The Conference by Editor

Publishing Committee · Saratoga Springs, N. Y. · Mar 23, 1852

The Conference

By Editor

Held March 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th, at the house of Bro. J. Thompson of Ballston, N. Y., was a meeting of special interest, and its beneficial effects will be seen upon the cause of truth.

As the appointment was given out at a late period, and the traveling bad, many did not attend that probably would have been present had it been otherwise. Brn. Bates, Rhodes, Holt, Wheeler, Day, Baker, Ingraham, Wyman, Churchill, Morse and Edson were present. We were happy to see Bro. Andrews also who arrived near the close of the meeting from his late tour in Michigan and Ohio.

The brethren came together with a desire to be benefited and to benefit each other. Not to establish any peculiar views of their own, but to be united in the TRUTH. The Spirit of truth was earnestly desired, and all united in asking God to give his Spirit to guide into all truth, and to "guide in judgment" while transacting business brought before the meeting. The Spirit of the Lord was with his servants during the entire meeting, and love and union prevailed. The business meetings were pleasant and free. All seemed willing to act, and ready to act in union, and to act now. The word was preached with freedom, and the examination of some points of doctrine touching the present message was conducted in harmony.

The brethren and sisters in the vicinity of the meeting also shared its benefits. Trials were happily removed, and the blessing of God followed. The last evening was a season of the wonderful outpouring of the Holy Spirit. In this meeting Bro. Thompson and his family, who had the labor and care of entertaining the brethren, were greatly blest.

Friday P. M. the 12th, the subject of publishing the paper was introduced. Several brethren spoke of the disadvantages of having it published as it has been, and of the propriety of having an office at the control of Sabbathkeepers. And after investigating the matter it was decided by a unanimous vote (1) that a press, type &c. should be purchased immediately, (2) that the paper should be published at Rochester, N. Y., (3) that Brn. E. A. Pool, Lebbeus Drew and Hiram Edson compose a Committee to receive donations from the friends of the cause to purchase the press, type &c., and to conduct the financial concerns of the paper, (4) that the brethren abroad be requested through the next number of the Review and Herald to choose agents in their churches to receive donations for the purpose of establishing the press, and carrying forward the publishing of the paper, and (5) that those donations that are immediately sent in, should be sent to Hiram Edson, Port Byron, N. Y. It was thought that Six Hundred Dollars would be sufficient to establish the press at Rochester.

Monday A. M. the 15th, the subject of holding Conferences in different parts of the field, especially where the brethren have but recently embraced the truth, was introduced, and investigated with much feeling. There seemed to be but one view of the subject, that small Conferences and many of them would prove a great blessing to the cause. And that those brethren who have recently embraced the Sabbath should not be neglected, but that they should have the labors of suitable brethren who shall hold such meetings with them.

It was thought that there should be two to travel in company in the state of New York and Canada West, and two to travel in New England and Canada East, whose work should be to hold Conferences. By a unanimous vote, Brn. Bates, Baker and Wheeler were chosen to see what two brethren would be responsible for Conferences to be held in New England and C. E., and Brn. Holt, Rhodes and Edson were chosen to see who would be responsible for Conferences to be held in the state of New York and C. W.

Bro. Joseph Baker of Lebanon, N. H. and Bro. Wm. S. Ingraham of Wolcott, Vt. decided to travel together and be responsible for Conferences in New England and C. E. And Bro. G. W. Holt of Oswego, N. Y., and some brother whose duty it may be to travel with him, will be responsible for Conferences to be held in New York and C. W.

The brethren who desire Conferences held with them are requested to make known their wants and wishes relative to Conferences to those who have decided to hold such meetings. Or if more convenient they will send in their requests, and have them published in the Review and Herald. Then those who hold Conferences can make their arrangements, and have their appointments also published.

Appropriate remarks were made by Bro. Bates relative to making preparations to entertain those who may assemble in Conferences, which were approved by those present. He pointed out the common error of providing many kinds of rich food, which is attended with unnecessary labor and expense, when plain food would be much better for the health, and easier prepared. He stated that it was too often the case that those who entertained the brethren assembled for Conferences were but little benefited themselves by reason of making unnecessary preparations, and having too much care and labor in waiting upon the brethren.

The Fairhaven Conference.

The Conference assembled at Fairhaven, Mass. Feb. 27th, appointed Brn. F. Wheeler, O. Davis, H. S. Gurney, E. L. H. Chamberlain, J. C. Day and O. Nichols a Committee to take into consideration the state of the cause.

For want of room we cannot give the entire report. The following is an extract from the report of the Committee which was unanimously adopted by the brethren assembled.

"Dear Brethren and Sisters, your Committee having endeavored in the fear of the Lord, and with an earnest desire to do his will, to take into consideration the subjects brought before this Conference, would submit the following report as their judgment.

We fully approve the course pursued by Bro. White in the management of the paper, and earnestly desire that his connection with the paper may still continue. And to relieve him from pecuniary difficulties, and to bring some of the burdens more directly upon the church at large, we recommend that the brethren in each place appoint some suitable person to look after the interests of the paper.

To have the charge of collecting money for the paper.
To see that the paper is sent to such as have an interest to examine the truths which it advocates.
To see that it is not sent to such as are not interested to receive it.

Also, that such brethren have a care to ascertain who there are in the church that are needy, and what ministering brethren require aid, and that they take such measures as the Lord may place at their command, they acting at all times subject to the church with which they have a connection. We do believe that such a course is necessary in order to distribute more equally the burdens necessarily falling upon us, and to bring us into a position in which we can act more efficiently. We do feel that it is time to act, and to act as a body. And to see that the burden be borne by us as a body, and not by a few individuals. It shall be the duty of those persons chosen to see to the interests of the paper to see that it be kept free from debt."

"Render to all their Dues."

DEAR BRO. WHITE: It was the arguments of J. B. Cook, more than those of any other writer, that convinced me that the third angel's message is now being given. I had a sympathy with the Advent people from the first, which increased as I saw them advance in the light of Divine Truth, casting away the fables of these last days, and finally, embracing all the commandments of God. This looked like the work of God. It bore the right kind of fruit.

But the "repairers of the breach" professed to be giving the third angel's message. This could not be admitted without acknowledging that the first and the second message were in the past. If I could find sufficient evidence, that the judgment hour cry was from Heaven, I could not deny the succeeding work, which follows down the same track of prophecy. While examining this matter, some of the writings of the above named individual fell into my hands, which were republished in the Advent Review. I will give some extracts for the benefit of those who have not seen these writings; but let all who can obtain them read the whole. They are excellent.

"There are no agencies adequate to give birth to predicted events, save such as God employs; consequently when they occur, we may know without a doubt, not only that they are a fulfillment, but also that God has done it. . . . When a predicted event does occur, we may know that it is a fulfillment of the prediction, and that God's Providence has interposed for its fulfillment. To such events there are no seconds, any more than a second birth, a baptism, or burial of Messiah. The chariot of Providence rolls by. The event looms up with God's seal impressed on it. It never recurs. . . . God in his word specifies each event. His people think in the Spirit by believing the word—they yield themselves up to his guidance, and the Providence of God concurs, then the event transpires. There will be nothing in all time like it. . . . There are no agencies which can counterfeit or derange the progressive fulfillment of the prophetic word. When the time arrives, each predicted event appears; and God's Providence must be recognized in it, or we be convicted as, so far, infidels."

If C. believes all this now, he must be strong in the third angel's message. His reasoning, compared with scripture testimony, was sufficient to justify faith in the first message while standing alone. But the third message has, not only all the evidence of the first, but the concurrent testimony of the first and second to make it doubly sure. The car of Providence has rolled down the track of prophecy, through the first and second messages to its third. "On this track it will roll, till it reaches the grand depot."

Let those who complain of being judged by Sabbathkeepers, read the following extract from the same article.

"The professing churches have taken their stand, denying that Providence is fulfilling prophecy, connected with the second Advent, (though they can neither deny the prophecies of such events, nor the facts of their occurrence,) must and will perish, as did the Jewish nation. All the evidence which God grants is given, when history testifies the truth of prophecy; consequently, if that be denied, Christ is denied, and "wrath to the utmost" will come on those who had till then, been his acknowledged people. By how much the Christian church has had greater light than the Jewish, by so much is their guilt greater, and their revealed damnation more dreadful. Matt. xxiv, 51. 1 Thess. v, 3; 2 Thess. ii, 10–12. Professing Adventists have no dispensation in their favor, but must see their flagrant folly, if they recognize prophetic fulfillment up to a certain point in our history, and then deny it in those events which are most manifestly, in time, order of sequence, and manner of occurrence, just what Jesus predicted."

May the Lord save all the honest. ROSWELL F. COTTRELL. Mill Grove, N. Y., March 10, 1852.