GENERAL CONFERENCE by James White; Uriah Smith

The Seventh-Day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · December 4, 1879

FromThe Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 54, No. 23

GENERAL CONFERENCE.

By James White; Uriah Smith

(Continued.)

The sixth, seventh, eight, and a portion of the ninth meetings were spent in considering a report of the committee on unhappy marriages and tobacco-selling. Quite extended remarks were made by different ones on the various phases and features of these questions, but no resolution was passed concerning them.

The Committee on Resolutions were instructed to convey to Sr. White the sympathy of the Conference in her work, and also to consider by what means both Bro. and Sr. White can be provided with better facilities for accomplishing the work they have on hand.

THE CAUSE IN CALIFORNIA.

Moved, That Eld. G. I. Butler, W. C. White, H. W. Kellogg, B. L. Whitney, and J. H. Kellogg be a committee before whom Eld. S. N. Haskell may lay a full report of the condition of the cause and his work on the Pacific coast.

A communication from Eld. J. H. Waggoner relative to his work in California was referred to the same committee.

The Treasurer’s report was presented, showing the amount received and expended, and the present condition of the treasury, as follows:—

GENERAL CONFERENCE TREASURER’S REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDING NOV. 14, 1879. Amount of indebtedness Oct. 1, 1878, $1033.44 “ paid out during year, 7556.58 Total, $8590.02 Amount received during the year, $8848.62 Cash in treasury to balance, 258.60 $8848.62 Mrs. M. J. Chapman, Treas.

The report was accepted.

Moved, That G. I. Butler, S. N. Haskell, and B. L. Whitney be a committee to consider the matter of a more extensive circulation of the writings of Mrs. E. G. White.—Carried.

Tenth Meeting.—Nov. 24, 9:30 A. M. Prayer by W. E. Dawson. Eld. J. O. Corliss was received as an additional delegate from Michigan.

The committee on the circulation of the writings of Sr. White reported that they had not yet completed their consideration of the matter; but the chairman of the committee, Eld. G. I. Butler, took occasion to set forth some of the reasons why her works should be more widely circulated. Bro. and Sr. White followed with interesting and instructive remarks upon the same subject.

The Committee on Resolutions presented the following:—

HELP FOR BRO. AND SR. WHITE.

Whereas, This Conference has invited Bro. and Sr. White to attend the different State meetings held by our people, and

Whereas, It is desirable that much of their public teaching should be reported for the press; and

Whereas, They have important writings which should be in print as soon as possible, therefore

Resolved, That this Conference authorize them to employ reporters, copyists, and such other help as they deem necessary to aid them in this work, at the expense of the General Conference.

This was adopted without discussion, when the Committee reported further, as follows:—

THE TABERNACLE DEBT.

Whereas, There are unpaid pledges on the Tabernacle to the amount of $7,000, and an unprovided indebtedness of $3,000, making an entire debt on the Tabernacle of $10,000, and

Whereas, The Publishing Association is in need of this amount, which it has furnished for the completion of the building, therefore

Resolved, That we recommend the immediate payment of all the pledges now due, and the raising of such additional funds as may be needed to liquidate the entire debt.

Resolved, That the General Conference Committee, together with the Presidents of the State Conferences here present, be a committee to apportion the amount yet to be raised, and to recommend the amount each Conference should be expected to furnish.

This was discussed by W. C. White, M. B. Miller, Jas. White, B. L. Whitney, and G. I. Butler, and adopted.

Eleventh Meeting.—Nov. 24, 2 P. M. Prayer by Eld. S. N. Haskell. The Committee on Resolutions continued their report by presenting the following, which were briefly discussed and adopted:—

CHANGING APPOINTMENTS.

Whereas, The changing of appointments of our general State meetings after the appointment has appeared in print, has worked against the interest of these meetings, therefore

Resolved, That it is the sense of this Conference that when an appointment for such a meeting has been published, it should in no case be changed without the consent of the State Conference Committee of the State where such meeting is to be held.

THE HEALTH AND TEMPERANCE ASSOCIATION.

Resolved, That in the opinion of this body it is the duty of all the members of this denomination to become members of the American Health and Temperance Association, and to use their influence in inducing others to unite in this reformatory effort.

Resolved, That the officers of the several State societies of the A. H. and T. Association be requested to take energetic measures for the formation of H. and T. clubs in every church where such an organization is expedient, and urge the hearty co-operation of all members of the denomination.

Resolved, That the Conference Committee of each Conference be requested to encourage proper persons to fit themselves to engage in the Health and Temperance work; and we especially urge all ministers to prepare themselves to present the subject of Health and Temperance in an efficient and practical manner, and make it a part of their work in their various fields of labor.

THE EDUCATIONAL AID FUND.

Resolved, That we approve of the plan now being adopted by most of our State Conferences of raising an educational aid fund to assist worthy persons to attend our school at Battle Creek. And we recommend those Conferences which have not yet adopted this plan, to do so at once.

BATTLE CREEK COLLEGE.

Resolved, That we again recommend our people everywhere to patronize the Battle Creek College, and encourage others to patronize it.

The subjects of the English mission, the work in Sweden, Switzerland and other parts of Europe were considered at some length, but no resolution was adopted concerning them.

Twelfth Meeting.—Nov. 24, 7 P. M. Prayer by Eld. James White. Minutes of previous meeting approved.

Eld. G. I. Butler presented the following resolutions:—

ORDINATION.

Whereas, Certain difficulties in the past in connection with this cause have grown out of the subject of ordination, arising from the question, Who is authorized to baptize and administer the other ordinances of the church? and

Whereas, In the rapid growth of this cause, these difficulties will probably increase, as it extends to other people and draws from other denominations ministers and official members, and

Whereas, It is very desirable that some uniform plan of action should be adopted by our different Conferences and ministers in all parts of the field; and as our work has reached that stage where some action on this subject is eminently desirable, therefore

Resolved, That to meet this want we express the opinion as the sense of this Conference, that none but those who are Scripturally ordained are properly qualified to administer baptism and other ordinances.

This was discussed by Elds. G. I. Butler, Jas. White, and D. M. Canright, and adopted. The following was also discussed by the brethren last named, and by A. O. Burrill, A. A. John, and E. B. Lane, and adopted:—

Whereas, We regard ordination as a solemn and impressive ceremony, sanctioned by the Holy Scriptures and indicating the setting apart, or separation, of the person receiving it from the body of believers with whom he has been associated, to perform the office to which he is ordained, and as suggestive of the conferring of those spiritual blessings which God must impart to properly qualify him for that position; and

Whereas, In our age of the world there are many different sects of professing Christians which teach more or less of false doctrine, and whose practices are in many respects inconsistent with the principles of our faith; and

Whereas, Ordination signifies the setting apart, or appointment, of a person to some official position; therefore

Resolved, That we consider it inconsistent for our Conferences to grant credentials to individuals to occupy official positions among our people, who have never been ordained or set apart by our people.

(Continued on page 184.)

(Continued from page 181.)

Moved, That G. I. Butler, B. L. Whitney, and W. C. White be a special committee to consider the subject of the proper qualifications of ministers, and report to the next meeting of the Conference.—Carried.

Thirteenth Meeting.—Nov. 25, 9:30 A. M. Prayer by Eld. Jas. White. Minutes of previous meeting approved.

THE MISSIONARY BOARD.

The committee to whom was referred the subject of the creation of a Missionary Board, reported by recommending that the following persons constitute such Board for the coming year; namely, W. C. White, Mrs. M. J. Chapman, Eld. O. A. Olsen, Miss Maud Sisley, and Eld. B. L. Whitney.

An amendment to increase the number of the Board from five to nine by the addition of four more members was carried, and the motion, as amended, prevailed. Miss M. L. Huntley, Secretary of the General T. and M. Society, and Eld. U. Smith, were then added, after which it was

Moved, That the committee by whom the foregoing Board was nominated, be instructed to present a nomination for the two remaining members, at some future meeting.—Carried.

Some very stirring remarks on the subject of missionary work were made at this point by Sister White.

CIRCULATION OF MRS. E. G. WHITE’S WRITINGS.

The committee on the circulation of the writings of Mrs. E. G. White reported as follows:—

The committee appointed by this Conference to consider the subject of the circulation of Sister White’s writings, would respectfully present the following report:—

Whereas, Our past experience has fully proved that our prosperity as a people is always in proportion to the degree of confidence we cherish in the work of the spirit of prophecy in our midst; and

Whereas, The most bitter opposition we have to meet is aimed against this work, showing that our enemies realize its importance, whether we do or not; and

Whereas, We have found that the most effectual way to meet and disarm this opposition was either to secure the personal labors of the one through whom we believe that the Lord has spoken, or to freely circulate her writings; and

Whereas, Great light has shone upon us through this channel, which not only our own people greatly need, but which would be a blessing to the world, remove prejudice, and break the force of the bitter attacks of the enemies of the truth, therefore

Resolved, That we urge upon our ministers and tract societies the importance of making earnest efforts to extend the circulation of the volumes of the Spirit of Prophecy and the Testimonies to the Church among our own people, till these shall be in every family of believers.

Resolved, That we recommend the Publishing Association to issue in attractive form such of her writings as would be of general interest to the reading public who are not of our faith, to be placed in public libraries, reading rooms, on shipboard, etc., by canvassers and T. and M. workers, where they, as well as our other standard works, may be accessible to the people.

Resolved, That we recommend the Publishing Association to issue in as cheap a form as consistent, the matter substantially contained in volume two of Spiritual Gifts, concerning the early life and labors of Sister White, in connection with the rise and progress of this work, for the special use of our ministers in new fields, and among those first becoming acquainted with her connection with this cause. And we further recommend the publication of a small edition of her earliest writings, now out of print, to bring all her writings within reach of those anxious to obtain them.

Resolved, That we consider it to be the duty of all our ministers to teach the Scriptural view of the gift of prophecy among our brethren everywhere, and the relation it sustains to the work of God in which we are engaged.

Resolved, That we advise that efforts be made to complete the raising of the fund of $5,000 voted at the last annual session of the Conference for the purpose of increasing the circulation of these writings; said fund to be used in placing them in public libraries, reading-rooms, and other locations where they will be open to the reading public, and in such of the families of the very poor as the officers of the T. and M. Society decide should have them.

Fourteenth Meeting.—Nov. 25, 2:30 P. M. Prayer by G. W. Colcord. Minutes of previous meeting approved.

QUALIFICATIONS OF MINISTERS.

The committee on the proper qualifications of ministers reported verbally through the chairman, G. I. Butler, recommending, as the mind of the committee, that all candidates for the ministry should be thoroughly examined,—

1. In reference to their knowledge of all points of our faith, on which they should be well informed.

2. In regard to their spiritual qualifications. Evidence should be sought to determine whether they are really converted men, or whether they hold the truth as a mere theory.

3. In reference to their practical capabilities; namely, whether they can set things in order in the church, give good counsel touching the temporalities of the church, bring up the members to a proper standard in all their practical duties, and thus edify and build up the church.

4. In reference to their general information; and in this direction, a course of study, including different branches, should be systematically pursued.

The report was accepted.

The Chairman having made some suggestions in regard to the practical carrying out of this matter, it was

Moved, That the Chair appoint a committee of three, of which he shall be chairman, to take such steps as may be necessary to accomplish this end.—Carried.

FAMILY READING.

Moved, That this last committee, with the addition of U. Smith and J. H. Waggoner, be a committee to suggest a course of reading for families.—Carried.

It having been ascertained that most of the preachers present could remain till Wednesday, Dec. 3, it was decided that the time till then be largely devoted to instruction in the keeping of T. and M. and S. S. records, organizing churches, keeping church records, etc., the lessons being given by Eld. S. N. Haskell and other T. and M. workers.

JAS. WHITE, Pres. U. SMITH, Sec.

(To be continued.)