Earlier text: Thirty-First MeetingI. H. EVANS in the chair. Geo. I. Butler offered prayer. I. H. Evans: The secretary will introduce business. The report on distribution of labor was considered (page 583 of this paper). Nos. 1 to 14 were read and question called. W. A. Spicer (on number 14): Brother Finster, of the Philippines, informs me that Brother Nutter, on further consideration, hardly wishes to give answer at once, on account of parents’ health or condition, I believe, so I suggest that this name be withdrawn, by common consent. Question was called on numbers 15 to 22. W. B. White: Number 22 hardly reads as it was passed by the committee. It was that E. Rosenwold, of the Greater New York Conference, go to northern Sweden as soon as his place could be supplied in Greater New York. It was agreed that this should be the understanding, and that transfers in any case should not be made abruptly without arrangement. I. H. Evans: Any further remarks? C. W. Flaiz: Number 2, Carl Neumann and wife, of Walla Walla, to Brazil. Since this recommendation was passed in, an action was taken asking the head of the German department in Walla Walla College to take work in the Oklahoma Conference. This will greatly cripple our school. I understand that there has been some consultation with reference to securing another person to take the place here suggested, and I would like to move that this name be referred back to the committee for further consideration. I. H. Evans: Number 2 is referred. Question was called on each further item of the report.586 Wm. Steele: Number 38, R. C. Raft, to Porto Rico, should be G. B. Raff. I. H. Evans: Are we now ready to vote? All in favor of adopting the committee’s report as here amended say, “Aye.” [Adopted.] W. A. Spicer: May I explain, in behalf of the Mission Board, that it is understood in passing upon all these foreign appointees that all actions are subject to medical counsel before going on to the fields. The report of the committee on plans (page 292) was considered. Question was called on resolution 42. G. M. Brown: I wish to call your attention to one feature. I believe there is a difference in the work of a Sabbath-school in an old, established field and newer territory, where believers are few. My experience has been that in the first year of a company’s existence frequent changes in the Sabbath-school are more necessary than in the later years of its experience. I know some mission fields would consider it a hardship if they were obliged to choose a Sabbath-school superintendent for one year. Often we cannot even elect a man as an elder because we have none of sufficient experience. Therefore I am in favor of leaving the term at six months. Remarks to the point in question were also made by C. W. Flaiz, I. H. Evans, J. E. Fulton, A. W. Anderson, G. B. Thompson, J. W. Westphal, W. F. Martin, and B. F. Kneeland. We regret that we cannot give the discussion in full. The Conference voted to eliminate the resolution (43) from the report. Resolution 44 was read, and question called. H. H. Hall: A word of explanation may be in place as to what we mean by home workers’ books. The term has come to be applied to some subscription books, like “Steps to Christ,” “Glorious Appearing,” and that class. For some years efforts have been made to encourage our people in the home churches to organize for the circulation of this class of books, leaving to the regular canvasser the larger subscription books. This plan has not met with great success until two years ago, when a prospectus was formed in which, with loose-leaf arrangement, we have inserted the covers of each of this class of books, together with sixteen sample pages. These now include the foreign books as well as the English. In all there are sixteen of these small books incorporated in this prospectus. The results were immediate. In one of our union conferences, the North Pacific, seven thousand dollars’ worth of this class of literature was sold last year. In the Southern California Conference, one thousand dollars’ worth was sold by thirty of these home workers. This work has become rooted, and is going to stay. We are glad that such an idea as this can now be presented to you, and we believe that a great army of these home workers may be developed as the result of our people uniting in this organized work, to carry this message in this generation. Resolutions 46 and 47 were read, and the question called. Action was then taken on the whole report, the same being adopted, save for the number (43) eliminated. I. H. Evans: We will now ask for the report of the committee on distribution of labor. The committee on distribution of labor recommend the following transfers of laborers:— 42. J. Van de Groep and wife, of South Australia, to the Malaysian Mission; for work in Java.
43. E. R. Johnson, of South Dakota, to Mexico.
44. H. E. Meyer and wife, of Kansas, to Mexico; Brother Meyer to take charge of the printing work.
45. Miss Irma Lewis, of California, to Mexico.
46. P. A. Webber and wife, of Iowa, to Japan.
47. Fred Hutchinson and wife, of Tennessee, to the South Caribbean Conference; for office and school work.
48. Roy E. Hay and wife, of Colorado, to the Philippine Islands.
49. Walter Flaiz and wife, of Walla Walla College, to the Malaysian Mission; to engage in educational work.
50. V. O. Punches and wife, of West Pennsylvania, to Japan.
51. J. Wibbens and wife, of Holland, to the Malaysian Mission; for work in Sumatra.
52. G. O. Reed, of the Swedish Seminary, to China.
53. Miss Wilma L. Landis, of California, to China.
54. James E. Shultz and wife, of Mount Vernon College, to China.
55. John Z. Hottel, of Mount Vernon College, to China.
56. Alfonso Anderson, of Union College, to Japan.
57. Miss Matie O. Landis, of California, to Japan.
58. B. H. Shaw, of West Kansas, to China. FOREIGN SEMINARY APPOINTEES
The following persons, now students in the Foreign Mission Seminary, are requested to respond to calls as follows:— 59. F. E. Stratton and wife, of Minnesota, to China.
60. A. L. Ham and wife, of Western Washington, to China.
61. O. J. Grundset, of Minnesota, to Manchuria.
62. Miss Anna Sorenson, of the Danish-Norwegian Seminary, to Manchuria.
63. H. J. Doolittle and wife, of West Pennsylvania, to China.
64. Bernhard Peterson, of Nebraska, to Manchuria.
65. Miss Bertha Erickson, of Northern Illinois, to Manchuria.
66. M. C. Warren, of Pacific Union College, to China.
67. Miss Lulu Darnell, of Texas, to the South American Union Conference; for Patagonia and the Falkland Islands.
68. J. A. Bodie and wife, of Bolivia, to Guatemala; for work in the Guatemala English school.
69. Henry Brown, of Southern California, to Cuba.
70. W. E. Johnston, to the East Caribbean Mission; for the book work.
71. A. L. Sheidler and wife, of South Dakota, to Venezuela; to engage in the book work. All other transfers of laborers are referred to the General Conference Committee. In considering one item of the report, remarks were made, as follows:— E. C. Kellogg (president of Walla Walla College): I would like to have the name of Professor Flaiz, of Walla Walla College, considered further by the committee before it is acted upon. I would suggest that it be referred back. C. W. Flaiz being present, he was called upon to explain concerning this recommendation. C. W. Flaiz: He has been employed for the coming year in one of the departments in Walla Walla. However, there has been an action on record many years in the North Pacific Union that we would release to the foreign fields any worker that might be called for, and I suppose this would obtain in this particular case. That is why I was unable to offer any objection. I. H. Evans: This is Elder Flaiz’s son. Elder Detamore is superintendent of the Malaysian Mission, and is in desperate need of help to conduct a school for workers in Singapore. Brother Flaiz is a student; he has already mastered several languages, and it is believed that he could easily pick up that Malay language and conduct a good training-school. The question was called on this final report, the same being adopted. I. H. Evans: Is there any other committee prepared to report? The committee on plans? Whereas, The rapid progress of the advent message to all parts of the world is making very heavy demands upon us for well-qualified recruits for the foreign fields; and,—
Whereas, The executive committee of the General Conference, realizing the great necessity of special training for prospective missionaries, has set in operation the plan of placing volunteers for the mission field under provisional appointment and giving them a special training for their work in the Foreign Mission Seminary; and,—
Whereas, The wisdom of this plan has already been demonstrated; therefore,— 48. Resolved, That we approve of the plan now in operation, and suggest mutual counsel and the heartiest of coöperation between the General Conference Committee and all our conference and school officers in selecting and training suitable missionaries for the foreign work; and, further,—
49. Resolved, That our mission superintendents, or others calling for workers in the regions beyond, endeavor as far as possible to anticipate their needs, and to make their regular calls in advance, and the General Conference Committee plan to have candidates for mission fields in training, so that these demands upon it may be properly met. Whereas, Experience has demonstrated in the publishing, the Sabbath-school, and the Missionary Volunteer work, as well as in some of our fields, that regular statistical reports can serve as a great help in creating a deeper interest in the cause of God; and,—
Whereas, Most of our fields already have regularly recognized official organs through which they have access to their constituents at least once a quarter; and,—
Whereas, The data for the annual reports of the statistical secretary of the General Conference could be much more easily obtained were there to be established11 a systematic method of conference reporting; we, therefore,— 50. Recommend, That the General Conference Committee be asked to prepare a report blank which might serve as a basis for reporting from each local, union, and division field the number of workers, churches, companies, isolated believers, total membership, and accessions thereto, with the church receipts in tithe and missionary offerings, and whatever departmental statistics may be thought desirable, such statistics to appear quarterly in the regular local, union, or division official organs; and that the annual summary be given in the yearly reports issued by the statistical secretary of the General Conference. The committee appointed at the fall council of the General Conference Committee to give study to the general question of our schools and advanced colleges, as to the number that should be maintained and what schools should be reduced in their grades, made its report to a joint meeting of the General Conference Committee, North American Division Committee, and various standing committees of the General Conference, and, as a result of this counsel, have the following to present:— 51. We recommend, That the Pacific Union College, Union College, and Emmanuel Missionary College conduct full college work; that the schools at Walla Walla, South Lancaster, Keene, and Graysville be recognized as training-schools doing fourteenth-grade work; that the Foreign Mission Seminary be recognized as a special training-school for the training of foreign missionaries, ministers, medical missionary nurses, and other workers; that it carry regular academic and college work of the grades 11-14, with the privilege of adding the fifteenth and sixteenth grades when the development of its work seems to warrant it, and when that is agreed upon by the executive committees of the General and North American Division Conferences; that the school at Mount Vernon carry only twelve grades. 52. We recommend, That the General Conference Executive Committee give earnest attention to carrying forward the relief work for our institutions by the sale of “Ministry of Healing” and “Christ’s Object Lessons.” Whereas, The Harvest Ingathering campaigns, conducted in the interests of our missions during the closing months of each of the past four years, have been very successful, resulting,—
(a) In the circulation each year of more than five hundred thousand copies of message-filled periodicals.
(b) In organizing many thousands of our young people into an army of house-to-house missionary workers.
(c) In paying all its campaign expenses.
(d) In raising from $30,000 to $40,000 a year for missions, thus substantially assisting in strengthening our general mission funds; therefore,— 53. Resolved, That the Ingathering campaign be thoroughly organized, and all our people, as far as possible, be enlisted in this good work. 54. We recommend, That the General Conference Committee take into consideration the advisability of granting to loyal, soul-winning physicians and teachers engaged in the work of the denomination , medical missionary licenses and credentials and teachers’ licenses and credentials. In view of the need of a more satisfactory adjustment of the relations between the organized work in various lines and work not under conference direction,— 55. We recommend, That the General Conference Executive Committee and the North American Division Executive Committee, in joint session, give careful study to this question, and take such action as will provide for the better development of all lines of work. The Conference took a recess for a short time to allow the North American Division to transact business. On resuming, field reports were called for. The time was given to Elder H. C. Goodrich of the West Caribbean Conference, E. C. Boger of the British Guiana Mission, G. M. Brown of Cuba, D. E. Wellman from the Jamaica Conference. W. C. John gave a report of the educational work in South America, and G. W. Casebeer told of the work of the Pua Training-school in Chile, South America. W. J. Fitzgerald offered prayer. An invitation from the Chicago Chamber of Commerce to hold the next session in Chicago was referred to the executive committee. Consideration of Resolutions
The recommendations reported on page 586. Question was called on numbers 48, 49, and 50 without discussion. Resolution 51, relating to the number of colleges, was read. B. G. Wilkinson: This is a very important recommendation. We have been studying this question for months. It seems to me we ought to take good time and deliberate over this very carefully. This recommendation is different from the one which the committee on adjustment of schools brought in. From the standpoint of the Columbia Union, it has a very serious bearing. Passed as it is, it will tie the hands of this division. Therefore, it seems to me the wisest thing will be to refer recommendation 51 to the Educational Department to work out this question in connection with the unions and the North American Division and the coming educational council. I would move that number 51 be referred to the Educational Department. [Seconded.] E. E. Andross: It does not seem to me we ought to refer it to the educational council, for they will have no power whatever to put it into operation. We ought to refer it to some body which has power to execute. H. R. Salisbury: As Brother Andross has said, it would be better to refer it to a body that has executive power. In our departmental convention next summer we would not have power within ourselves to effect this change. The heads of our colleges met and discussed this very fully, and we brought in a resolution among ourselves very much the same as this. I think there would be but little change in the resolution coming in from us next summer. The only change would be in determining whether this Foreign Mission Seminary would become a college. I do think we could hasten this, however, by referring it to a commission who could report to the North American Division Conference at its next meeting. Otherwise, it will postpone this for two and one-half years before anything is done. I would move as a substitute that this be referred to a commission appointed by the North American Division committee, to investigate more fully, taking counsel with the different unions, and report at the first meeting of the executive committee of the North American Division Conference. B. G. Wilkinson: I accept this as the motion. Recommendations 52 to 55 were read, and question called without discussion, the word “young” being eliminated from section “b” of number 52 by common consent. Action was taken on the whole, and the report adopted. The committee on plans made a further and final report, which was adopted, after amendment, as follows:— 56. We recommend,—
(a) That in union conferences in which there is located a union conference training-school, the local conference schools do not attempt to carry work above the tenth grade, any exception to the recommendation to be allowed only after obtaining permission from the executive committee of the union conference in which the school is located, together with the counsel of the North American Department of Education.
(b) That there be the fullest cooperation between the officers of the various State and union schools in the matter of encouraging our people to patronize the conference and the union educational institutions in their respective spheres of work, students below the eleventh grade being recommended to attend the academy or the intermediate school in the local conference.
(c) That these recommendations take effect not later than the beginning of the school year in 1914.
(d) That these recommendations do not apply to our foreign seminaries. Whereas, Much experience of value has been gained in the establishing and operating of our denominational schools during the past forty years, and it is in the interests of the work that this experience be utilized, we,— 57. Recommend. That, in harmony with the action of the General Conference Committee in its autumn council of 1912, any local conference or union conference contemplating the starting of a school or the raising or lowering of the grades of work being done in its schools, counsel with both the union conference committee and the North American Division Conference Educational Department, and be guided by the standardized plan of the denomination. Whereas, At present the benefits of the Sustentation Fund are not extended in general to colporteurs, teachers, and physicians therefore, we,— 58. Recommend. That the General Conference Committee and the North American Division Committee give this matter careful study, and consider12 advisability of increasing the Sustentation Fund, and of opening the way for these three classes to receive such benefit from it as may be necessary. 59. We recommend, That the General Conference Committee be authorized to reorganize the work in South America, and to provide for the organization of a South American Division Conference at such time and place as they may deem advisable. The following resolutions presented were referred to the North American Division Committee, as being a division conference matter:— We recommend, That the advisory committee of the North American Negro Department shall consist of the general secretary, the presidents of the Atlantic, Columbia, Central, Lake, Southern, Southeastern, and Southwestern Union Conferences, and the union evangelists of the Southeastern, Southern, and Southwestern Union Conferences, and two others, who shall be Negroes. We recommend, A uniform plan of organization in the Southeastern, Southern, and Southwestern Unions, and therefore submit the following:—
(a) That the executive board of each of the union missions be composed of a superintendent (president of the union), the secretary and treasurer (of the union), educational secretary (of the union), the local conference presidents, the union mission evangelists, and a Negro representative from each local conference.
(b) That the executive board of each local mission be composed of the conference president, and not less than two other persons, of whom one must be a Negro. In discussing the first of these resolutions, before referring them, remarks were made in explanation of them. [On motion to refer to the North American Division.] A. G. Daniells: It seems to me that in referring, there ought to be expressed a desire that the committee will formulate something to guide the secretary of the department.
I know that we need to give careful attention to making up the advisory board, or committee, of the Negro Department. I am favorable to referring it, but it does seem to me that it ought to go from this body in this way for friendly or for favorable consideration, and definite action, so that the advisory committee can be made as strong as possible for the benefit of the department. J. K. Humphrey: I appreciate the remarks of the last speaker. I do believe if the matter could come back again, and some definite action be taken, we could probably speak to it here more advantageously. The following resolutions were adopted:— Resolved, That we express our thanks and appreciation to the conferences that have freely loaned their tents for this meeting, and to the Southern California Conference for the use of the newly constructed large pavilion, and to the following conferences: Indiana, New York, Western New York, West Pennsylvania, Ohio, Southern Illinois, West Michigan, East Michigan, North Michigan, Chesapeake, and Northern New England, for the use of gospel and family tents. Resolved, That we extend to Brother E. G. Fulton and his staff of able assistants, the hearty thanks of this Conference for the faithful and efficient work done in the cafeteria, lunch room, and store; for his service of healthful, palatable food; the uniform courtesy on the part of the workers having been a great contribution to the material side and the success of this meeting. A. G. Daniells: Brother Chairman, I move the adoption of the recommendations. W. W. Prescott: May we include a third resolution expressing our appreciation of the space granted for reports in the four Washington papers? W. T. Knox: If there is no objection, this also will be included. Resolved, That we express the thanks of this Conference to the proprietors of the four Washington newspapers for their courtesy in giving so liberal space to reports of this Conference. A. G. Daniells: There is another item calling for thanks, and that is the service of our union and local conference presidents, who so kindly came to these grounds to do the work of preparation, and have cared for the camp so well during the Conference; and other workers also. W. T. Knox: Now I would like to suggest something also, and that is our reception committee, who have undergone a very nerve-racking work, and certainly have done it in a very acceptable manner. H. S. Shaw: I do not think the union and local conference presidents care to have you thank us for this. We are all very glad to be here. A. T. Robinson: I heard some one say that ten or a dozen missionaries had worked all the time, too. W. T. Knox: Yes, and they are going to stay and work some more. Shall we pass these recommendations one by one, or shall we cover them all with one vote? All in favor of these recommendations of appreciation, signify it by saying, “Aye.” Carried. A. G. Daniells: In a meeting of the General Conference Committee this morning two votes were taken that seem to have missed the committee on distribution of labor. It was voted there recommending that W. B. White take the presidency of the South African Union Conference, made vacant by the call of R. C. Porter to Asia. H. S. Shaw: The committee on distribution of labor has made its final report, and referred all further recommendations to the General Conference Committee. A. G. Daniells: I move that this Conference request W. B. White to take the presidency of the South African Union Conference, in response to the request of the South African delegation. L. R. Conradi: I second the motion. W. T. Knox: You have heard the motion and its second. Are you ready to vote? The question is called. All favoring this, say, Aye. It is carried. A. G. Daniells: Now there is another matter that has been developed during this Conference. The South African people ask for another man. We have not taken it up in committee, but it is settled as far as they can settle it, that O. K. Butler and wife make South Africa their field of labor. F. B. Armitage: It is the unanimous request of the South African delegation. A. G. Daniells: I move that the request of the South African brethren be granted, that we recommend O. K. Butler to make South Africa his field of labor. W. T. Knox: It has been moved and seconded that we recommend O. K. Butler to make South Africa his field of labor. Any further remarks? The question is called. All favoring say, Aye. It is carried. A. G. Daniells: The General Conference Committee this morning voted requesting A. J. Haysmer to take the presidency of the West Indian Union Conference, made vacant by the resignation of U. Bender. This is the request of the West Indian Union delegation here. I move that this be granted. [Carried.] Guy Dail: I have the following resolution to offer:—
Whereas, Our brother, Elder Isaac Sanborn, one of the pioneers in the proclamation of the advent message, was suddenly taken from us by death on Sabbath, May 24, 1913,—
Resolved, (1) That we hereby recognize his fervor in administration and timely counsel in the early days of this cause, and his faithful labors in raising up many churches; and,—
(2) That we extend our sincere sympathy to the members of the bereaved family, commending them to God, and the comfort of his grace, who has promised a crown of righteousness at his coming to all who love him; further,—
(3) That these resolutions be spread upon our records, and that a copy of them be furnished to the family of our deceased brother. J. L. Shaw: In behalf of the foreign delegates who have been entertained here at the Conference, who have been well housed and well provided with food, I move that the foreign delegates be allowed to express their appreciation of the way they have been entertained at this meeting by a rising vote. J. E. Fulton: I second the motion. The vote was unanimous by all foreign delegates present. W. T. Knox: I am sure that we have all been very much pleased to have had the opportunity of affording entertainment to you brethren coming in from the foreign lands. All the business before the Conference has been completed, as far as the chairman knows. What is your pleasure? J. N. Loughborough: While the third General Conference was in session in Battle Creek, there was a Methodist minister there attending our business meeting one day. At the close, he said to Elder White: “What in the world does this mean? I have just come from a Methodist meeting. They quarreled and fought and came near pulling one another’s hair. Your conference makes me think of the handle of a jug,—it’s all on one side. I do not understand it.”
“Well,” said Brother White, “we act as brethren, and we get ready to vote, and then we vote.” O, how this movement has grown! And, thank God, there has not a thing come up but what there has been a unanimous vote. W. T. Knox: Instead of moving to adjourn sine die, suppose we simply adjourn. There may something arise so that the chairman will desire to call us together this afternoon. A motion to adjourn will be in order. It was then moved and seconded to adjourn.