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Seventh-Day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · March 18, 1880

FromThe Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 55, No. 12

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BUSINESS PROCEEDINGS

By James White; Uriah Smith

OF THE SPECIAL SESSION OF THE GENERAL CONFERENCE OF S. D. ADVENTISTS, MARCH 11-15, 1880.
The special session of the General Conference called for March 11, 1880, convened, according to appointment, in the Tabernacle at Battle Creek. Meeting was opened by singing and prayer. The call for delegates brought to the front the following brethren: C. W. Stone, from Vermont; H. A. St. John, from Ohio; E. B. Lane, F. Howe, H. M. Kenyon, A. O. Burrill, H. W. Kellogg, E. R. Jones, Wm. Ostrander, and S. Howland, from Michigan.
The reasons for the calling of this special session of the General Conference were then stated by the Chair, who also mentioned the many circumstances favoring such a gathering just at this time. Among these were the facts that brethren qualified to act as delegates from quite a large number of States were already on the ground; that consequently the Conference could convene at less expense than at any other time; and that important enterprises to be entered upon at once, especially the new campaign in the tract and missionary work, rendered it very proper that there should be a council of brethren, so far as they could be easily assembled, at this important epoch in our work.
New delegates were then received into the Conference as follows:—
Fred B. Goodrich, from Maine; H. W. Pierce, additional delegate from Vermont; W. C. Gage, from New England; B. L. Whitney, from New York; G. K. Owen, from Tennessee; S. H. Lane and W. W. Sharp, from Indiana; R. F. Andrews and G. W. Colcord, from Illinois; H. W. Decker and G. C. Tenney, from Wisconsin; S. Fulton, from Minnesota; L. McCoy, from Iowa; and J. O. Corliss, from Colorado.
The reading of the minutes of the last meeting was waived, they having already appeared in the REVIEW.
Moved, That a committee of three be appointed by the Chair on each of the following subjects: 1. Resolutions; 2. Tract and Missionary Institutes; 3. Camp-meetings; 4. Tent-meetings.—Carried.
SECOND MEETING, 2:30 P. M.—Bro. W. D. Sharpe was received as an additional delegate from Ohio. The Chair appointed the following committees, according to the foregoing motion: Committee on Resolutions, B. L. Whitney, C. W. Stone, Geo. I. Butler; on T. and M. Institutes, H. W. Decker, S. H. Lane, Saml. Fulton; on Camp-meetings, Geo. I. Butler, B. L. Whitney, A. O. Burrill; on Tent-meetings, Geo. I. Butler, J. O. Corliss, H. A. St. John.
The Conference then listened to reports from delegates. Elds. E. R. Jones, E. B. Lane, and H. M. Kenyon spoke of the condition and wants of the cause in Michigan. B. L. Whitney spoke for New York, S. H. Lane for Indiana, R. F. Andrews for Illinois, H. W. Decker for Wisconsin, S. Fulton for Minnesota, L. McCoy for Iowa, C. W. Stone for Vermont, J. O. Corliss for Colorado, G. K. Owen for Tennessee, and Eld. White for the whole field. The great feature brought out in all the remarks was the almost numberless appeals for help coming up from every quarter, and the painful scarcity of laborers to meet these calls.
At this point Elds. D. T. Fero and Geo. I. Butler, having arrived, were received as delegates to the Conference, the former to represent Pennsylvania, and the latter to represent Missouri, and as additional delegate from Iowa.
THIRD MEETING, 9:30 A. M., March 12.—Minutes of last meeting read and approved.
Moved, That a committee of three be appointed by the Chair to consider the proper qualifications of ministers.—Carried.
Elds. Butler, Whitney, and Smith were appointed as said committee.
Moved, That the committee appointed at the last Conference on the subject of the length of time church elders and deacons should hold their office without a re-election, be requested to report at this meeting.—Carried.
FOURTH MEETING, 2:30 P. M.—Minutes of last meeting read, and, with one correction, approved.
Moved, That the duties devolving on the committee on qualifications and examination of ministers, appointed at the last session of the Conference, be transferred to the committee appointed at the preceding meeting of this session.
This motion, after remarks by Elds. Corliss, Whitney, and White, prevailed.
The Committee on T. and M. Institutes reported as follows:—
“Your Committee on Tract and Missionary Work would respectfully submit the following report:—
Whereas, Our experience as a people is demonstrating more and more the vast importance of the tract and missionary work; and
Whereas, The light recently given us through the spirit of prophecy most forcibly presents the importance of this great branch of the work, and the duty of our people everywhere to become earnest workers therein; therefore
Resolved, That we urge our Conferences, churches, and membership in all parts of the world, to become more deeply engaged in this part of the work. In order to this, our people should all become members of the society, and do their utmost to carry out the noble purpose of its organization, by giving their means, and learning how to labor successfully in creating an interest in our reading matter, and in bringing souls to the truth. And our ministers should make it a prominent point in their labor among our people to impress upon them the importance of becoming earnest workers in this society, and teaching them how to work. This instruction should commence as soon as they receive the truth. Our churches and Conferences should ever make this branch of the cause prominent by giving it the place which our past experience and the light which the Lord has given show that it should occupy.
Your committee would also recommend
1. That one or more general Tract and Missionary Institutes be held in each Conference, as the circumstances may seem to demand, and that especial efforts be made to secure the attendance of all ministers and tract and missionary officers.
2. That in each Conference one or more persons be qualified to conduct similar classes, and thus extend the system to every local society.
3. That as many Institutes be held the present spring as practicable without interfering with tent-labor.
4. That as Eld. B. L. Whitney, of New York, has successfully taught several Institutes, introducing an efficient system of tract and missionary accounts and labor, we recommend the adoption of these methods, and that, as far as possible, his services as teacher be secured by those Conferences where tract and missionary Institutes may be held.
5. That a manual of instruction be published, embodying the system of instruction relative to the tract and missionary work.
6. That, in order to secure system throughout the entire field, we recommend that no person organize local societies, who is neither qualified nor authorized to teach the approved system of tract and missionary work.
H. W. DECKER, S. H. LANE, SAML. FULTON. } Committee.
The report of this committee was adopted.
The Committee on Resolutions then introduced the following:—
Resolved, That it is the opinion of the General Conference that there should be one general camp-meeting in each State Conference, at which all the members throughout the Conference should be urged to be present, and during which the annual session of the Conference and of the various societies should be held.
Resolved, That this Conference recommend that those who conduct camp-meetings, acting with the State Conference committees, prepare a programme of business at the opening of the meeting, in order to expedite the transaction of business; also that they divide the camp into sections, and appoint laborers to hold meetings in those sections and work for the spiritual interests of the people.
These resolutions, after being discussed by Brn. Tenney, Pierce, Andrews, Fero and Jones, were adopted.
FIFTH MEETING, 7 P. M., March 14.—Eld. H. Grant, having arrived from Minnesota, was received as an additional delegate from that State.
The report of the Committee on Camp-meetings being called for, the committee responded by saying that they would adopt as their report the resolutions on the subject of camp-meetings already presented by the Committee on Resolutions. It was then
Moved, That the Committee on Camp-meetings be continued through the entire session of the Conference.—Carried.
The Committee on Resolutions further reported as follows:—
Whereas, The spirit of prophecy has spoken directly upon the value of systematic and efficient efforts to spread the truth by the circulation of our publications, therefore
1. Resolved, That our ministers should thoroughly acquaint themselves with the practical workings of the T. and M. society, that they may be able to instruct the members on every point, and labor unitedly to raise the interest in this great work among our people by teaching them how to labor; and
Whereas, It is necessary, in order that our ministry should exert a proper influence in favor of this important branch of the work, that they should set the example of disinterested and self-sacrificing effort in the interests of the society, and
Whereas, In view of the great field before our T. and M. societies, involving the outlay of a large amount of means in the accomplishment of its work, it becomes necessary that the financial policy of the society be such as shall make it, as far as possible, self-sustaining, therefore
2. Resolved, That we recommend that our ministers act as agents for the T. and M. society in the sale of publications, the society furnishing the publications, and receiving the profits thereon.
3. Resolved, That we recommend the employment of judicious persons by our State Conferences to act as colporters, who shall receive a license from the State Conference committees to labor in that capacity; and all such persons will be expected to give quarterly reports of their labors to the Conference; and we recommend further that the auditing committees be empowered to consider such cases; and when, in their judgment, such labor has benefited the cause, to give a reasonable remuneration for the same.
On motion to adopt, these preambles and resolutions were discussed by Bro. Whitney, Colcord, Butler, McCoy, Lane (E. B.) and Jas. White, when it was moved and carried to amend the motion by dividing, and considering the resolutions separately. The first preamble and resolution were then adopted.
On the preamble and resolution No. 2 an amendment was offered to insert before the word publication, “books and all,” so that it should read “books and all publications.” An additional amendment was offered, by which the words should be transposed, so that it should read, “all books and publications.”
After discussion by Elds. McCoy, Whitney, Ostrander, Butler, Corliss, Stone, Jones, White and Lane, the question was by vote postponed to the next meeting.
Moved, That the Chair appoint a committee of three on the subject of tithing.—Carried. Geo. I. Butler, B. L. Whitney and U. Smith were appointed as such committee.
SIXTH MEETING, Sunday 9:30 A. M.—The question postponed being taken up, the vote was taken on the amendment to the amendment on resolution No. 2, which was carried.
The question then recurring on the amendment as amended, it was discussed by Elds. Corliss, Jones, White, Butler, Lane (S. H.), Lane (E. B.), Whitney, Stone, and Andrews, and laid on the table.
Further regular business of the Conference was then postponed to 2:30 P. M., and the meeting resolved itself into a Bible-class, conducted by Bro. White, on the subject of tithes. A season was then spent in a profitable and interesting investigation of that question.
SEVENTH MEETING, 2:30 P. M., March 14.—The Committee on Tent-labor presented the following report:—
Your Committee on Tent-labor would present the following as their report:—
Whereas, Our past experience has shown that many of our churches have suffered greatly for want of ministerial labor, till they have become enfeebled, and some are threatened with extinction; and
Whereas, In many of these places judicious labor would save to the cause those who are in danger of giving up the truth, and bring in others to unite with them, and thus build up such churches; therefore
Resolved, That we recommend to our State Conference committees, and ministers throughout the field, that these weak churches be looked after; that ministers of experience labor among them where there are reasonable prospects of success; and that efforts be made with tents and otherwise to strengthen the things which remain by the preaching of practical godliness, and to bring others to the truth.
Resolved, That we consider it important that our tents which go forth into the harvest field should be properly manned with efficient help, such as will correctly represent this important work; that under ordinary circumstances, in places of moderate size, two laborers well mated, using a forty or fifty-foot tent, would not need a tent-master; but when one laborer is strong enough to do all the preaching, he should have an efficient tent-master, who will assist him in visiting, singing, and active labor for souls.
Resolved, That in the matter of music, while it may be advisable in large places, under special circumstances, to obtain an organ, and be at some expense to furnish music to attract the people, we would not, under ordinary circumstances, recommend our tent companies to be at any expense in this direction.
Resolved, That we earnestly recommend to all who labor with tents that they thoroughly develop every interest they raise, and that they do not leave the place of their labor until those who have listened shall have come to a full decision, and till those who have taken a stand for the truth shall have been fully instructed, not only in the theory of the truth, but in the great principles of practical religion taught by our blessed Saviour.
These resolutions, after remarks by Elds. Butler, White, Corliss, Burrill, Tenney and Andrews, were adopted.
EIGHTH MEETING, 7 P. M., March 14.—The question laid upon the table in the morning session, was taken up. The question being on the pending amendment, namely, that ministers should act as agents of the T. and M. society in the sale of “all books and publications,” the amendment was adopted.
The resolution, as amended, was then adopted without further debate.
The following resolution was then introduced by Eld. B. L. Whitney:—
Resolved, That in consideration of the foregoing action, (that ministers be agents for the T. and M. societies,) we would also recommend to the tract societies to furnish our ministers with such tracts as they may need for judicious distribution.
The following, relative to the situation in Battle Creek, was then submitted to the Conference and adopted:—
Whereas, Battle Creek is an important center of our work, where our public institutions are located, creating the necessity of large gatherings, and thus bringing heavy burdens upon the church, therefore
Resolved, That this Conference considers it the duty of the several State Conferences to prevent, so far as possible, the poor from among them, and the unconsecrated, from moving to Battle Creek, and that it is the duty of the State Conferences to either induce their poor to move from Battle Creek, or to support them where they are.
NINTH MEETING, 10 A. M., March 15.—The Committee on church elders and deacons were called upon for a report; but as they had not had opportunity to prepare a report, at their request the subject was informally discussed by the Conference. Some time having been spent in this manner, the following resolution was presented and adopted:—
Resolved, That the local elders and deacons in our churches should be elected annually, such election to occur in each church at a time set by each State Conference, except in churches where dissatisfaction with the incumbent has been expressed by at least a respectable minority of the church. In such cases it shall be the duty of the church clerk to notify the Conference committee of such fact; and elections in such churches shall be deferred till proper help is provided by the committee.
The following on the compensation of the ministry was also adopted:—
Whereas, We recognize the propriety as well as the duty of the Christian ministry to be an example to the flock in liberality and self-sacrifice, as well as in all other good works; and
Whereas, The Scriptures plainly teach that the laborer is worthy of his hire, and that the faithful minister is entitled to a liberal and generous support at the hands of his brethren; therefore
Resolved, That it be hereby expressed as the sense of this Conference, that faithful and efficient ministers should receive a liberal compensation for their labor, that they may be fully sustained in their work, and have the means wherewith to donate to the cause, as their sense of duty thereto may dictate.
Resolved, That we recommend to the auditing committees of our Conferences to make a plain distinction between those who are thorough and efficient in their labor, and those who manifest no proper burden of responsibility in the work, and who, either from lack of consecration or devotion to the cause, fail to show such fruit of their labor as ought to be expected, and to make their award accordingly.
In reference to desirable places in which to labor without incurring unnecessary expense, the following was adopted as the sense of the Conference:—
Whereas, The calls for labor and the offer of suitable places in which to hold meetings, and to board ministers free are numerous in most of the States, therefore
Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Conference that in those States, where these offers are made, our ministers should not labor in fields where they will have to hire places for meetings, or pay for their board, only on the recommendation of the Conference Committee.
TENTH MEETING, 2:30 P. M., March 15.—The only new subject for action introduced at this meeting was embodied in the following motion, which was unanimously carried.
Moved, That the matter of distribution of labor with respect to the Pacific coast States and territories be left in the hands of the General Conference Committee, to be acted upon at their pleasure.
ELEVENTH MEETING, 7 P. M., March 15.
Moved, That the Chair appoint a committee of three on the subject of lessons for Sabbath-schools and Bible-classes, the proper subjects to be presented, and the time that should be devoted to each subject, and present, through the REVIEW, an address on this question.—Carried.
C. W. Stone, S. Brownsberger and W. C. Gage were thereupon appointed as said committee.
Moved, That the vote passed at the last session of the General Conference recommending that Eld. A. O. Burrill labor in Vermont, commencing with the next tent season, be hereby rescinded, on account of the pressing need of his labors in Michigan.—Carried.
This action not arising from any lack of interest for the cause in Vermont, or any indifference to the propriety of claims for help from a State which has furnished so many men for important fields and posts of labor, it was further
Moved, That the matter of the wants of Vermont in respect to laborers be left with the General Conference Committee, to be supplied as soon and as fully as practicable.—Carried.
Adjourned sine die.
All the meetings were opened by singing and prayer. At each meeting the minutes of the preceding meeting were read and approved. Subjects were more freely discussed, pro and con, than at any previous Conference, yet with the utmost cordiality of feeling, and with unanimity of action at the last in every case. It was throughout a most pleasant as well as important and profitable meeting.
JAS. WHITE, Pres.
U. SMITH, Sec.