p. 25 | Review and Herald, Vol. 80, No. 14. (4/7/1903)

General Conference Proceedings

By A. G. Daniells; H. E. Osborne

Second Meeting

Monday, March 30, 9:30 A. M.

A. G. Daniells in the chair.

Hymn 684 was sung, after which H. W. Cottrell offered prayer.

Then followed the roll-call of the delegates. The following is a complete list of the delegates present at the opening session of the conference, a number having been temporarily detained who will arrive later:—

Complete List of Delegates Present

Atlantic Union Conference—H. W. Cottrell, P. F. Bicknell, J. W. Watt, A. E. Place, Geo. B. Thompson, R. A. Underwood, J. E. Jayne, O. O. Farnsworth, S. M. Cobb, S. N. Curtiss.

Canadian Union Conference—W. H. Thurston, J. W. Collie, G. E. Langdon.

Southern Union Conference—Smith Sharp, R. M. Kilgore, W. J. Stone, C. P. Bollman, O. C. Godsmark, A. F. Harrison, W. L. McNeely, S. B. Horton.

Lake Union Conference—W. H. Edwards, E. K. Slade, H. A. Washburn, R. T. Dowsett, C. H. Bliss, S. H. Lane, R. R. Kennedy, J. D. Gowell, M. B. Miller, Wm. Covert, H. H. Burkholder, C. J. Herrmann, S. E. Wight, P. T. Magan, W. C. Hebner, Allen Moon, S. M. Butler, A. G. Haughey, N. P. Neilsen, D. E. Lindsey, I. J. Hankins, A. R. Sandborn.

Northern Union Conference—N. W. Allee, C. W. Flaiz, C. M. Everest, C. A. Burman, John Walker, Fred Johnson, F. A. Detamore.

Central Union Conference—E. T. Russell, N. P. Nelson, J. M. Rees, C. A. Beeson, G. F. Watson, L. F. Starr, L. A. Hoopes, J. J. Graf, C. McReynolds, Watson Ziegler, E. G. Olson, Lewis Johnson, J. H. Wheeler, R. C. Porter, I. A. Crane, G. W. Anglebarger, C. H. Parsons, J. H. Kraft.

Southwestern Union Conference—G. G. Rupert, T. W. Fields, M. H. Gregory, W. A. McCutchen, A. E. Field, C. N. Woodward, G. F. Haffner.

Pacific Union Conference—W. B. White, J. L. Wilson, W. R. Simmons, H. G. Thurston, C. Santee, W. A. Alway, H. H. Hall, A. J. Breed, S. W. Nellis, M. E. Cady, A. S. Kellogg, W. M. Healey, M. C. Wilcox, W. F. Martin, F. M. Burg, J. S. Osborne, D. T. Fero, E. W. Webster, C. H. Jones.

Australasian Union Conference—G. A. Irwin, W. D. Salisbury, A. T. Robinson, E. H. Gates, Miss Edith M. Graham, M. G. Kellogg.

European General Conference—L. R. Conradi.

British Union Conference—E. J. Waggoner, A. D. Gilbert.

Delegates at Large—A. G. Daniells, J. N. Loughborough, J. H. Kellogg, A. T. Jones, W. T. Knox, W. C. White, W. W. Prescott, W. A. Spicer, E. R. Palmer, H. E. Osborne, Mrs. L. Flora Plummer, David Paulson, S. P. S. Edwards, E. A. Sutherland, G. W. Caviness.

Total, 118.

The chairman of the General Conference Committee presented his report, as follows:—

The Chairman's Address

It is right that we should, at the opening of this conference, acknowledge the great love God has shown us since we last met in General Conference. He has been good, and merciful, and long-suffering. May his goodness lead to repentance

and to greater devotion to him.

While we have gladly welcomed new recruits to the ranks of our workers, we have been made exceedingly sad to have some of our comrades fall at their posts of duty. During the two years that have so quickly passed since we were last assembled in General Conference, fifteen ordained ministers, besides six missionaries in the field, and a few who had returned, have been taken from us. Of this number it may be proper to mention Elders H. P. Holser, F. L. Mead, Dan. T. Jones, L. M. Crowther, H. D. Day, W. H. Falconer, C. Grin, O. S. Ferren, John F. Hansen, J. P. Henderson, F. J. Hutchins, H. M. Kenyon, Wm. Sanders, and G. W. Colcord. It has been but a few days since our esteemed and greatly beloved brother, Elder Uriah Smith, was suddenly removed from our ranks. May I venture to suggest that at some time during this session of the conference, suitable reference be made to this loss by some of Brother Smith's fellow workers?

Besides the ministers named, some faithful missionaries have fallen. Among them are Dr. John Eccles, in Central America; Brother A. M. Fischer, in Porto Rico; Mrs. J. E. Caldwell, in New Zealand; Mrs. D. C. Babcock, in British Guiana; Donna Humphrey, in India; and Mrs. E. E. Palmer, in America. Of these dear fellow workers it is written: “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord, . . . that they may rest from their labors, and their works do follow them.”

Reorganization

In reviewing the work of the last two years, only brief mention can here be made of the most important features that have received attention. Others in charge of organizations and departments will report more fully later. Two years ago a very definite message came to this people to make important changes in their administrative arrangements. We were instructed to so arrange our conference organizations as to distribute the responsibilities of this great cause to all to whom they rightly belong. The first step taken was to increase the number of members of the General Conference Committee from thirteen to twenty-five. Care was taken to place on the committee, ministers, physicians, teachers, printers, and business men. The reasons for this are plain,—that the affairs of the conference might be dealt with by many minds, and that all of the most important phases of our great work might be definitely represented in the committee. The ultimate point to be gained is that every department of the cause shall receive the fairest and most efficient administration possible.

Another important feature of the plan of reorganization has been to organize union conferences and local mission boards in all parts of the field. During the last two years twelve union conferences and three union mission fields have been formed. Largely as a result of these changes, some twenty local conferences and several local mission boards have been organized. Seven union conferences have been organized in the United States, one in Canada, three in Europe and one in Africa. Two union mission fields have been organized in Europe, and one in South America.

The plan of organization is precisely the same from the local church up to the General Conference. In every case it provides that the work of God shall be placed in the hands of those to whom it belongs. It distributes responsibilities so that the details of the work in all parts of the world are to be dealt with by men who are on the ground where these details are to be worked out. In short, the plan recognizes one message, one body of people, and one general organization.

Everywhere throughout the field our people have responded most heartily to this move, and the changes effected have been greater and much more rapid than any of us foresaw two years ago.

In addition to the efforts to organize the work more completely in all parts of the field, with the view of placing the management of the work more fully in the hands of all the people, we have endeavored to simplify the machinery as much as possible. What seemed to be unnecessary wheels have been removed. Separate organizations, such as the International Tract Society, Religious Liberty Association, and Sabbath-school Association, have been dropped, with the view of making them departments of the one organization,—the conference.

It would be too much to expect all these changes to be made in the short space of a year or so, without causing some confusion and apparent loss. But the next two years will reveal more clearly and definitely the advantages of these changes.

No one will presume to claim that the work done has been perfect. But many can testify that the blessing of God has attended the efforts that have been made to distribute responsibilities, and thus transfer the care, perplexity, and management that once centered in Battle Creek to all parts of the world, where they belong. Scores of men are now getting the experience of burden bearing that was previously confined to comparatively few.

This work has not been destructive and disintegrating. A careful study of the plan of reorganization, as worked out, will show that it does not attack or set aside any of the vital features of organization adopted by the pioneers in this message. It is a consistent and harmonious adjustment of these features to meet the necessities of a growing cause.

Rolling Away Debts

Another phase of reform to which this people were called was to arise and roll away the reproach of debt that rested so heavily upon them. And we were faithfully warned not to repeat the mistakes of the past in making debts. After all that our brethren had done for a number of years to free this cause from crushing debts, they were very heavy two years ago, and they are still a serious evil to be reckoned with. A little more than two years ago we had $66,000 to raise on the debts of the Christiania publishing house. All but $6,600 of this amount has been raised in cash. The last payment is to be made next July. The money is all provided, and is in the hands of the European Committee.

But after paying this $66,000 to the banks and business houses of Christiania, there are still two mortgages on the building, covering its entire value. So we have nothing but the honor of being honest in return for this great sum. How much $66,000 would have helped the cause in mission fields, if it could have been used for fresh work instead of being used to pay debts, for which we have not a dollar's worth of property in return! But during the two years our people have given of their hard-earned means, loyally, liberally, and patiently, because they have understood from the Testimonies, articles in the REVIEW, and the general talk of the preachers, that we were from now on to roll away this “heaven-dishonoring” reproach, and to hereafter shun debt as we should “shun the leprosy.”

Two years ago our schools were groaning under a debt aggregating about $350,000. During this time our people have donated $52,000 in cash for the material for “Christ's Object Lessons,” our printing houses have donated about $30,000 in labor, Sister White has donated $15,000 in royalty, and the conferences and people have donated not less than $218,000 in expenses and time in selling the book. Here is a total contribution of about $263,000 to be applied on our school debts. As nearly as we can tell, about $200,000 has been paid on these debts. There are books enough unsold to pay off $100,000 more, with but little expense in addition to what has been already made.

Two years ago our General Conference Association was owing $288,000. Nearly every dollar of this liability was on notes given for borrowed money. It had only $100,000 worth of property that could possibly be turned into money. The trustees have worked hard to place the finances on a sound basis. Eighty-three thousand dollars of the debts have been cut off, and $100,000 of good, valuable assets, in the shape of good notes and accounts, have been added. This has improved the financial condition of the association $183,000. The total liabilities Dec. 31, 1902, were $205,408.95; the assets were $197,974.11, leaving a deficit of $7,434.84. No man nor committee could have effected this change, had it not been that God mercifully moved upon the hearts of his people to help us in this hour of need and effort. A more detailed statement will be presented by the chairman.

Two years ago the General Conference was $41,589 overdrawn on its account. We have not made any special effort to pay off this debt. We have had so many items of finance to handle that it seemed impossible to give this debt any attention. It has taken very strenuous efforts to keep from increasing it. But we are glad to be able to report that it has been reduced $7,500. I had not dared to hope for this until within a few days.

Facing Squarely About

Perhaps I ought to say, in referring to these items, that I wish it distinctly understood that there is not the slightest desire to cast any reflection upon any man living with reference to the responsibility for any of these obligations. None of us can stand up and throw stones. My only object in calling attention to them is to place before you what is to me a glorious fact, and that is that we have faced about. I do not pose as one who has never made a debt; but I do claim that, since the last General Conference, my eyes have been opened to the evil of this thing, and that I have changed my policy altogether and absolutely, and not only I, but many of the members of the General Conference Committee, and many of our ministers, and many of our people who twenty years ago were in a large measure thoughtless about the evil of creating debts, have been aroused to the thing, and have changed their policy.

In referring to this, we make no reflections upon any one. If we were to do so, we would have to strike straight home, many of us, if not all; therefore let it be understood that no hand is raised in condemnation against any man; but let it be understood, brethren, that our hand is raised against this evil thing, and that it is brought to an end; that the era of debt-making is past, with us as a people; that hereafter we will let God work through us to pay his own bills as he goes along.

In addition to the work and sacrifice of our people in unloading these debts, they have done nobly in supporting new, progressive missionary enterprises. During the two years they have given to missions $271,000, including what was sent to Christiania. This is by far the largest amount ever contributed by this denomination in the same period. The largest yearly offering before 1901 was $110,000. In 1901 our people gave to missions $127,000, and in 1902, $144,000.

Our people have certainly responded nobly to the call to roll away the reproach of debt. But they have done it with the full understanding from all of the leaders that we would not create new debts for them to pay. We have tried to be true to the instruction God has given us, to our promises to the people, and to the loyal, self-sacrificing people themselves. Under all the circumstances, it would have been a cruel breach of trust for us to have created new debts and bound them upon their backs while they were working so hard to wipe out those that had previously been made. Neither the General Conference, the General Conference Association, nor the Mission Board has, during the two years, created a single debt. They have all done a cash business, and have helped to reduce the debts of the denomination $250,000, and improved the financial condition of the General Conference Association $100,000 above that.

The vigorous efforts it has been necessary to make to meet the obligations of the Christiania publishing house, and to wipe out the debts on our educational institutions, together with the Testimonies, and the addresses and articles of preachers, have aroused a general sentiment throughout the denomination against the debt-making policy. There is a general feeling throughout the denomination against the debt-making policy. There is a general feeling that a decided change of financial administration should be made, and that the General Conference should adopt a definite, clean-cut policy for the guidance of committees and boards in charge of the affairs of the cause. During the past year the General Conference Committee expressed its position by the following resolutions:—

“Whereas, The work of carrying on the third angel’s message is rapidly enlarging and extending into new fields; and,—

“Whereas, Unless careful management be given to the operations in extending the message, large debts will be contracted; therefore,—

“1. We recommend, That all evangelical and missionary enterprises carried on in the name of the denomination, or under the denomination’s support, be conducted on a strictly cash basis.

“Whereas, Most of our corporations and institutions are carrying large liabilities; therefore,—

“2. We recommend, That said corporations and institutions be requested to give special attention to the rapid liquidation of their obligations.

“3. We further recommend,—

“(a) That the General Conference or Mission Board from this day shall not be held financially responsible for any obligations which they have not assumed by their own action.

“(b) That the foregoing be the general policy of the union and State conferences and other organizations and institutions of the denomination.

“(c) That all parties undertaking local enterprises, such as institutions, church buildings, and other undertakings in this country, secure their means in their respective local territories, and not by general call for means, unless previously arranged.”

These recommendations were passed by the General Conference Committee at its sitting last November, and it appears to me that the time has come for the General Conference in session to make a clear announcement regarding its financial policy.

You will recognize that a great deal more might be said regarding the various features of our work during the past two years, but, so far as the General Conference is concerned, I have felt that I must be as brief as possible, and refer only to general features.

The past two years have been very interesting for the Mission Board. We have had many perplexing questions to deal with; but we have enjoyed many rich blessings in our efforts to rightly and broadly deal with these great, world-wide mission problems.

As you know, two years ago it was clearly understood that the field of the Mission Board hereafter would include what we call the home as well as the foreign field; that the Mission Board would, as far as consistent and possible, foster the work in needy parts of the United States of North America, as well as the needy fields across the sea. We have seen that we could very easily take on financial burdens in this country large enough to swallow up all our means, and have nothing left to send abroad.

Of course, we have seen, too, that it would be very easy to keep up a sentiment that would take too large a share of the gifts the people were able to make out of the country into other lands. We all know that neither extreme should be allowed to prevail. There are places, there are enterprises, in the United States that must have assistance. They are not able to do the work that ought to be done by them without assistance. So we must secure help from some source, and I believe that it devolves upon the Mission Board to inquire carefully into these enterprises, and then, as far as in their judgment they can do so, render assistance from the general funds.

This is true regarding the populous parts of the United States, where not so much has been done, and where means are not so plentiful as in some other places. On the Atlantic coast there are larger cities, a poorer people, fewer laborers, and weaker conferences than in the Central States.

The Southern field, that we have heard so much about, is in a condition of things that calls for assistance from our more favored conferences in the North. I am satisfied that we have not done all for the Southern field that should have been done, and all that we can do. I do not refer alone in this statement to money. From the study I have given the field, I am satisfied that the Southern field needs more than money. It has received a good deal of money during the last few years. Our books show that during the last eight years over $300,000 has been applied to the work in what is now the Southern Union Conference. During the last four years, $183,000, that we can trace in our accounts, has been used in the work there.

I do not believe that the solution of the difficulty in the Southern field lies in pouring more money into that field. I do not say that we should not continue to send money there, and send more, perhaps, than we have; but that is not the real solution of the problem. The Southern field wants something more than money. It wants the intelligent, thoughtful, and studious co-operation of our people in the North. The Southern field wants more contact with our men in the North. The Southern field wants more of our bright, earnest, and cultured young men and women from our schools to connect with their work; and I believe that, at the close of this conference, arrangements should be made by the General Conference Committee, or the Mission Board, or whoever has charge of it, to come into closer touch with the men in the Southern field, who are struggling with the difficulties of that difficult piece of territory, and unite more intelligently for co-operation; and let there be an interchange of men more freely than there has been, at least during the last two years.

During this time our camp-meetings in the North have been visited by our General Conference and Mission Board men; but I do not know that any of them have attended a camp-meeting in

the Southern field.

That is just one point to illustrate what I mean by bringing our men in the North and our men in the South into closer touch. Let those who are in the North, and who have the heavy responsibilities in administration, go South, and join the brethren in facing the situation exactly as it is. Let them study the field, and let them together unite on plans, and then all go to work to carry them out together.

I say again that the problem of rightly relating the Mission Board to the home fields is a difficult one, but I believe it can be mastered, if the Board shall take a little more time to study it, and thus the right relationship can be established between the Board and these various fields in America that will need the fostering care of the Board.

As you know, we have made some effort during the past two years to become more intelligent regarding some of the fields abroad. A delegation of brethren attended the European General Conference held in London about a year ago. These brethren visited different parts of Europe. They attended general meetings in Great Britain, Scandinavia, Germany, and Switzerland. They visited France and Italy, and some of them visited Austria. They spent about three months in that country, visiting those fields, associating with the brethren, and studying with them the problems they were dealing with. We attended the camp-meetings and the annual conferences, and joined the brethren in their business proceedings. We sat down with them, and studied their finances, the needs of their great, populous countries, and their poverty, and united with them in working out something like a definite policy for the coming year.

We greatly enjoyed this work. We became so much better acquainted with the details of the fields that we are much better prepared to co-operate with our brethren than we were before this visit. And the result of this visit has been quite an awakening on the part of our people regarding those fields. A real interest has sprung up all over this country, and the Mission Board has received many new offers from workers to go to those fields. Some conferences have sent in the names of quite a large number of their ministers and laborers, who are glad to have their names placed on the list as volunteers to go to foreign fields.

Workers Sent Forth

During the two years the Board has sent out 183 persons from this country to other lands. Not all of these were absolutely new workers, who had not been in the field before, but I think a large majority of them are. Of course, what has been done is but a small beginning of what must be done as we take hold of this work to finish it in this generation.

Another thing: The conferences have come forward during the last six months in a very hearty and encouraging way to support the Mission Board in carrying forward its work. Michigan, Iowa, Nebraska, and Kansas responded nobly to the first appeals after the return of the European delegation. When we came to the Fresno, California, camp-meeting, we found that a strong tide had already set in toward the mission field, and before the camp-meeting closed, a large number of workers had volunteered to go abroad, their offers had been accepted, and the California Conference had taken its stand to send them and support them in the fields.

I think the total amount of this appropriation and this gift to the fields outside of California is twenty-three or twenty-four workers, and something like $23,000 a year, which, with the $5,000 in cash given, and a percentage besides, makes about $36,000 for the coming year.

Now I feel free to say here that this step has thrilled this denomination from one end of this land to the other. It has started a new line of thought; it has placed before us new plans and methods; it has opened to us new ideas with reference to the support of our mission work. Before this conference closes, I think we ought to take up the question of the basis of support of our ministers who go into mission fields.

The General Conference Committee, at its sitting in November, passed these recommendations:—

“Whereas, The one great work of this people is to carry the third angel’s message in this generation to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people; and,—

“Whereas, About four fifths of the laborers, and the means with which to support them, are now gathered in the United States, where there is only about one twentieth of the world's population; therefore,—

“1. We recommend, That a systematic and thorough campaign be entered upon and kept up to turn the attention of conference committees, ministers, and people to the needs of the fields outside of their respective conferences and outside of the United States; and that all conference resources of ministers and money be held open by the conference management to the needs and calls of the regions beyond, the same as within the bounds of local conferences.

“2. We recommend, That conferences urge their laborers to move out into needy fields, especially into fields outside of the United States, and pledge to support them there, as their own laborers, until they have raised up a sufficient constituency to give them their support.

“3. We recommend, That, in all cases where laborers are sent into another field, as above suggested, they work under the direction of the conference into whose fields they are sent; that the committee under whose direction they labor audit their accounts; and that all appropriations for their support be sent to the treasury of the Mission Board.

“4. We recommend, That the General, Union, and State Conferences give their internal workings and the expenses of administration careful study, to the end that all unnecessary expenses be eliminated, and the work put upon a sound basis.

“5. We recommend, That we encourage the States that are able to do so, to set aside a definite per cent of the regular tithe as an appropriation to the general work of the Mission Board.

“6. We recommend, That this forward movement in behalf of missions be placed clearly before our people, and that their responsibility to pay a full tithe into the Lord's treasury be emphasized.

“7. We recommend, That, in addition to this devotion of conference resources to destitute fields, we urge all our laborers and people to agitate the matter of the regular weekly offerings to missions, known as the ten-cent-a-week plan, by which a large treasure may easily be turned to the evangelization of the world.”

These resolutions can be brought before the conference at the proper time.

I sincerely trust that, while we are together, we shall be able to give our time and our attention to the study of these world-wide mission problems that are pressing upon us so heavily, and with which it appears to me the General Conference should deal.

The Chair: What is your pleasure with reference to further business?

Special Committee on Institutions

C. H. Parsons: If there is no other business for the moment, I have a motion I would like to introduce at this time. It is this:—

That Elder A. G. Daniells, chairman of the General Conference Committee, be, and is hereby, instructed to appoint a committee of five to examine into the financial standing of all our various institutions, and to investigate their relationship to the Seventh-day Adventist denomination, and to devise and recommend some plan to this conference whereby all institutions, as far as possible under existing corporation laws, be placed under the direct ownership, control, and management of our people.

I take the opportunity of introducing this resolution thus early in the conference, owing to the fact that, to my mind, this is one of the problems that the common people of this denomination are wanting solved to-day, and it seems to me that a large amount of time will be needed by the committee in which to study and consider this matter.

Watson Ziegler: I second the motion.

The Chair: You have heard this motion. What is your pleasure regarding it?

It was moved and seconded that this motion be referred to the Committee on Plans and Resolutions, in order that the recommendation might come through the regular channel.

E. R. Palmer suggested that since a large body of men had been chosen for the purpose of appointing standing committees, it would be best for the Committee of Counsel to appoint the committee called for in this resolution, rather than for the chairman to appoint it. To this amendment of the resolution the mover of the motion assented, whereupon the motion to refer was withdrawn, and the resolution, as amended, was carried unanimously.

Upon motion of R. A. Underwood, the conference adjourned to 3 P. M., even date.

A. G. DANIELLS, Chairman.

H. E. OSBORNE, Secretary.

Ye thirsty, from the smitten Rock
Life's crystal waters spring;
There hide from every stormy shock,
And rest, and drink, and sing! — Ye thirsty, from the smitten Rock Life's crystal waters spring; There hide from every stormy shock, And rest, and drink, and sing!