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The Thirteenth Annual Meeting of the Ohio Conference

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 4, 1875

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 46, No. 18.

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The Thirteenth Annual Meeting of the Ohio Conference.

By O. Mears; A. A. Hutchins

AGREEABLY to appointment, the Ohio State Conference held its thirteenth annual session on the camp-ground, near Bowling Green, Ohio, commencing Sept. 30, 1875. Meeting called to order Oct. 1, at 5 o'clock P. M., and opened with prayer by Eld. D. M. Canright. Eighteen delegates were present, representing twelve churches. By vote of the Conference, Elds. U. Smith, D. M. Canright, and T. J. Butler, also all brethren in good standing, were invited to participate in the deliberations of the Conference.
The minutes of the last meeting were called for, read, and approved.
Voted, That the Chair appoint the necessary committees.
The following were appointed: Committee on Nominations, E. C. Penn, S. Simonds, O. Mears. On Auditing, O. F. Guilford, R. A. Underwood, W. T. Carson, B. B. Francis, T. F. Emans. On Resolutions, U. Smith, T. J. Butler, H. A. St. John. Credentials and Licenses, E. C. Penn, S. Simonds, O. Mears.
A letter from Bro. J. R. Purinton was then read, expressing his love and zeal for the truth, also his feelings of disappointment in not being able to attend the camp-meeting.
Adjourned to call of Chair.

SECOND SESSION.

Conference convened Oct. 3, at 8:30 A. M. Prayer by Eld. H. A. St. John.
Committee on Nominations reported, and the report was accepted with certain amendments. The following officers were elected by a unanimous vote of the Conference: President, H. A. St. John; Secretary, A. M. Mann, Darlington, Richland Co., O.; Treasurer, Geo. Smith, Norwalk, O., Box 532; Executive Committee, W. T. Carson and H. H. Van Camp; Camp-meeting Committee, R. A. Underwood, J. J. Boardman, B. B. Francis.
On motion, The appointing of the camp-meeting was left to a joint action of the Conference and Camp-meeting Committees.
Adjourned to call of Chair.

THIRD SESSION.

Opened Oct. 4, at 2:15 P. M. Prayer by Eld. D. M. Canright.
Committee on Credentials and Licenses reported, recommending that the credentials of H. A. St. John and T. J. Butler be renewed, and that licenses be granted to Wm. Cottrell and A. M. Mann. The report was accepted, and credentials and licenses were voted as recommended by the Committee.
The treasurer's report was then read, showing the following:—
Amount
Amount on hand at beginning of year, $65.45
Rec'd during year, 1373.00
Total, $1438.45
Paid out during year, $787.20
Balance on hand, $651.25
Voted, That the amount to be paid to the General Conference be left to the Auditing Committee.
The Committee on Resolutions reported the following, which were passed by the Conference:—
Whereas, The great need of our cause at the present time is consecrated laborers who shall go forth with zeal and devotion to labor in the great harvest field; therefore,
Resolved, That we should at once awake to the importance of saving to the cause the talent that is being developed among us, but which through carelessness or neglect is too often diverted to other channels.
Resolved, That, as the first step in this direction, a greater degree of consecration is called for on the part of parents and the older members in the cause, as we cannot otherwise expect the young to devote themselves as they should to the work.
Resolved, That we deem it essential to the prosperity of any church that its officers be faithful in the discharge of their duties, attending to the celebration of the ordinances, and keeping the financial and temporal affairs of the church in a healthy condition, by prompt attendance thereto.
Resolved, That we recommend that a committee of two be chosen in each church to act in connection with the President of the Conference in examining the church records and Systematic Benevolence books, to put them into proper shape, and give instruction to the clerks and treasurers how to keep their records correctly; and we further recommend that when persons in office are found to be incompetent they be removed, and others appointed in their place.
Resolved, That we hereby express our increasing confidence in the present truth, in the working of this cause, and its future prosperity and final triumph.
Resolved, That although we deeply regret the languishing condition of the cause in our Conference, we will not slacken from its financial support.
Resolved, That we take hold with new zeal in the promulgation of the truth, and pray fervently the Lord of the harvest to raise up more laborers to go forth, earnestly beseeching our fellow-men to be reconciled to God, and pointing them to the only refuge from impending wrath.
Resolved, That we, the S. D. Adventists of Ohio in Conference assembled, while we regret that circumstances deprived us of the labors of Bro. and sister White, would yet gratefully acknowledge the timely admonitions and efficient labors of Brn. Smith and Canright.
Resolved, That while we acknowledge and rejoice in the clear and consistent light of present truth, we are aware that the most beautiful theory, unless reduced to practice in life, can never save; and we will, therefore, by the grace of God, in filial love, try to become living epistles of the truth we profess, and to have its sanctifying influence in our hearts, and its resultant fruits in our lives.
Resolved, That we will consecrate our lives and our all to God anew, drink into his Spirit, and lay aside the works of the flesh, so that the blessed fruits of the Spirit shall be made more manifest in our lives, that we may thus rise with the message, exert a gathering influence for Christ, and be prepared for translation at last to our Father's mansions.
Resolved, That we will have brotherly love and affection to abound more and more, follow more earnestly after charity, knowing that without it, though crowned with all the other gifts of the Spirit, we shall still be only as sounding brass and tinkling cymbals. By love we will fulfill the law, by love we will bear one another's burdens, by love forbear one another, by love bridle our tongues and keep under the whole body, by love dwell in God and he in us, knowing that he that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
Resolved, That the Executive Committee at our annual Conference examine the books of the State secretary and State treasurer to see that they are correctly kept.
Resolved, That we hereby invite Eld. H. A. St. John to locate within the bounds of this Conference.
Resolved, That we will remember the foregoing resolutions throughout the year.
Voted, That the minutes of this meeting be published in the REVIEW.
O. Mears, Pres.
A. A. Hutchins, Sec.