Proceedings of the Thirteenth Annual Meeting of the Gen. Conf. of S. D. Adventists.
CONFERENCE convened according to appointment on the Camp-ground, Battle Creek, Mich., Aug. 10, 1874, 9 A. M.
The President, Geo. I. Butler, in the chair. Prayer by J. N. Andrews. The President stated some reasons for the call of the Conference, and requested delegates to present their credentials. The following responded:—
U. Smith, J. S. Wicks, R. J. Lawrence, Ira Abbey, S. H. King, and D. R. Palmer, Michigan.
Harrison Grant, Minnesota.
P. Z. Kinne and J. N. Andrews, New York.
Eld. James White, California.
James Harvey, Indiana.
A. A. Hutchins, Ohio.
Henry Nicola, Iowa.
As Iowa is entitled to three delegates, and as other Conferences had no representation, the notice being too short to allow the appointment of delegates in due form, by vote of the Conference the following persons were appointed to act as delegates from those not fully represented:—
S. N. Haskell, New England.
A. S. Hutchins, Vermont.
Benn Auten and W. P. Andrews, Iowa.
S. Howland, Maine.
A. Vuilleumier, Swiss Mission.
By vote all brethren of good standing were invited to engage in the deliberations of the Conference. Minutes of twelfth session read and approved. Delegates from other religious bodies were called for.
Bro. L. C. Rogers, delegate from the S. D.75Baptist General Conference, responded. He read from the minutes of the last General Conference of Seventh-day Baptists, his appointment as delegate to this Conference and also the Report of their delegate to the twelfth Annual Meeting of S. D. A. General Conference. Bro. Rogers expressed his desire to make further statements during the course of the sessions. A response of welcome was delivered by J. N. Andrews, and by vote of the Conference, Bro. Rogers was received.
The Conference empowered the President to appoint the usual standing committees. The following appointments were announced by the Chair:—Nominating Committee, Ira Abbey, Harmon Lindsay, and Benn Auten. Auditing Committee, P. Z. Kinne, S. H. King. On Resolution, U. Smith, J. N. Andrews and S. N. Haskell.
TREASURER'S REPORT.
Cash on hand Nov. 12, 1873, $4159.75
Received during the year, 2318.24
Total $6477.99
Paid out 4557.53
Balance on hand, $1920.46
E. B. GASKILL, Treas.
Report referred to Auditing Committee.
Adjourned to call of President.
SECOND SESSION, AUG. 12, 9 A. M.
President, Geo. I. Butler called the meeting to order, followed by usual opening exercises.
Minutes of previous session read and approved after slight corrections. The President introduced the tract and missionary cause for the deliberation of the Conference. He made some very interesting statements in regard to its importance, and read a plan of action as a basis for effecting a general organization. Eld. S. N. Haskell spoke of the necessity of a more complete organization, and read some reports of the work accomplished by the Tract and Missionary Societies in the different Conferences. Eld. James White spoke urgently in favor of a general system of action. Eld. S. N. Haskell followed with some interesting statements of the results of the distribution of tracts.
This being the last session of the Conference that Bro. L. C. Rogers would attend, he was invited by the President to use the time of the Conference. He delivered a stirring address, replete with good feeling and unity now existing between the two bodies of Sabbath-keepers, and expressed his earnest resolve to exert his energies to maintain these friendly relations, and encourage a closer union of labor and love.
J. N. Andrews, in behalf of Seventh-day Adventists, spoke in response. Eld. James White expressed feelings of humiliation because of the frankness of the address of Bro. Rogers. The responses of Eld. J. N. Andrews and Eld. James White, reciprocating the good feeling expressed by Bro. Rogers, and a good-bye and hearty God-speed extended to him, were seconded by a unanimous vote of the brethren.
Adjourned to call of President.
THIRD SESSION, AUG. 13, 9 A. M.
Prayer by Eld. S. N. Haskell. Committee on Nominations reported the following: for President, Eld. James White, Battle Creek, Mich.; Secretary, U. Smith, Battle Creek, Mich.; Treasurer, Harmon Lindsay, Battle Creek, Mich.; General Conference Committee, Elds. James White, Geo. I. Butler, and S. N. Haskell.
The report was accepted and the persons suggested were unanimously elected.
The Conference resumed the consideration of the tract and missionary cause. Second reading of the plan for a general organization was called for. After the reading and some discussion, it was referred to a committee of five, appointed by the Chair, for revision, to be reported at the next session. The following brethren were appointed as said committee: James White, J. N. Andrews, U. Smith, P. Z. Kinne, and Henry Nicola.
The President reported progress in the school enterprise, and congratulated the Conference on the great success that had attended the efforts to establish a denominational school. The report of Committee on Resolutions was read and accepted.
After discussion of the resolutions by Elds. James White, J. N. Andrews, and Geo. I. Butler, the first, third and fourth were adopted as given below, and the second referred to Eld. White for revision, to be reported at the next session. The Conference then listened to an address from Eld. White in regard to the progress of the cause on the Pacific Coast. Adjourned.
FOURTH SESSION, AUG. 15, 7½ P. M.
Prayer by J. N. Andrews. Minutes of previous session read and approved. The report of the committee to revise the plan for a general organization of tract and missionary labor, was read and accepted. After discussion of plan by Elds. White and S. N. Haskell, the report, suggesting the following plan of organization, was adopted by vote of the Conference.
GENERAL ORGANIZATION OF THE TRACT AND MISSIONARY SOCIETY.
At our last General Conference the following resolution was passed:—
“Resolved, That we consider it for the interests of the Tract and Missionary Society to so consolidate their system by some general organization that at the General Conference each Conference Society may be represented, and thus uniformity of action be secured. And that the General Conference Committee be requested to prepare a plan to secure the object herein mentioned.”
In response to this resolution, your Committee offer the following: That this general organization be known as the General Conference Tract and Missionary Society of Seventh-day Adventists.
The officers of this Society shall be a President, Vice-president, Secretary, Treasurer, and general agent. These shall constitute the Executive Board, who shall have the general management of the affairs of this Society.
It shall be the duty of the President to preside at each annual meeting of the Society, and to look after the general interests of the Society to see that there is uniformity of action throughout the entire organization. He shall see that an effort is made in each Conference Tract Society to do their proportion in raising means for different enterprises connected with the cause. He shall see that publications are supplied to individuals and companies of Sabbath-keepers or those who may be inquiring after the truth throughout the world, wherever in the judgment of the Executive Board it may be duty to send them. He shall see that proper blanks are gotten up and furnished to each Conference Tract and Missionary Society in season to report to the annual Tract meeting which shall be held in connection with each General Conference. He shall see that such documents as may be needed to give a better understanding of the work, are furnished to the various Conference Societies. He shall superintend the raising of sufficient funds for sending matter to those outside of the limits of the Tract Society, and for all other purposes decided to be necessary by the annual meeting of the General Conference Tract and Missionary Society or by the Executive Board.
The duty of the Vice-president shall be to act in absence of the President.
The duty of the Secretary shall be to keep a record of the doings of each annual meeting of the Society; to keep a summary of all the annual reports of each Conference Tract Society and to make a report of the same and other matters of interest to every annual meeting of the Society; to make an account of all money paid to the general treasury and to give credit to the individuals or Conference Tract Societies from whom the money is received. He shall keep a strict account of all monies paid out, and for what purpose. If publications are sent to different parts of the world, he shall keep a record of where sent and the number of pages. He shall make it a special point to correspond with those in any part of the world outside of the boundaries of the various Conference Tract Societies wherever it may be deemed advisable by the Executive Board for the advancement of the cause of present truth, always preserving the addresses of the parties. He shall have a correspondence with the various Conference Societies and be prepared to give such information as properly pertains to the work of the general Society from time to time. If any discrepancy in business occurs between the Conference Secretaries and the Office of publication they may be referred to the General Secretary for him to assist in bringing about an understanding.
The secretary's books shall be open to the inspection of the General Conference Committee or any authorized agent of a Conference Tract Society, and they shall be so kept that any information pertaining to the general workings of the Society may be obtained.
The Treasurer shall receive and account for all moneys paid into the general treasury of the Society, and pay out the same by the order of the other members of the Executive Board. He shall make a report at each annual meeting of the Society.
It shall be the duty of the Executive Board, in harmony with the General Conference Committee, to call annual meetings of the Society and to oversee the general interests of the Society, and they may appoint corresponding agents or colporteurs wherever in their judgment it will be for the furtherance of the cause of present truth, and contribute such support to assist them in their work as in their judgment duty shall require. And they may devise such plans for raising means for the purchase of publications and the distribution of reading matter and other missionary purposes as in their judgment will make this Society efficient to accomplish the objects of its organization.
Every annual meeting of this Society shall be held in connection with the sessions of the General Conference, as the Executive Board may appoint.
Each Conference Tract Society shall be entitled to one delegate in the annual meetings of the General Society if they have two hundred members or less; and an additional delegate for every two hundred members.
The annual meeting shall elect the Executive Board for each ensuing term, and may transact such other business as may be for the interest of the Society.
The Constitution may be changed at any regularly called annual meeting, by a two-thirds' vote, of the delegates present.
In case of the death or resignation of any member of the Executive Board, between the sessions of the general meeting of the Society, said vacancy may be filled by the General Conference Committee. This General Conference of 1874 may appoint the officers of the Society for the present term. Each annual meeting of the Society may decide whether the members of the Executive Board shall receive salaries and how much each member shall receive.
At each annual meeting of the Society an Auditor shall be appointed to examine into the accounts and moneys of the Treasurer and report to the Society their condition.
The following officers were elected to serve in the General Tract and Missionary Society for the ensuing year:—President, Eld. James White; Vice-President, Geo. I. Butler; Treasurer, Benn Auten; Business Agent, S. N. Haskell. The appointment of Secretary was referred to the General Conference Committee.
The report of the committee to revise the second resolution was read and accepted. After some remarks by Eld. White in explanation of the resolution, the resolution, as revised, was adopted. The resolutions as adopted by the Conference are as follows:—
Resolved, That we hail with joy the cheering reports of the progress of the work on the Pacific Coast, and approve of the action of Eld. James White in establishing a much-needed paper in the interests of the present truth in that section of our country. And,
Whereas, The cause west of the Rocky Mountains is new, and its friends comparatively few, and Bro. White should not be left to bear the burden of conducting an Office there on his own financial responsibility, therefore.
Resolved, That we recommend to the Trustees of the S. D. A. Publishing Association to authorize Eld. Geo. I. Butler to act in behalf of the Board at the California State Conference to be held in connection with their annual camp-meeting, October, 1874, in conferring with that Conference relative to the establishment of a branch office of publication, on the Pacific Coast.
Resolved, That we express our continued interest and confidence in the tract enterprise, especially in view of its workings in the past year, and that we herein have additional evidence that this enterprise is to be an efficient source of prosperity in our cause.
Resolved, That the increasing indications of the truthfulness of our position, in the events transpiring around us in the religious and political world, and the accumulating evidences that what we have expected is soon to be fulfilled, are most cheering, and call upon us for a renewed consecration of all our powers to the sacred work of enlightening men in reference to the claims of the law of God, and warning them of impending dangers.
The interests of the Swiss Mission were introduced. The President recommended to the Conference to take some action in the matter, especially in consideration that Eld. J. N. Andrews is about to take his departure to engage in the cause in Switzerland. The following resolution was adopted by the Conference:—
Resolved, That the General Conference, feeling the same interest in the Swiss Mission that has been expressed in former sessions, instruct the Executive Committee to send Eld. J. N. Andrews to Switzerland as soon as practicable.
The propriety of establishing a paper upon the Atlantic Coast was next considered. Eld. James White spoke in favor of stereotyping the pages of the REVIEW, and sending one plate to the Pacific and another to the Atlantic Coast. On motion it was voted that we recommend to the favorable consideration of the Publishing Association the suggestions made by Eld. White relative to preparing stereotype plates of the pages of the REVIEW, and the publication of two editions. Adjourned, sine die.
GEO. I. BUTLER,Pres.
S. BROWNSBERGER,Sec.
The Age We Live In.
The worship of the golden calf seems to be the only religion which really retains any vitality in this age. Faith and self-sacrifice are apparently dead and the mainspring of human energy is gold. The intrinsic value of a thing is of little consequence, but what it will fetch in the market is all-important. Art, which should at least be above the sordid worship of money-bags, has been degraded, and the painter or actor strives as earnestly to produce a marketable commodity as if the perception and reality of color and form had been given for no other purpose than to be turned into filthy lucre. The business of buying and selling is fast crushing every noble feeling and sentiment. The ledger has become the national Bible, and the counting house is the church. It is ludicrous, yet painful and humiliating, to contemplate the vice of the popular mind. The rising generation are systematically taught to revere only such things as tend to money getting.
The multiplication table is regarded as the city code, and men are rigidly classed in accordance with a rule which, more frequently than not, brings the worst to the surface. Even in scientific and purely intellectual circles it is quite common to measure a man by the style he keeps up or the marked attention he is able by purely money influence to command. Respectability merely means a certain status in society, and many men are classed as mean who, possessing a certain income, are yet honestly determined to live within it. Unfortunately it is often considered a crime to be poor. Good men deplore these vices of our age, and talk as if mere words would cure those evils. Society is rotten at the core. We are standing on the crater of a social volcano, which, bursting out at every moment, scatters into the air the temporary gilded structure which we are pleased to call people's prosperity.
Beneath this fair surface of glitter and fashion lies a seething pit of poverty, superstition, and vice. Ruffianism and crime stalk boldly in our midst, and vices which were once the special shame of the ancient world have made their appearance in modern society. In our leading thoroughfares and by-streets are to be found men and women from whose features all traces of humanity have been battered out by misery and debauchery. These are the dark shadows upon the picture of our fair world which no quantity of words will tone down. —Sel.
The Deadly Smoke of Indifference
COMPARATIVELY few are destroyed by outrageous and flaming vices; such as blasphemy, theft, drunkenness, or uncleanness; but crowds are perishing by that deadly smoke of indifference which casts its stifling clouds of carelessness around them, and sends them asleep into everlasting destruction.
Eternity and Hope
ETERNITY is the divine treasure-house, and hope is the window by which mortals are permitted to see, as through a glass darkly, the things which God is preparing.
Keeping the Heart Humble
If the Lord lead you in a rough way, it is to keep your heart humble before him,
A World-wide Mission.
By James White
NEVER were we so fully impressed with the fact that the responsibilities of a world-wide mission were pressing upon our people, as during the religious services and the business sessions at the recent Michigan Camp-meeting. For a few years past, the work has been greatly increasing upon our hands. Urgent calls for publications in different languages, and laborers for people of other tongues, have been increasing. We have already made a good beginning for the Danes, Swedes, and French, and are anxiously waiting for a door to open for the Germans.
And the work is widely and rapidly extending among those who read and speak the English language, in our own country and others. There are calls for ten men to preach the word of God, where we have one man to answer these calls. And there is a great destitution of laborers in some of our oldest and most worthy Conferences. New and promising missionary fields opening has led the General Conference to consent to let several of our ablest ministers enter new fields, such as the Pacific Coast, while these worthy Conferences, many of whose members have been the earliest and continued supporters of the cause, are left almost destitute of ministerial labor.
As a people, we find ourselves with apparently more work upon our hands than we can possibly do. But this we must regard as an urgent providential call for more laborers. Our people must not be sectional in their feelings. Our ministers must not become wedded to particular fields of labor. If our people in certain localities hold our abler men, and look to them to do all the work, and fail to encourage new gifts, the cause will meet with a great loss. Such men as Eld. Loughborough, who are strong men in almost any position we may put them, must not be confined to a single State.
Who will go to England? Have we a better man than Eld. Loughborough? What shall be done for such States as New York and Pennsylvania? Have we a better man to labor where general discouragement rests over certain fields, than Eld. Canright? Ours is a world-wide mission; and every brother and sister among us should drink down that spirit of freedom and liberality that cares for the whole world.
We have felt, and still feel, the deepest interest for the cause on the Pacific. But it will not do to calculate upon a millennium to establish the cause there. Our wealthy men and women on the Pacific Coast must out with their means, cautiously urge new gifts into the field, and give the cause a chance to grow upon the Pacific, as it has in other parts.
Falling health and discouragements had led us to withdraw from the general cause to confine our labors to the Pacific Coast. But we find ourselves since the Battle Creek Camp-meeting with our former plans completely changed; and we now resign all to the will of God, and the choice of his dear people. For several years we have been refusing responsibilities, especially such as would make it necessary for us to have our head quarters at Battle Creek. But the marked indications of Providence, in harmony with the wish of our people, assembled in the name of the Lord, with his Spirit upon them, have led us to yield to be a servant wherever may be their choice.
The General Conference has approved of what steps we have taken in establishing the press upon the Pacific, and take the responsibilities as well as the liabilities of our hands. They send Eld. Butler to the California Camp-meeting to counsel with that Conference as to the proper steps to be taken to advance the cause on the Pacific. His practical gift being new will be enjoyed by all with the deepest interest, as well as with the greatest profit. We shall ever cherish the tenderest regards for our dear people on the Pacific Coast; and when it shall please God, we shall be happy to meet them, and labor for their prosperity. But for the present we must heed the calls of those who have greater claims upon us.
We suggest that one hundred persons be found among us who shall cheerfully donate $100 each to establish a branch office in California. We also suggest that if our friends west of the plains will support a weekly paper, our Committee on Publications, and the Editors of the REVIEW AND HERALD, can greatly aid in the management of it, and in furnishing matter for it. The suggested plan of stereotyping and furnishing plates for such a paper may yet be regarded as very practicable.
It has also been suggested to us that a third paper, consisting mainly of a make-up from the REVIEW AND HERALD, be published as a pioneer paper to all fields where the English language is spoken, to be supported by the Tract and Missionary Society at half price. God helping, we will issue such a paper, and ask for 25000 subscribers, to be furnished one year at $1.00 a copy, or $25,000. To those who have no real faith in our positions, and in the extent of the work, these suggestions will be regarded as presumptuous. But those who rely upon an intelligent faith, will regard them in harmony with our profession as a people, which is based upon facts of prophecy and providence.
J. W.
The Camp-Meeting.
By Uriah Smith
Of the late camp-meeting in this place, we cannot cease thinking. As we now look back upon it, its many encouraging incidents and results are clothed with new interest. It was a better meeting than can be described. No sight could be more pleasant and soul-inspiring than the immense congregation, seated in the shade of the lofty trees of the beautiful grove, intently listening to the words of solemn truth that were uttered in their ears.
But it was not the congregation, in itself considered, that made the scene impressive; for they may be seen almost anywhere; but that which lifted the occasion above all those of common interest was the thought of what had called the people together, and the purpose for which they had come. They were not there for pleasure or frivolity, but to consider the weightiest matters that can engage the attention of man; and that which had called them together was a movement which claims to be the final warning to the world of the close of this dispensation, and which to the many evidences already given, then, in the large assembly of believers, added another, that the hand of the Lord is in the work. This was the largest assemblage of Sabbath-keepers ever to gather in America, and the largest the world has seen for at least many hundreds of years.
We can look back to no time when this message was able to present so much strength as it presents to-day; and it seemed that at the camp-meeting the Lord gave his ambassadors unwonted power, and they touched a higher key of force and clearness than ever before in their exposition of these great truths. And their words were not without effect upon those who heard.
But the object of the meeting may be largely defeated, and its possible results largely lost, unless especial care is exercised by those who attended. If they suffer re-action to follow, which the enemy will not be slow to try to bring about, and if they fail to put into practice the lessons they learned, and lose the force of the stirring exhortations they heard, and forget their vows, a loss will be sustained which it will be hard to regain. Let these avenues through which the enemy will be sure to urge his approaches be especially guarded. One great secret of progress in the Christian life is to keep the ground we gain. What an increase of light should be shed abroad all through this Conference, as the result of this camp-meeting.
Some very cheering and promising conversions occurred on this occasion, from which, unless our hopes are greatly misplaced, we may expect the most encouraging results.
This meeting has deepened the conviction that the great question for this time is the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, and the great issue is to be between his requirements and the institutions of men. All other questions pertaining to the present and the near future are side issues. This may sound like the rankest egotism and conceit; but God's word will be fulfilled; and just such a movement as that in which we are engaged, and just such a warning as that which we are enlisted to give, lie right amid the events which, according to his word, must in these last days be accomplished. And He who could and would have put a tongue into the dumb stones by the wayside, to proclaim his first advent, had his disciples faltered, will find agents to do his parallel work to-day. This message must everywhere come to the surface, and in every direction it must come to the front. Forward, ye commandment-keeping hosts, on your grand and glorious mission! U. S.