Annual Meetings in Battle Creek, Mich.
By Editor
WE have only partial proceedings of the General Conference, lately in session. Elder James White was re-elected President, and with him, as members of the Executive Committee, Elders S. N. Haskell and Geo. I. Butler; Secretary, Eld. Uriah Smith; Treasurer, Mrs. M. J. Chapman. Resolutions were passed favoring the districting of the State Conferences, the State Secretaries reporting to General Conference the statistical and financial report of the churches, the wider circulation of the Song Anchor, the completion of the work of a minister in any locality before leaving it for another field, and a cordial invitation to Bro. and Sister White to attend one general meeting in each conference each year, that all parts of the field may enjoy the benefit of their experience and their verbal testimonies. Other business not concluded. The representation was good. The meeting of the Publishing Association was held Nov. 11. The report shows that it is increasing in business and usefulness. It is our pioneer institution, dating from the very beginning of the work under the third angel’s message of Rev. 14. The following officers were elected: President—Eld. James White; Vice President—W. C. White; Secretary—Mrs. M. J. Chapman; Treasurer—H. W. Kellogg; Auditor—L. McCoy; Committee on Publications—Eld. James White, Dr. J. H. Kellogg, and Eld. U. Smith. The following persons were re-elected editors of the Advent Review—Elders James White and J. N. Andrews, and U. Smith as resident editor. Mrs. Mary K. White and Miss V. A. Merriam were elected editors of the Youth’s Instructor. The meeting of the Educational Society was one of much interest. As an enterprise this is neither private nor local,—it concerns all who are interested in education (and who is not?), and who love good order and healthy discipline in educational institutions. We extract365largely from its proceedings. A statement of the condition of the College, of its workings, financial and literary, were given by the Principal, Prof. S. Brownsberger. The debt is continually decreasing, having fallen from $12,000 in 1875 to less than $8,000 last year, to be reduced to about $6,000 the present year. The attendance the past year has been 426, while the prospect for the present is, that there will be a larger attendance than in any previous year. Additions have been made in departments and teachers to meet the growing demands of the school; three new departments having been added,—the Normal, or Teachers' Institute, a Commercial and a Primary department. New arrangements in terms have also been made which makes it possible for those who wish to engage in winter teaching or summer labor to put in complete terms in the fall and spring without interfering with their engagements or plans. As a board of Trustees for the ensuing year the following named persons were elected: Eld. James White, L. McCoy, S. Brownsberger, J. H. Kellogg, W. C. Sisley, W. B. Sprague, and U. Smith. The following resolutions were presented and adopted:— Whereas, The increasing demands for laborers in the various departments of the cause, particularly in missionary fields in this and foreign countries, requires the preparation as soon as possible of a large number of well-trained workers for these several fields of labor, and Whereas, The Lord has signified his approval of efforts in this direction by blessing in a signal manner the labors of this Society and the educational institution founded by it, therefore Resolved, That each member of the S. D. A. Educational Society be hereby earnestly requested to labor more zealously than ever before for the advancement of the interests of education among us, and especially to induce young men and women who may be benefited thereby and become useful in the cause, to avail themselves of the excellent opportunities afforded at the College located in this place. Whereas, In the past some have moved their families to Battle Creek for the purpose of affording them an opportunity to avail themselves of the advantages of the College, have suffered much, pecuniarily and otherwise, on account of ill-advised moves in reference to purchasing or renting property, therefore Resolved, That we recommend to those who are contemplating removing their families to Battle Creek for the purpose named, to correspond with some member of the Board of Trustees before doing so, and to confer with the Board respecting their plans, before settling, after their arrival. Resolved, That this Society does heartily approve of the careful discipline enforced by the Faculty of the College heretofore, and recommend that no less vigilance in caring for the deportment of students be exercised in future. Whereas, In most of the State Conferences there has been created an educational aid fund, therefore Resolved, That we invite the careful attention of such State Conference officers to the selection of such persons in their midst as would be proper subjects for the reception of the designed aid, that they may be encouraged to prepare themselves for usefulness in the cause by taking a course of study at our College. Whereas, Our College employs no special solicitors of its own, for the promotion of its interests among the people, therefore Resolved, That we invite all of our ministers to labor in their respective fields for the interests of our excellent College, by soliciting patronage and support. Resolution three, in reference to discipline, was discussed by D. M. Canright, Jas. White, and Mrs. E. G. White. A strong appeal was made by both Elder and Mrs. White in behalf of the College, setting forth the duty of the friends of education among us to give the school the influence of their moral support by sympathizing with the teachers in their arduous duties, and seconding their efforts to maintain a proper standard of discipline.