General Conference Bulletin, vol. 5

ARTICLE III—MEMBERSHIP

H. W. COTTRELL

SECTION 1. The membership of this Conference shall consist of— GCB April 12, 1903, page 165.18

(a) Such Union Conferences, as have been or shall be properly organized and accepted by vote. GCB April 12, 1903, page 165.19

(b) Such local conferences as are not embraced in any Union Conference, as have been or shall be properly organized and accepted by vote. GCB April 12, 1903, page 165.20

The secretary read section 2:— GCB April 12, 1903, page 166.1

Sec. 2. The voters of this Conference shall be designated as follows:— GCB April 12, 1903, page 166.2

(a) Delegates at large. GCB April 12, 1903, page 166.3

(b) Regular delegates. GCB April 12, 1903, page 166.4

The question was called. GCB April 12, 1903, page 166.5

The secretary read Section 3:— GCB April 12, 1903, page 166.6

Sec. 3. Delegates at large shall be:— GCB April 12, 1903, page 166.7

(a) The General Conference Executive Committee. GCB April 12, 1903, page 166.8

(b) The secretary and the treasurer of the General Conference. GCB April 12, 1903, page 166.9

(c) Such representatives of the departments and missions of the General Conference as shall receive credentials from its Executive Committee. GCB April 12, 1903, page 166.10

The question was called. GCB April 12, 1903, page 166.11

The secretary read Section 4:— GCB April 12, 1903, page 166.12

Sec. 4. Regular delegates shall be such persons as are duly accredited by Union Conferences, or local conferences not included in Union Conferences. GCB April 12, 1903, page 166.13

The question was called. GCB April 12, 1903, page 166.14

The secretary read Section 5:— GCB April 12, 1903, page 166.15

Sec. 5. Each Union Conference shall be entitled to one delegate without regard to numbers, an additional delegate for each conference in its territory, and an additional delegate for each one thousand of its membership. Each local conference not included in any Union Conference shall be entitled to one delegate, without regard to numbers and one additional delegate for each one thousand members. GCB April 12, 1903, page 166.16

The secretary read Article 4, Section I:— GCB April 12, 1903, page 166.17

Section 1. At each session the Conference shall elect an Executive Committee for the carrying forward of its work between the sessions. GCB April 12, 1903, page 166.18

The question was called. GCB April 12, 1903, page 166.19

The secretary read Section 2:— GCB April 12, 1903, page 166.20

Sec. 2. The Executive Committee shall consist of the president, two vice-presidents, the presidents of Union Conferences, the superintendents of organized Union Missions, and twelve other persons, among whom there shall be representatives of all the leading departments of conference work, including the publishing, medical, educational. Sabbath-school, and religious liberty. GCB April 12, 1903, page 166.21

The question was called. GCB April 12, 1903, page 166.22

R. C. Porter: Upon this section I have a few remarks that I wish to offer. I do it all the more freely because most of the delegates know that I am so strongly in favor of the old-line methods that I broke my constitution all to pieces trying to defend them; and so I think there is no one here that will question my orthodoxy on the question of organization. And I know I hold the same position on organization that Elder A. T. Jones does in the main, so that I wish to say Amen to his speech as my speech at this time, and then to make a few other remarks with it. GCB April 12, 1903, page 166.23

Now I think we have touched here the vital question in this whole constitution. I think if we could unite on this one part of this constitution, we could find a united front in adopting the constitution. And while I have all respect for our past experience in organization, and the greatest respect for our aged brethren that helped to fight these battles on the question of organization years ago, I believe the general policy of organization is right; yet at the same time our cause has grown in the last forty years, and especially has it developed departments in the last fifteen years. And there are many parts that have to be expanded in order to meet the progress of the work. And when we come to the different departments of our work, I believe we strike the question of unity or disunity in the question of the Executive Committee. And if I rightly discern the spirit of the testimonies that came to us two years ago, there was as much stress laid upon the question of the Executive Committee as there was on the organization of Union Conferences. If I rightly understood the spirit of it, there was as much necessity for change in the plan of that Executive Committee in order to have unity as there was to have Union Conferences organized, placing the financial responsibility with them to a large extent. GCB April 12, 1903, page 166.24

So I think in that part of the constitution we have done well and I am in favor of all that we did; but this part of the constitution that provides for the Executive Committee, if it should pass as it here reads. would leave us with about nine-tenths of our committee ministers engaged in evangelistic work and about one-tenth to represent the educational, the publishing, the Sabbath-school, the religious liberty, and the medical missionary work. And there. I think, we touch the cord of disunity in the organization of our Executive Committee. If we could have this Executive Committee so arranged that we should have a good, fair representation of medical men, educational men, and of these other lines of work, on the Executive Committee, so that, when we come together in council, it would not be simply a council of ministers, but there would be a fair representation of all the other men to counsel with in reference to the points that these men represent, I think it would be better. GCB April 12, 1903, page 166.25

I do not want a position on any board. The last thing I would want would be to be on the Executive Committee of the General Conference. I wish it decidedly understood that I believe the highest position that any man can occupy in this work is a worker in the field. GCB April 12, 1903, page 166.26

But when we come to the question of unity, the people of Israel failed anciently when they went up to take Ai, because they did not take all the people with them. We will fail in adopting this constitution, in my humble judgement, if we do not place such a representation of these different departments upon our committee that they will take all the people with them, and they should be such that they are fairly representative on this General Conference Committee. And if we shall so take time to study this question, and take such action as will unify our work in this way, I believe in the end we will find that it will have been time well spent, and so I say to-night freely, I could not vote for this constitution with this section standing as it does, and should have to vote against it. although, with the exception of that one point, I would stand perhaps, in favor of it. GCB April 12, 1903, page 166.27

W. T. Knox: I would like to call attention to the fact that it is not so disproportionate as the last speaker has represented. He probably did not notice the proportion that is provided for here. “The Executive Committee shall consist of the president two vice-presidents, the presidents of Union Conferences, and the superintendents of organized Union Missions.” If I am not mistaken, that would furnish us members to the number of about fifteen. “And twelve other persons, among whom there shall be representatives of all the leading departments of conference work.” And it remains for the Conference to say whether or not it shall be one from each department, or whether the entire twelve should be made up from the departments. GCB April 12, 1903, page 166.28

R. C. Porter: I made that statement a little strong, not noticing that there was provision made for more in this than I had noticed. Yet, at the same time, I think very much is lacking in its proportion. GCB April 12, 1903, page 166.29

R. A. Underwood: It seems to me that in making a constitution, we are planning on general principles, and as Brother Knox has said, this provided that twelve are to be elected aside from the others named. It says that all the departments shall be represented. But it leaves the Conference perfectly free to elect all these twelve from these departments if the members want to do so. It does not seem to me that we ought to put in there that just so many men from any one department shall be elected. Maybe you would want not to do it. You might not find the men. The office does not make the man. And we want to frame a constitution that gives some leeway, and gives opportunity to elect the men that are fitted for the place. instead of trying to make a place, and then fit some man into it. GCB April 12, 1903, page 167.1

D. Paulson: It was at the Conference in Lincoln six years ago that I accepted heartily the principles that compelled me to be in the minority on this report. And so it is not because of something that occurred at this meeting that has caused me to take this position; but I conscientiously and honestly believe that this majority report contains features that are backward and not forward in the development of this work. However. I know full well that the Lord’s providences are a court of last resort; and if I had not been placed on the committee. I think I should have been perfectly content to sit by and say nothing, but, being on the committee, I have simply this to state: I believe that. as this work progresses, more and more the axiom stated by Brother White will be true, that where the burden of labor rests. there rests the burden of control. That will have to be translated from theory into practice, and when it is. we shall have to leave the constitution which is being considered to-night. GCB April 12, 1903, page 167.2

L. R. Conradi: I think it will be a good thing if some of our doctors shall become heads of mission fields. gospel workers. We want a good one down in Turkey. We want to put him in as superintendent of the mission field, and we hope we shall soon have a doctor for that Union Mission Field. Then we would get a doctor on the committee in that way, and the more the better. GCB April 12, 1903, page 167.3

Watson Ziegler: I see in this position of the constitution that we are trying to adopt a measure that I am in favor of for more reasons than have been mentioned. I believe in organization; I believe in an executive head. There is an objection in a person being chosen to a place of responsibility because of occupying some other place. GCB April 12, 1903, page 167.4

I want to say further with reference to the portion of the constitution under consideration that one reason why this people want this adopted is because they believe they have a right to choose the ones that administer affairs in the mission work. I believe the General Conference Committee that is being chosen at this time, in place of being a great power over the several conferences that are organized, that their business will be to look after the mission fields and counsel with such conferences as are organized. GCB April 12, 1903, page 167.5

I believe, more than this, that the delegates here to-day are willing, if you want to put the other twelve of either medical missionary men or educational men and medical missionary men, either one as you see fit. I believe we ought to have enough confidence in this message and in the work we are doing not to be afraid that, if we are not put on a committee, the interests we represent are going to be crushed out. I do not think we ought to look at it from that standpoint at all. I believe we are living down here near the end of time, where every one of us is on trial this very night. I believe this mission board should be chosen by these delegates. That is one reason I wanted to speak to this section; and as to who the other twelve shall be, I do not believe the delegates here care who they shall be so they are good. earnest men who are seeking a place to work in the vineyard of the Lord. and not seeking a place where they may dominate the work. GCB April 12, 1903, page 167.6

G. A. Irwin: A question on the phraseology of this section. reading. “and twelve other persons. among whom there shall be representatives of the leading departments of the Conference work. including”—it seems to me that should be “namely.” I should like to see “namely” substituted, because the word “including” carries the impression that there are other classes of men that will be among those twelve. I would like to move the change, if necessary. GCB April 12, 1903, page 167.7

W. T. Knox: I think the idea of using that word was to provide for other departments that might come in. It is true this may be all we see now, but there may be other departments later. GCB April 12, 1903, page 167.8

W. C. White: Our General Conference is something like a tree; while it lives, it grows, and the tree can not tell when it sprouts just how many limbs it will have. I trust our tree will be left so that it can grow more limbs. GCB April 12, 1903, page 167.9

E. A. Sutherland: I dislike to take any of your time, because I know how anxious you are to get through with this business; but there are several questions I would like to ask. I was at Union College six years ago at the General Conference, when the testimony was read that was read here to-day, and I understood at that time that the General Conference was broken up into three parts, at least it was talked that it was at that time, and I noticed in the “Review and Herald.” I believe. the next to the last paper. a report from Europe of a General Conference meeting. and in that report it spoke of Union Conferences and State Conferences. I would like to know if that was the understanding six years ago, that the General Conference was to be broken up into three parts. I got that understanding, and supposed it was so until just a short time ago, when some one informed me that that was not true; that the General Conference was as it always had been; that it was really the American field. and that Europe was only a Union Conference. and Australia was a Union Conference. I understood six years ago. when they elected their president of Europe. and also of Australia. and of this country, that those three men were supposed to be on the same plane. or that they were coordinate as far as the office was concerned. and that. when a General Conference should be called. it would be the calling of all of these men from these three parts. and that no one of these presidents would be supposed to occupy any greater position than either of the others. I would like to know if I am wrong. If I am wrong. I have nothing more to say about it. I know it was talked at that time that it should be so, and this country was divided up into Union Conferences. or we called them districts at that time; but the plan was the same as we are following at the present time. GCB April 12, 1903, page 167.10

Now it seems to me the thing we are to fear more than anything else in this is the danger of centralization and consolidating. It is a fact that during the last two years, in spite of everything, there has been a tendency to centralize. We have seen this in a number of ways, and I believe it comes in this way. When we see a great work to be done, it is perfectly natural for us to want to do this work in the quickest way and the best way possible, and if you throw that great work into the hands of a few men. they will be likely to draw in everything they can, so that they can handle the work quickly and carry it on to the very best advantage. Now, you remember, two years ago the Mission Board was in New York, and it was brought to Battle Creek for that very reason, so that the work could be carried on with greater ease, and this tendency has been at work in the publishing work. Testimonies have come to us during the two years that there is great danger of this, and the publishing houses. or some publishing houses, have been cautioned not to centralize, not to crush the publishing house in the South, and I wish to read just a few words that have come to us during the two years, to show the danger that there is in this plan that is brought out in the new constitution, a thing we tried to get away from six years ago. GCB April 12, 1903, page 167.11

“Pharisaism in the Christian world to-day is not extinct. The Lord desires to break up the course of precision which has become so firmly established, which has hindered instead of advancing his work.” The tendency is to get everything so consolidated and so definitely arranged that the work can be done quickly. You may think I do not know what I am speaking of. We have going through an experience in the educational work that is exactly like the experience that we are going through in this work; the very same principles have been given to us as educational men in regard to consolidating in the educational work as have been given to the brethren in the general work, and I know what it means to break up this centralizing spirit. to break up the school in Battle Creek. to keep the young students from coming in there, putting them outside. and starting small schools elsewhere, which eventually broke up the Battle Creek College as we used to know it. It takes considerable faith in God for one to do that: and when one is going through the experience breaking up that centralization. it some times looks as though the work is going to pieces. But if we had not broken up that, we should not have gotten out of Battle Creek. GCB April 12, 1903, page 168.1

“He desires His people to remember that there is a large space over which the light of present truth is to be shed. Divine wisdom must have abundant room in which to work. It is to advance without asking permission or support from those who have taken to themselves a kingly power. In the past one set of men have tried to keep in their own hands the control of all the means coming from the churches, and have used this means in a most disproportionate manner. erecting expensive buildings where such large buildings were unnecessary and uncalled for, and leaving needy places without help or encouragement. They have taken upon themselves the grave responsibility of retarding the work where the work should have been advanced. It has been left to a few supposed kingly minds to say what fields should be worked and what fields should be left unworked.” GCB April 12, 1903, page 168.2

This has been true during the past two years. This morning this whole Conference was called to account for not paying more attention to the Southern work, and the brethren felt, many of them, that they had neglected that field. During the past six years our attention has been called to the Southern work. Brother Butler said yesterday the reason more had not been done by the general body was probably on account of the heavy duties they were carrying. The Lord has said that has been left to a few supposed kingly minds to determine what fields should be left unworked. This is not casting any reproach upon any one. I believe one in any position can draw mighty power to himself. It can be in a school: it can be in any institution; it is not the man that God is bringing out. but it is that power. centralizing. and we know that the work has been retarded because of that spirit. GCB April 12, 1903, page 168.3

“A few men have kept the truth in circumscribed channels, because to open new fields would call for money. Only in those places in which they were interested have they been willing to invest means. And at the same time, in a few places. five times as much money as was necessary has been invested in buildings. The same amount of money used in establishing plants in places where the truth had never been introduced would have brought many souls to a saving knowledge of Christ. GCB April 12, 1903, page 168.4

“For years the same routine, the same ‘regular way’ of working has been followed, and God’s work has been greatly hindered. The narrow plans that have been followed by those who did not have clear, sanctified judgment have resulted in a showing that is not approved by God.” GCB April 12, 1903, page 168.5

God calls for a revival and a reformation. The “regular lines” have not done the work which God desires to see accomplished. Let revival and reformation make constant changes. Something has been done in this line, but let not the work stop here. No; let every yoke be broken. Let men awaken to the realization that they have an individual responsibility. GCB April 12, 1903, page 168.6

“The present showing is sufficient to prove to all who have the true missionary spirit that the regular lines may prove a failure and a snare. God helping His people the circle of kings who dared to take such great responsibilities shall never again exercise their unsanctified power in the so-called ‘regular lines.’ Too much power has been invested in unrevived, unreformed, human agencies.” GCB April 12, 1903, page 168.7

This scares me, when I see things going backward again. And every one who has been looking must acknowledge plans were laid two years ago that have been put aside, and that there have been changes, and that we are doing things that we thought we would not do two years ago. Now we know this is not—when the question was up two years ago, of putting six men from the Medical Missionary Board— GCB April 12, 1903, page 168.8

C. P. Bollman: Mr. Chairman. I rise to a point of order. GCB April 12, 1903, page 168.9

The Chairman: Please state your point. GCB April 12, 1903, page 168.10

C. P. Bollman: Is not the speaker making a general argument on the principles of the whole constitution, and not on a particular section? GCB April 12, 1903, page 168.11

The Chair: That is true. I believe. The general remarks were to be made in the beginning. and to-night we were to confine ourselves to the discussion of the sections. GCB April 12, 1903, page 168.12

E. A. Sutherland: Mr. Chairman, the part that I am speaking about is that in regard to representatives. I am speaking on the last portion of Section 2, on the departments,—publishing. educational. etc. GCB April 12, 1903, page 168.13

The Chairman: On what particular point are you speaking at present? GCB April 12, 1903, page 169.1

E. A. Sutherland: On the representatives. GCB April 12, 1903, page 169.2

The Chair: Very well; if you confine yourself to the question of the representatives, it is all right. GCB April 12, 1903, page 169.3

E. A. Sutherland: When the question was up two years ago of six representatives from the Medical Missionary Board being on the General Conference Committee, Sister White, in her talk on that subject. twice stated that she was heartily in favor of Resolution 7. You will find it in the “General Conference Bulletin.” Some of the brethren questioned it. and she stated twice that she was in favor of that particular resolution. GCB April 12, 1903, page 169.4

Delegates: Six members of what? GCB April 12, 1903, page 169.5

E. A. Sutherland: In the “General Conference Bulletin” of 1901, page 201 of the proceedings. when the report was brought in concerning the General Conference Committee. how it should be made up, the following was presented as Recommendation 7. “That the General Conference Committee consist of twenty-five members. six of whom are to be chosen by the Medical Missionary Association and nineteen by the General Conference.” GCB April 12, 1903, page 169.6

Different brethren spoke on this, among them Brother Prescott and Brother W. C. White, and then Sister White talked. Her remarks are to be found on pages 202-205 of the “Bulletin.” She says: “I am ready to say to you to-day that I am in harmony with this resolution. Many who have been more or less out of line since the Minneapolis meeting will be brought into line. God will help those who love the truth, who give themselves. heart and mind and strength to Him.” A little later on in the same talk. she said, “I am fully in favor of this resolution, because I know that medical missionary work is the gospel in practice, and, as the Lord has declared, is never, never to be separated from the gospel ministry. GCB April 12, 1903, page 169.7

Another point on Section 2: I notice that the Foreign Mission Department is not mentioned; and I should understand, from what has been said, that this plan would mean that the General Conference is practically to be the Foreign Mission Department. Is that true? (Delegates: Yes.) That is what I understand. The chairman of the General Conference stated in his report that, since the General Conference had been broken up and the responsibility had been distributed, there was very little else for the General Conference to do. And I remember, two years ago, the plan was that the General Conference Committee should be advisory, and not executive. GCB April 12, 1903, page 169.8

It seems to me that the Foreign Mission Board has practically swallowed up the General Conference Committee, and the chairman of the Foreign Mission Board, or the president, has an advantage over any other department of the work. It gives the one in charge of the Foreign Mission Department an opportunity to work the territory and to turn means into the channel in which he is especially interested, so that other departments will suffer. And during the last two years this thing has been done. The chairman of the General Conference Committee has been chairman of the Foreign Mission Board. He is intensely interested in the foreign mission work; God has put that burden upon him. But mistakes have been made in swinging everything so heavily toward the foreign mission work that other departments of work have suffered; and I know that what I am saying is true, because we have been told this. GCB April 12, 1903, page 169.9

Now it seems to me that you are laying down a plan that will work great harm. If this plan should be followed, and a man should be appointed as president of the General Conference who was altogether in favor of medical missionary work. then he would take the General Conference Committee and use it for that work. Other departments would suffer. I believe the General Conference should have an interest in all departments. but should not be worked for any one department. because injury will be done the other departments. GCB April 12, 1903, page 169.10

There is just one thing more that I desire to bring before you: The testimony has come to us telling us that the work of reorganization that began two years ago was correct: that the trouble has been in men not humbling themselves. and in not carrying out that work as it should have been carried out. The reorganization. as begun, was correct. And it has been stated several times that the plan that was laid for the General Conference work has not been fully carried out. I believe, brethren, the thing to do is to go back where we were two years ago in the matter of reorganization, and take it up, and carry it out, and give it a fair trial, because those who have been in the responsible places have admitted that they did not carry out the letter of that, because they did not believe that it was possible. I believe that it is possible. GCB April 12, 1903, page 169.11

G. B. Thompson: I rise to protest against one thing that seems to be coming in, and that is to clothe this old constitution with inspiration. I do not believe that this old constitution is inspired because God called for reorganization two years ago. Neither am I prepared to accept the alleged fact that this constitution is an exponent of the principles that were laid down two years ago. I have noticed that that has crept into a good many speeches; and we are left with the proposition before us that, unless you vote for the old constitution, you are going back on inspiration. I do not believe we ought to place it in that way before the delegates. GCB April 12, 1903, page 169.12

I want to call attention to one fact, and that is this, that in the old constitution the very things that are clamored for here are not brought out. In this section, where it says there are twenty-five men to be chosen. it does not say that a single one of them shall be from this or that department; it simply states that there shall be twenty-five men chose. And the proposed constitution says that all these branches of the work shall be represented. GCB April 12, 1903, page 169.13

It seems to me that, if either of them is an advanced step on the plan of reorganization, the proposed constitution is nearer that than the other. GCB April 12, 1903, page 169.14

W. C. White: I am thankful, brethren. for the opportunity that these discussions give to consider facts and principles. The last speaker but one asked some questions which we may refer to later on. But I understand the most important point brought out by him, in my estimation. was the idea that the missionary work of this people a departmental work, coordinate, or standing alongside of other departmental work. GCB April 12, 1903, page 169.15

Now, brethren. is it not a fact that our one and only commission is to go and preach to all nations? And the medical work is the right arm: the educational work may be the left arm; the publishing work may be one of the legs; I do not know. I would not attempt to go into the anatomy. But these departments are limbs. The body itself is the missionary work. So far as medical work is missionary work, is evangelistic, it belongs to the body. So far as educational work is evangelical and missionary, it belongs to the body; and just to the extent to which these are not missionary, they are absolutely useless. So with the publishing work. What does all our commercial publishing amount to? Why, it is just as it was illustrated years ago, when at the Pacific Press here we were struggling with debts and planning for enlarging the plant. The matter was presented in a dream in this way to Mother: The men conducting this work were seen dragging a heavy wagon, panting and pushing, pulling uphill and downhill; and the question was asked, “What have you in that wagon?” They looked, and replied, “It is old iron.” I tell you, brethren, there is too much old iron in some of our institutional work. But that which is of value is missionary; it is evangelical; and to properly understand the relation of these things, we must accept the principle that our only work is missionary work, and that these branches, these auxiliaries, departments, or institutions, are auxiliaries to the one missionary work. The body is missionary work. GCB April 12, 1903, page 169.16

As to the question as to whether certain propositions were accepted at the Conference in College View: I have not examined the records, but my memory is that it was stated by one speaker. perhaps several times. that the American Conference, the European Conference. and the Australian work were coordinate; and our brethren said, “Amen.” I do not know of any definite action of the Conference to make them so. We were then struggling at the work of division. and we thought the idea of three divisions was a great blessing. During the last two years, brethren, that division has been carried forward, until there are now thirteen instead of three. Is that going backward? (Many voices: No.) GCB April 12, 1903, page 170.1

S. H. Lane: I think if this were a question of organization or no organization, we should all stand together on organization. I remember well. in the early sixties, when the question was up, it was not a question in regard to the different forms of organization, but it was organization or no organization, and, thank God, organization carried. It has been a source of strength to us from that day to this. When the College View Conference was held, and departmental work was made prominent, there were men appointed to take charge in each department. When the committee counseled together, each man’s work was laid out to a great extent, and they went to work. And each branch prospered. At that time, when the division was made, the same idea of organization or no organization came up. And some were afraid there was going to be disorganization; but instead of disorganization. we understood more perfectly the organization that we had adopted. Two years ago the same question came up again, and a large committee was chosen, which I believe was right. If there was any mistake made, perhaps it was leaving the matter of choosing who should be chairman to the board itself. That may have been a mistake. Quite a number of these delegates have said, “We want to choose our own president; we want to know who is going to be our treasurer.” That is right. But it seems to me that the committee ought to have a chairman, not a president. The very moment you make one man—and I speak very freely now, as I would not have spoken before this General Conference commenced, because there was a chairman at that time, but there is none to-night, and will not be until after this election—the moment one man is put in, he will feel a tremendous responsibility, and he will feel right. for it is a tremendous responsibility, and his whole mind will be absorbed, and he will become so intensely interested he will not even rest nights, and the thing will keep him going till by and by somebody has nervous prostration. Now am I telling a fairy tale? Has not that been true and verified time and time again during the last twenty years?—Indeed it has. Now, if we make our departmental work prominent, and let the committee come together, lay out their work, and then all part, every man knowing what his special duty is, and then doing it. I believe the work will be properly done, and one man will not feel the responsibility of the whole thing. GCB April 12, 1903, page 170.2

Now, again, if one man stands at the head, every other man feels as though he ought to look to him, and get his consent, and stand around, and say, “Had I better do it?” and not do it until he says so; and then that man, not being right there where the man is who does the work, perhaps gives advice that blocks the work; and it seems to me that we ought to elect a large committee. who will be appointed either from this floor or by that committee, to take charge of different things. Here is our religious liberty work; where has it gone? It has almost entirely gone out. And yet there never was a moment in the history of the United States when more important measures are coming before us than today. Do you expect the president is going to look after the Foreign Mission Board? Some say that the main work before us is the foreign mission work. Let some one take that work in charge, and some one take the religious liberty work in charge, and another take the Sabbath-school work. Let every member of that committee not become a specialist, but work that department as far as he can in connection with all other departments; and just the very moment we do that. I believe we will make progress, and not centralize everything, as we have been doing. GCB April 12, 1903, page 170.3

Question was called. GCB April 12, 1903, page 170.4

The secretary then read all of Article 4, and question was called without discussion. GCB April 12, 1903, page 170.5

The secretary then read all of Article 6, and question was called without discussion. GCB April 12, 1903, page 170.6

The secretary read Articles 7, 8, and 9, and question was called without discussion. GCB April 12, 1903, page 170.7

The by-laws were then taken up, and the secretary read Section 1 of Article I, as follows:— GCB April 12, 1903, page 170.8

“SECTION 1. At each session of the Conference. the Executive Committee shall nominate for election the presiding officers for the session.” GCB April 12, 1903, page 170.9

A. T. Jones: Why should not this body do that itself? Since this body is electing its officers, let us elect them. GCB April 12, 1903, page 170.10

A. G. Daniells: This does not prevent this body from electing them. It says: “At each session of the Conference, the Executive Committee shall nominate for election the presiding officers for the session.” This body does elect. GCB April 12, 1903, page 170.11

A. T. Jones: That is what I mean. Choose them instead of having somebody else choose them. GCB April 12, 1903, page 170.12

A. G. Daniells: That is what the old constitution said. This is an exact copy of the constitution that you argued for this afternoon. GCB April 12, 1903, page 170.13

A. T. Jones: I would like to hold the Conference to progress. GCB April 12, 1903, page 170.14

(Laughter.) I move that that be amended so that it shall read, At each session of the Conference, the Conference shall choose the presiding officers for the session. GCB April 12, 1903, page 171.1

Voice: I second the motion. GCB April 12, 1903, page 171.2

The Chair: You have heard the motion to amend, that instead of the committee nominating and bringing in the nomination for the Conference to elect, we simply come in here, and the Conference elect some other way. I would like to suggest this thought: You remember at the beginning of this session this Conference chose four chairmen. You did it. If this were passed, we would come in here without nominations, and you would elect the same men or other men. GCB April 12, 1903, page 171.3

A. T. Jones: We would do as we pleased. GCB April 12, 1903, page 171.4

The Chair: Certainly. GCB April 12, 1903, page 171.5

George I. Butler: I wish to say that the plan recommended in the new constitution has been considered, in all our past history, the safest plan,—to have a nominating committee rather than to nominate officers out of the body, when somebody may spring up and nominate a person suddenly and without proper thought,—far more safe. GCB April 12, 1903, page 171.6

The amendment was put and lost. GCB April 12, 1903, page 171.7

The question was called. GCB April 12, 1903, page 171.8

The secretary then read Section 2, and question called. GCB April 12, 1903, page 171.9

The secretary read Section 1 of Article 2, defining the work of the Executive Committee. GCB April 12, 1903, page 171.10

Question was called. GCB April 12, 1903, page 171.11

The secretary read Section 2, as follows:— GCB April 12, 1903, page 171.12

Sec. 2. Any five members of the Executive Committee, including the president or vice-president, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of such business as is in harmony with the general plans outlined by the committee, but the concurrence of four members shall be necessary to pass any measure before the committee. GCB April 12, 1903, page 171.13

George I. Butler: I have not made many speeches on this proposed constitution. because I like it in every respect; but in this one section I think the real idea that was in the minds of the committee should be made a little more definite and explicit. I do not like the idea to prevail, or any one to consider it to prevail. that four or five members of this large committee, say of twenty-five or thirty, can vote anything through, and not be responsible to the judgment of the whole committee. I think that is an objection. I would say, with all respect to my dear Brother Jones, that I think he made a good point on that when he spoke; other things I could not quite agree with. GCB April 12, 1903, page 171.14

I think the idea in the minds of the committee was correct, but this is left a little undefined, so that the ordinary person would not see and discern the real point. It seems to me that it ought to be more clearly defined. GCB April 12, 1903, page 171.15

The Chair: Could you suggest a phrase that would avoid that? GCB April 12, 1903, page 171.16

George I. Butler: I meant to have written out one, but I could not get to it. GCB April 12, 1903, page 171.17

A. G. Daniells: I would like to ask Brother Butler if he would like the word “administration” better than the word “transaction”?—“Shall constitute a quorum for the administration of such business as is in harmony with the general plans outlined by the committee.” GCB April 12, 1903, page 171.18

George I. Butler: That is not quite the thought. There are little things that the committee has to do, that we all know ought to be done, and would not in any way infringe upon what the whole committee would desire to do; but the matter ought to be so defined that it would express that thought. GCB April 12, 1903, page 171.19

A. G. Daniells: I suppose that I am as responsible for this idea as anybody, and I want to tell you that it was a desire to definitely provide help of some sort for the chairman. to relieve him of so much individual responsibility, and provide something to help guide him in the settlement of matters and business wherever he was in the field and found a number of the members of the committee. As far as I am concerned, I have nothing to press at all. but I think it belongs to you brethren to help to arrange such a matter as that. GCB April 12, 1903, page 171.20

L. A. Hoopes: I do not quite understand what the meaning of this section is. Are we to understand that there may be in this administration an opportunity for three meetings to be held at the same time, one in Europe and two in America, and all trying to carry out the general plan of the committee, and yet be different plans? I should like to have that explained. GCB April 12, 1903, page 171.21

The Chair: The duties of the second vice-president are certainly defined. He is confined to the United States, and is to act in the absence of the president. The duty of the first vice-president was assigned to Europe, and for them to execute any business there at all, do any executive work, unless one leading spirit goes ahead and does it all, he ought to have counsel. He may hold a meeting there, but if there is one held over here, it will be called by the president here; and if it is ever called at all by the vice-president here, it would be in the absence of the president, when he is in Europe, or South America, or elsewhere. There would really be two executive companies, one in Europe and one here. I do not see how there could be three according to this constitution. The duties of the second vice-president are defined in the constitution. GCB April 12, 1903, page 171.22

E. T. Russell: I would like to ask if this would not more clearly convey the idea that the committee seemed to wish to convey by inserting the word “administrative” after the word “such,” so as to read, “and shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of such administrative business as is in harmony with the general plan outlined by the committee.” GCB April 12, 1903, page 171.23

G. I. Butler: That would help it some. GCB April 12, 1903, page 171.24

M. C. Wilcox: I suggest simply the possibility of three executive committees. It does offer the possibility of three executive sessions at the same time. Of course, the business done would likely pertain to the local fields. GCB April 12, 1903, page 171.25

The Chair: If we can better it. that is what we want to do. GCB April 12, 1903, page 171.26

P. T. Magan: It seems to me that there is danger in this, for at least two, and possibly three executive committees might be acting at the same time. You may have an executive committee in this country pass upon a certain point. You may have another executive committee in Europe pass upon the same point, and each one may claim to be passing on that point in harmony with the general plans laid down. and yet one may take a diametrically opposite view of the case to the other. Who is going to decide which is orthodox? GCB April 12, 1903, page 171.27

A. G. Daniells: The General Conference Committee. GCB April 12, 1903, page 171.28

P. T. Magan: But this is a quorum. GCB April 12, 1903, page 171.29

The Chair: It is a quorum. but remember that it is to carry out such plans as are laid down by the committee. GCB April 12, 1903, page 171.30

G. I. Butler: It is not solely independent in its action. GCB April 12, 1903, page 172.1

The Chair: It is a quorum, either of them, Europe or here, but they are to transact business as in accordance with the general plans of the committee, and only such. GCB April 12, 1903, page 172.2

R. A. Underwood: I move to amend by inserting after “vice-president” the words “shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of such executive business as is in harmony with the general plans outlined by the committee.” GCB April 12, 1903, page 172.3

The Chair: The motion to amend is seconded. Will the secretary kindly read it as it is proposed to be amended? GCB April 12, 1903, page 172.4

Secretary (reading): “Sec. 2. Any five members of the executive committee, including the president, the vice-president, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of such executive business as is in harmony with the general plans outlined by the committee, but the concurrence of four members shall be necessary to pass any measure before the committee.” GCB April 12, 1903, page 172.5

The amendment prevailed. GCB April 12, 1903, page 172.6

(At this point, about nine o’clock, “We are Coming Down the Stream of Time” was sung by Professor Beardslee and a choir of Healdsburg College, in order to permit those who wished to do so to retire.) GCB April 12, 1903, page 172.7

Business was then resumed. GCB April 12, 1903, page 172.8

M. C. Wilcox: I should like to offer this amendment to Section 2, Article 2, of the by-laws. [On suggestion of M. B. Miller, the mover accepted a slight change in the wording, so that the amendment read:—] GCB April 12, 1903, page 172.9

“Any five members of the Executive Committee, including the president or vice-president, shall be empowered to transact such executive business as is in harmony with the general plans outlined by the committee; but the concurrence of four members shall be necessary to pass any measure before the committee, such action to be approved by the Executive Committee at its regular meeting.” GCB April 12, 1903, page 172.10

Delegate: I second the motion. GCB April 12, 1903, page 172.11

The Chair: I like that better than the other. GCB April 12, 1903, page 172.12

J. E. Jayne: The amendment offered differs from the section in only one particular, and that is the last clause previous, “that the action of this committee of five shall be subject to approval by the entire committee.” Approval will include the power of revision. I do not see the danger in this section that has been mentioned by several. The amendment does not provide that there may not be three meetings in different parts of the earth at various times; and I do not know why we should fear three, or four, or five, or more, since action is limited to that line of work which has already received the approval of the committee itself. In other words, they may not authorize anything that is of a revolutionary nature, anything contrary to the general plan of the committee itself. Since this amendment does certainly safeguard this latter part fully, I favor its adoption. GCB April 12, 1903, page 172.13

The Chair: The question is called on the amendment of this section. GCB April 12, 1903, page 172.14

D. E. Lindsey: It seems to me that the last clause in the amendment simply ties the hands of the committee, so that they can not do anything. GCB April 12, 1903, page 172.15

The Chair: It does in a sense. GCB April 12, 1903, page 172.16

W. T. Knox: Mr. Chairman, I was just arising to speak on this very point. The provision of this section is such that these committees of five will, of necessity, be confined to work that is in harmony with policies that have already been prescribed by the entire committee. In other words, the approval of the action of the five has been obtained in advance. Now, to ask this large committee of twenty-five, that will perhaps not be together more than once a year, to spend time in reviewing all the detail work that has been considered by the various committees of five, much of which work will have already been performed, and will be beyond the control of the committee, and can not be called back,—to ask them to take the time to review that, before they shall take up the real work for which they have been called together, is unreasonable. I would move an amendment to the amendment, that that last clause, that calls for the approval of the committee, shall be stricken out. GCB April 12, 1903, page 172.17

C. P. Bollman: I rise to second this motion, and also to make a few remarks on it. It seems to me that we are spending a good deal of time needlessly upon this. This whole thing is simply carrying out the thought of distributing responsibility. And now we are endeavoring to tie it up, so as to concentrate the distribution of responsibility again. Why should we not allow these various sections of the committee, in various parts of the local fields, to deal with local measures? It seems to me that is right in line with the policy of reorganization and the distribution of responsibility,—to allow these sections of the committee a good deal of liberty in their local fields. There is no danger that brethren sitting over in Europe will undertake to revolutionize something in this country. There is no danger that the brethren on the Pacific Coast will attempt to do anything of this kind in Mexico or over in Europe, not a particle of danger in that. It seems to me that we do not need to guard this with such exceeding care. It appears to me that it was perfectly safe in the first place, and that we should pass this, and believe that our brethren in these different places are going to act in harmony with the body, as nearly as they understand, and that they are going to do the thing that seems to them the right thing to do at the time and under the circumstances, as they see how matters stand in these local fields. They would know more about the local needs than somebody who lives a thousand miles away would know. We do not want to have men who are a thousand miles distant decide minor matters in regard to local fields, with the needs of which they are not fully acquainted. We want local men to decide these questions. GCB April 12, 1903, page 172.18

George I. Butler: I feel anxious to have this matter safeguarded so clearly and so plainly that any person of ordinary intelligence, in reading it, can understand just what it means. Now, when our good Brother Jones made his speech, you remember, with all his acumen and his ability to see into a thing, he did not seem really to understand this resolution. but thought there was something very dangerous in it. GCB April 12, 1903, page 172.19

A. T. Jones: There is. GCB April 12, 1903, page 172.20

George I. Butler: Well, very well, then we want to put it into such plain shape that there will not be any danger in it. We simply want so to word this section that these small committees can not do anything beyond their prerogatives without squarely and plainly contradicting the section in question. GCB April 12, 1903, page 172.21

A. G. Haughey: It seems to me that the whole idea which has been presented here to-night is that it is local business that they want to transact. Why not put the word “local” before “business,” and then you will have it right? It is the local business. GCB April 12, 1903, page 172.22

A. G. Daniells: I want to assure you that I have nothing to press. and I am willing that this whole clause shall be stricken out, perfectly willing. I know, from past experience, that your committee will have to proceed on this line, whether you say it in your constitution or not, if they go forward with their work. Why, brethren, all through the year, you that have been located in different parts of the world know very well that this is just what we have been doing the whole year, right straight along. Wherever three or four or half a dozen could get together, we have counseled the best we could about the great work that we have to do, and have endeavored to get all the information from one another that we possibly could. Did we not do that, Brother Jones, when I was out here in California last summer? GCB April 12, 1903, page 173.1

A. T. Jones: Nobody ever called it a quorum, did they? GCB April 12, 1903, page 173.2

A. G. Daniells: No, but we did the business, and went on and transacted it, and nobody blamed us. GCB April 12, 1903, page 173.3

A. T. Jones: Let me speak there—keep the floor, Brother Daniells; for I will say just a few words. I am not objecting to the thing. The only objection I have in it is to have four or five men to be a quorum of thirty-six or thirty-seven men. GCB April 12, 1903, page 173.4

A. G. Daniells: Then let us take the expression Brother Wilcox suggests, “Shall be empowered to.” Does that please you? GCB April 12, 1903, page 173.5

A. T. Jones: Sure; the quorum is what I do not want. GCB April 12, 1903, page 173.6

A. G. Daniells: Well, I do not want it, either. GCB April 12, 1903, page 173.7

M. C. Wilcox: In regard to the last clause. I do believe that before that committee that is at headquarters there will come business again and again that does not enter through the regular routes in clerical order. There will be new things that will come up; there will be some man to be sent to some distant field; there will be some action to be taken, continually; and we can not plan, we can not outline a certain work, and say that everything must be in harmony with that in the year to come. I think it is perfectly proper that the work that the few do, that the five do, shall be reviewed by the whole committee. GCB April 12, 1903, page 173.8

The Secretary: It seems to me that one point is being omitted in the consideration of this, and that is the fact that all the members of this large committee will surely hold in their hands a complete copy of the proceedings of this smaller committee. That must be true. Then every man, at his leisure, will be able to review the work that has been done by the small committee. In the regular meetings of the large committee, it certainly must be granted that the whole committee have not surrendered any of their rights. Why, then, could not any point that might not meet the mind of the large committee be called up for consideration? GCB April 12, 1903, page 173.9

M. C. Wilcox: That presupposes, Mr. Secretary, that records of all the proceedings of the small committee are sent to all the members of the large committee. GCB April 12, 1903, page 173.10

The Secretary: It has been the custom in the past. I supposed it would be the case still. GCB April 12, 1903, page 173.11

M. C. Wilcox: If that is so, it puts a different aspect on the question. GCB April 12, 1903, page 173.12

W. A. Spicer: I should like to suggest that, to my mind, it would be much easier to get at these propositions if we were not so much inclined to raise the cry of “danger.” In a church meeting, for instance, for the election of Sabbath-school officers, you know we would want a superintendent, and there is always a possibility of danger that the superintendent may use arbitrary authority. But I do not believe it would help, in selecting a Sabbath-school superintendent, to insist continually on the “danger” that might attach to that office. It seems to me, if we could get at these things in such a way as not to raise the danger cry, we could consider each proposition much more impartially than we are able to do at present. GCB April 12, 1903, page 173.13

The secretary then read Section 3, of Article 2, of the by-laws:— GCB April 12, 1903, page 173.14

Sec. 3. Meetings of the Executive Committee may be called at any time or place, by the president or vice-president, or upon written request of any five members of the committee. GCB April 12, 1903, page 173.15

C. P. Bollman: Would it not be well to say, “by the secretary, upon the written request of five members of the committee;” otherwise, how could they call? I suggest that those words be inserted. GCB April 12, 1903, page 173.16

The suggestion was agreed to. GCB April 12, 1903, page 173.17

Articles 3 and 4 were read. GCB April 12, 1903, page 173.18

G. B. Thompson: I suggest that the word “all” in Article 4, Section 3, be omitted. GCB April 12, 1903, page 173.19

The motion was carried. GCB April 12, 1903, page 173.20

The secretary read the two remaining articles of the by-laws, Articles 5 and 6. GCB April 12, 1903, page 173.21

S. H. Lane: I move that Article 6 be stricken from the list. GCB April 12, 1903, page 173.22

E. T. Russell: I second the motion. GCB April 12, 1903, page 173.23

The motion prevailed. GCB April 12, 1903, page 173.24

The question was called on the adoption of the entire proposed constitution, as amended. GCB April 12, 1903, page 173.25

By a count, it was found that there were 108 delegates present. GCB April 12, 1903, page 173.26

Before the vote was called, at the suggestion of Brother I. A. Crane a season of prayer was held, led by Brother Crane, followed by W. C. White. GCB April 12, 1903, page 173.27

The Chair: The motion now is on the adoption of the report as amended; the amendments have been voted upon. The motion is now on the report, the adoption of it as amended. All in favor of the adoption of the report, please rise to your feet. GCB April 12, 1903, page 173.28

It was announced that there were 85 thus voting. GCB April 12, 1903, page 173.29

The Chair: Those opposed may make it manifest by rising to your feet. GCB April 12, 1903, page 173.30

It was announced that there were 20 thus voting. GCB April 12, 1903, page 173.31

The Chair: The motion to adopt is carried. GCB April 12, 1903, page 173.32

Upon the motion of Elder George I. Butler, it was voted to adjourn to 8 o’clock, April 10. GCB April 12, 1903, page 173.33

H. W. COTTRELL, Chairman.
H. E. OSBORNE, Secretary.