Conference in Lisbon, Iowa.
PURSUANT to appointment in the Review, a conference of the Seventh-day Adventists of Iowa convened at Lisbon, July 29, 1862. Bro. J. T. Mitchell was chosen Moderator, and Bro. D. E. Smith Secretary. Prayer by Bro. Waggoner. Delegates appeared as follows, according to invitation. NORTHERN-IOWA COMMITTEE.—T. Hare, Marion; D. Andre, Lisbon. SOUTHERN-IOWA COMMITTEE.—J. Landes, Fairfield; Wm. McPheter, Knoxville; Noah Hodges, Sandyville; A. B. Hanmer, Decatur City; H. J. Bonfield, Osceola. SOUTHERN-IOWA COMMITTEE OF 1861.—H. C. Whitney, Knoxville; Benn Auten, Pleasantville; and N. Hodges, of present committee. OTHER DELEGATES.—C. R. Ross, Marion; H. E. Carver, Iowa City; H. Nicola, Dayton and Richmond; Wm. Snook, S. C. Conrey, Pleasantville; A. A. Fairfield, G. J. Sharp, Mt. Pleasant; Wm. Garretson, Oskaloosa; W. V. Field, D. Weaver, Fairview; J. Dorson, Tipton. ELDERS PRESENT.—J. H. Waggoner, B. F. Snook, Wm. H. Brinkerhoof, and E. W. Shortridge. After the organization of the meeting, it was adjourned till 7 o'clock A. M. of the 30th. Wednesday morning, 7 o'clock. Prayer by Bro. Snook. Bro. Waggoner called up the complaints against himself, which were, that he had not carried out the resolutions of the spring conference of Southern Iowa; Bro. Brinkerhoof was included in this complaint. On investigation it was decided that these complaints were wrong; unjust to brethren Waggoner and Brinkerhoof, and injurious to the cause. The complaints were referred to the Southern Iowa tent committee, with instructions to deal with those who had burdened the ministers in these matters. Complaints against Bro. Snook were then called for. A letter was read, written by Elder Shortridge, stating that murmurings were in circulation against Bro. Snook for pride, extravagance, &c. On inquiry it was ascertained that no complaints existed in the church against Bro. Snook, except on the part of a few individuals who were prejudiced against him by the insinuations of the writer of the above named letter. These charges were dismissed as unfounded. Also a charge in the same letter that Bro. Snook had injured Elder Shortridge by influencing the brethren not to bestow means or assistance on Elder Shortridge toward building him a house. Bro. Snook explained that he had said to brethren that Eld. S. ought to give a satisfactory account of the money he had received of Bro. White from the church at large before he was further assisted. The conference decided that the charge was not just, but that Bro. Snook had only discharged his duty in so doing. These matters being disposed of, it was moved to adjourn till after the arrival of the cars in hope that Bro. and sister White might be with us at the next session. Adjourned till 12 o'clock. 12½ P. M. Meeting called, Bro. and sister White being present. Prayer by Bro. White. A list of charges against Elder Shortridge, signed by J. H. Waggoner, B. F. Snook, and Wm. H. Brinkerhoof, was called up for investigation. The charges were as follows: 1. Unfaithfulness, and breaking of his word, to Bro. Snook, whereby Bro. Snook became involved in difficulty with Bro. White. 2. Breach of trust in using money raised to secure property in Mt. Pleasant. 3. Deception practiced on Bro. St. Clair to get possession of the tent house and wagon. 4. False statements about the house and wagon. (1.) That the committee gave them to him, and the conference took them away unjustly. (2.) That no reason was given to him for taking them away, and that he knew no reason. 5. Deception and hypocrisy. (1.) Writing first to Bro. White contradicting the Northern Conference Report, and then blaming Bro. Snook for burdening Bro. White about the same matter. (2.) Deceiving the brethren about the Conference Report, by changing the terms in regard to the censure resting upon him in Southern Iowa. (3.) Getting resolutions passed at Eddyville under false pretenses, and carrying wrong ideas concerning it to Battle Creek and elsewhere. 6. Disregard of sister White's testimony, and deception concerning it. (1.) Justifying self and family for extravagance. (2.) Continuing his trifling, clownish method of preaching, though reproved by the testimony. (3.) Neglecting to make suitable acknowledgments for wrongs reproved by the testimony. (4.) Justifying himself in using means given for the Mt. Pleasant property. 7. Accusing tent committee and J. H. Waggoner of plotting against him. 8. Unchristian conduct with females. 9. False statements about pay of tent laborers in Southern Iowa for 1861. (1.) That E. W. Shortridge received only $18.50 over traveling expenses. (2.) That J. H. Waggoner received $400. [REMARKS.—The wording of some of the above charges has been slightly altered for the benefit of those who did not hear the proofs, to avoid lengthy explanations. The exact substance of the charges is preserved. It appeared on the first charge that Eld. S. promised to write to Bro. Snook, and Bro. Snook was to write to Bro. White relative to sending the money to Eld. Shortridge; but instead of doing so, Eld. Shortridge wrote to Bro. White urgent appeals for the money, and those fell on Bro. Snook that did not belong to him, and that would not have come upon him if Eld. Shortridge had kept his word. Charge 6 was founded on the fact that he professed not to receive the testimony. Charge 7 referred to facts which transpired in 1861, while J. H. W. was laboring with, and for, him.] The proofs offered to sustain these charges were mostly drawn from a large number of letters produced in the investigation, written by Eld. Shortridge and others. The proof on charge 8 was oral testimony of J. H. Waggoner, B. F. Snook, and others. After a long, patient, and careful investigation of the above charges, they were separately called up, and it was unanimously voted that all the charges were sustained. The testimony of Bro. and sister White on this case was pointed, and very acceptable to the conference. Especially when sister White referred to her exertions in behalf of Eld. Shortridge, to his abuse of her confidence, to her disappointment, and the influence this case was calculated to exert over the churches in regard to her testimony, there was much feeling manifested, and all deeply sympathized with sister White in this affliction. Bro. Snook moved that E. W. Shortridge be deposed from the office of minister among us, and that his credentials be called for by this Conference. Unanimously carried. Bro. Waggoner moved that the boundary line between the Northern and Southern Iowa Conferences be hereby abolished, and that the two be hereafter united in one Conference. After considerable discussion it was adopted, and the committees of the two Conferences were instructed to take the necessary steps to carry this resolution into effect. Bro. White moved that this Conference request Elds. Waggoner and Snook to visit and labor with the brethren in Iowa, north and south, during the months of August and September. Carried. Bro. White moved that the appointment of the General Conference for him be left to the conference committees, and Elds. Waggoner, Snook, and Brinkerhoof. Bro. Brinkerhoof moved that this Conference hold the church at Lisbon responsible for the conduct of those members who have taken part in impugning Bro. Snook by circulating injurious reports, and making unchristian remarks about him. Carried. Bro. Hare moved that Elds. Waggoner, Snook, and White be appointed a committee to prepare the minutes of this Conference for publication. After some remarks the Conference adjourned. Meeting closed by prayer by Bro. White.