REPORT OF BUSINESS MEETING AT GILBOA CONFERENCE.
Ohio conference, held at Gilboa, Oct. 28, organized for business by appointing G. W. Holt Chairman, and J. Clarke Secretary. Report of the Tent Committee for the past year was presented and accepted. By referring to the pledges it was found that some of them were still unpaid, though due last June. Bro. Butler suggested that energy, perseverance and punctuality were indispensable to unity and success. Not slothful in business [Rom. xii, 11], that all should show the same diligence to the end [Heb. vi, 10–12], and that a lack of these have the tendency to destroy confidence of brethren, that the arrearages on pledges for the past three years was an unmistakable evidence of slothfulness, and betoken a lack of such diligence as Paul recommended, and that he hoped those present who had just reasons why their pledges remained unredeemed would frankly assign them, so that our mutual confidence may be restored as far as possible. Explanations were then called for, when some gave satisfactory reasons why they were behind their pledge, while others promptly discharged theirs. On motion of Bro. Butler it was Resolved, That a Committee of Finance be appointed to look out, and supply, the wants of the cause in Ohio, whereupon the chair appointed Brn. Jos. Dudley, L. E. Jones and J. P. Fleming, all of Gilboa, as said Committee, J. Dudley being Secretary, and L. E. Jones Treasurer. The way to supply the Finance Committee with means to meet the pecuniary wants of the cause, was then introduced as the next point to consider. Here Bro. Butler presented the manifest necessity of system in our financial affairs. That he had been burdened and grieved at the injustice and inequality shown in the past in allowing a few of our earnest and zealous brethren and sisters to bear the whole burden of the cause, and that too with their very moderate means, while others claiming a place among us, and who have in some instances much more abundance are seen going free, or comparatively so. These things are unkind, they are unjust, and do not possess the features of that system of equality which is not only recommended in the Scriptures, but absolutely enjoined. Reason, justice, humanity and brotherly love require equality, and consequently so do the Scriptures. "If any man minister, let him do it as of the ability that God giveth that God in all things may be glorified." 1 Pet. iv, 11. "Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store as God hath prospered him." 1 Cor. xvi, 2. "For I mean not that other men be eased and ye burdened, but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that there may be equality." 2 Cor. viii, 13, 14. Bro. Waggoner seconded the remarks of Bro. Butler, referred to the donation of sister ——, a sister of very moderate means, compared her $100 donation with the stinted benefactions of some who were more wealthy by far, and yet had done but comparatively nothing, and claimed that such inequality is unscriptural, that a gospel which has no equality in it, is no gospel at all. Many touching and timely remarks were then made by various members of the conference on the same subject, with much anxiety that some system be adopted calculated to secure as nearly as possible complete equality. Bro. Butler then suggested the propriety of this conference first determining in its best united judgment what amount was actually necessary to be raised during the coming year to defray the necessary expenses of our entire operation in this State for one year. A few moments being given for general deliberation, a motion was offered and unanimously voted that $800 be raised. Bro. Butler then recommended that since it was the judgment of the conference that $800 be raised, that it should be raised on the principle of equality, that an inventory of all the property of the church in the State, personal and real, be taken, then as the whole amount of said property is to raise the whole amount of said $800, so is each one's share of that whole amount of property to raise his share of the $800. This system will undoubtedly secure gospel equality and draw the line of demarkation so plainly as to lop off selfish clogs if there are any, and show who really are our brethren in the gospel. On motion of Bro. Waggoner the system just suggested by Bro. Butler was adopted by a unanimous vote. Suggestions were then made that the shortest, and no doubt as fair a way to get up the inventory of the church's property would be to get a list of the names of all the members of each church, and then place opposite each individual's name the value of his or her property as shown on the tax receipt for the current year. This plan was then put as a motion and unanimously adopted. A motion was then made and carried that the Chair appoint a committee of one in each church represented in this general conference to take an inventory of the property of each member as specified in the last resolution, and forward said inventory to J. Dudley, Gilboa, Ohio, the Secretary of our Financial Committee, who will in due time send back to each church said inventories, with the proportionate share of each member annexed to his name, whereupon the Chair appointed such committees as far as churches were represented in conference. On motion it was next unanimously voted that we recommend the foregoing plan to all the churches and scattered brethren in Ohio not represented in this conference, and cordially invite them to co-operate with us, by making out a similar inventory of their property, and forwarding the same to our Finance Committee as soon as the first day of December, 1860. N. B. The above arrangement is not intended to interfere with the treasuries of the local churches, where they should have something to bestow upon the true objects of Christian charity around them, but merely to provide for the wants of the cause at large as the truth goes into new fields where it has no friends, or not friends enough to defray necessary expenses. After the business of the conference was all disposed of, the ministering brethren proceeded to the ordination of Bro. J. Dudley to the office of deacon by the laying on of hands and prayer. G. W. HOLT, Chairman.
J. CLARKE, Secretary.