SOUTHERN IOWA CONFERENCE.
PURSUANT to appointment the Southern Iowa Conference convened at Knoxville, first-day, March 16, 1862, H. C. Whitney in the chair, R. S. Patterson, secretary. Prayer by Eld. W. H. Brinkerhoof. On calling the several churches they responded as follows: Decatur, A. B. Hanner, Jas. Fletcher; Knoxville, H. C. Whitney, W. McPheter; Osceola, Wm. Heaton, H. J. Bonifield; Afton, Jacob Brinkerhoof; Pleasantville, Chas. Smith, B. Sutton; Ruseau, Josiah Wilbur, Jesse H. Kent; Fairfield, J. W. Landes, D. W. Hull; Newbern, not represented; Oskaloosa, not represented; Eddyville, not represented; Vernon, not represented. On motion of Bro. W. H. Brinkerhoof, Resolved, That the following committees be raised: 1. Committee on business: Brn. Landes, Hanner, and Sutton. 2. Committee on finance: Brn. Bonifield, J. Brinkerhoof, and Wilbur. 3. Committee on organization: Brn. W. H. Brinkerhoof, Heaton, and McPheter. The committee on business, by their chairman, submitted the following propositions for the consideration of the Conference: 1. Shall the tent be run during the coming season? 2. Can means be furnished to run the tent? If so, How? 3. Can messengers be furnished to run the tent? 4. Shall we organize a Conference? On motion of Bro. Brinkerhoof it was Resolved, That the proposition referring to organization be referred to committee on organization, and that the second proposition be referred to committee on finance. Adjourned to meet at 2 P. M. Convened according to adjournment. Prayer by Bro. Hull. Committee on organization reported as follows: For several good reasons, which we deem unnecessary to introduce at this time, your committee believes the cause of truth in Southern Iowa demands a more thorough organization, therefore Resolved, That we now form an independent Conference, with the name of the Southern Iowa Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, with the following boundaries, beginning at Council Bluffs, and running on a direct line to Des Moines city, including said city, thence east to Montezuma, thence to Sigourney, thence east to the Mississippi river, including all the State of Iowa south of said line. Resolved, That this Conference be composed of ministers and delegates from the churches. Resolved, That the bases of representation shall be as follows: Two delegates from each church, and one additional member for each twenty, or fraction of twenty, church members. Resolved, That the officers of this Conference consist of a chairman, secretary, and standing committee of three. Resolved, That the next session of this Conference be held at Knoxville, commencing on the 24th day of October, 1862. All of which was unanimously adopted. The following report from the committee on finance was received and adopted: Your committee would report that they have examined with some care the pecuniary circumstances of the different churches so far as represented, and find them all firmly united on the plan of Systematic Benevolence, but fear many of the brethren do not feel a sufficient burden for the cause, and the spread of present truth. We also fear many do not properly understand the principles of Systematic Benevolence. We believe the Bible teaches that all, (every brother and sister) should contribute. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store as God hath prospered him, &c. 2 Cor. xvi, 2. We also find the available tent fund for the next six months to be $205,75, together with about $140 unpaid pledges of last year, $35 of which we think good, and will be paid; and we recommend the adoption of the following resolution: Resolved, That those brethren who have not yet redeemed their tent pledges for last year be requested to forward the same to Bro. A. B. Hanner, at Decatur, as soon as convenient. Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Conference that the brethren should embrace in their S. B. all the means they design to contribute to the cause of truth. Resolved, That it is the design of this Conference to run the tent the coming season, provided competent messengers can be procured to labor with it. Resolved, That we invite Brn. J. H. Waggoner and W. H. Brinkerhoof to labor with the tent this season, and that this Conference be pledged for their support. The following brethren were chosen to compose the standing committee of this Conference: Brn. B. Auten, Knoxville, A. Caldwell, Decatur, and C. H. T. St. Clair, Fairfield. The following named brethren were chosen for tent committee for the coming year: N. Hodges, Sandyville, H. J. Bonifield, Osceola, Wm. McPheter, Knoxville, J. W. Landis, Fairfield, A. B. Hanner, Decatur. Resolved, That this Conference recommend the adoption of the following covenant for organization by the different churches: We, the undersigned, hereby associate ourselves together as a church, taking the name, Seventh-day Adventists, covenanting to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Christ. Resolved, That ministers laboring in this Conference are required to have a certificate, signed by the secretary, and that such paper shall be a certificate of ordination and good standing. Resolved, That Bro. W. H. Brinkerhoof is entitled to receive such a certificate. Resolved, That a committee of two be appointed to confer with the churches at Dayton and Richmond, as well as the Conference in Northern Iowa at its next session, upon the expediency of said churches' being included in this Conference, with instructions to report at its next meeting. Brn. W. H. Brinkerhoof and R. S. Patterson, of Knoxville were appointed said committee. Resolved, That Bro. W. H. Brinkerhoof be requested to address the different churches in this Conference on the state of the church, and such other matter as may seem needful. Resolved, That a copy of the proceedings of this Conference be sent to the Review and Herald for publication. H. C. WHITNEY, Chairman.
R. S. PATTERSON, Secretary.