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GENERAL CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Tuesday, November 25, 1884

FromThe Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 61, No. 47

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GENERAL CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS.

By George I. Butler; Uriah Smith

(Concluded.)
THIRTEENTH MEETING, Nov. 18, 2:30 P. M.—Prayer by Eld. Van Horn. Minutes read and approved. The question pending being on the adoption of the motion to refer the matter of the Year Book to the committee on shareholders’ book, the motion was carried. It was also—
Moved, That Eld. A. J. Breed take the position of President of the Wisconsin Tract Society, when Eld. Decker leaves the State.
The Committee on Resolutions introduced the following:—
9. Resolved, That the urgent need of the publishing interests in Switzerland and Norway demands that special efforts be made to raise funds for their relief. And we urge upon the Presidents of the Conferences the duty of raising money on the pledges made in their respective fields, knowing that the cause must suffer in respect to their publishing work unless the buildings in Bâle and Christiana are soon erected.
This resolution was adopted.
The committee further recommended that the clause inclosed in brackets below be added to resolution 6, in reference to moving from Battle Creek, causing it to be read as follows:—
6. Resolved, That we request and urgently call upon those who are doing no work here [as well as those who are doing little compared with what they might do in other fields] to move to destitute fields where they may be of service to the Master.
This was adopted.
The committee on the preparation of a book containing lists of shareholders in our institutions, reported as follows:—
1. Revise the list in the book entitled, “Appeal to Working Men,” and make such corrections therein as may seem necessary by correspondence with them or otherwise.
2. Arrange the names alphabetically.
3. Leave out the addresses. Insert with the names only the number of shares owned by each person.
4. Each Association to prepare a list of its own shareholders.
5. Each Association to bear its proportion of the expense of publication.
6. Insert Constitutions and By-Laws if desired.
7. We recommend that A. R. Henry, W. H. Hall, and E. B. Miller be a committee to carry this into effect.
Report adopted.
The committee reported as follows in reference to the Year Book for 1885:—
1. We consider it important to continue the publication of the Year Book.
2. We recommend that each Conference furnish the proceedings of its Conference and its Associations, to be bound in those copies of the Year Book which are circulated within its own boundaries.
3. That it be printed to order, and furnished to Conferences at cost of manufacture.
4. That the Presidents of the Conferences furnish a revised list of the ministers, etc.
5. That the Year Book contain matter as follows:—
(1). Ministers’ Directory.
(2). General Directories.
(3). General Conference Proceedings.
(4). Table of S. D. A. Statistics.
(5). International T. & M. Proceedings.
(6). S. D. A. Publishing Association Proceedings.
(7). Pacific S. D. A. P. A. Proceedings.
(8). Educational Society, ditto, also of the Healdsburg College and South Lancaster Academy.
(9). Health Reform Institute, ditto.
(10). General Sabbath-school Association, ditto.
(11). Health and Temperance Association, ditto.
(12). General and State Conference Constitutions.
(13). Statistics of our publishing work.
(14). Postal Guide.
(15). Preface, Contents, and Calendar.
6. That Geo. B. Starr, E. W. Whitney, and E. P. Daniels be a committee to canvass for orders, and secure lists of ministers, etc., to act immediately, before the officers and ministers leave.
W. C. WHITE, J. H. WAGGONER, U. SMITH, } Committee.
This report was adopted.
From the committee on resolutions:—
Whereas, The question has been laid before this Conference as to whether our usages will permit licentiates to solemnize marriage; and we believe that such a course would bring reproach, inasmuch as many of the licentiates are persons of little experience and often of immature judgment; therefore—
10. Resolved, That we hereby declare that it is not our usage to permit our licentiates or local elders to solemnize marriage.
Adopted.
The committee on improved form of ministers’ diary reported as follows:—
We recommend that a diary be prepared for the use of ministers, licentiates, and others, arranged as follows: containing first, the usual annual calendar; second, 24 pages of blank prepared for daily report; one blank page prepared for quarterly and yearly summary; 365 days of diary, ten blank pages for general use; and 40 blank pages prepared for personal and general cash account.
After some discussion, this matter was referred to the trustees of the Publishing Association.
Eld. Waggoner reported in regard to the matter of an organization to hold church and other property in this and foreign lands, as chairman of the committee appointed for this purpose at the second meeting of this session. The committee took legal counsel, and learned that an Association, auxiliary to the General Conference, might be formed to hold and control all its property, adopting articles of association substantially as follows:—

ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION OF THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST GENERAL CONFERENCE ASSOCIATION.

STATE OF MICHIGAN, } ss: COUNTY OF CALHOUN, }
We, the undersigned, in pursuance of the Act of the People of the State of Michigan, numbered No. —, approved —, 1884, and entitled, “An Act to provide for the incorporation of Associations, Conventions, Conferences, or religious bodies, for literary, religious, or other benevolent purposes,” desiring to avail ourselves of the privileges and powers granted and conferred by said Act, and to become incorporated thereunder, do hereby associate ourselves together as a body Corporate under said Act, to be known by the name and style of “Seventh-day Adventist General Conference Association,” as follows, to-wit:—
I.
The purpose for which this Corporation is formed is the issuing and diffusing of Christian knowledge by means of publishing houses for such purpose and publications therefrom, and by the further means of missionaries, missionary agencies, and other instrumentalities.
II.
The temporal affairs of this corporation shall be managed by, and the real and personal property of this Corporation shall be in charge of ———, Trustees, who shall hold their offices one year, and until their successors shall be duly chosen.
III.
The Trustees of this Corporation shall choose one of their number President, and such other officers as their By-laws may require, which said officers shall hold their respective offices one year, or until others are chosen in their stead. The Trustees for the time being shall have power to fill any vacancy which shall happen in their Board by death, resignation or otherwise.
IV.
The first Board of Trustees of this Corporation shall be the following: ———, ———, ———, ———, ———, who shall hold their offices until the first following regular annual meeting of the General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventists, and until their successors shall be duly elected.
V.
This Corporation shall act as auxiliary to said General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventists, and the entire Board of Trustees of this Corporation shall be duly elected by the legal voters of said General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventists, according to the usages and customs thereof.
VI.
This Corporation may use the general funds coming into its hands by the sale of certificates of membership for the following purposes, to wit: for the issuing and diffusion of Christian knowledge by means of establishing publishing houses and issuing publications therefrom, and by the further means of missionaries, missionary agencies, and other instrumentalities: and all such funds may, in the discretion of the Trustees, be so used in any and every country upon the globe.
VII.
This Corporation may receive and hold real and personal property to an amount allowed by law, whether acquired by gift, purchase, devise, or bequest, and may receive and execute trusts for the following purposes: 1st, for its general purposes as specified in Section 6th of these Articles. 2nd, for the benefit of said General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventists; but all such latter trusts shall be executed within the State of Michigan.
VIII.
The purposes and essence of this Corporation being purely of a benevolent, charitable, and philanthropic nature, no dividends shall be declared upon any funds, but the Trustees are authorized to use and expend the entire principal sum and all accumulations thereon, in such manner as shall to them seem most fit and proper, to carry into full effect the objects and aims of this Corporation. And if at the expiration of the statutory life of this Corporation, it, said Corporation, has in its hands any property, real or personal, in fee or in trust, unexpended or unapplied, then and in such case the majority of the then Trustees are authorized and empowered to duly transfer the title and ownership of said property to such Corporation as they may elect to carry on and continue the object and work of said first named Corporation.
In Witness Whereof, we have hereunto set our hands and seals this —— day of —— 188—.
The foregoing report having been presented, it was voted to take immediate steps to form such an organization.
Adjourned to call of chair.
FOURTEENTH MEETING, Nov. 19, 2:30 P. M.—Prayer by Eld. Haskell. Minutes of last meeting approved. The statistics of the different Conferences were read for the purpose of correction.
The committee on new hymn book reported as follows:—
We, your committee to consider plans for the production of a new hymn book, would submit the following report:—
1. That a committee of twenty-five, of whom Eld. G. I. Butler shall be chairman and Eld. U. Smith secretary, shall be chosen to gather up both hymns and music, and each individual after due examination of what he collects, shall send it to the secretary of the committee.
2. That there be a central committee of seven, with the same president and secretary, who shall examine all hymns and tunes sent to them, and shall have power to call to their aid such musical talent as may be needed to help them in their work; and this committee shall make a report at the next session of the General Conference of the progress made toward a new hymn book.
3. We suggest the following names for the committee of twenty-five: G. I. Butler, S. N. Haskell, Uriah Smith, J. H. Waggoner, W. C. White, Charles Jones, S. Brownsberger, W. H. Littlejohn, J. E. White, C. C. Lewis, Prof. E. Barnes, Frank Belden, B. L. Whitney, O. A. Olsen, G. C. Tenney, E. W. Farnsworth, L. McCoy, R. M. Kilgore, E. W. Whitney, R. F. Cottrell, D. B. Oviatt, D. A. Robinson, A. J. Cudney, J. G. Matteson, M. O. Wilcox.
4. We suggest that the following persons be the central committee: G. I. Butler, W. H. Littlejohn, U. Smith, J. E. White, J. H. Waggoner, W. C. White, Prof. Barnes.
I. D. VAN HORN, H. W. DECKER, R. F. ANDREWS, M. H. BROWN, WM. OSTRANDER. } Committee.
The committee on credentials and licenses made further report, presenting the following additional names for credentials: D. T. Bourdeau, A. C. Bourdeau, Geo. B. Starr, Jas. Sawyer, and J. P. Rosqvist; which report was adopted.
In view of the fact that Eld. Corliss is called to Australia, Eld. Steward to Ontario, and Eld. O. F. Guilford to Delaware and Maryland, it was voted that they also receive credentials from the General Conference.
The committee on moving from Battle Creek reported progress, and hoped soon to be able to report action.
Moved, That the Swedish church in the upper peninsula of Michigan, which has been considered a part of the Wisconsin Conference be transferred to Michigan.
Fearing that the church would be neglected if this motion prevailed, some delegate moved that the motion be so amended as to transfer the whole of the upper peninsula to the Wisconsin Conference. After some spirited appeals on the part of some to the Michigan delegates, the amendment was lost. The original motion was then carried.
The question of the continuance of the Bible-reading Gazette being introduced, it was voted, in view of the fact that its continuance for more than a year was not contemplated, and that it has well accomplished its object, that its publication cease with the present volume.
The question of the continuance of the Sentinel being also called up, it was voted to continue it, and that the Chair appoint a committee of five to determine the method of its further publication and management, a change of its name, etc.
The following persons were appointed as said committee: J. H. Waggoner, U. Smith, S. N. Haskell, W. C. White, A. R. Henry.
It was moved, on the request of Eld. Ostrander that Bro. E. S. Griggs go to Colorado, to assist in the work there. This motion was referred to the next meeting of the Conference.
Moved, by Eld. M. H. Brown, that Eld. Butler’s recent articles on inspiration be prepared for publication in pamphlet form. The matter was referred to the publishing committee of the Publishing Association.
Adjourned to call of Chair.
FIFTEENTH MEETING, Nov. 20, 10 A. M.—Prayer by Eld. D. B. Oviatt. The matter of E. S. Griggs going to the assistance of Eld. Ostrander in Colorado, was referred to the General Conference Committee.
On motion of Eld. Waggoner, the President of the New England Conference was authorized to secure such interchange of laborers in Vermont, Maine, and New England, as may seem advisable to himself and other leading brethren there.
From the committee on resolutions:—
11. Resolved, That we hail with great pleasure the publication of Vol. IV. of “The Great Controversy;” that, while we anxiously looked for it, expecting that it would give important information concerning the closing scenes of this world’s history, we can freely say that it more than meets our most sanguine expectations; and that we earnestly urge all our people to read it carefully and prayerfully, and to use all proper means to place it before the world.
Adopted.
The following resolution was offered by Eld. Haskell, and adopted:—
12. Resolved, That we regard the pamphlet entitled, “Honor Due to God,” as one giving much light upon the Bible teaching on the subject of tithes and offerings, and that we recommend its careful study by all.
On the strength of a suggestion received from Eld. M. C. Wilcox, it was voted that the “English Mission” be hereafter called the “British Mission.”
On motion of W. C. Sisley, Bro. A. R. Henry was appointed our general agent to confer with railroads in regard to whatever courtesies they may see fit to extend to us.
Eld. D. T. Jones offered the following:—
13. Resolved, That this Conference recognize the right of individuals to pay their tithes to the Conference where they reside.
For this the following substitute was offered:—
“That this Conference recognize the duty of individuals in changing their place of residence, to transfer their membership, and to pay their tithes to the churches with which they thus unite.
This was accepted and adopted.
On motion, the matter of the vacancy in the Conference committee of the Illinois Conference, occasioned by Eld. Andrews’ being called to a foreign field, was referred to the General Conference Committee, till Eld. Kilgore can take his position there.
Eld. R. A. Underwood, member of the committee on moving from Battle Creek, having left for home, Eld. E. M. Kilgore was placed on the committee in his stead.
The Conference then adjourned sine die.
GEO. I. BUTLER, Pres. U. SMITH, Sec.