Earlier text: Twenty-Third MeetingL. R. Conradi in the chair. At this meeting Elder F. H. Westphal, president of the Chile Conference, presented a report of the progress which the work has made during the last quadrennial period on the west coast of South America. L. R. Conradi: Elder Daniells has now a statement to make to the congregation. A. G. Daniells: I have asked the chairman for the privilege of making a brief statement which I believe will be cheering to our brethren and sisters. Many of you are aware that during the past eight or ten years we have been tried by the enemy many times. As a denomination we have had perplexities and difficulties to meet. A few years ago a special crisis arose involving the matter of organization. In all these experiences the enemy is alert to create misunderstandings. We have experienced these things—every people that God has ever led has had to battle with these things. Now, in the midst of this difficulty some years ago, some of our brethren, and some churches, were in perplexity. Among them was a church in the city of Washington, of which Elder L. C. Sheafe was leader. Brother Sheafe came to this city by request of the General Conference Committee about 1902, and the Lord blessed his labors in raising up a substantial church. I united with him in its organization. I visited the church many times, and spoke to them. We worked together very nicely, and a good congregation was built up; but in the midst of the crisis referred to, there came a time when Brother Sheafe and his congregation felt that they could not go on with this body. A letter signed by the church clerk notified us that they had decided to withdraw from the conference and be independent of our organization. I need not recite the interviews that were held, and what we tried to do on both sides, nor the interviews that have been held from time to time since then. But I am very happy to tell you this morning that our brethren, after these years of observation and experience, have concluded that they do not want to stand apart any longer. [Elder Daniells spoke of conferences that had been held with the church recently, and of the assurance felt by those who had taken part in these interviews.] A few days ago we received a letter from the church, which I should like to ask Elder Sheafe to present. L. C. Sheafe: I want to say this morning that I feel I am in the house of my friends. It has been eighteen years since this blessed message came to me. I believed it then to be the message of God, and I have believed it ever since to be the message of God. I saw in it wonderful possibilities for my people. I had no special personal aims or ambitions, but I felt that this message could do so much for my people; and in the various conferences that I have been privileged to attend that has been the one fact and thought before me. I feel that possibly this has been true—that, like Moses of old, when he came out and saw the Egyptian ill-treating the Hebrew, you remember he took off his coat and rolled up his sleeves and pitched in to deliver Israel himself. He was forty years ahead of God, and therefore God had to put him in the mountains tending sheep to teach him his lesson. God had a thought for Israel and for the Hebrews deeper, grander than Moses had, and afterward God called him out and used him wonderfully in leading his people forward. [Elder Sheafe spoke of his personal belief in the doctrines of our faith, and continued concerning the action of the church.] The church for more than six years has stood aloof from conference connection. I have weighed the situation, and looked the matter over, and I have said to myself, This message of truth has made us what we are. It will not pay for us to depart from its principles. Therefore, during these years I have sought to proclaim this message. But our church has been considering this matter, as a body, in a special way for about a month. We were looking into the matter seriously, and considering it, and holding meetings, and on the twenty-first of this month, in a meeting assembled, this was the action of the church (reading):— THE PEOPLE'S SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH, WASHINGTON, D. C., May 21, 1913. To the General Conference Committee of Seventh-day Adventists. DEAR BRETHREN: After more than six years of separation from conference connection, having prayerfully reconsidered our action, we are convinced that the separation was a sad mistake, for which we are heartily sorry. We have earnestly sought and obtained forgiveness from our Heavenly Father, and do here and now acknowledge our fault to you. We are in full accord with the teachings, doctrines, and polity of the Seventh-day Adventists of the United States of America. Therefore we desire to unite with you to help close up this glorious message of love and mercy. Our earnest prayer is that Heaven may continually smile on this union. Done by order of the church on the above date. LEWIS C. SHEAFE, Pastor;
ELMIRA B. GREENE, Clerk. [Attached to the letter were the names of the eighty-two members voting it, and also a record of the fact that eleven12 voted against joining the organization.] In response, it was moved that the following reply be entered upon the minutes:— “The committee suggests this word of reply: The Conference receives this letter with joy, glad that the members of this congregation addressing us find themselves fully in harmony with the Seventh-day Adventist body, and desirous of being identified with us. We assure our brethren that our hearts respond to these declarations of unity in the blessed hope. We welcome these brethren and sisters to the joys and trials and triumphs of the advent people, in the work of this last message; and we refer this letter for definite, formal action to the District of Columbia Conference, in whose territory this church is located.” W. A. Spicer: I move this reply, Brother Chairman, to the letter from the church. L. R. Conradi: Are there any remarks upon this now? L. C. Sheafe: I wish to express my hearty appreciation and thanks to the brethren for this cordial acceptance of our word, and we hope to be able in the future to demonstrate by our lives and actions the sincerity of the step that we have taken in asking for a place with you in this great work. And our earnest and sincere prayer shall be that God may further his cause and may hasten the glad day when all these differences and misunderstandings shall have passed away, and God himself will wipe the tears from the faces of his people and gather them into one family, where there will be no more separation, no more severed ties, no more misunderstandings arising to wound our hearts or his people. May God ever guide and keep us. Elder Daniells spoke again at some length, saying that in the interviews held it was the mind of the church to come into conference relationship just as all other churches, and Elder Sheafe had desired to come as all other ministers, willing to labor anywhere as the providence of God might indicate. The congregation sang, “Praise God, from whom all blessings flow.” A number of the representatives of the Negro Department expressed their high appreciation of the position taken by Elder Sheafe, and of his return to the organization. Question was called, and the entire congregation, by a rising vote, adopted the motion making response to the letter presented. Following this interesting and inspiring incident reports were rendered of the Brazilian Union Conference by F. W. Spies, by W. Ehlers of the Rio Grande do Sul Conference, and by J. Lipke of the East Brazil Mission. C. H. Edwards: Before we adjourn I would like to make a statement. In harmony with what has been done before in regard to a delegation visiting the President of the United States, I move that a committee of five, W. A. Colcord, C. S. Longacre, S. B. Horton, K. C. Russell, and J. E. Jayne, be authorized to prepare a suitable memorial, and that the Conference appoint a number of brethren to present this memorial to the President. This motion prevailed, and the Conference adjourned. L. R. CONRADI in the chair. L. R. Conradi: The matter before us is the constitution and by-laws of the Asiatic Division, recommended by the committee on plans. The constitution was studied in detail by the Conference, and, as amended, was adopted, as published in the Bulletin:— Following the adoption of the Asiatic Division constitution:— L. R. Conradi: We have a report from the committee on nominations that ought to be read. O. A. Olsen: The committee on nominations has a partial report to make. You will appreciate that all this organization and constitution work has delayed us in submitting this report, and therefore we are able to submit only a partial report at this time. Elder Fitzgerald will render this report. W. J. Fitzgerald: The committee on nominations respectfully submit the following partial report: For president, A. G. Daniells; for secretary, W. A. Spicer; for treasurer, W. T. Knox. Mr. Chairman, I move the adoption of this report. The committee on plans submitted the following further partial report:— According to the instruction given in the inspired Word of God, the specific work of the minister is to preach the gospel; the object sought is to deliver those who are under the power of Satan, and to reconcile them unto God; this is to be accomplished by preaching the salvation which is found in Christ; in order to obtain the desired results, it is necessary that one should give his undivided attention to his specific work, in order that he may be “approved unto God.” The application of these principles is seen in the ministry of the apostles, who refused to be burdened with the administration of temporal affairs, and declared, “It is not fit that we should forsake the Word of God, and serve tables.” In order that the ministry of this denomination may become more efficient, and may approach more closely to the apostolic standard; we therefore,— 19. Recommend, (1) That those who are ordained to preach the word devote themselves wholly to the work of the gospel ministry. (2) That they put forth earnest efforts to make their work as efficient as possible, by prayerful study of the Word of God, and by personal consecration to the specific purpose of winning souls to Christ. (3) That they constantly strive for self-improvement, by systematic private study and by pursuing such ministerial reading courses as may be arranged. (4) That candidates for the ministry be encouraged to take a course of study in one of our training-schools, as a necessary preparation for their work. (5) That it be the policy of the denomination to select and train laymen possessing suitable qualifications for the business management of institutions, and for directing business affairs generally, in order that those who have been set apart for the work of the ministry may be relieved of these burdens, and may be able to give their time and strength to soul-winning. Whereas, The interest and pleasure in making gifts for missions in our Sabbath-schools is greatly increased by having occasionally some definite need set before us as the object of the contributions, resulting in largely increased offerings; therefore,— 20. Resolved, That we approve the plan of devoting the Sabbath-school offering on the thirteenth Sabbath of each quarter to some definitely named missionary enterprise calling for special help which may be beyond the ordinary income of the mission treasury; it being understood that this action relates primarily to the North American Division, but that other divisions, unions, and conferences outside this division, join in the plan where they can consistently do so. On motion to adopt, the consideration of the report was left until it should be printed in the Bulletin. I. H. Evans in the chair. N. Z. Town offered prayer. Chas. Thompson: Two delegates from the Northern Union, Dr. C. W. Heald and J. W. McComas, have had to return home. Our committee has taken action substituting as delegates B. A. Wolcott, educational secretary of Iowa, and Sister J. W. Dorcas, of Iowa. The Conference voted to seat these delegates. The report of the committee on plans was called up, and recommendation 19 was discussed. H. W. Carr: Item 4, under recommendation 19, reads: “That candidates for the ministry be encouraged to take a course of study in one of our training-schools, as a necessary preparation for their work.” Do we understand that any candidate for the ministry shall be instructed that it is necessary for him to take a course in one of our training-schools before he will be encouraged to enter the ministry? In brief discussion of the wording of the recommendation, it was agreed that the wording of two items should be as follows:—
(1) That those who are ordained to preach the word devote themselves as fully as possible to the work of the gospel ministry.
(4) That candidates for the ministry be encouraged to take a course of study in one of our training-schools, for a better preparation for their work. A. G. Daniells: I think it ought to be made plain, in our advocacy of the ministry devoting itself to the ministry, that the work of a conference president is the work of the gospel ministry. When we have our conference work outlined so that the conference is a great evangelical board,—and that is the aim and purpose,—then it is just as proper for the minister to act as president of the conference as anything else; and while doing that work he can advance the work of the ministry, preaching the gospel and doing all that he is called to do in the supervising way. Now, we must all admit that if today we had laymen,13 business men trained for the work, to take the chairmanship of our institutional boards, it would be far better to have matters so arranged than to tie our ministers up on the detail administrative work on those boards. That is my conviction. I do not think that we can make this change suddenly. But there is one thing certain, the messages that have come to us through the spirit of prophecy urge us to train business men, men of business talent and ability, to look after the business interests of this denomination, so that ministers shall not be called away from the preaching and from the ministry to attend so largely to business affairs. I understand that is what section five looks to. Surely that is a proper thing for this denomination to begin now to do. We are full late enough in passing an emphatic recommendation of this sort. It must be understood that this change cannot be made fully this year, nor next year. But we have business men on the General Conference Committee who are not ordained ministers, but are earnest Christians, men of sound business ability, and they are managing business affairs, and it is far better to have these men doing the work than to place these detail administrative burdens upon ministers. God has given us hundreds of men of good talent and ability for business affairs and administration, who are not gifted for public speaking, but they are thinkers, they are plodders, they are splendid, hard-working men at the desk, and they can get around quickly and look after business interests. The strength of the denomination lies in the ministry giving itself to the work of the ministry, and drawing in this great, splendid body of laymen of business acumen to look after our institutional administrative affairs. I tell you, brethren, you presidents of conferences, you are in danger of losing the real, refreshing, life-giving power as ministers, because you are so wrapped up with administrative business details. I have gone over the ground myself in the local conference and the union conference and the General Conference. I do not say that the preachers should not be presidents of conferences. I believe in it; but I believe, my brethren, that as fast as you can, you should entrust to others all that pertains to business,—the buying and selling, the care of tents, and the details of administration,—put these things into the hands of treasurers and secretaries, and helpers, and give yourselves more fully to the work of the ministry. [Voices: Amen! Amen!] I stand for this, that the presidents of conferences should, above all things, be leaders among the preachers of the conferences in evangelistic, soul-winning labor. And if there is anybody at the camp-meeting who ought to step in at the revival, who ought to encourage the discouraged and the suffering, and to lift the people up spiritually, it is the president of the conference. I know that you must have time for Bible study and prayer. One cannot go from the wearing consideration of business perplexities, and in an instant jump right into good evangelistic preaching work. What this recommendation means, as I understand it, is to distribute these things, so as to give our conference presidents more time to devote to the ministry. And I believe there is a reformation for us to make. E. E. Andross: I want to say to the delegates that I am in full accord with the plan proposed in this resolution, and have been personally trying to labor to this end. I have labored earnestly to build up the ministry. I believe a minister is ordained to preach the word, and not to go off on a farm or engage in other matters part of the time. But, further, I believe that the minister is called to stand at the head of the conference just as much as he is called to preach the word, and in doing so he is not cutting himself off from the ministry or the preaching of the word. I fully believe that the Lord would have at least a fair representation of ministers on the conference committee. I believe none are so well fitted to direct the minister in his work as those engaged in the ministry. I think we ought to lift the standard higher, until we can have an efficient corps of ministers all over the land. V. O. Cole: Is it the mind of the framers of this recommendation that now all business be left to the business members of the committee? I. H. Evans: I suppose that bringing about this change would be a gradual process. They could not make these changes at once. We would not have the business men. Then you will understand that these recommendations provide for training. Men are not only to be selected, but they are to be trained. Just how long that will take, I suppose we hardly know. The plan is evidently that the policy shall be changed, so that ministers shall not be giving their time to business all the while; but we want business men to take these business enterprises, while the ministry give themselves to the preaching of the gospel. I do not think anybody would understand this to mean a radical change immediately, but a definite policy to work to, to bring about just as rapidly and as quickly as changes can be safely made. A. G. Daniells: Now I want to make a word of explanation. This says the work of the ministry. Is not all this good help that is given to the churches the work of the ministry?—Surely. And every conference president must see that the churches are receiving the help necessary to keep them strong and vigorous and active in the work. It may not be necessary for the president to do all that work. He may divide the conference up, and arrange for different ministers to do this revival work in the churches, and this work of the ministry. But I could not think that a minister was missing his calling or his duty if he was giving himself earnestly to the revival of the churches, and to additions in places where there is an interest. L. R. Conradi: I am very much pleased with this resolution, and I think it is not so difficult to carry out as we think it is. By the grace of God, it has been my privilege to carry it out a number of years. I found that, the larger my field grows, there must be planning ahead in order to do this. I have not the privilege at present, as Brother Daniells had, of laboring in the cities, because our workers over there are city workers. With us the thing is turned about. All our work is city work at first; country work comes in later, and is much more difficult. But the union presidents now carry on the city efforts. Then what is my work?—We see some large problems in Mohammedan fields and heathen fields, and I have an interest in them. I do not know how to counsel the workers unless I go there for four or five months. Well, now, when I leave Europe, I leave it without the least concern. I know that the gospel ministry goes on; I know that the good boards go on, and that the conferences go on; and I am very happy to know that everything goes along well without me—that I can be spared. I believe we can do that; but I do admit that we plan from one to two years ahead, so I can get out that four or five months. I believe, brethren, by the grace of God, it can be done, and I find institutions are running successfully, the gospel work is going on, and we are getting thousands of people into the truth. A. G. Daniells: Who runs your institutions? L. R. Conradi: Business men; they have all the detail work, and we find also that the work is going on in harmony. And I am thankful to the Lord that we can enlarge, and go out, and carry the gospel to the very ends of the world. A few years ago, when that testimony referred to was read, one good brother came to me and said, “Now, you men must all get off every board.” I am perfectly willing to get off every board, but, brethren, if I get off every board, I want to be rid of every responsibility concerning the institutions. But a president can be on a board, and yet have good business men looking after all the details. We need good judgment, brethren and sisters. Some one says we have so many churches. Now we divided our conferences into as many districts as we have ordained elders. The first thing I did in German East Africa was to form three districts, and to have three district elders, so the superintendent did not need to go into all the details. By planning, I know it can be carried out successfully, and we shall see many more souls brought into the kingdom of God, and our institutions running with less debt, too. Other excellent remarks were made by G. B. Starr, F. W. Stray, E. K. Slade, G. F. Watson, and C. F. McVagh, but the sentiment of the Conference is expressed in those given. We regret that we cannot publish all that was said. W. T. Knox: I would like to call the question, and in doing so would crave the privilege, after the recommendations have been considered, to introduce a report of the joint committee on finance. I. H. Evans: The question is called. All in favor of adopting these resolutions, manifest it by the uplifted hand. [Carried unanimously.] Brother Knox still has the floor. W. T. Knox: The questions of finance are so related to the two conferences that the two committees have been operating together, and the partial report that we desire to present this morning really affects both conferences; but if possible we would desire that they be considered and separated, as the discussion will reveal where they belong. Brother Parmele is secretary of the committee. R. W. Parmele (reading): The joint-committee on finance of the General Conference and the North American Division Conference, would respectfully submit the following report:—566 In harmony with the action of the General Conference Committee at Mountain View, in January, 1913,— 1. We recommend, The appointment of a finance commission of four members, one member to be appointed by the General Conference Committee, another member by the North American Division Conference Committee; these two to give their entire time to the work; the other two to be the treasurers of the General and North American Division Conferences, and that the expenses of the commission be divided equally between the two conferences.
2. We recommend, The adoption of the actions of the General Conference Committee at Mountain View in January, 1913, regarding the relief of our institutions, with such revision as may be necessary to adapt them to the North American Division.
3. We recommend, That the North American Division Conference provide the necessary means for the building of the medical college hospital, by advancing the amount called for from its treasury, and replacing the amount by calling for donations from its constituency. On motion to adopt, these recommendations were held over for consideration after being published in the Bulletin. L. R. Conradi in the chair. I. J. Hankins offered prayer. L. R. Conradi: Are there any reports from standing committees? Guy Dail: The committee on plans has a further partial report to submit (reading):— Whereas, It is extremely important that immediate and aggressive efforts be put forth for our children and youth who are too young to join the Missionary Volunteer Society,— Resolved, That all union and local conference Missionary Volunteer secretaries take hold of the junior work at once, adopting plans and methods designed to organize and build up this work. Whereas, There is the utmost need of preserving the cause of God from the harm that might be occasioned by the enrolment in one field of members dismissed in another, or by the employment in one field of laborers that have been dropped from the list of workers in another; we therefore,— 22. Recommend, (a) That the transfer of membership from one church to another or from one field to another, be effected only by means of church letters of recommendation. (b) That no laborer who has been dropped in one field be reengaged in another without a thorough examination of the case on the part of the conference officers proposing his employment. On motion to adopt, the consideration of the report was deferred. During this meeting Elder R. C. Porter gave a report of the excellent progress of the work in the South African Conference. During his report Brother Porter described the meeting in which pledges were being taken to relieve the sanitarium of debt. He said: We asked each one to pray that God would instruct him how much to give. The Spirit of the Lord fell upon the congregation, and the sweet Spirit of Christ melted almost every heart to tears. There was no time but half of the congregation were weeping,—just a quiet, subdued spirit of weeping,—both ministers and people. After the pledges had been taken in the regular course, I tried to close the meeting. I was afraid to have them give more, for fear of a reaction, when they would feel that they had overdone it. But one brother arose and said that if his wife were there, he knew she would like to give $25, and so he would pledge that amount for her, and if she did not pay it, he would. That spirit was taken up, and again the pledging went through the whole congregation. Then, when I tried to close after that, another brother arose and said that if his children were there, they would each like to give $5, and he would like to add that much to his pledge. He said if they did not pay it, he would. And that wave went through the whole congregation. I tried to close a third time. Then a brother arose, and said that if our deceased Elder Williams, who had been president of the conference, and was always a liberal man, were there, he would like to contribute toward the relief of the indebtedness of these institutions. So he wished to place a pledge, which he would pay, in the name of Elder Williams. That was also caught by the congregation, and went through the entire meeting. When we came to close the meeting at last, I turned to Elder Edmed, and asked him to close the meeting with prayer. He was standing there weeping, and he said, “I cannot pray; I am too full for utterance.” I turned to Professor Elffers, but he gave me a similar reply. That feeling seemed to be all through the entire camp. But we did close with prayer, and thanked God for his presence with us. Then the question was raised: “Will these pledges be paid? Are they good? or have the people overdone it?” But we said, “The Lord has given the people a heart to pledge, and he will give them a heart to pay.” Before I came away, an amount equal to the sum pledged that day had been paid in and applied on the indebtedness. It was the most remarkable manifestation of God’s taking a meeting into his own hands of any I have ever witnessed. I may say further that at both the Solusi and Barotseland stations last year we were confronted with drought conditions. It was reported from there that unless they had rain inside of a week the crops would be a failure. The church and the mission stations all united in prayer that God would send us rain. And God answered our prayers. At Solusi a cloud hovered over the mission station, and it rained on the mission farm alone, while all the rest of that country was dry. The missionaries believed that God sent that rain in direct answer to prayer, and it increased their faith in God. We had other droughts afterward, and again in answer to prayer the mission farms received rain, while other parts of the country were dry. Afterward, the report went out through the country that our farms were cared for by God, and we received invitations from people that had hitherto been prejudiced against us, to come and open up schools in their neighborhood. L. R. Conradi: We are surely all thankful for this good report. H. S. Becker then read a report from G. H. Clark, canvassing agent of the South African field. The Tsungwesi Mission, in Mashonaland, was reported by M. C. Sturdevant, who stated that in place of ten minutes allowed to his report, he wished he had ten hours to speak to the Conference concerning the interesting features connected with his field. F. B. Armitage of the Zulu Mission reported the work of that field, and related the interesting manner in which the Spion Kop Zulu station was secured. J. C. Rogers reported the work of the Central African Mission, with which he was connected for years. The Conference adjourned. A. G. DANIELLS in the chair. G. B. Starr offered prayer. Resolution 20, of report of the committee on plans (page 12), was read and question called without discussion. Resolution 21 (page 14) was read and the question called. Resolution 22 (page 14) was read. L. W. Graham: I would like to ask a question on this recommendation, section (a). In case a church was disbanded, how would a member get a letter? He might have been disfellowshipped, and later repented, and in the mean time the church disbanded. A. G. Daniells: I suppose he would come in then on profession of faith, if he had been disfellowshipped and the church disbanded. There is just one question on both of these items. I think, brethren, that we ought to exercise more care in the matter of our church-membership, that the privileges and blessings of church-membership may be held higher. Then, with reference to the matter of the laborer: I think that this recommendation should apply to an administration that may succeed another, as much as to an entirely new field of labor; for oftentimes a conference administration, after most careful, thorough investigation and consideration of the case, deems it proper to dispense with a laborer, or retire him. Perhaps later the individual comes forward for employment, after a change in administration, and without much investigation, sometimes this laborer is brought back; but after a few months it is found that a serious mistake has been made. When individuals apply for service, we should give the matter prompt, hearty, thorough attention, and encourage every one we possibly can; but where we feel perfectly sure that there are things in the way, we ought to be frank and honest and fair, and deal with the case at the very start. G. M. Brown: Under this section (b), it occurs to me that this is not quite explicit enough. It says “without a thorough examination of the case on the part of the conference officers proposing his employment.” There might be a question as to what constitutes a thorough examination. It seems to me that a thorough examination would include securing counsel from those in the field15 in which this man had previously been employed. Sometimes people think they are making a thorough examination when they examine the applicant thoroughly; but his view of the case may not be the correct one. I therefore move to add the words “and counsel with the local or union conference in which the worker was formerly employed.” W. C. White: Would it not serve the same purpose if we all consent that that is what the thorough examination includes? It seems to me it means that, and in some cases it may mean more. E. L. Maxwell: While it may not be altogether in line with this resolution, there is one matter that I would like light on. Some of those who are on the Sustentation Fund feel that they are at liberty to go anywhere they please in this country, and do about as they please. I would like to know how we are going to deal with such cases when they come into our territory and do things that are contrary to our arrangements. A. G. Daniells: How would it do to have that a subject for a special talk? As this is the first Conference we have had since this plan was adopted, and we have never discussed that, let it, with other items, be brought up for special consideration. A. B. Olsen: Does this word “laborer,” in recommendation 22, include all laborers? Would it include all missionaries, like doctors and nurses? If it does, then I would like to second Brother Brown’s motion. The report as a whole was then adopted. A. G. Daniells: Now I would like to call for the report of the committee on constitution. W. T. Bartlett: The committee on constitution presents a further report. A. G. Daniells: You will understand that we are not adopting a new constitution, but are making verbal changes in the one we have already acted upon. These changes are mostly for the purpose of harmonizing with the new organizations we have been forming. The report of the committee, after amendment, was adopted. (As this report was published in the Bulletin we will not reproduce it in this connection.) A. G. Daniells: We will now call for other business. Are any of the standing committees prepared to report? O. A. Olsen: Our committee on nominations has a further partial report. Elder Fitzgerald will read the report. W. J. Fitzgerald: I will say that our report is not complete as to department secretaries as you will observe. (Reading): For secretaries of departments: Educational, H. R. Salisbury; Publishing, N. Z. Town; Medical, W. A. Ruble; Young People’s Missionary Volunteer, M. E. Kern. For members of executive committee, in addition to ex-officio members: S. N. Haskell, W. C. White, W. C. Sisley, C. H. Jones, G. B. Thompson, E. R. Palmer, H. W. Miller, M. D., C. S. Longacre. For members of General Conference Corporation: W. T. Knox, I. H. Evans, F. M. Wilcox, B. G. Wilkinson, W. W. Prescott, E. R. Palmer, H. E. Rogers. For members of the General Conference Association: W. T. Knox, W. A. Spicer, I. H. Evans, W. W. Prescott, W. B. White, F. M. Wilcox, H. R. Salisbury, C. F. McVagh, B. G. Wilkinson, E. R. Palmer, G. B. Thompson, T. E. Bowen, I. A. Ford, H. E. Rogers, K. C. Russell, O. A. Olsen, S. E. McNeill, Allen Moon, H. W. Cottrell, D. W. Reavis, C. S. Longacre. For trustees of Foreign Mission Board: A. G. Daniells, W. A. Spicer, W. T. Knox, I. H. Evans, H. R. Salisbury, O. A. Olsen, W. B. White, G. B. Thompson, W. W. Prescott. A. G. Daniells: Are there any other committees to report? Partial Report, Committee on Plans
Guy Dail: The committee on plans beg leave to submit the following partial report:— Whereas, The millions in our cities are to be warned in a short period of time; and,— Whereas, It has been demonstrated that the circulation of our message-filled tracts is one of the most practical methods of winning souls; therefore,— 23. Resolved, That we request our publishing houses to furnish a series of tracts with attractive covers, covering the principal features of our message, at prices which will enable them to give the colporteurs sixty per cent discount, and that an effort be made to encourage the lay members in our churches to engage in the sale of our tracts. 24. We recommend, (a) That a joint educational and young people’s convention, to continue two weeks, be held in the summer of 1914 at such time and place as the departments may determine. (b) That the delegates to this convention, and the manner of meeting their expenses, be determined by the union conference committees, in counsel with the departments. 25. We recommend, (a) That a normal institute, under the direction of the Department of Education, be arranged to follow the joint convention of educators and Missionary Volunteers to be held in 1914. (b) That this institute be composed of the normal directors in our union conference training-schools, and of educators who have shown special ability in developing certain subjects of Christian education along normal lines, the latter to be appointed by the Department of Education. 26. We recommend, That the word “division” be stricken out of the technical name for the North American and the European Division Conferences, and the Asiatic Division Mission. 27. We recommend, The approval of the action of the General Conference at the autumn council requesting the Educational Department to prepare a reading course for licentiates and ministers; and, further, that this course be outlined in detail, and the books be selected at the Bible teachers’ summer institute to be held at the close of the present Conference, their work to be reported to the General Conference Committee for final action; and that the subjects included in this course shall be Biblical, historical, and pastoral. In view of the request that has come from the West Indian Union that their Spanish territory be turned over to the General Conference,— 28. We recommend, That the whole of the West Indian Union be placed under the direct care of the General Conference Executive Committee. On motion to adopt, the consideration of the report was deferred. A. G. Daniells: There is another item to be considered. A few days ago you appointed a committee of five to draft a memorial to be addressed to the President of the United States. This memorial is ready to be presented to the Conference, and we will call on the chairman or secretary of this committee to present it. This memorial was presented by W. A. Colcord for the committee, and was adopted. (It will be printed after presentation.) The officers of the Conference were asked to name the deputation to present the memorial to the President.