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IOWA CONFERENCE

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Seventh-Day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Thursday, June 24, 1880

FromAdvent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 56, No. 1

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IOWA CONFERENCE.

By George I. Butler; Ira J. Hankins

The Iowa Conference held its seventeenth annual session at Des Moines, in connection with the camp-meeting, June 3–8.
The first meeting was called June 3, at 5:30 A. M. President in the chair. Prayer was offered by Eld. J. O. Corliss.
The following churches were represented by delegate: Afton, Adel, Brighton, Bentonsport, Bonaparte, Davis City, Emmittsburg, Denison, Altamonth, Indianola, Knoxville, Logan, Lisbon, Monroe, Magnolia, Marshalltown, Nevada, Osceola, Pilot Grove, Panora, Spencer, Sigourney, Smithland, State Center, Woodburn, Waukon, Winterset, West Dayton, West Union, Mt. Pleasant, Elkhorn, Sandyville, Belvidere, Oskaloosa. Three new churches were added to the Conference; viz., Hampton, Lenox, and Douds.
After inviting Eld. Corliss and other brethren from abroad to participate in the proceedings of the Conference, the Chair, being authorized, appointed the following committees: On Nominations, H. Nicola, A. W. H. Millard, Noah Hodges; on Resolutions, J. O. Corliss, E. W. Farnsworth, C. F. Stevens; on Licenses and Credentials, J. H. Morrison, C. A. Washburn, J. T. Mitchell.
The Committee on Nominations reported as follows: President for the ensuing year, Geo. I. Butler; Secretary, Ira J. Hankins, Mt. Pleasant; Treasurer, A. R. Henry, Indianola; Executive Committee, Geo. I. Butler, J. H. Morrison, and C. A. Washburn; Camp-meeting Committee, Jacob Shively, Ellis Clark, and C. F. Stevens.
On motion, these nominees were elected, each to his respective office.
The Committee on Licenses and Credentials reported, recommending that Geo. I. Butler, J. H. Morrison, E. W. Farnsworth, C. A. Washburn, Henry Nicola, J. T. Mitchell, J. F. Hanson, J. Bartlett, L. McCoy, C. F. Stevens, and D. H. Hollenbeck receive credentials from this Conference; and that Ira J. Hankins, R. A. Hart, J. S. Hart, A. W. H. Millard, J. D. Pegg, A. G. Daniells, J. H. Durland, and L. T. Nicola be granted licenses.
On motion, these were separately granted according to the recommendation of the committee.
The Committee on Resolutions offered the following:
1. Resolved, That we express our gratitude to God for his goodness and longsuffering to us, as a Conference, in that he has sent us another timely reproof, pointing out our danger as a people; and that knowing the testimony to be true, we will try to humble our hearts before God and put away our sins.
2. Whereas, Our past experience as a people has taught us the importance of heeding the testimonies of the Spirit of God; and,
Whereas, Through a lack on the part of some to read these testimonies, doubts have arisen with regard to the instrument through whom God has seen fit to speak to us, therefore
Resolved, That we recommend to all our ministers and people to study carefully these testimonies, and we especially recommend our ministers to adopt a systematic study of them, in order to be better qualified to instruct the people in the practical duties of the Christian life.
3. Resolved, That we recommend the adoption by this Conference of a resolution passed by the General Conference in its last special session, relating to the annual election of local elders and deacons in our churches, with the accompanying appendix:— “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.” And should it be found at any annual election when no such dissatisfactionhas been expressed, that the present incumbent would not be re-elected, it shall be the duty of the church clerk to immediately notify the Executive Committee, and no other person should be elected till help is sent by that committee.
4. Resolved, That we as a Conference express our firm belief that God’s hand was in the establishment of our several institutions located at Battle Creek, Mich., and that it is our duty as a people to sustain them by our influence and our means; and we hereby recommend that our people throughout the Conference take stock as they are able in our College, Sanitarium, and Tabernacle.
5. Whereas, The past experience of our people in connection with the tract and missionary work has shown the necessity of thorough instruction in all its branches in order that efficient laborers may be developed, and
Whereas, Tract and Missionary Institutes have been found to be a most efficient agency by which to instruct our people, not only in that work but in many other important branches of the cause, therefore
Resolved, That this Conference recommend the holding of a Tract and Missionary Institute this fall, in camp, at such time and place as the Executive Committee may appoint; and that special effort be made to secure the services of Eld. B. L. Whitney to conduct this Institute; and we further recommend our ministers and T. and M. officers and members to attend it.
After an interesting discussion, these resolutions were separately passed by the Conference.
On motion, Henry Perry, P. E. Ferrin, and F. H. Chapman received license as colporters.
It was voted that the next camp-meeting be held in Des Moines; and that a grove-meeting be held this fall in the northwestern part of the State, the time and place being left to the Conference Committee. On motion, a tithe of the S. B. of the Iowa Conference was voted to the General Conference.
Moved and supported that the minutes of this Conference be furnished the REVIEW for publication.
GEO. I. BUTLER, Pres. IRA J. HANKINS, Sec.

TREASURER’S REPORT.

The following is the report of the Conference Treasurer for the year ending June 4, 1880:—
Amount
Total receipts, $4,762.03
Tithes to General Conference, $476.20
Loaned to tent fund, 400.00
Paid to ministers, 1,961.77
Balance on hand, 1,924.06
Total, $4,762.03
Received on tent fund:—
Subscriptions and donations, $264.74
Borrowed from S. B. fund, 400.00
Total, $664.74
Paid out to W. Armstrong, $400.00
To Conference Committee, 100.00
For printing, etc., 8.80
Balance on hand, 155.94
Total, $664.74
Indebtedness of this fund, $244.06
This report includes all claims that have been audited to date. A. R. HENRY, Treas.