Your ShelfYour Projects

General Conference

2%

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · May 15, 1879

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 5, No. 20.

Read the full edition

General Conference.

AT the business proceedings of the fourth special session of the General Conference, held in Battle Creek, Mich. April 17–21 matters of great interest were discussed; the principal points of which appear in the following resolutions.
Remarks were made by different members of the Conference on the importance of caring for churches already raised up rather than neglecting these, and reaching out to raise up new companies. It was therefore resolved,
1. That we urge our ministers not to leave new converts and churches immediately after they have embraced the message; but to visit them often and regularly till they are thoroughly settled in all the truth and organized, and all are gathered in who can be reached.
2. That we believe it is wisdom to make a special effort to add to small, weak companies, instead of leaving them to die out while raising up similar companies in new fields to in turn be left in like manner.
3. That in order to save time and traveling expenses, and make each minister responsible for the completion of his own work, we recommend that, as far as practicable, each minister be assigned a definite field in which to labor for at least one year.
The chairman introduced the subject of the cause in Alabama, referring to several letters received from that State calling for help. In view of the situation of the cause there, it was voted that Eld. C. O. Taylor, as he is laboring in Georgia, be hereby requested to visit the brethren in Alabama, and make that for the present a part of his field of labor.
On the subject of the tithing system it was urged that the duty of paying a tithe of our income to the cause of the Lord has been shown by unanswerable arguments from the Scriptures to be binding upon us, and this practice, where it has been adopted, has proved a most gratifying success, resulting in improving the financial condition of our Conferences, therefore it was resolved,
That we earnestly request our brethren everywhere to take their stand fully and heartily upon this system, believing that it will not only improve the financial condition of the cause, but bring a great blessing to themselves personally.
It was also presented that as some fail to pay the Lord's tithe as received, but use it for themselves, hoping to meet the obligation at the close of the quarter, and thus frequently, by inability to pay at the appointed time cause trial to themselves, burdens to the financial officers, and so far a virtual failure of the plan, it was resolved,
That all our brethren and sisters should regard it their duty to tithe all their income at the time they receive it.
The subject of the European mission was introduced by J. N. Andrews. He spoke of the difficulties under which laborers in foreign fields are placed, while the General Conference Committee are so scattered, and are so overburdened with other duties. He proposed that there be an officer selected to fill a place corresponding in some respects to the Secretary of the Missionary Boards of other denominations; and he therefore accordingly moved that an officer as above designated be selected, who shall inform himself fully in reference to all the foreign work, and be prepared to respond to the communications of laborers in foreign fields without delay; this action being considered temporary, subject to rejection or confirmation at the next annual session of the Conference.—Carried.
A motion being made that the General Conference Committee select a man to act in the capacity indicated in the foregoing motion; the motion was amended by designating W. C. White as said officer, and as amended was then passed.
Resolutions were introduced approving of the creation of a "Home and Foreign Educational Fund," to assist worthy young men and women to prepare themselves for missionary work, and it was recommended that all our people contribute toward this object; said fund to be under the control of the General Conference Committee.
After some remarks to this resolution, it was adopted.
The Sabbath-school work and tract and missionary interests in Michigan requiring more especial attention than can be rendered by the presidents and proper officers of these organizations, it was therefore resolved that this Conference hereby recommend that W. C. White visit the churches, as far as consistent with his other duties, in the interest of the Sabbath-school and missionary work.
It appearing evident that the labors of Bro. Haskell are very much needed at the present time on the Pacific coast, it was therefore resolved that he visit immediately California, Oregon, and Nevada, to labor as long as in his judgment it may be necessary.
ELD. J. N. Andrews offered the following:—
Whereas, the ill health of our beloved Bro. White has made it impracticable for him to return to this part of the country to be present at this Conference, therefore
Resolved, That we express our deep sympathy for him in his affliction, and our great regret that we have been deprived of his counsel in our business, and his assistance at the dedication of our Tabernacle. We hold in grateful remembrance the faithful labors of Bro. and Sr. White, and shall never forget the debt of gratitude we owe to them.
This was unanimously and most heartily adopted by a rising vote of the whole congregation.
As the works of Sister White, which of late have been introduced into some of our churches throughout the various State Conferences, have already accomplished much good, therefore resolved
That we earnestly recommend the presidents of our State Conferences, and the directors of all our T. and M. districts to use every proper effort to introduce these works into all our churches throughout the country.
A committee of three was appointed to act with the General Conference Committee to consider the question of the republication of Experience and Views, and of the testimonies, and the circulation of the writings of Sister White.
This committee recommended that the testimonies be kept always in print. And in consideration of the fact that the best and easiest way to remove prejudice against the writings and special work of Sister White is the free circulation of her books, we further recommend that our brethren everywhere, and the ministers especially, supply themselves with one or more copies of the "Life of Christ Library" to loan to those who would be benefited by the perusal of those works.
It was resolved and adopted that we request the General Conference Committee to select from all parts of the country the most suitable of our young people, to be educated at our College for the missionary work, whether home or foreign. In all cases such young persons should be educated at the expense of their own friends so far as this is possible; but where necessary they should receive assistance, either from our missionary fund or from their own church or Conference, as the General Conference Committee may advise.
Since the spiritual prosperity of our churches depends largely upon the watchcare of their respective Conferences; and this watchcare to a great degree, depends upon a correct understanding of the condition of their churches, therefore it was resolved that the elder or leader of each church be hereby requested to make a report of the spiritual standing of his church to the President of the Conference, immediately after each quarterly meeting.
As the influence among the youth in the public schools and colleges of the land tends to corrupt our children, and cause them to lose their interest and confidence in present truth, therefore the resolution was passed, that we endeavor to impress upon our brethren the importance of sending their children to Battle Creek, to receive the educational and moral benefits offered at our College.
Whereas the Sanitarium is recognized by us as a denomination as an important institution, and one which may be the means of much good, and a valuable auxiliary to the carrying forward of our general work, and whereas this institution is by recent improvements furnished with facilities for largely increased usefulness, which have been supplied through the incurement of a large debt, it was resolved and adopted that we urge our people everywhere, and especially those engaged in tract and missionary work, to do all in their power, consistent with other duties, to extend the influence of the institution and to increase its patronage.
Resolutions on the foreign missions were introduced and adopted as follows:—
1. That we express our heartful thanks to God for the prosperity attending the Scandinavian missions, and the labors of our beloved Bro. Matteson in Christiana, Norway; and that we recognize in his success a cheering token of the approach of that time when all the earth will be lightened with the glory of the closing message.
2. That we have read with deep interest the earnest appeals for help made by Bro. Matteson to his American brethren; and that as we most earnestly desire, in the infancy of the work, to render all the assistance possible, consistent with the prosperity of the work in other important fields, we recommend Bro. Martin M. Olsen, of Wisconsin, to go to his assistance as a laborer at once, also Sr. Anna K. Rasmussen, to assist in the work of printing the paper and other publications.
3. That we recommend Bro. J. P. Jasperson to arrange his affairs to go to Bro. Matteson's assistance as soon as he can consistently leave the important field of Minnesota, and the providence of God shall open the way before him to go.
4. That we approve of Bro. Matteson's action in starting a paper in Christiana, and recommend that he continue to publish it in such manner as advised by the General Conference Committee.
5. That we advise Eld. Matteson to purchase the type and material necessary to the publication of the paper and our smaller tracts.
6. That we gladly recognize the hand of Providence in the openings appearing in Sweden for the spread of the truth, and in the conversion of some who promise to be helps to the cause in the future. And in view of the fact that there is no living preacher laboring there, we recommend Bro. Matteson to take a special interest in the cause in that country, and by correspondence or personal labor render all the assistance he can consistently with his other duties.
7. That we feel the deepest interest in the work in Italy and Egypt, and deeply sympathize with Dr. Ribton in his affliction.
8. That we advise Eld. Andrews, on his return to Europe, to visit England, Egypt, and Italy, and become acquainted with the progress of the work in these countries; and that as soon as the work in Switzerland will admit of his absence, he should also visit Denmark and Norway.
9. That we deem it desirable for Dr. Ribton to labor for a time with Eld. Andrews in Switzerland, if there be no plain duty to remain in Egypt; and that we favor the publication of an Italian paper as soon as practicable.
It was also recommended that immediate steps be taken for the publication of a German paper, either at Bale, or at Battle Creek, as the General Conference Committee may decide.
The subject of temperance was introduced and the following resolutions read:—
That whereas, we as a people profess to regard the principles of true health and temperance reform in their broadest sense as an important part of the system of truths which we hold and advocate, and as we believe that the interests of the general cause will be greatly forwarded by giving greater prominence to the subjects of health and temperance than has been done heretofore, therefore
Resolved that we commend the effort now being made among us to effect a general organization having for its object the promulgation of reformatory ideas on the subject of health and temperance, and encourage our people everywhere to take a hearty interest in the work, giving it their support and co-operation.
The committee on the Temperance Organization reported that they had no other plan than that proposed in the previous resolution, but would recommend that the initiation fee now charged for admission into the society should be so modified as not to stand in the way of those joining who would not be prepared at first to contribute to the funds of the society. The question being on the adoption of the previous resolution, after a little further discussion it was adopted.