Doings of the Mich. State Conference.
This Conference assembled May 22, pursuant to the call of the committee in Review. Prayer by Bro. Bates. The number of delegates present duly authorized by letter were forty-nine, representing thirty-seven churches. The churches which desired to become connected with the Conference, and at this meeting were received, were the following: Newton, Charlotte, Windsor, Parkville, Bowne, Lowell, Caledonia, West Plains, Fair Plains, North Plains, Oakland, Shelby, Tyrone, Locke, Woodhull, Oneida, Orleans, Milford, Allegan, Mich., and North Liberty Ind. The aggregate membership of these churches is three hundred and fifty-seven. The yearly proceeds of systematic benevolence in the Conference amount to $4325,00 Some time was then consumed in the reading of the letters brought by the delegates to the conference, followed by the singing of the hymn "From whence doth this union arise." The ministers present belonging to the Conference were, James White, Joseph Bates, J. H. Waggoner, Jno. Byington, J. N. Loughborough, Moses Hull, M. E. Cornell and R. J. Lawrence. Reports from the ministers were then called for, as regulated by the action of the last conference, and rendered; whereupon it was Voted, That the Conference appoint a committee of five to consider the duty of the Michigan Conference, in reference to sustaining its preachers, and report at the next session of this meeting. D. R. Palmer, Jas. Harvey, C. S. Glover, Jno. Carman and O. B. Jones, were then chosen as that committee. Adjourned to 2 o'clock p. m. Afternoon session. Prayer by Bro. White. The committee on ministers presented the following report, namely, That we allow Bro. White his expenses incurred in consequence of traveling, which are $140,28. That the officers of the Monterey church shall be empowered to draw from the State fund a sufficient amount for the support of Bro. Bates and wife; and that the remaining messengers receive the sum of eight dollars per week for the time they have labored in this State, besides their traveling expenses: Provided, this sum will meet their expenses; if not, that they shall receive such an amount as will meet their expenses. This report was then accepted and adopted. On motion of Bro. White, it was Voted, That we appoint a committee of three to draw up rules and regulations, to suggest to our brethren who are building or holding meeting-houses, and report to the General Conference at its next session. Brn. Waggoner, Hull, and Harvey, were appointed as that committee. Adjourned to Sunday at half-past 7 o'clock. Met according to adjournment. Prayer by Bro. Loughborough. The following preamble and resolution was adopted: Whereas, Sister White has for years past devoted her labors to the third angel's message, both in traveling and writing, and Whereas, In so doing she has been obliged to entrust her domestic duties to hired help, while her expenses in this and other respects have never been provided for by the church, therefore, Resolved, That as a slight token of our appreciation of her labors, we instruct the Executive Committee to make suitable provision for sister White's expenses incurred in consequence of her connection with this work. The subject of State Conferences being now taken up, it was Voted, That the constitution recommended by the General Conference be read. It was read, and then Voted, That it be adopted by the Michigan State Conference. Voted, That we change the time of our annual Conference from fall to spring, and that this take the place of our previously-appointed annual Conference to be holden in the fall. The next business being the election of officers, the action of the Conference resulted as follows: For President, U. Smith; Secretary, E. S. Walker; Treasurer, Geo. W. Amadon; Executive Committee, Eld. John Byington and Cyrenius Smith. On motion it was then Voted, That all ministers who have not reported be requested to place a written report of each week's labor, and the entire amount of their receipts and expenditures, in the hands of the committee. Moved, by Bro. White, that the matter of settling for ministerial labor since the last Conference be left to the financial committee that has acted since that Conference. Carried. Moved, That the doings of this Conference be published in the Advent Review. Carried. Moved by Bro. White that Bro. Loughborough be instructed to issue a pamphlet to be circulated in the State of Michigan, setting forth the necessary legal steps to be taken in securing meeting-house property; and that in the same pamphlet be given an abstract of the laws of Michigan in reference to wills to religious Societies, and that a copy be sent to the principal officers of each church in Michigan and Indiana. WM. S. HIGLEY JR. Chairman.
U. SMITH, Secretary.