Third Annual Report of the N. Y. and Northern Pa. Conference of the Seventh-Day Adventists.
At Adams' Center, N. Y., on Friday, Sept. 30th, 1864, the N. Y. and Pa. S. D. A. Conference, convened pursuant to notice of Conference committee. At 10 o'clock A. M. the President, A. Lanphear, called the meeting to order. Prayer by Bro. J. N. Andrews. Credentials were called for, and duly presented. All the churches of the Conference, with only one exception, were duly represented by delegates. Bro. White being present, was invited to take part in the business of the Conference. The Secretary's report of the last annual meeting was called for, read, and adopted. On motion the following committee was appointed by the chair, to nominate officers for the ensuing year; viz., Wm. Green, J. N. Andrews, N. Fuller, C. O. Taylor, and J. M. Aldrich. Meeting adjourned till 2 o'clock P. M. Afternoon session. Committee on nomination reported as follows: A. Lanphear, President; J. M. Aldrich, Secretary; W. S. Salisbury, Treasurer; A. Lanphear, C. O. Taylor, and J. N. Andrews, Executive Committee. Report accepted. The candidates, then on separate motions were duly elected as the officers of the Conference. In pursuance of a resolution of the Gen. Conf. recommending "the State Conferences to choose a committee of six to act with the Executive Committee in the settlement of accounts with ministers for the preceding year," the following committee was appointed for said purpose; viz., Wm. Green, H. Hilliard, Ira Abbey, W. S. Salisbury, J. G. Whipple, and H. S. Woolsey. The following churches having been organized since the last annual meeting, and being favorably reported, were now voted into the Conference; viz., Wheeler, N. Y., Farmington, Pa., McKean Co., Pa. Reports from the several churches were called for, and read by the Secretary. From this report it was ascertained that the Conference numbers about five hundred members, and that the entire s. b. fund is about $2000. The Treasurer J. B. Lamson, reported $892,79 as the whole amount received during the Conference year; paid out meantime $642,21 leaving a balance in his hands of $240,58. At this stage of the meeting Bro. White made some timely and appropriate remarks on Systematic Benevolence. The churches having failed—as shown by the Treasurer's report—to meet the necessary demands of the Conference, a committee of three was appointed to ascertain how much money was needed, and to devise a plan by which the same might be raised. J. M. Aldrich, Ira Abbey and H. Hilliard constituted this committee. In due time this committee reported that ninety per cent. of the entire s. b. fund was necessary to defray the current expenses of the year just closed: and presented accordingly an assessment on the s. b. fund of the several churches, showing the amount that each church had paid, and also the amount still due on each, to make up the ninety per cent. The report of the committee was adopted. It was then voted to excuse those churches that are not able to pay this percentage; and to invite other churches and individuals that are able so to do, to contribute to meet the deficiency. The ninety per cent was promptly paid in cash and pledges by the delegates from the several churches. Ministers' reports being called for, Eld. J. N. Andrews, Eld. N. Fuller, Eld. C. O. Taylor, Eld. R. F. Cottrell, and Eld. S. B. Whitney, gave in their respective reports of labor performed during the Conference year, also their receipts and expenditures during the same time; all of which were duly accepted by vote of the Conference. Voted, That the Executive Committee be authorized to appoint the delegates to the General Conference. Voted, That the Secretary be authorized to procure the publication of two hundred pamphlets containing the minutes of this Conference, and also the minutes of the two preceding Conferences. Voted, That Brn. Andrews, Fuller, Cottrell, Taylor, and Whitney, be considered as approved evangelical ministers of this Conference. Voted, That Bro. A. Lanphear be recognized by this Conference as a preacher, to labor in the cause as Providence may open the way. Voted, That it is the request of this Conference that the funds in charge of the General Conference Committee, which were raised for the purpose of securing a home for Bro. Andrews and family, may be appropriated toward the same as soon as convenient in some favorable locality in this State. Voted, That Bro. White be requested to write an article for the Review, on the subject of Systematic Benevolence. The following are the resolutions presented and adopted by the Conference. Resolved, That this Conference highly appreciate the labors of Bro. R. F. Cottrell in writing for the Review, and we hereby pledge ourselves to sustain him in this work, the same as though he were engaged in preaching. Resolved, That we highly appreciate the testimony of Bro. and Sr. White at this Conference; and that we are grateful to God for the gift of prophecy which he has placed in the church. Resolved, That all the churches of this Conference should arrange their Systematic Benevolence at the175commencement of each Conference year, according to the plans set forth on the first page of our Systematic Benevolence blank books. Resolved, That our preachers, visiting the churches, should see that all the members of the same, properly engage in the plan of Systematic Benevolence. Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Conference that the entire sums of Systematic Benevolence should be put into the State Conference treasury. Resolved, That we regard slavery as the great sin of our nation, and the prime cause of the existing rebellion; and that we regard Southern slave-holders, and Northern sympathizers with slavery, as alike guilty in this matter. Resolved, That in the present crisis of our national affairs, this Conference, though holding non-combatant views, deem it their duty to say that we are a thoroughly loyal, as well as anti-slavery people; and that our sympathies are with the national government in its struggle against this wicked rebellion. Resolved, That in view of the fact that the national administration is doing a great work toward the suppression of slavery, we consider it a criminal act to cast our votes for those whose business, we have reason to believe, would be to restore to slavery the many thousands already delivered therefrom. Voted, That the last three resolutions be published in the Review. Conference adjourned sine die. Prayer by brother White. A. LANPHEAR, Pres't.
J. M. ALDRICH, Sec'y.