The nineteenth annual session of the Michigan Conference of S. D. Adventists was held in connection with the camp-meeting at Lyons, Sept. 25–30, 1879. The first meeting was held Sept. 26, at 9 A. M., the president, Eld. J. Fargo, in the chair. After singing, prayer was offered by Eld. G. W. Colcord.
Fifty-eight delegates, representing forty-six churches, took their seats in the Conference. By vote, Eld. E. R. Jones was received as a representative for Marshall, Sister Anna Mills for Genoa, and Sister L. E. Carey for Deerfield.
On motion, Eld. G. W. Colcord, and all brethren and sisters in good standing in the Conference, were invited to take part in the deliberations of the session.
By vote of the Conference, the Chair was empowered to appoint the different committees. They were announced as follows: Nominating committee, W. C. White, M. B. Miller, and E. R. Jones; ministerial committee, E. H. Root, E. B. Lane, and R. J. Lawrence; committee on resolutions, G. W. Colcord, D. H. Lamson, and A. B. Oyen; auditing committee, Alex. Carpenter, Francis Nelson, A. W. Maynard, E. S. Griggs, J. Rumery, J. F. Carman. Meeting adjourned to call of Chair.
SECOND MEETING. The second meeting was held Sept. 28, at 8:30 A. M. Prayer by Eld. James White.
Eight delegates, representing three additional churches, were received into the Conference, and Bro. Lewis was admitted as a delegate from Dimondale.
The following new churches were admitted into the Conference: Whitewater, Grand Traverse Co.; Rapid River, Antrim Co.; Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co.; Cedar Lake, Montcalm Co.; Seville, Gratiot Co.; Mt. Pleasant, Isabella Co.; Sidney, Montcalm Co.; Brookfield, Eaton Co. The unorganized companies of Sabbath-keepers at Sand Lake and Stanton were taken under the watchcare of the Conference.
According to the request of the Genoa church, its name was changed from Genoa to Howell.
The report of the previous meeting was then read and approved.
At this stage of the meeting, pointed remarks were made by Eld. James White in reference to the spiritual standing of our churches. He stated that only about one-third of the ministers belonging to the Conference are laboring in the State; hence the churches are in such a poor condition. Michigan should have more help. Young men should be encouraged to enter the work of the ministry.
Several requests for ministerial labor, from churches and unorganized companies, were, by vote, referred to the Conference committee.
The subject of dividing the Conference and distributing labor was next brought up, and after remarks by several, the chairman was empowered to appoint a committee to consider this matter, and report at this session. The committee was announced as follows: James White, W. C. White, E. H. Root, H. W. Kellogg, and J. S. Day.
The committee on resolutions then presented the following:—
Resolved, That we recommend to our brethren and sisters a careful reading of the articles in Review Vol. 54, Nos. 3 and 11, written by Sr. White and Bro. G. I. Butler, on the subject of attending our camp-meetings and other general gatherings; and we urge all to act in harmony with the instructions therein given, by attending the entire sessions of all such meetings.
Whereas, It is painfully manifest that many of our church-members have departed from the simplicity of the gospel in the matter of dress, therefore, Resolved, That we earnestly entreat all to strive to develop and cultivate the grace of humility, and that we hereby instruct our ministers and elders to frequently present this duty to our brethren, and to insist on a scriptural form of discipline.
Resolved, That we hail with joy the movement that has been inaugurated among us in reference to the subjects of health and temperance, and
Whereas, A State Health and Temperance Association has been organized in our Conference, therefore
Resolved, That we recommend that all our people sign the teetotal pledge, and so far as possible become full members of the association, and aid in the work of organizing local clubs, and of generally prosecuting this noble enterprise.
The first resolution was adopted both by the Conference and by a rising vote of the congregation; the second and third were unanimously adopted.
The meeting then adjourned to call of Chair.
THIRD MEETING. The third meeting convened Sept. 28, at 6 P. M. Prayer by Eld. G. W. Colcord.
One additional delegate was received. The minutes of the last meeting were read and accepted.
The report of the committee on credentials and licenses being called for, they presented the following:—
For credentials: James White, Mrs. E. G. White, J. H. Waggoner, John Byington, D. H. Lamson, R. J. Lawrence, I. D. Van Horn, E. B. Lane, A. O. Burrill, H. M. Kenyon, U. Smith, E. R. Jones, J. O. Corliss, O. Soule, M. B. Miller, E. Van Deusen, E. H. Root, James Sawyer, W. H. Littlejohn, J. Fargo.
For licenses: W. C. White, H. S. Guilford, Mrs. E. S. Lane, J. L. Edgar, G. K. Owen, Frank Starr, Geo. Gilbert, Isaac Morrison, Knud Bronson, A. B. Oyen, E. P. Daniels, L. A. Kellogg, Wm. Ostrander, B. F. Richards, Jacob Jacobson.
It was also recommended that D. A. Wellman and John Sisley receive ordination and credentials, and that the case of J. B. Frisbie be referred to the Conference committee.
All these names were voted upon separately, and the recommendations of the committee were adopted.
The committee on resolutions reported still further:—
Resolved, That we heartily approve of the action of our brethren in Battle Creek and the General Conference committee, in building the Dime Tabernacle; that we consider it necessary to the good of our institutions and of our youth and friends connected with them; and that we manifest our interest in it, as individual members of our several churches, by liberal donations to help pay the existing debt.
Resolved, That we heartily welcome to their home-Conference our dear Bro. and Sr. White; that we rejoice that we may again listen to their words of admonition, counsel, and encouragement; and that we hereby express our sincere gratitude to God for thus sparing them to us and the cause of the Lord.
These resolutions were unanimously adopted. The treasurer then presented the following statement of the financial standing of the Conference:—
H. W. Kellogg, treasurer, in acc’t with the Michigan Conference of S. D. Adventists.
Dr.
Oct. 1, 1878, to cash on hand, $10,555.04
To cash rec’d from the different churches from Oct. 15, 1878, to Sept. 25, 1879, $8,280.48
Total, $18,835.52
Cr.
By cash paid out from Oct. 1, 1878, to Sept. 24, 1879, $11,070.20
Cash on hand to balance, $7,765.32
On motion, the above report was accepted by the Conference.
Adjourned to call of Chair.
FOURTH MEETING. The fourth meeting was held at 9:30 A. M. Sept. 29. Prayer was offered by Eld. D. H. Lamson. In the absence of the secretary, Sr. Jennie Thayer acted as secretary pro tem. The report of the previous meeting was read and accepted. Eld. James White, acting as chairman of the committee appointed to consider the divisions of the Conference, submitted the following:—
REPORT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEE.
Your committee beg leave to make the following report:—
In view of the fact that the Michigan Conference occupies a large territory, and that its number of churches is too large for one officer to preside over alone, we recommend that the Conference be divided into three sections, with one president as chairman of an executive committee of five, the second, third, and fourth members of the committee to be ministers, each to take charge of a division under the general supervision of the president.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
JAMES WHITE,
H. W. KELLOGG,
J. S. DAY,
E. H. ROOT,
W. C. WHITE,
Committee.
It was moved and seconded to accept this report. A second reading was called for, when it was suggested that the constitution must be amended before this report could be adopted.
Art. 2, Sec. 1, of the constitution was then read as follows: “The officers of this Conference shall be a president, secretary, treasurer, and an executive committee of three, of whom the president shall be one; and they shall be elected annually.”
W. C. White then offered the following resolution:—
Resolved, That the constitution be so amended that Art. 2, Sec. 1, shall read, “an executive committee of four, of whom the president shall be one.”
After some remarks by Eld. White, explaining the seeming necessity of this division, the above resolution was adopted, and the report of this committee accepted.
The following resolution was then read:—
Resolved, That it is the duty of those members of the Conference committee who have special charge of the three sections of our Conference to take an active interest in the missionary, temperance, and Sabbath-school, as well as in the Conference, work, and that they should take special charge of, and be held responsible for, the prosperity of all these branches of the work in their sections, and that the president of the Conference take the general supervision of all branches of the work in the entire Conference.
After some discussion, this resolution was adopted.
W. C. White, chairman of the committee on nominations, then submitted the following:—
President, J. Fargo; secretary, A. B. Oyen; treasurer, H. W. Kellogg; executive committee, No. 2, E. R. Jones; No. 3, A. O. Burrill; No. 4, M. B. Miller; No. 5, S. Brownsberger.
On motion of M. B. Miller, these nominations were considered separately, and the nominees were unanimously elected.
The summary of church reports was then read and accepted. Reports from seventy churches show that there were nineteen hundred and twenty-eight members last year, and that there are twenty-five hundred and twenty-two members at the present time. Twenty churches have failed to report. Eight new churches have been added during the year, and two unorganized companies were taken under the watchcare of the Conference.
Eld. Fargo then stated that the church at Morley had made application to be received into the Conference. On motion of M. B. Miller, this church was received. This made the number of churches received during the year read nine instead of eight.
The Educational Relief Fund was next considered. W. C. White moved that the Conference endorse the following resolutions, which were presented at the Eaton Rapids camp-meeting:—
Whereas, The demands for efficient labor in the cause of God are very great, and
Whereas, The laborers already in the field are so few that scarcely half of the calls for help in the various departments of the missionary field can be met, therefore
Resolved, That this Conference recommend that a State Educational Relief Fund be raised, and managed as specified hereafter.
Resolved, That we recommend that this fund be made up by loans and donations; that the loans be made for three years in sums of not less than $10, without interest; that donations to this fund be made in sums of not less than one dollar; and that three trustees be elected by this Conference to take charge of this fund, to decide who are proper persons to receive aid from it, and to grant all such persons aid to the extent that seems best in the judgment of the committee.
Resolved, That at the first appointment one of these trustees be elected for a full term of three years, one for two years, and the third for one year, and at each annual meeting, ever after, there be one trustee elected to fill the regularly recurring vacancy.
Resolved, That one-third of the fund actually under the control of the trustees at any one time be kept in the treasury as a reserve to secure the payment of loans falling due.
Resolved, That the time for which any loan is made will begin when the money is actually paid into the treasury.
After some very interesting and pointed remarks by Bro. and Sr. White and others, these resolutions were adopted; and, on motion, Eld. Fargo appointed W. C. White, E. H. Root, and J. S. Day, a committee to nominate three persons who shall act as trustees for the Relief Fund provided for in the above resolutions. The names presented by the committee were as follows: S. H. King, one year; J. Fargo, two years; H. W. Kellogg, three years. These persons were, by vote, elected separately.
It was moved by W. C. White that the Chair appoint a committee of three to consult with the Conference Committee in regard to dividing the State. Eld. J. White, W. C. White, and G. H. Bell were appointed as such committee.
It was further moved, that those members of the Conference Committee who have charge of the three divisions be a committee to select and suggest persons who should receive help from the Educational Relief Fund, and also to solicit funds.
Several applications in regard to furnishing aid for repairing meeting-houses were referred to the Conference Committee.
A vote of thanks was tendered Mr. Roof, for the free use of the grounds on which the meeting was held.
The meeting then adjourned to call of Chair.
J. FARGO, Pres.
A. B. OYEN, Sec.
A LITTLE LONGER,
Yet a little longer labor,
Toil, for day is not yet done;
For the rest that you are longing,
You must wait till set of sun.
Yet a little longer labor,
Sow the seed in many a field;
Somewhere still a golden harvest,
Waits its ripening grain to yield.
Yet a little longer labor,
Stay with patience at the gate;
Angels will undo the portal
If you labor while you wait.
Yet a little longer labor;
You must take of grief your share;
Yet your Father will not give you
Greater than your strength can bear.
Yet a little longer labor
Through the mist of by-gone years,
For, the happy moments gathered,
All too short the time appears.
Yet a little longer labor;
Day by day and year by year,
Nearer, by our heart’s devotions,
Will the golden gates appear.
Nearer, by our prayers, the praises;
Nearer, by our songs, the sun;
If we falter while we say them,
Something will be left undone.
Yet a little—and the longest
Day of all our life is done;
The long journey is accomplished,
And Heaven’s glory is begun!
—Selected.
MICHIGAN
By Orlando Soule
Cedar Lake, Oct. 6.—I attended the quarterly meeting at Stanton. Some here celebrated the ordinances for the first time, and good resolutions were made. The Sabbath-school work is rising. Steps were taken to secure blank books, so that proper records may be kept. Some intend to be baptized at my next visit. My address is Cedar Lake, Mich., as I expect to labor here for a time.
ORLANDO SOULE.
IOWA
By James Sawyer
Dow City, Crawford Co., Oct. 7.—I have spent most of the time since my last report in this county, near Dow City. As the way opened, I presented the truth in private families and school-houses. Five have embraced the Bible Sabbath and its kindred truths. Four of these were Scandinavians and heads of families. A Sabbath-school has been organized with an average membership of eleven. The school was encouraged by meeting with other schools from Denison and Dunlap at the late quarterly meeting. I have sold about $5 worth of books, the most of which pertained to the Sabbath-school work, and obtained eleven subscribers for our periodicals.
I met with the Denison church in quarterly meeting. A health and temperance society was organized, embracing the counties of Crawford and Harrison. The next meeting of this society will be held at Dunlap the 18th inst. Two united with the church. The Spirit of God was present in a large measure at the close of the meeting, as parents earnestly pleaded with God for their children and friends. Several asked the prayers of the church.
JAMES SAWYER.
KANSAS
By L. D. Santee
Star Valley, Oct. 4.—We have commenced a series of meetings here which will probably continue till camp-meeting. The interest is good, though quite a number are adopting the stay-away policy. To-night I take up the Sabbath question. The prospect is good for a small church to be raised up in this place. There is one family of Sabbath-keepers here. They were brought out by reading. May the Lord add to the church such as shall be saved.
L. D. SANTEE.
Later.—The interest is deepening, and the prospects for good are increasing.
Notes of News.
—ABOUT 30,000 telephones are in use in this country.
—THE big fair of Brazil will open at Rio Janeiro, Jan. 1, 1880.
—DURING the late war the Russians built 1,447 miles of telegraph in Turkey.
—ST. PETERSBURG, Oct. 7.—The Golos reports China actively preparing for war with Japan.
—A LARGE majority of the claims for arrears of pensions, amounting to nearly $21,000,000, have been settled.
—AMERICAN watches, with the dials suited to the Arabic divisions of the hours of the day, are exported to Syria.
—IT is estimated that the yellow fever of 1878, cost the country 22,000 lives, and $200,000,000 of pecuniary loss in one form or another.
—IT is a curious illustration of the ups and downs of life that Napoleon III.'s “Life of Cæsar” now brings in Paris the price of waste paper.
—THE Interior Department has decided that no wife of a polygamist can be permitted to obtain title to 160 acres of public land under the Pre-emption or Homestead laws.
—IT is a significant fact that a recent advertisement for 25 skilled workmen brought only one application, while two others, one for a book-keeper and the other for a clerk, brought 347 and 130 respectively.
—THE destructive ravages of the rinderpest in southern Russia are disclosed by the figures in a dispatch from Odessa, showing that nearly 6,000 cattle have died of the malady since the beginning of the year.
—LONDON, Oct. 7.—A Berlin correspondent announces that if the Russian army is further increased, it is considered that proportionate increase of the German army will be absolutely and immediately necessary.
—THE Russian government proposes to sequestrate the property of the monasteries of the Greek Church, whose wealth is estimated at from $150,000,000 to $300,000,000, and whose annual revenues are estimated at $2,500,000. The monks will be allowed a suitable support.
—ON the morning of Oct. 10, a Michigan Central passenger train, while running at high speed to make up lost time, ran into a switch engine near Jackson, Mich. The scene that ensued was simply terrible. The latest accounts are that 19 were killed, and more than 50 were more or less injured.
—THERE is an imminent prospect of outbreaks in Ireland, where the tenants are unable to pay their rent, and are disposed to resist all measures to dispossess them. The whole question of land monopoly is assuming a fearful importance, and the Liberal party will make it a test question at the next election.
—THE settlers in southern Colorado are in great fear of the attitude of the Indians. Alarming dispatches are received by governor Pitkin, from various points throughout the State, all calling for arms and ammunition with which to defend themselves against the savages. Leadville is to be made the base of operations against the redskins.
—IN the British Cabinet council, the temporary occupation of Afghanistan was decided upon. There is a fresh outburst of hostility against England and Germany by the Russian press. In case of war, Austria and Germany are to unite their armies for defensive purposes. The British troops are before Cabul, and scenes of bloody retribution are feared.
—THERE is a significance that cannot be mistaken, in the brief announcement in a dispatch this morning, Oct. 9, that Russian staff officers have been ordered to the Austrian frontier for “exercise” in studying how best to repel invasion from that quarter. It is another indication of the activity with which Russia is getting in readiness for a great European conflict.
—THE few words in a cablegram from Madrid, Oct. 10, stating that 4,000 more troops are to be sent to Cuba, foretell more outrages and inhumanity than might be writ in columns. It signifies that the atrocious policy of Spain in the island is to be inflexibly carried out. Possibly it may precipitate the explosion, and hasten the reckoning which the Spanish are storing up against themselves.
—SAN FRANCISCO, Cal., Oct. 7.—From the Hong Kong mail it is reported among the Chinese that some great catastrophe happened within the walls of the imperial palace at Pekin. Some say the emperor, and others that one of the empresses, is dead. A great fire occurred in the French concession in Shanghai. Nine hundred and ninety-one houses burned. No lives lost.
—AT the session of the American Board of Foreign Missions, at Syracuse, Oct. 9, a summary of its work since its organization was presented, showing that it has received and expended, in all, about $17,000,000; has organized nearly 350 native churches, with upward of 80,000 communicants; has sent about 550 missionaries, some 260 of whom were women, and has issued religious publications in forty-six different languages.
—VIENNA, Oct. 4.—The breach between Austria and Russia is widening daily. This is an indication that the relations between Germany and Russia are also growing more delicate and strained. What Russia feels most keenly as respects the new political attitude of Austria is the development of the latter’s power and territory toward the east, thus placing herself directly across Russia’s road to Constantinople and the Aegean sea. The aspect of eastern European politics grows daily more serious.
—WASHINGTON, Oct. 6.—A correspondent called the attention of the Hon. Horatio C. Burchard, Director of the mint, to the extraordinary movement of coin that is going on at present from Europe to this country. “Yes,” said Mr. Burchard, “it is extraordinary. We have never known anything like it. Within the last three months $34,312,745 in coin has been imported into this country, and I notice that more than five and a half millions are on the way, so that before many hours the importations will have amounted to over $40,000,000.”
—THE thickening of European complications is indicated by the retirement of Count Andrassy from the Austrian Cabinet; the announcement that a special envoy from the Emperor of Russia to the Emperor of Germany is expected at Baden-Baden; the statement that the German-Austrian alliance embraces provisions in certain contingencies for defensive and offensive action; the dispatches from Vienna that the breach between Russia and Austria is daily widening, and the rumor that Russia is reorganizing the navy yard at Cronstadt and mobilizing her armies. Granting that these dispatches are to some extent based upon conjecture, they denote the readiness that is being made for another great struggle, the result of which may be the reconstruction of the map of Europe, and which is liable to be precipitated almost any day.—Inter-Ocean, Oct. 6.
KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE CONFERENCE.
By S. Osborn; Bettie Coombs
The fourth annual session of the Kentucky and Tennessee Conference was held in connection with the camp-meeting at Powder Mills, Hart Co., Ky., Sept. 30 to Oct. 6, 1879. The first meeting was opened with prayer by Eld. Osborn. The report of the last session was read and accepted.
Eld. D. M. Canright and M. J. Bowers, and all Sabbath-keepers in good standing, were invited to take part in the deliberations of the session.
The chairman, being authorized to appoint the different committees, announced the following: On nominations, C. Owen, C. Barr, and F. A. Williams; on credentials and licenses, D. W. Barr, C. Owen, and J. B. Forrest; on auditing, R. G. Garrett, D. W. Barr, C. Owen, G. Bronstetter, G. Novel, and H. N. Bray; on resolutions, G. K. Owen, R. G. Garrett, and S. P. Sample.
Adjourned to call of Chair.
SECOND MEETING. The second meeting opened at 9 A. M. Oct. 3. Prayer by Eld. Canright.
The nominating committee reported the following officers for the ensuing year: For president, Eld. S. Osborn; secretary, Bettie Coombs; treasurer for Kentucky, J. B. Forrest, for Tennessee, C. Owen; executive committee, S. Osborn, G. K. Owen, and R. G. Garrett.
The committee on credentials and licenses recommended that credentials be renewed to S. Osborn and G. K. Owen, and that licenses be given to Sister Julia Owen, R. G. Garrett, and P. D. Moyers.
Adjourned to call of Chair.
THIRD MEETING. Opened with prayer by Eld. G. K. Owen. Report of last meeting read and accepted.
The committee on resolutions submitted the following:—
Whereas, Our work is great and our time for doing it is short, therefore
Resolved, That we publicly express our gratitude to Almighty God for his mercy and aid during the past Conference year.
Resolved, That we will do all in our power to spread the light of truth during the coming year, and that we earnestly appeal to such persons in the South as can do so with the approval of the Conference, to qualify themselves as fast as possible for this work.
Resolved, That this Conference look after the cause of temperance within its bounds this year, so as to bring the matter before our people as a part of their Christian duty; that it be made the special duty of our ministers to present the subject, not in its general sense only, but especially in its Bible sense; that an association be formed in each church within this Conference, and that the Constitution and regulations recommended by the General Association be adopted.
Resolved, That the importance of the great and grand work of the Sabbath-school, the nursery of the church, should be urged upon our Conference as never before; that each member and each Sabbath-keeper should be made to feel that he is personally responsible to the Lord for the neglect of his duty in this work; and that in order successfully to carry on this work, our unparalleled Sabbath-school publication, the Youth’s Instructor, should be made a weekly visitor in each family, and its good lessons carefully studied and regularly recited.
Whereas, We believe that the Bible plan of supporting the ministry and cause of God by giving the tithe of all our increase for this purpose is binding on us as Christians, therefore
Resolved, That we will conscientiously, cheerfully, and punctually observe this plan, and recommend it to all believers in the truth in this Conference.
Adjourned to call of Chair.
FOURTH MEETING. This meeting was held Oct. 5. Prayer by Eld. S. Osborn.
It was voted that the name of the Powder Mills church be changed to Rio church.
Adjourned to call of Chair.
FIFTH MEETING. Opened at 6 P. M. Oct. 6. Prayer by Eld. Osborn.
Voted, That $10 be raised to supply Eld. Osborn with tracts for distribution.
Resolved, That we recommend each of our churches to procure a full supply of our blank-books.
Resolved, That we recommend that all our young people who can possibly do so should attend the Bat-tle Creek College; and that there should be a general waking up on the subject of education.
SIXTH MEETING. Opened at 8 A. M. Oct. 7. Prayer by Eld. Canright.
Voted, That the Kentucky and Tennessee Conference be divided, and that each State form a separate Conference.
Voted, That this Conference donate to Bettie Coombs $15.00 out of the S. B. fund, and if necessary loan her $10.00 to help defray her expenses at the commercial school at Battle Creek, which sum must be paid back during the year.
Adjourned sine die. S. Osborn, Pres. Bettie Coombs, Sec.