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KANSAS CONFERENCE

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Seventh-Day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Thursday, June 10, 1880

FromThe Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 55, No. 24

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KANSAS CONFERENCE.

By Smith Sharp; W. E. Dawson

SIXTH ANNUAL SESSION, HELD AT WAKARUSA, MAY 20-24, 1880.
MAY 20, the Conference assembled in the tent, and was opened with prayer by Eld. Geo. I. Butler. Delegates representing eighteen churches were present at the organization.
On motion, the churches at Caldwell, Sherman City, and Timber Hill were admitted to the Conference, and the unorganized companies at Plum Grove and Porter's Ranch were taken under its watchcare.
The minutes of the last annual meeting were read and approved.
On motion, it was voted to invite Elds. Geo. I. Butler and J. O. Corliss to take part in all the deliberations of the Conference.
The President, having been authorized to appoint the usual committees, announced the following: To Audit Accounts of Ministers: A. G. Miller, J. M. Adams, Oscar Hill, John Heligass, J. W. Bagby, J. H. Baker; On Nominations: J. Lamont, John Gibbs, G. C. Beach; On Resolutions: J. O. Corliss, L. D. Santee, J. S. Osborne; On Credentials and Licenses: J. H. Cook, A. G. Miller, J. D. Rockey; To Audit Treasurer's Account: J. S. Osborne, Oscar Hill.
Adjourned to call of Chair.
SECOND MEETING, MAY 20, 3 P. M.—Conference opened with prayer. Eld. J. Lamont was elected Secretary pro tem.
The Committee on Nominations reported as follows: For President, Smith Sharp, Ottawa, Kan.; Secretary, W. E. Dawson, Ottawa, Kan.; Treasurer, A. G. Miller, Topeka, Kan.; Executive Committee, Smith Sharp; J. H. Cook, Fort Scott, Kansas; W. E. Dawson.
It was voted to consider each of these nominations separately.
Eld. Sharp having strongly urged his desire to be released from duty as President of the Conference, his nomination was returned to the committee for further consideration. The other nominees were elected to the offices for which they were respectively recommended.
It was voted that the name of the Bloomfield church be changed to Moline, that of the Canola church to Grenola, and that of the Solomon Rapids church to Beloit.
Adjourned to call of Chair.
THIRD MEETING, MAY 21.—The Conference was opened with prayer by Eld. J. H. Cook. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved.
The Committee on Credentials and Licenses submitted a partial report as follows: For credentials, Elds. Smith Sharp, J. H. Cook, J. Lamont, and L. D. Santee; for ordination and credentials, W. E. Dawson; for license, R. F. Barton, John Gibbs, Marshall Enoch, Hattie Enoch, Geo. H. Smith, and J. W. Bagby. The Conference proceeded to vote upon each nomination separately, and the recommendations of the committee were in each case adopted.
The Secretary's report was read, showing that the membership of the churches from which reports were received last quarter is seven hundred and fifteen.
It was voted that the name of the Empire church be changed to Canton; that the names of the Zion, Eureka, Uniontown, and Seneca churches be dropped from the Conference roll; also that the church at Coopersburg, Rice Co., and that at Noble, Rice Co., be admitted to the Conference.
It appearing on examination of the minutes that no record of the admission of the churches at New Liberty and South Mound was made at the time of their admission, it was therefore ordered that the minutes of the annual Conference held May 22-27, 1878, be corrected so as to show that these churches were received into the Conference at that time.
Adjourned to call of Chair.
FOURTH MEETING, MAY 23.—Opening prayer by Eld. Corliss. The minutes of the last meeting were approved.
The Committee on Nominations submitted their report, adhering to their nomination of Eld. Smith Sharp as President, whereupon he was unanimously elected.
The Committee on Resolutions submitted the following, which, after due consideration, were unanimously adopted:—
Whereas, Past experience has shown that some of our churches have suffered greatly from want of ministerial labor, until they have become enfeebled; and
Whereas, In some of these places judicious labor would yet save to the cause those who are in danger of giving up the truth, and bring in others to unite with them, thus building up such churches; therefore
Resolved, That we recommend our Conference Committee to instruct the experienced ministers in the several districts of the State to look after these weak churches, and that where there are reasonable prospects of success, efforts be made with tents and otherwise to strengthen the work by the preaching of practical godliness.
Resolved, That we earnestly recommend to all who labor in this work, to thoroughly develop every interest they raise, and not leave any place of labor until all who have listened shall come to a full decision, and those who have identified themselves with us shall be fully instructed in the practical duties pertaining to present truth.
Resolved, That we recommend to the Auditing Committees of our Conference, that in their settlement with laborers they 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, from lack of devotion to the cause, fail to show such fruit of their labor as ought to be expected, and that they make their award accordingly.
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 the State Conference Committee, except in churches where dissatisfaction with the incumbent has been expressed by at least a respectable minority. In such cases it shall be the duty of the church clerk to notify the Conference Committee, and elections in such churches shall be deferred till proper help shall be provided by the committee.
Whereas, The tract and missionary work is an important aid in the cause of present truth, and the publications thereby circulated contribute largely to our success; therefore
Resolved, that we recommend all our members to take a lively interest in this work, and we also recommend our ministers to act as agents in the sale of these publications, and return the proceeds to the society from which they receive them.
Resolved, That it is the sense of this Conference that all our brethren and sisters should regard it their duty to tithe their income at the time they receive it.
Whereas, The committee appointed to audit the Treasurer's books experienced difficulty in their work, by reason of the orders' not being numbered; therefore
Resolved, That we recommend the President to procure a blank order book, the same as is in use in other Conferences.
The committee appointed to audit the Treasurer's books reported that they found the accounts properly kept, and that the receipts and expenditures had been as follows:— Received during Conference year, $3018.82 Paid out “ “ “ $1897.17 Leaving balance on hand, $1121.65
The Committee on Credentials and Licenses presented an additional report, recommending that G. H. Rogers and N. W. Vincent receive license for the ensuing year. By vote of the Conference, licenses were granted as recommended.
Eld. Butler spoke of the value of the late Tract and Missionary Institute in Iowa, and advised that one be held in this State. After his remarks, the following resolution was presented, and unanimously adopted:—
Resolved, That the Executive Committee be instructed to correspond with Eld. B. L. Whitney in regard to holding a T. and M. Institute, and after such correspondence, to appoint an Institute at such time and place as may seem best.
Adjourned to call of Chair.
FIFTH MEETING, MAY 24.—The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved.
Elds. Smith Sharp and J. H. Cook were elected as delegates to the next General Conference.
On motion, the Conference adjourned sine die.
SMITH SHARP, Pres. W. E. DAWSON, Sec.
NOTE.—The present membership of our Conference is greater than that given in this report. Several churches long connected with the Conference did not report during the year. Four churches have been organized since the last quarterly report. Our present membership is probably at least eight hundred. W. E. D.