Business Proceedings of the Michigan State Conference.
By Editor
Evening after the Sabbath, October 4, 1862, the Conference held its first business session. Prayer by Bro. White. The minutes of the last meeting, being called for, were read and accepted. The ministers present belonging to the Conference were the following: James White, Joseph Bates, J. H. Waggoner, J. B. Frisbie, John Byington, J. N. Loughborough,157Moses Hull, M. E. Cornell, and R. J. Lawrence. Moved by Bro. White that all our brethren present who are in good standing with any church of Seventh-day Adventists be invited to take part in the business proceedings of the Conference. Carried. There being brethren present from other States, it was also Moved, That the brethren present from New York, Ohio, Indiana, and Wisconsin, who are in good standing with the Seventh-day Adventists of their localities be considered by this Conference as delegates from their respective States. Carried. The next business being the formal connection of the churches with the Conference, it was Moved by Bro. Loughborough that we now enter into an examination of the standing of the churches, here represented, their membership, and their wishes to become connected with the Conference. Carried. A majority of the Battle Creek church being present, they signified by vote their desire to become permanently connected with the Conference, and were admitted. The following churches were also united by vote with the Conference, being represented by letter and delegates; namely, Burlington, Hillsdale, Jackson, Lapeer, Greenville, Wright, Monterey, Watson, Otsego, Colon, Convis, Tompkins, St. Charles, Chesaning, Orange, and Hanover. Churches at Allegan and Parkville, would have requested admission to the Conference, had they been fully organized. Delegates were also present from Caledonia and Vicksburg, praying the assistance of some messenger in organizing, preparatory to admission into the Conference. All the churches represented did not report the number of their members. Those which were reported amounted in the aggregate to four hundred and sixteen. The church at Salem Center, Ind., through its delegates, J. L. Locke and H. L. Doty, requested admission into the Michigan Conference, and were accepted. Bro. Isaac Sanborn presented to the Conference a letter from the State Conference of Wisconsin recommending him to act as a delegate from that body. On motion, the letter of recommendation was accepted, Bro. S. having by previous vote been admitted as a delegate to the Conference. The next subject introduced by the Conference committee, being ministers' papers, it was Moved by Bro. Walker that this Conference renew the credentials of the ministers belonging thereto, namely, Brn. White, Bates, Waggoner, Frisbie, Byington, Loughborough, Hull, Cornell, and Lawrence. Carried. Resolved, That this Conference assign to its ministers their fields of labor. Resolved, That the ministers present, and the elders of the different churches, and where elders are not present, a delegate, or member of the church in good standing, constitute a committee to district the Conference and assign to ministers their respective fields of labor, and report at the next session of this Conference. Resolved, That the ministers of the Michigan State Conference should receive a liberal support. Resolved, That our ministers should make a report, at the annual Conference, of their labors each week, during the Conference year. Resolved, That our ministers should make a report at the annual Conference of the amount of their entire receipts and expenditures during the Conference year. Moved by Bro. White, that the Conference appoint a committee of five to receive funds from the churches and scattered brethren of Seventh-day Adventists for the support of our ministers in their labors whether it be tent labor or otherwise. Carried. Moved by Bro. Hull, that Myron J. Cornell, G. W. Amadon, Wm. Hall, Albert Kellogg, and Henry H. Pierce, all of Battle Creek, Mich., be that committee. Carried. Moved by Bro. White, that this Conference cheerfully excuse the Monterey church from paying the remainder of their tent pledges for the present year. Carried. The Conference here adjourned to one o'clock P. M. of the day following, and the committee on ministers and their fields of labor, went into immediate session. After various remarks upon the labor of ministers in this and other States, the following resolution was adopted: Whereas, Several States are dependent on the Michigan Conference for laborers; and,
Whereas, Those going out as laborers in some instances have been too much under the dictation of inexperienced brethren, therefore
Resolved, That it devolves upon the Michigan Conference to direct as to how and where such missionaries shall labor. The committee not having time to finish its deliberations before the hour arrived for the next business meeting of the Conference, they reported their business unfinished for want of time. The report was accepted, and the committee discharged. The Conference having resumed its labors according to adjournment, adopted the following resolutions: Whereas, We believe that the Lord has called Bro. and sister White to labor among the churches, and,
Whereas, The state of the cause in the several States, demands their labor, therefore
Resolved, That this Conference recommend Bro. and sister White to labor in different States, and assist in organizing conferences and churches, as the way may open before them. Resolved, That we appoint a Conference committee of three for the coming year, and that Brn. James White, J. N. Loughborough, and John Byington be that committee. Resolved, That we refer the districting of the Conference, and also the location of our ministers to the Conference committee. Bro. Sanborn brought before the meeting the following items, upon which he and the brethren in Illinois and Wisconsin wished the opinion of the Conference:- How shall we treat divorced marriages?
- Shall preachers from other denominations embracing the message, preach and baptize among us, on the strength of their former ordination and standing as ministers?
- Shall young preachers, before being ordained, be allowed to baptize?
- Shall Bro. T. M. Steward have a letter of commendation as a preacher among us?
Bro. White calls for a full and clear definition of the expression "divorced marriages." Bro. Sanborn explains that he means by it, those who have been divorced from their former husbands or wives for other causes than that mentioned by the Saviour in Matt. xix, and under that divorce have married again. Shall such persons subsequently embracing present truth, be received among us? In reference to these items the following action was taken:- Resolved, That the matter of divorced marriages be referred to the Conference committee.
- Resolved, That ministers of other denominations, embracing present truth, should give proof of being called to preach the message, and be ordained among us, before administering the ordinances.
- Resolved, That no person, young or old, should administer the ordinances before being ordained.
- In reference to Bro. Steward's case, it was suggested by Bro. Loughborough that, as Bro. Steward now occupies a position somewhat similar to that of a young minister, further time be allowed him to give proof of his ministry, before giving him a letter. A resolution was offered by Bro. White as follows:
Resolved, That when Elder T. M. Steward gives perfect satisfaction to the ministers and churches of Wisconsin, the Michigan Conference will be perfectly satisfied with him. This resolution was finally withdrawn by the mover, and the Conference saw fit to take no action in the matter. Moved by Bro. Loughborough that the next State Conference be held at Battle Creek, Mich., October 2-5, 1863. Carried. Resolved, That we invite the several State Conferences to meet with us, by delegate, in general conference, at our next annual Conference. Adopted. Moved, That Wm. S. Higley, Jr. of Lapeer, Mich., be chairman of the Conference for the coming year. Carried. Moved, That U. Smith be secretary of the Conference for the same term. Carried. Moved, That the minutes of this Conference be published in the Advent Review. Carried. Adjourned sine die. Prayer by Bro. Bates. The transaction of the business above recorded, occupied four sessions. Each motion and resolution was discussed more or less at length by the preaching brethren, and others, present. The meetings were harmonious, and the brethren unanimous in their conclusions. Joseph Bates, Chairman.
Uriah Smith, Secretary.