Report of the Third Annual Session of the General Conference of S. D. Adventists

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 23, 1865

Report of the Third Annual Session of the General Conference of S. D. Adventists.

THIS meeting met according to appointment in Battle Creek, Mich., May 17, 1865, at 9 o'clock A. M. Prayer by Bro. White. Delegates were present from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio, New York, and Vermont. The remainder of New England being represented by J. N. Loughborough. Minutes of last meeting read and approved. Reports from missionaries who had been laboring in the employ of the Conference being called for, interesting statements were read from Bro. Sanborn who has labored a portion of the time in Minnesota, Brn. Rodman, Bourdeau, Cornell, and Loughborough, who have labored in New England, and from Bro. White who has labored in New England and New York. The reports from all these brethren were accepted. They were encouraging and showed a cheering state of the cause in all parts of the field. A good work is being accomplished by missionary labor.

The Treasurer's report was then called for, which was read as follows:

Amount in Treasury at close of last Conference year,	$791,31
Received during the year,	2701,41
Total,	$3492,71
Paid to J. N. Loughborough,	$1156,71
" " J. N. Andrews, expenses to Washington,	58,46
Paid to J. & E. G. White, expenses on Eastern Tour,	286,00
Paid to Ellen G. White,	66,00
Paid to M. E. Cornell,	186,25
Cash on hand to balance account,	1139,29
Total,	$3492,71

Moved, by Bro. Andrews, that a committee of three be appointed by this Conference to draft resolutions on such subjects as they deem important to be brought before the meeting, and report at the next session of the Conference. Carried.

Brn. J. N. Andrews, J. N. Loughborough and Isaac Sanborn, were thereupon chosen by vote of the Conference to act as such committee.

Moved, by Bro. White, that the committee already appointed be also a committee to nominate officers for the ensuing year. Carried.

Adjourned till 2 o'clock, P. M.

Afternoon session. Prayer by Bro. Andrews:

The subject of the distribution of laborers was taken up.

Moved, by Bro. Andrews, that letters from the delegates be read, expressing the wants of the brethren in different locations. Carried.

Letters were then read from Ohio, Vermont, New York, Iowa, New England and Missouri, setting forth the state of the cause, and its wants and prospects in those localities. Bro. Bostwick spoke for the cause in Minnesota, reporting the condition of things in that State as somewhat better than it was a year ago. Bro. Sanborn spoke for the cause in Wisconsin.

The Committee on nominations being called upon, reported as follows: For President, James White; Secretary, U. Smith; Treasurer, I. D. Van Horn. Not being able to fix upon an executive committee, they made no nominations in that direction. The report was accepted, and the brethren designated for President, Secretary and Treasurer, were thereupon elected to those offices.

On motion of Bro. White, J. N. Andrews was elected as one of the remaining members of the executive committee.

On motion of Bro. White, J. N. Loughborough was elected as the remaining member of the executive committee.

The officers having thus been elected, the proposed changes in the constitution of the Conference were taken into consideration. All the changes proposed, namely, adding sections 4 and 5 to Art. V, and adding to Art. I, a statement of whom the Conference should be composed, as set forth in the Review containing the call for the Conference, were unanimously

adopted.

The committee on resolutions being called upon to report, offered the following resolutions which were unanimously adopted.

RELIGIOUS DISCUSSIONS.

Whereas, It is of special importance in the great work to which God has called us, of making ready a people prepared for the Saviour's appearing, that we be able to act in entire harmony in all that concerns our conduct before our fellow men, we deem it duty to express ourselves anew on the following matters:

Resolved, That in our judgment, religious discussions are less likely to result in converting men to the truth than is the divinely appointed instrumentality of preaching the word; and that we recommend to those who are public laborers in this cause that they make preaching their grand agency rather than debating; departing from this rule only in such cases as plainly require such departure.

VOTING.

Resolved, That in our judgment, the act of voting when exercised in behalf of justice, humanity and right, is in itself blameless, and may be at some times highly proper; but that the casting of any vote that shall strengthen the cause of such crimes as intemperance, insurrection, and slavery, we regard as highly criminal in the sight of Heaven. But we would deprecate any participation in the spirit of party strife.

OUR VIEWS OF WAR.

Resolved, That we acknowledge the pamphlet entitled "Extracts from the Publications of S. D. Adventists setting forth their views of the sinfulness of war," as a truthful representation of the views held by us from the beginning of our existence as a people, relative to bearing arms.

OUR DUTY TO THE GOVERNMENT.

Resolved, That we recognize civil government as ordained of God, that order, justice, and quiet may be maintained in the land; and that the people of God may lead quiet and peaceable lives in all godliness and honesty. In accordance with this fact we acknowledge the justice of rendering tribute, custom, honor, and reverence to the civil power, as explained in the New Testament. While we thus cheerfully render to Cæsar the things which the Scriptures show to be his, we are compelled to decline all participation in acts of war and bloodshed as being inconsistent with the duties enjoined upon us by our divine Master toward our enemies and toward all mankind.

Resolved, That this Conference request the Ex. Committee of the Gen. Conference to prepare an article for publication setting forth our view of the teaching of the Scriptures on the subject of war.

STATE CONFERENCES.

Resolved, That in our judgment it is highly important for the well-being of the cause that the President of the General Conference should attend the session of each of the State Conferences.

EXPENSE OF DRAFT DOCUMENTS.

Whereas, The General Conference Committee have been under the necessity of incurring a considerable expense in preparing and procuring preliminary proofs and documents to enable certain of our brethren to avail themselves of the law in favor of non-combatants, which expense as yet has been but partially met from the avails of said proofs and documents, therefore,

Resolved, That this Conference hereby request all those for whose personal benefit said expense was incurred; viz. those who were liable to the draft—and all others who are so disposed, to contribute one dollar each for the purpose of defraying the same, and that each of said contributors be entitled to a copy of said documents.

HOLDING OF THE WINDS.

Whereas, A terrible rebellion has for the past four years convulsed our land, and retarded the progress of the third angel's message, and

Whereas, This rebellion has been suddenly brought to nought,

Resolved, That we acknowledge, with devout gratitude, the hand of God in this event, as a direct answer to prayer, and that in view of the increased responsibilities laid upon us in again opening the way for the progress of the message, we solemnly consecrate ourselves anew to this great work to which God has called us.

DAN. IX, 25.

Resolved, That this Conference fully endorse the view of Bro. J. N. Andrews respecting the commandment to restore and build Jerusalem, Dan. ix, 25, and that we hereby request him to write out his view of the same for publication, at the earliest opportunity.

DEATH OF THE PRESIDENT.

Whereas, Abraham Lincoln, the noble-minded and upright chief magistrate of this nation, has fallen by the hand of an assassin,

Resolved, That we hereby record our deep distress at the loss of this "prince and great man," 2 Sam. iii, 27-38, who was stricken down by his enemies at the very moment when he was studying how to forgive them all, and that we recognize in this most atrocious crime the true character of the slaveholders' rebellion.

MEETING-HOUSE AT BATTLE CREEK.

Whereas, Battle Creek, Michigan, is a central point for the General Conference to hold its sessions, also for the sessions of the Michigan State Conference, and being the place where the property of the Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association is located,

Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Conference that a house of worship should be built in the city of Battle Creek of sufficient size to convene the meetings of worship usually held in connection with our annual Conferences, and that the General Conference Committee should feel free to solicit funds from the friends of the cause in the wide field, and to act in connection with the church in Battle Creek in erecting the house.

Resolved, That the General Conference Committee be authorized to take the initiatory steps preparatory to the building of said meeting-house immediately, and to adopt such plan, and make such call for means through the Review, as in their judgment may be best adapted to the prosecution of the work.

THE SOUTH.

Resolved, That a field is now opened in the South for labor among the colored people and should be entered upon according to our ability.

BLANKS.

Resolved, That blanks be prepared by the General Conference Committee for the use of churches, ministers, &c., in making their reports; and such other blanks as may be needed to establish more uniformity, and expedite matters in our Conference business.

Resolved, That we hereby tender the Battle Creek church our sincere thanks for the kind attention and generous hospitality with which we have been entertained.

Moved, That the Minutes of this Conference be published in the Advent Review. Carried.

Adjourned to the call of the Committee.

John Byington, President. U. Smith, Secretary.