General Conference Bulletin, vol. 6
Conference Proceedings. TWENTY-SECOND MEETING
W. A. Spicer, C. P. Bollman, I. H. Evans, C. M. Snow, T. E. Bowen
May 26, 10:30 A. M.
G. A. Irwin in the chair. After the opening song, prayer was offered by A. J. Breed. GCB May 27, 1909, page 172.18
A legal meeting of the Washington Training College was called at this hour, report of which appears elsewhere. GCB May 27, 1909, page 172.19
A legal meeting was next called of the Washington (D. C.) Sanitarium Association, report of which also appears on another page. GCB May 27, 1909, page 172.20
After the adjournment of these legal meetings, the chair called for any further reports from committees. G. Dail presented a further partial report from the Committee on Plans and Finance, as follows:— GCB May 27, 1909, page 172.21
Partial Report Committee on Plans GCB May 27, 1909, page 172.22
Whereas, Agitation for Sunday legislation is rapidly increasing in the United States and in Canada; and,— GCB May 27, 1909, page 172.23
Whereas, The general annual collection of funds for the prosecution of religious liberty work has heretofore been exclusively for the use of the general religious liberty department; therefore,— GCB May 27, 1909, page 172.24
15. We recommend, That there be an equal division of the funds to the General, union, and local conferences in these fields. GCB May 27, 1909, page 172.25
Discussion of Resolutions GCB May 27, 1909, page 172.26
On motion to adopt by considering and voting upon each item separately, the partial report of the Committee on Plans (on page 162 of the BULLETIN) was brought up for discussion. GCB May 27, 1909, page 172.27
Resolution 8 (on general and field missionary agents) was read and adopted without discussion. GCB May 27, 1909, page 172.28
Resolution 9 was read, as follows:— GCB May 27, 1909, page 172.29
ELIMINATING COMMERCIAL WORK
Whereas, The blessing of the Lord has rested upon the efforts of our publishing houses to eliminate commercial work; and,— GCB May 27, 1909, page 172.30
Whereas, Their progress in this direction has met with the approval of our people, and has brought improved conditions both in the publishing houses and in the field; therefore,— GCB May 27, 1909, page 172.31
9. Resolved, That we approve of these steps, and that we support our publishing houses loyally in carrying them out. GCB May 27, 1909, page 172.32
A. J. Breed: I would like to tell the Conference how much I appreciate this resolution. About fifteen years ago, when the president of the publishing association was making his report in General Conference, he suggested that he hoped to see the time when our publishing houses would all confine their time and attention to our own work, and eliminate commercial work entirely. During his report I prepared a resolution to this effect and presented it to the Committee on Resolutions, and it was brought before the body. I was never sat down on so hard in my life as I was at that time, and had it not been for Elder Irwin, who came to my assistance, I would have had a worse time than I did; but I lived through it, and to-day I am glad that so many hundreds of our people can be engaged in our own work, and that our publishing houses have eliminated commercial work. GCB May 27, 1909, page 172.33
The resolution was adopted unanimously by a rising vote. GCB May 27, 1909, page 173.1
Resolution 10 was read, as follows:— GCB May 27, 1909, page 173.2
IMPROVEMENT OF LITERATURE
Whereas, Thorough attention should be given to the revision and improvement of our standard literature; and,— GCB May 27, 1909, page 173.3
Whereas, This will be an undertaking which will involve much labor; therefore,— GCB May 27, 1909, page 173.4
10. We recommend, That this work be provided for as follows:— GCB May 27, 1909, page 173.5
(a) That a book editor be appointed by the General Conference Committee, who shall be an officer of the Publishing Department and devote as much time to this work as its needs require. GCB May 27, 1909, page 173.6
(b) That the publishing houses in the United States each be advised to appoint a book editor, who shall be a member of the respective literature committees of these houses. GCB May 27, 1909, page 173.7
(c) That the book editor of the General Department secure co-operation between the literature committees of the several publishing houses in accomplishing this work. GCB May 27, 1909, page 173.8
F. F. Byington: I would like to ask, in regard to section b, what is meant by the appointment of a book editor, if this member shall be selected from the literature committees already existing, or whether the appointment as book editor shall make him such. GCB May 27, 1909, page 173.9
I. H. Evans: It is understood that this man shall be a member of the literature committee, and if he is not a member when he is appointed, then the General Conference Committee, which makes up these committees, will appoint him such. GCB May 27, 1909, page 173.10
W. J. Fitzgerald (England): I would like to inquire just how much is meant by the “publishing houses in the United States,” whether it recognizes the three principal houses or whether it would include the smaller ones. GCB May 27, 1909, page 173.11
I. H. Evans: My understanding is that it takes in the Review and Herald, the Pacific Press, the Southern Publishing House, and the International Publishing Association; I think these are all that are recognized as leading publishing houses. If any other house producing books should wish a representation on this committee it could be recognized, but it is not supposed that the smaller publishing houses will produce books that require the agencies of the denomination in their circulation, to any extent. However, if it should be necessary for any to be represented, I suppose that could be arranged. GCB May 27, 1909, page 173.12
W. H. Thurston: I would ask why this is confined to the United States. Why would not it take in the publishing houses in Europe and Australia? GCB May 27, 1909, page 173.13
E. R. Palmer: It was thought it would not be operative if extended to other countries, because these countries have their own publishing institutions, and must publish and create literature on the basis of local conditions and local interests, and it would be better for their work to revise their own books from their point of view. GCB May 27, 1909, page 173.14
E. W. Farnsworth: How extensive would be the power of the book editor? Would he simply attend to the grammatical errors and the style, or would he make practically a new book out of it? GCB May 27, 1909, page 173.15
W. C. White: I understand that a servant is to do that which he is instructed and employed to do; and if he does not do it satisfactorily, his employer gives him proper instruction. This man, who would be employed by the General Conference, would work under the direction of the General Conference Committee, principally through the Publishing Department. He would naturally do those things which he was asked to do, and his work would be submitted to the members who direct his labor for approval. It would be impossible for this congregation to instruct a book editor as to how far he should go in literary criticism or in criticism of theology, but the members who stand close to him would need to give him instruction, and his work would be, I understand, advisory, and would be as directed by the General Conference Committee, but not in any sense to control or direct the work of any publishing house. His work would come to the publishing houses as suggestive and advisory; then each publishing house, through its own committee, would decide what it should do, in the fear of God, in providing good literature. GCB May 27, 1909, page 173.16
W. M. Healey: I notice in the first preamble an answer to the question. “Thorough attention should be given to the revision and improvement of our standard literature.” It is not simply regarding new literature, but, according to the preamble, will apply to what is already in existence, or what has been published in the past. That is, it would refer to the 300 books or more which are already published. GCB May 27, 1909, page 173.17
J. O. Corliss: Will the author of a production appear in the matter at all, or will he be consulted in the revision of his book, or will the General Conference Committee control it, with his name still continuing on it? GCB May 27, 1909, page 173.18
W. C. White: I am hoping that some of the questions raised at this Conference will result in the developing of a “law department” at this Seminary. I believe that it would be profitable for the students at this school and of our other schools, to study law. But whether our seminaries and colleges establish such a department or not, each one of us, whether ministers, physicians, or bookmen, must study the golden rule. And I understand that all our resolutions are formed, and will be acted upon, with reference to the golden rule. Now, it is customary for authors to present their manuscript for criticism, and after criticism, they go back to the author for revision. I have known a book to go back to the author three times, and after the third time it has become a very popular book. Of course there are differences of opinion between authors and committees as to standards of punctuation, grammar, rhetoric, etc., but in cases where vital questions are at stake, and the book committee and author can not agree, the matter is usually acted upon by the board of directors of the house that is responsible for the work. And if these can not agree, the book has to wait until an agreement can be made. GCB May 27, 1909, page 173.19
On motion of M. C. Wilcox, seconded by E. T. Russell, the words “an officer” in sub-division a, were changed to read “a member.” GCB May 27, 1909, page 173.20
On motion of I. H. Evans the words “of the General Conference” were inserted after the words “Publishing Department.” GCB May 27, 1909, page 173.21
C. S. Longacre: I would like to know how this committee would proceed to revise the book of an author who is now deceased. GCB May 27, 1909, page 173.22
E. R. Palmer: Any work of that kind would have to be done in perfect co-operation with whoever has control or ownership of the book of the deceased author. Any changes that were made would have to be properly noted. GCB May 27, 1909, page 173.23
By suggestion of W. M. Healey, and by common consent, the words “or shall thereby become” were inserted after “who shall be,” in section a. GCB May 27, 1909, page 173.24
The resolution as amended was adopted, the amended section reading as follows:— GCB May 27, 1909, page 173.25
(a) That a book editor be appointed by the General Conference Committee, who shall be or shall thereby become, a member of the Publishing Department of the General Conference, and devote as much time to this work as its needs require. GCB May 27, 1909, page 173.26
Resolution 11 was read, as follows:— GCB May 27, 1909, page 173.27
IMPORTANCE OF LITERATURE COMMITTEES
11. Resolved, That we give information to all our people concerning the careful, painstaking work of the literature committees in our publishing houses in preparing new literature, and that we discourage the practice of private individuals bringing out literature on their personal judgment and responsibility. GCB May 27, 1909, page 173.28
S. N. Haskell: I do not know whether I should read some Scripture first, or not. I wish to speak on general principles. There is danger of our circumscribing the freedom of individuals in getting out something to meet a certain issue. I am not speaking because of any fear for myself. Lest any should think thus, I will say a few words about the paper that I am publishing, The Bible Training School. This paper was not started by the action of one individual. There was an action of a committee. There were present two members of the General Conference Committee, one president of a union conference, a committee of a large union conference. Others also were present, and there was a unanimous vote that such a paper be started. GCB May 27, 1909, page 173.29
I remember that somewhere there is a testimony that says that the truth shall fall like the leaves of autumn. We are also told that issues will come up,—and they are now coming up almost constantly in different parts of the world. Now shall individuals who are in a crisis not be at liberty to issue something to meet that issue? or must their writings be first submitted to this general committee, and wait for its action and co-operation? GCB May 27, 1909, page 173.30
I remember a time in the history of this work when an action came up proposing to centralize the publishing work, so that even the Signs of the Times should be merged into the Review and Herald. Some one wrote to Sister White regarding this. In her reply she referred to the words found in the forty-seventh chapter of Ezekiel:— GCB May 27, 1909, page 173.31
“And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the waters were to the ankles. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through; the waters were to the loins. Afterward he measured a thousand, and it was a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over.” GCB May 27, 1909, page 173.32
Sister White quoted these words, and said, “Do not our brethren know that the literature yet to be produced will be so extensively circulated that it will be impossible for one publishing house to handle it?” GCB May 27, 1909, page 174.1
I do not believe that we have printing-offices enough to-day to issue all the literature that will necessarily be issued before the Lord comes. We do not want to put any bands about the work of the third angel’s message that will be the cause of circumscribing it, so that it can not go as God would have it go. We have not as yet realized the extent of our work. God will have it go forward, even if he should have to raise up men and women that are outside of our regular organized work to carry it forward. There are some of us here who can remember actions that have been passed that we take certain positions. But we do not take those positions to-day. The message has burst the bands and gone before. It is to go ahead. It is forward march, and we want to give individuals the liberty, when they come to live issues, to do something to meet these issues. And the press is the most powerful agency that we have. GCB May 27, 1909, page 174.2
Now you may say that if we do that, and leave liberty for individuals to do that, Satan will take advantage of it. He will; there is no question about that. We will have a thousand things that we do not want; but God will take care of his work, after all. We must let God paralyze the efforts of those who would hinder this work. I have full confidence in this work. I have confidence in the organization. I do not believe there is a man present who has more faith in it than I have. But I have been warned by the spirit of prophecy over and over that when God raised up people outside of my comprehension, to keep my hands off, and I believe that our relationship as a people should be such that we can say, “Go forward, in the name of the Lord.” GCB May 27, 1909, page 174.3
Geo. I. Butler: I have not thought of taking any special part in this discussion. It is barely possible I may hardly realize just what is in view. But there are one or two thoughts in my mind, and as I am one of the old hands, I would like to understand the scope of the plans now being laid. Perhaps I can get some light in regard to them. We have been working in this cause for forty, fifty, or sixty years. We have had our doctrines brought out through the agency of men whom God has raised up, some of whom have been specified in the Testimonies as men specially chosen of God to carry on important work. Our system of truth has been quite well understood, and our books have contained these doctrines in a most remarkable and faithful degree. I think we have been very fortunate as a people in having men to write out our doctrines in our books, which have been adopted by the denomination, men who were eminently qualified for that purpose. Now I would like to know how far this new plan is to reach out in those things. GCB May 27, 1909, page 174.4
In every great work that has been started among mankind, in religious work, as in apostolic times, the leaders have had the doctrines of the gospel clearly in their minds; but, as expressed in J. N. Andrew’s “History of the Sabbath,” after the old generation passed away, others came up and modeled the cause. Now the question that we may be called upon to confront as a people, is whether this plan contemplates changing any of our old doctrines that have stood in our books for a long time. I would like to know whether there are any such possibilities connected with it. GCB May 27, 1909, page 174.5
C. H. Jones: I think we all recognize the force of Brother Haskell’s remarks, when he states that special issues are likely to arise in various parts of our field, and must be met immediately. If we had one central committee, perhaps located in Washington, it might take some time to get manuscripts out and meet the issue; but I think we all understand that we have four leading publishing houses in this country, located in different parts of the country,—one located on the Pacific Coast, one in the central, one in the Southern States, and one here. These are denominational publishing houses, and can be reached from the different parts of the field at short notice. There is a publishing committee or a literature committee connected with each one of these houses. That committee has the examination of manuscripts. If any individual wanted to get out something to meet a special issue, it would take only a short time to present it to the publishing house, and get its criticism and approval, and have it published by one of our regular publishing houses. You understand that our houses are organized very differently now from what they were a few years ago. They are no more stock companies, controlled by a few individuals; but the constituency has been enlarged until it takes in all our people; and these houses are now owned and controlled by our people. Now as a denomination is not it right that, in view of the fact that these houses were organized for a special purpose, to get out this literature,—is it not right for individuals to recognize these houses, and put out the literature through them? GCB May 27, 1909, page 174.6
I do not understand by that that any individual liberty or rights are to be curtailed in any way. If the manuscript is presented to the houses, and it meets with their approval, it can be published; if it does not meet with approval, of course the individual would then have the right to publish it if he wanted to, but could not use the machinery of the denomination in circulating it. Is it not right and just that there should be some control of matters in this way? We have seen some instances already whereby literature has gone out that we can not approve of. It seems to me the way our publishing houses are now organized and controlled, and located in various parts of the field, that it is only right and proper that the literature to be circulated by this denomination should pass through these houses, and go out in the usual way. As I stated before, if any one does not want to use that method, and desires to exercise his own right, he can publish, of course by himself, just the same as some have heretofore. GCB May 27, 1909, page 174.7
W. C. White: Some of the brethren have spoken of what is not aimed at in this resolution. I would like to point out a few things that are aimed at, and I believe that we shall have your full sympathy in the effort to limit certain work that is going on in the world, if we do not have your approval of the way in which we have proposed that it shall be done. GCB May 27, 1909, page 174.8
Now there are those who have gone out from us because they were not of us. They claimed to be of us in the matter of getting their views before the people, and still they are not of us in the matter of criticizing and condemning and bringing railing accusation against those who were formerly their brethren. These men work industriously to get their reading-matter into the hands of our people, and they use all manner of means to do it. I could show, from my files at home (I have a bundle that would fill a hat), literature and lengthy letters that have come, originally from one source, but which, through a method of manipulation, have been rained in upon us from dozens of sources. These we do not have time to read; and I am willing that all should know this. But there are hundreds of our people in the field who are uninstructed, and they receive this literature, and see quotations from the Bible; they know that is good. They see lengthy quotations from the Testimonies; they think perhaps that is good. They see condemnation of very well-known evils; they think that is good. And then with it there is a railing accusation against the men whom the people have appointed to carry God’s message to the ends of the earth, that undermines faith, that weakens confidence, that makes the hands heavy; and many a worker who has been helping forward this message, helping to send it to the ends of the earth, stops and hesitates because of these railing accusations. GCB May 27, 1909, page 174.9
Ought we not to teach our people that there is some significance in the doctrine of the laying on of hands? GCB May 27, 1909, page 174.10
Now another line. There are men who have been teachers, preachers, and workers in this cause, who, for various reasons, have felt that they were called upon to present an extended literature from their own minds,—not in harmony with the teaching of their brethren, not in harmony with what we teach in our schools, and what our ministers preach in the pulpit, and not in harmony with what has been published from our publishing houses. Perhaps they have submitted their manuscripts and these manuscripts have been examined, and the verdict is given that, while they contain some truth, there are many things that are imaginary, visionary, not in accordance with our general platform of faith and belief. We believe that it is not profitable for the publishing houses to print this matter. But those who have prepared it believe that it is truth that the people need. They get it printed; perhaps they induce one of our houses to print it, and use the fact that it has come from one of our factories; and individuals go from church to church and from camp-meeting to camp-meeting selling their own productions. Is this profitable? Has not the time come when, as a people, it is time for us to give a word of caution and counsel in this matter? GCB May 27, 1909, page 174.11
Let me call your attention to another thing. There are men who have gone forth from us, perhaps away to the South, and are publishing an extensive line of literature in another language than the English, full of doctrines that undermine our whole system of truth regarding the sanctuary question. They send this literature out freely to our Mexican and Spanish and European brethren. It looks like that which comes from our Seventh-day Adventist houses,—it uses the same language, it refers in many ways to the same doctrines,—and then it weaves in the most subtle, the most confusing, the most weakening sentiments. They send this out, and we have seen it in the hands of conference employees, in the homes of our brethren, being distributed, the person distributing it not realizing the evil in it. Isn’t it time that we say to our people that the imprint of one of our houses means something? the imprint of one of our school printing houses means something? the imprint of one of our conferences means something? In our “Year Book” there are twenty-two publishing houses recognized. Should not our people take time to look to the “Year Book,” and see what the imprint is? Otherwise how are we to carry into this publishing work the same principles that we stand for in the doctrine of the laying on of hands, as it applies to church officers, to conference officers, to teachers in our schools? It is that sort of work that this resolution is aimed at, and I am sure that your sympathies are with it. I do not believe that it is intended, or ought in any way to be used, to hinder the ministers in issuing a local document to meet local issues, or a conference, or a group of conferences, in issuing campaign documents to meet special issues. But it is intended to instruct our people to watch the imprint of literature which they receive, and to have some test as to whether it is Seventh-day Adventist literature or not, before they eat it or begin to pass it out for other people to eat. GCB May 27, 1909, page 175.1
I. H. Evans: I would like to offer one additional reason why a resolution like this seems necessary. Here in the United States and in Europe we are in close touch with each other and with headquarters. Out in the great mission fields they are far remote from headquarters. Missionaries sent out there often become enthusiastic, and have great faith that they can produce much better literature than has been produced, and are very anxious to try their hand at that thing. Therefore they get to work, and write up a tract or a leaflet very hastily, and without taking advice or counsel they are very anxious to have it printed and circulated. I believe it will be far safer for our brethren in mission fields to have counsel of our General Conference as to the literature that shall be printed, rather than to make it open, and leave everybody free to do as they please. I recall this moment an instance where one man, unwilling to circulate that which the Mission Committee was producing, produced his own literature, which the brethren did not approve, and used every agency at his command to circulate his own production. We have millions of people to reach in these countries, and it does seem to me that if our literature shall be carefully prepared and accepted by committees appointed for that work, it will be a great safeguard in these heathen lands, as well as in the home land. GCB May 27, 1909, page 175.2
H. W. Cottrell: I would like to inquire what the object is in the first part of this resolution. Does it in reality imply that our people are not informed as to the care that is taken by our publishing houses? I think our people know just as well as any of us know that our editors take pains in preparing matter that is published in the papers and tracts. I can’t think all our people are ignorant of these facts. If they are ignorant, I think there is need of this; and if they are not, I see no need at all for the first part, and we might get directly to the thought in the last part. GCB May 27, 1909, page 175.3
H. J. Edmed (South Africa): I think perhaps sometimes our brethren on this side of the ocean forget the world-wide nature and extent of our work. Speaking from experience, I would say it does seem proper that there should be steps taken to teach and impress upon our people the fact that care is taken in the matter of what is produced in our publishing work. In the little conference I represent, for several months we fought a very severe battle upon the question which is at issue in this resolution. We could not discriminate—at least some who were inexperienced, who were receiving various papers and tracts and pamphlets and books—as to which was authorized matter representing the denominational view of the Scripture, and which was not. The result was that for several months complete chaos reigned supreme among the inexperienced members of our churches. It does seem to me that if the motive of this resolution is to give an established confidence in the minds of our people in the productions that are issued from our offices, then it is worthy of our support. I do not believe that these resolutions mean to circumscribe the work that Brother Haskell mentions, publishing the Bible Training School. I do not believe that kind of work is aimed at at all in the resolution; but I am glad to see something done to protect our people in distant lands from the imposition of apostates and from men who are circulating literature which undermines the faith of this people. For this reason I am heartily in sympathy with this resolution. GCB May 27, 1909, page 175.4
I hope our men will continue to look out upon the great field and consider the little children of this denomination who do not have the experience of your publishing work that you have here. They do not see your publishing houses, and sometimes they are wonderfully bewildered by the contradictions that are published. A few months ago there appeared in one of our papers a series of articles on a certain subject. A few weeks after this there appeared some Bible studies in the Bible Training School on the same subject, diametrically opposed to these articles. Some experienced ministers might discriminate as to which of those articles were correct, and in accordance with the Scripture, but there are thousands of people who are not capable of making these discriminations. It does seem that before such articles are published, there ought to be some way of bringing such matters before a central committee, who can decide whether they shall be published. This does not limit free thought, it does not limit free production of ideas; but it does say that before a man sends to the world some idea that is different from the established principles of this denomination, it shall first be accepted or rejected by some persons who are responsible to the world-wide work for their decision. This is the principle I think involved in this resolution, and I am in favor of it if that is what it means. GCB May 27, 1909, page 175.5
W. M. Healey: I am in perfect harmony with the sentiments that have been expressed, yet I think I see danger in Resolution 11, and I would offer the following substitute: “That we give information and caution to our people that they discriminate between literature published by the denomination, and that issued by private individuals.” [Not seconded.] GCB May 27, 1909, page 175.6
E. W. Thomann (Bolivia): I would like to say a few words that our brethren may see the importance of this caution. We had an experience with a man who had been a member of our church, but who withdrew. He wished to publish a tract. We had received other German tracts from him before this, and they seemed all right. But this tract contained something that I knew was not in accordance with the truths held by the majority of our people. He wished the tract to be published under the auspices of our church. Having already promised, before knowing the exact character of the work, that we would give our sanction to its publication, we sent a note with the manuscript, and in the note briefly announced that the author was entirely responsible for everything in the tract. But he set aside the whole edition because of this. However, we were able to warn our people against him. In the confusion that resulted he drew something like 100 of our church-members away with him. This clearly emphasizes the importance of proper caution in becoming responsible for publications to be used in our denominational work. GCB May 27, 1909, page 175.7
C. F. McVagh: I move that this resolution be referred back to the Committee on Plans and Finance. GCB May 27, 1909, page 175.8
C. H. Edwards: I am heartily in favor of the sentiments expressed by Brother W. C. White and the other brethren, but it seems to me we should have the resolution express just what we mean. Now this resolution does not say at all what Brother White said, or what the other men have said. It says something altogether different. I am in harmony with these expressions, but I could not vote for this resolution, because it does not say that. The English language is simple; we can express just what we mean. But as it is, it leaves the way open for different people to interpret and define what they believe it to be, and we will have confusion and friction. So, it seems to me, that it ought to go back to the committee, that it may bring in something that says exactly what is meant, and then we will have it as it ought to be. I second Brother McVagh’s motion to refer Resolution 11 back to the Committee on Plans and Finance. GCB May 27, 1909, page 175.9
The motion carried. GCB May 27, 1909, page 175.10
Resolution 12 (on Sabbath-school Home Department) was read and passed without discussion. GCB May 27, 1909, page 175.11
Resolution 13 (on Sabbath School Worker) was read and adopted without amendment. GCB May 27, 1909, page 175.12
Resolution 14 was read as follows:— GCB May 27, 1909, page 175.13
CITY WORK
Whereas, We are debtors to the millions of all nationalities in the large cities, to give them the advent message as quickly as possible, and experience has shown that the sale of literature, house-to-house visiting, and Bible studies are effective methods of labor; therefore,— GCB May 27, 1909, page 175.14
14. Resolved, That we lay broad plans for the organization of city work, which will include the sale of periodicals and books, the distribution of tracts and leaflets, visiting and Bible studies in the homes, and the training of local church-members and students from our schools to become efficient helpers to those regularly appointed to this work. GCB May 27, 1909, page 176.1
G. B. Starr: The resolution is good; and yet I wish that in some way emphasis might be placed on the thought that in connection with our evangelistic efforts in cities, we must make use of consecrated men and women of mature years who can hold Bible readings in the homes of the people. In our former experience in this line of work, we have found it well to have two Bible workers, on the average, to co-operate with every minister laboring in a city mission. GCB May 27, 1909, page 176.2
In articles from the pen of Mrs. E. G. White, and published in the Review and Herald, late in 1907 and early in 1908, our attention is repeatedly called to the value of “house-to-house work in the homes of the people,” and we are exhorted to be vigilant in following up by personal labor a spirit of inquiry. “The plan of holding Bible readings in connection with public efforts, is a heaven-born idea. Would that our force of Bible workers, both men and women, might be greatly increased. Christ, in all his earthly ministry, associated many helpers with him; and he is our example.” GCB May 27, 1909, page 176.3
Elder Starr referred to the expense involved in the successful conduct of city missions, and cited results demonstrating that this expense is returned to the Conference treasury over and over again, through the constant stream of tithes and offerings coming from large constituencies raised up in these cities where conferences have been to considerable expense in opening up the work. GCB May 27, 1909, page 176.4
Dr. R. M. Clarke: If there is any place where nurses can do effective work, it is in connection with city missions in our large centers of population; and if wise provision were made for consecrated medical missionaries to unite with our evangelists and Bible workers in city missions, it would go far toward solving some questions now confronting our medical department. I would therefore suggest that Resolution 14 be amended so as to read,—“and the training of local church-members and students from our schools and sanitariums to become efficient helpers,” etc. GCB May 27, 1909, page 176.5
By common consent, the words “and sanitariums” were included in the resolution. GCB May 27, 1909, page 176.6
The question was called, and Resolution 14 was adopted by vote of the Conference. GCB May 27, 1909, page 176.7
The Conference adjourned. GCB May 27, 1909, page 176.8
Benediction by G. I. Butler. GCB May 27, 1909, page 176.9
G. A. IRWIN, Chairman,
W. A. SPICER, Secretary.