases recommended by the committee receive licenses. Carried. Moved, by M. G. Kellogg, that all the colporteurs recommended by the committee receive licenses. Carried. On motion, meeting adjourned to call of the chair. FIFTH SESSION—SEPT. 4, 4:15 P. M. Committee on resolutions submitted further report as follows :— Resolved, That we appreciate the Conference address of Elder J. N. Loughborough and request the same to be furnished for publication in the SIGNS OF THE TIMES. Resolved, That we elect Elder J. N. Loughborough to represent us in the General Conference to be held by the Seventh-day Adventists at Battle Creek, Mich., October 1, 1878. Resolved, That we feel gratified that the Rural Health Retreat has been founded by a few of our brethren at St. Helena, Napa county, Cal., and placed in charge of so efficient and conscientious a physician as Dr. M. G. Kellogg, and we bespeak for it that liberal patronage which its principles and success deserve. Resolved, That we feel a deep interest in the welfare of our public institutions at Battle Creek, Michigan, and endorse the action of the General Conference committee in the erection of the "Dime Tabernacle," and promise our assistance in its erection. On motion, by E. R. Gillett, the report of the committee was adopted as far as read. Meeting adjourned to call of the chair. SIXTH SESSION, SEPT. 5, 3:15, P. M. Meeting called to order by the president.
Auditing committee submitted further report as follows :— Your committee would report that they find that after settling all the bills of ministers, and others thus far presented, there remains a balance in the hands of the treasurer, as shown in that officer's report. This Conference having chosen, by resolution Elder J. N. Loughborough to act as its delegate in the General Conference, it is recommended that his expenses to Battle Creek, Michigan, be paid by this Conference. We have noticed with satisfaction the liberality with which the brethren and sisters have responded to the calls made upon them to aid with their means the various branches of the great work in which we are all engaged, and we believe that they have thereby performed their duty in a pressing emergency, and that it will tend to help them on toward the kingdom. WM. SAUNDERS,
RUEL STICKNEY,
W. A. PRATT,
JOHN COOK,
D. S. HEMSTREET,
RUFUS PARKER,
Auditing Committee. On motion, by J. D. Rice, the report of committee was accepted and the committee discharged. Conference auditor, Wm. Saunders, submitted his report as follows :— Having been appointed to examine and audit the books and accounts of the Conference treasurer and the church s. b. treasurer, and to compare the same, I beg leave to report that I have done so to the best of my ability ; but that the work is necessarily very incomplete, from the fact that only a part of the s. b. treasurers in the Conference have furnished their books for examination. Those of St. Helena, Christine, Vacaville, Healdsburg, Green Valley, and Napa churches are found to agree with that of the State treasurer ; but those of Petaluma, Bloomfield and Woodland show discrepancies from that officer's account which can only be explained by the treasurers themselves. The Petaluma church is the only one in the Conference that exhibits the new style of books specially gotten up at the Signs Office for the use of s. b. treasurers and church clerks, and it is especially recommended that all of those officers procure them for use hereafter, so that there may be uniformity in the manner of keeping the accounts in all the churches in the Conference. Brother Chapman can show samples of these books. It is important that all the s. b. treasurers hereafter bring or send their books to the annual Conference, in order to effect a satisfactory yearly settlement with the State treasurer.
Respectfully submitted.
WILLIAM SAUNDERS, Auditor. On motion, by J. D. Rice, the auditor's report was adopted and the auditor discharged. On motion, the appointment by the president of J. W. Bond as collector of the publishing fund, British Mission and Dime Tabernacle pledges for the State of Nevada was confirmed. Committee on resolutions submitted a further report as follows :— Resolved, That our northern California camp-meeting for the year 1879, be held in the month of September provided no good reason shall arise for changing that time of meeting. Provided further, that the president of the Conference shall at any time during the year appoint a committee of three who with the president shall determine the time, place, and the length of said meeting. Resolved, That our ministers, our licentiates, and our colporteurs, are expected to counsel with the Conference committee in respect to the place and manner of their labor. Resolved, That the secretary of this Conference be hereby instructed to procure by mail or express the unaudited systematic benevolence books, and compare the same with the treasurer's book and return the same to the proper officers. Resolved, That the SIGNS OF THE TIMES be furnished by the secretary with a copy of these resolutions and requested to publish the same.
W. M. HEALEY,
A. MASON,
J. D. RICE,
Committee on Resolutions. Whereas, An effort is being made, by those who observe the first day of the week as the Sabbath, to have incorporated in the new constitution of the State of California a clause recognizing the said first day of the week as the Sabbath, and requiring the legislature to enforce its observation by legislative enactment, and, Whereas, There is not in the entire Bible, either Old or New Testament, a single precept, requiring the observance of the first day of the week as a Sabbath or holy day, and, Whereas, There is not in either the Old or New Testament a single record of the first day of the week ever having been observed as a Sabbath, or as a holy day by either Christ, the apostles, or early Christians, and, Whereas, The seventh day of the week commonly called Saturday is the only weekly Sabbath referred to in either the Old or New Testament, and, Whereas, There is not to be found in the entire Bible any text of scripture from which even a reasonable inference can be drawn that the fourth commandment of the decalogue which requires the observance of the seventh day has been abrogated, and that the Sabbath therein named has been changed, and, Whereas, There exist in this State a large body of Christians (the Seventh-day Adventists), who are good and law abiding citizens who observe the seventh day of the week as the Sabbath, as required in the Bible. Therefore, Resolved, That this Conference appoint a committee to visit the convention and set before it the facts regarding the religious sentiments and practices of Seventh-day Adventists, and to endeavor if possible to induce the convention to abstain from incorporating in the said constitution any clause that shall in any way give preference to the religious opinions of any religious body, or that shall in any way bind the consciences of any person, or that shall in any way interfere with the religious opinions of any person. Resolved, That said committee be authorized to circulate petitions relating hereto for signatures. Resolved, That Brethren W. M. Healey, Wm. Saunders and Geo. I. Butler constitute said committee. On motion, by John Mavity, the resolutions were adopted and committee discharged. Moved, by M. G. Kellogg, that Wm. Saunders, W. M. Healey and Geo. I. Butler constitute a committee to manage the petition to the constitutional convention according to their best judgment. Geo. Manuel, the treasurer, submitted a report as follows :— TREASURER'S REPORT.
Balance on hand September 13, 1877 $ 583 61
Amount returned from San Francisco 1,000 00
Donations during the year 102 90
Received from churches 2,808 87—4,495 38
Paid out as per books and vouchers $4,111 44
Balance on hand September 5, 1878 $383 94 M. G. Kellogg then introduced the following resolution which was carried by a vote of the Conference. Resolved, That we will do all in our power as a society and as individual members thereof to assist in the work of spreading the good news of the second coming of Christ, and we will each do what we can to relieve the office of publication from financial embarrassment. On motion, J. N. Loughborough was requested to write a history of the cause on the Pacific Coast. Carried. Moved, That the proceedings of this Conference be furnished for publication in the SIGNS OF THE TIMES. Carried. The meeting adjourned, sine die.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH, President.
GEO. MANUEL, Secretary pro tem.