General Conference Bulletin, vol. 4

GENERAL CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS

Fourth Meeting, Friday, April 5, 10:30, a.m.

ELDER O. A. OLSEN in the chair. GCB April 7, 1901, page 89.11

Prayer offered by Elder L. R. Conradi. GCB April 7, 1901, page 89.12

The following persons were present to take their seats with the delegates: M. C. Guild, W. T. Bland, J. M. Eriksson, J. P. Henderson, E. R. Williams. GCB April 7, 1901, page 89.13

The minutes of the Third Meeting of the Conference are found on pages 66-71 of the BULLETIN, and by common consent were not read by the Secretary, but approved as printed. GCB April 7, 1901, page 89.14

The Chair: The Committee of Counsel appointed by the Conference have been at work, and Elder Daniells has been requested by them to present some principles touching the question of Union Conferences. After he has spoken, opportunity will be given others to speak. GCB April 7, 1901, page 89.15

A. G. Daniells: I have been requested to say what I can with reference to the working out of the plan that was discussed in the open Conference yesterday afternoon; that is, the working of a district when organized into a Union Conference. The reason this matter is brought forward is because we have had special counsel on this point in Australasia during the last nine or ten years. GCB April 7, 1901, page 89.16

Upon Sister White’s arrival in Australasia in 1892, she found a company of us working on very narrow limits and entertaining very crude ideas in regard to the work, and the methods of carrying it forward in that country. We have sometimes thought that the Lord drew Sister White away from the great throngs and multitudes into a sort of wilderness, a quiet place, that she might there superintend the building up of different lines of work. I do believe if we had been more ready to receive counsel, and had not been so blind and slow of heart, the Lord would have brought out a beautiful model in that country for his people in all parts of the world. GCB April 7, 1901, page 89.17

We need not fear to obey the command of God. When he speaks, it is best to do what he says. There is safety in that, and peril in anything else. He has made our duty plain. Our difficulties come more in our being unable to see how to do what God says, rather than from a lack of knowing what he desires us to do. GCB April 7, 1901, page 90.1

As seen by the chart of Australasia before us, Australasia is nearly as large as the United States in territorial area. It is composed of the continent of Australia, and the smaller islands of Tasmania and New Zealand. Australia itself is divided into five great States, or Colonies. In the southeastern corner is Victoria, where our work began in Australasia. The capital of Victoria is Melbourne, where the first sermon was preached. Immediately north is New South Wales, with its capital at Sydney. The Avondale school, in Cooranbong, is situated in this Colony, about seventy-five miles north of Sydney. GCB April 7, 1901, page 90.2

North of New South Wales is the large Colony of Queensland, having Brisbane as its capital. To the west of the three Colonies just named is South Australia, occupying the central portion of the continent, with its capital at Adelaide. The western portion of the island is known as West Australia, with its capital at Perth. Each Colony is a separate government, a State, the same as each State in America. The same is true of Tasmania and New Zealand, making seven Colonies in Australasia. GCB April 7, 1901, page 90.3

The work which we are endeavoring to carry forward is established in each one of those Colonies. We began in Melbourne, and extended the work first to Adelaide. Elder Corliss raised up the churches there. Then it was extended south to Hobart, the capital of Tasmania. About the same time it was started in New Zealand. Elder Haskell was the first to visit New Zealand, and raised up a church at Kaeo, and laid the foundation for the development of the work there in that Colony. It has since extended over the Colony, with headquarters at Wellington, the capital. The work was pushed northward to Sydney, N. S. W., and established in that capital. Later, our workers went farther north, to Queensland, and established the work in Brisbane, the capital. Then we passed westward to Perth, the capital of West Australia, and established the work there. GCB April 7, 1901, page 90.4

When Sister White arrived, we had the work started in New Zealand and Tasmania and just a little had been done in New South Wales, and in South Australia. Nothing had been done in Queensland or West Australia. She had not been with us long before she said, “You must enter new territory, and must go to these people in darkness all around you.” The question naturally arose how we could go. We only had four or five ministers in Victoria, and had very little money, but a call came from Queensland, and we set about to answer the call. It meant to take out about half of our ministerial force from Victoria, and of course the funds. It meant to send them fifteen hundred miles away from where we were operating, but we were urged to go forward and answer the call. So we divided our laborers with them, and shared our funds with our neighbors fifteen hundred miles away. Elders Starr and Hickox went there, and established a good church, and we have never retreated from that Colony for one moment. The work has developed. We had to support it for a time, but it has developed until a Conference has been organized, and the work is self-supporting. It is now being carried forward entirely by the native workers who have been raised up in Australasia. There is not an American worker in the Colony. The same course was pursued toward all the other unworked Colonies. GCB April 7, 1901, page 90.5

With reference to the form of organization: The first Conference organized was the Australian Conference. That took in the five Colonies of Australia, and Tasmania and Fiji. That was our first Conference, with two or three ministers’ and a Bible worker or two. When Sister White arrived, the Testimony was that we were to divide up and change that form. That has been done. In New Zealand we organized a Conference, which consisted of the Conference, the tract and missionary society, and the Sabbath-school Association,—three branches, the same as we carry on in this country. After we had been operating for a while, we understood from the light given, that we must simplify our organization, so as to have as little machinery as possible. Instead of having so many men at work running the machinery, we were to keep them in the field. This led us carefully to consider our organization. At the beginning of 1894 our attention was called to another organization that we were urged to have. It was the Religious Liberty Association. Up to that time we had not felt free to change our form of organization; but when we were asked to put another cog-wheel in the machinery, we heaved a sigh, and hesitated. We looked the matter over, and took the position that we had all the machinery we could possibly operate. We did not have any more energy to spend on machinery. So we decided we could not organize a Religious Liberty Association. We want all our ministers to have true religious liberty, and we want them to preach it to the people. But we want all of them to be a part of the Conference. So we did not organize another association. GCB April 7, 1901, page 90.6

This led us to consider the matter more closely, and finally we made up our minds that the tract society was a separate organization and that the work of the tract society could take its place by the side of the religious liberty work. So we merged it into the Conference. We cut it out, and placed all that pertained to missionary work and tract society work in the church, in the hands of the people, and in the hands of the Conference Committee, to deal with the same as other evangelical work. GCB April 7, 1901, page 90.7

We did not stop with that. We took out the Sabbath-school machinery. We set that aside with the rest, and put the Sabbath-school work into the hands of the people, and the church and the Conference Committee with the rest. GCB April 7, 1901, page 90.8

We did not put aside the Sabbath-school interests. We did not put aside the missionary interests and work. We did not put aside the religious liberty interests. We did not do away with all organization. We only tried to simplify the work, and thus save labor, and create speed, without friction. GCB April 7, 1901, page 90.9

We selected the best person we could get in the State as Sabbath-school secretary. We made it simply a department of the Conference. Its secretary was asked to bring all Sabbath-school matters before the Conference Committee in their meetings, and to report that work in the annual Conferences. It was the same with the tract society work. We have tried to keep all matters before the people with our secretaries, and to keep accounts with our canvassers and agents by our bookkeeper. We appointed a general canvassing agent to look after the interests of the canvassing work, and made the bookkeeping of that department separate from that of the Conference, but we had these persons devote their whole energies to the work, and it was supervised by the one body,—the State Conference Committee, and we let every man that we had tied up to the organizations be free to go out among the people, and to go to work for them. That saved misunderstanding and delay between the Conference Committee and the tract society board. GCB April 7, 1901, page 90.10

We carried this same plan right into our Union Conference organization. When we came to that, we made up our board of men representing these interests. Among these were the following presidents of State Conferences: W. L. H. Baker, of New Zealand; W. A. Colcord, of New South Wales; Geo. B. Starr, of Victoria; George Teasdale, of Queensland; and John Woods, of South Australia. These are the five presidents of the Conferences that have been organized; they are also members of the Union Conference Committee. GCB April 7, 1901, page 91.1

In addition to these presidents, we put on our board representatives of other important branches of work. We put the chairman of our school board on the committee, that he might help us foster the educational work. The manager of our publishing work was placed on the board, that he might help us foster the publishing work, and the canvassing work throughout the field. The leading physician in the medical work was placed on the board that he might help us foster the medical work throughout the entire field. And so we have the evangelical, medical, educational, and publishing interests all represented on our general committee. GCB April 7, 1901, page 91.2

In addition to these men representing these general institutions, we placed on the committee our general canvassing agent, the man who took charge of the canvassing work throughout the entire country; and he helps us foster the canvassing work throughout the field. Then, in addition to these men, we placed on the committee one, two, or three, as the case might be, brethren who were not holding responsible positions, but were lay brethren, who might be help as counselors. GCB April 7, 1901, page 91.3

We asked the best bookkeeper, at least one of the two best bookkeepers we had in Australasia, to give the question of bookkeeping and financial management in our institutions and organizations, special study, and if possible work up a scheme that would be general, and one that might be put into operation all over the field. Our bookkeeper did this, and worked out a system that has been established throughout the entire field. This bookkeeper has brought out a system of bookkeeping that is simple, and yet comprehensive enough to do all that our societies and Conferences need, to keep their accounts in proper shape and out of confusion, and let everybody know how things stand. That system has been taught to every bookkeeper we have in our institutions, excepting the treasurer of the Echo Publishing Company and the treasurer of the Sydney Sanitarium, who are authorities themselves,—government auditors. But all the rest of our Conference bookkeepers, our tract society bookkeepers, have all been taught this system of bookkeeping, and it is established in all our offices. GCB April 7, 1901, page 91.4

Now this is what we can do any day that we like: “We can ask the secretary and treasurer of the New Zealand Tract Society to remove to the Sydney office. In a week that secretary can pack his goods, as the case may be, and remove to Sydney; walk into the office, take up the books, and in twenty-four hours be running right along as if no change had been made. We have done that thing. How much we are saving by this thorough system of work, no one but the Lord knows. It is safe to do what God says. I have balance-sheets to-day from everyone of those Conferences and missions, that are certified to by our treasurer. I have them here to look over, and know how everyone is going. GCB April 7, 1901, page 91.5

Five years ago our general canvassing agents had come to the conclusion in their own minds that the canvassing work in Australia was practically done, and they came to the Conference Committee, and said that we would have to subsidize our agents; that is, we would have to pay our agents to keep them in the field. We were to make them missionary canvassers and pay them from the tithes to keep them in the field. We told the brethren we had no money to do that, but they argued that we would have to do it. The matter went on for some time, and we tried to convince those men that the canvassing work had only begun in Australia; but they would not believe it, and finally we said, “Very well; if we can not get you men to believe that, and to work to that point, we shall have to send abroad, and get somebody who will believe it, and work to that point.” So we sent to this country, and the Lord in mercy sent us a good man. When he came, our sales were away down to a very low ebb. Our canvassers had, many of them, left the field where the men had talked that the work was done. But Brother Palmer looked over the field, and began to work and talk the other way. GCB April 7, 1901, page 91.6

It is wonderful what God has done for our canvassers during the last five years. I can give you in round numbers the figures: “In 1896 the sales were $41,000; in 1897, $37,676; in 1898, $48,596; in 1899, $95,353; in 1900, $81,835.” There has been a steady climb, you see. It is not simply a flash in the pan, last year big sales; but it has grown from $41,000 to $81,000, with steady increase year by year. GCB April 7, 1901, page 91.7

During the last two years our general canvassing agent has not been in the field. He has been the principal of the Avondale school; he has left the canvassing work in the field in the hands of State agents. The result was that after three years of laying the foundation, he could step out of the field for two years, and leave the work in the hands of the State agents. GCB April 7, 1901, page 91.8

Our State agent is an earnest preacher. Wherever he goes among the people, and visits the churches, he can go right into the church and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to the people, and God blesses him and gives him a tender heart. The number of our agents has increased from about a dozen to eighty-nine at the present time. They have been brought out from the churches, and are all self-supporting. GCB April 7, 1901, page 91.9

Geo. F. Watson: Are the laborers settled with by the Union Conference, or by the separate Conferences? GCB April 7, 1901, page 91.10

A. G. Daniells: Each State laborer is settled with by the Conference he is working in. The general laborers are settled with by the Union Conference. GCB April 7, 1901, page 91.11

Our medical work stands in the same relation to the evangelical work and organizations that all the rest of the work does. We have no separate medical organization. Of course our institutions must incorporate; you all know that: but so far as having a medical organization, or association independent of the Conference and running along parallel with it, we have not had that at all. That is a part of our evangelical work; and the leading physician, or physicians are members of our Union Conference Committee, and they hold licenses to preach the gospel, and we encourage them to be ministers of Jesus Christ as well as physicians. We foster the medical work the same as we do anything else. GCB April 7, 1901, page 91.12

The New Zealand Conference has a medical sanitarium in Christchurch, with Dr. Braucht as superintendent. He is a member of the New Zealand Conference Committee; and during the Conference the Doctor, in talking or preaching to the brethren, pointed out the needs of the sanitarium. His talk so touched the hearts of the brethren that they said, “Let us supply those needs just as much as we can.” They took right hold of it, and in that meeting of the Conference they raised $1,800 to put into the Christchurch Sanitarium. GCB April 7, 1901, page 92.1

G. G. Rupert: Do any of the medical workers receive any support from the tithes? GCB April 7, 1901, page 92.2

A. G. Daniells: Yes, when they need it. When we first started out, the first man that came to us was Brother A. W. Semmens, a nurse who graduated from the Battle Creek Sanitarium. When he came out there, I did not know what to do, to get him started in the medical work. GCB April 7, 1901, page 92.3

Some of our brethren had a little more light, and they said, “Let us make him a preacher and a medical worker combined; let us have him work in the churches, and tell the brethren of the gospel of health, and let us help support him from the tithes of the Conference.” So we gave Brother Semmens some money from the tithes, and we said, “He shall have his living now, and we want him to teach the principles of health and temperance, and of the gospel in all its branches, doing what he can to educate the people in all these things. And so he went right along, like all our Conference laborers, making a report of his receipts, and then the Conference paid him what they ought to pay him to make a fair living. GCB April 7, 1901, page 92.4

R. A. Underwood: Do your State Conferences, or Colonial Conferences, all pay a tithe of their tithes into a general treasury in the Union Conference? GCB April 7, 1901, page 92.5

A. G. Daniells: Yes. GCB April 7, 1901, page 92.6

R. A. Underwood: Then you have a general treasury? GCB April 7, 1901, page 92.7

A. G. Daniells: Yes. The Sabbath-school donations, and the annual offerings, and the tithe of the tithes in the State Conferences are all sent to the treasury of the Union Conference, to be used for general work throughout the Conference. GCB April 7, 1901, page 92.8

L. R. Conradi: Do the tract societies still report through your secretaries? GCB April 7, 1901, page 92.9

A. G. Daniells: Yes. Our State tract society secretary and treasurer issues an annual statement to the Conference of the sales of literature that has gone out from the office during the year,—periodicals, subscription books, trade books, pamphlets, tracts, etc. They submit that report, and that is about all. GCB April 7, 1901, page 92.10

W. C. White: I wish you to consider the influence which this system of work has upon our educational work. You know we have labored to organize and build up a training school for Christian workers at Avondale, Cooranbong, New South Wales. This is an inter-colonial school; and some of you can imagine the difficulty we had at first in securing cooperation in a country where there was no federation. But these difficulties have been overcome to a large extent; and the flower of the youth of our churches either in the Avondale school or have passed through the school into the work. GCB April 7, 1901, page 92.11

[Voices: Good! Amen!] GCB April 7, 1901, page 92.12

W. C. White: The American people are a nation of farmers; they bring up their children where there is an opportunity to teach them industry, economy, frugality. The Australasian people live largely upon the seaboard; a large percentage of the population is in the cities. Australasia is commercial, rather than agricultural. The members of our churches for generations have been either shopkeepers or tradesmen. They have lived in the city, and they know little of the country. Their children grow up in the city,—and there are lots of children. When you talk about the children of Australasia, you talk about the largest part of the population. GCB April 7, 1901, page 92.13

The children of our Sabbath-keepers live in the city, grow up in the city, and attend the city schools, until they have passed the “six standards;” then their parents expect, at the age of twelve or thirteen, to put them into trades. But what opportunity is there for the children of Seventh-day Adventists to enter the trades?—None at all. The avenues are all hedged up. Therefore we have found the children in a most pitiable condition, drifting, and becoming demoralized: and if there was ever a need for anything in the world, it was the need of an educational system in Australasia that would lift the children out of that condition. GCB April 7, 1901, page 92.14

When I speak of the Avondale school as the heart of this educational system, it is the whole of it. You will also understand the matter when I say that this whole plan of organization is an educational system for the training of the youth of Seventh-day Adventists to be preachers, evangelists, canvassing evangelists, colporteurs, Bible workers, tract society secretaries, clerks in our offices, to sell papers, to be nurses in our sanitariums, and salesmen for our health foods; and by the careful study of the development of these different lines, we were able to say to our people in the last general meetings that we attended, that there are now openings, so that every youthful Seventh-day Adventist who will give himself to it, can be a worker in the cause of present truth, and will not need to go out in the service of the Philistines. GCB April 7, 1901, page 92.15

Every year we bring from the schools, right into these offices, from six to twelve young people, and put them to work as apprentices, at the lower rounds of the ladder; but they all understand that they will be promoted according to faithfulness and intelligence. There is before every one of them the opportunity of reaching a first-class position. Understanding this, they are willing to work and to wait. GCB April 7, 1901, page 92.16

In our effort to get our Sabbath-keepers to send their children to school, there was much to work against. There was the English and Colonial idea that a child who has passed the “sixth standard” has enough education for ordinary business, and it is no use to give him further education, unless you select him for a physician, teacher, bookkeeper, or some other profession. We had to convince our people that if they would send their children to school, there was something waiting for them after they came out. GCB April 7, 1901, page 92.17

How did we fulfill that promise?—By telling our teachers that they must educate the students for service. As we approached the end of the school term, the president of the Union Conference, the general canvassing agent, the presidents of the Conference near by, and representatives of other Conferences and institutions, came in and spent two or three weeks in prayer, counsel, and in talking not only before the students in public and giving them instruction, but conversing with them separately with reference to their future work. GCB April 7, 1901, page 92.18

The last report I received states that of those who have attended the school the past year, 16 have entered the canvassing work, 10 will engage in clerical work (shorthand, typewriting, bookkeeping, and as clerks in our offices), 10 are ready to go out as Bible workers, 8 as evangelists, and a half dozen have offered themselves to enter the nurses’ course. The school is simply the heart of an educational system, while the whole Conference is our educational system. God is blessing our young people. Some who a few years ago went out to act in some humble capacity in the work, are now holding positions of great responsibility in carrying the truth, and in training workers for service. We are looking forward to the day when all those who are at the heads of our departments, can be those who have been promoted in the field, rather than to have those who have been drawn from other parts of the world. GCB April 7, 1901, page 93.1

W. W. Prescott: When the Conference at College View four years ago, in harmony with what I was perfectly satisfied was the leading of God’s Spirit, suggested that I should go to England to labor, I went, and I thank God that I did. I found a mission field under the general advice of a committee. I found that during the year previous to my going to that field, by somebody’s counsel it had been recommended that the field should be self-supporting, and so an effort had been made to conduct the work on a self-supporting basis. I found there was no money in the treasury, that there was no money in the laborers’ pockets, that they had borrowed personally so as to live, and not being able to borrow enough all around, they had gone into debt so as to live. When I returned to this country a few months later, I laid the matter before the brethren of the Foreign Mission Board, and they came right forward, and paid what I had had to borrow in order to set the workers on their feet; and I thanked God and took courage, and went back. GCB April 7, 1901, page 93.2

The next year, 1898, the Union Conference was organized for the European field. The president of the General Conference, and the president of the Foreign Mission Board were present in our councils at Hamburg when the European Union Conference was organized. At that time, by the advice of the brethren there, it was decided to organize a Conference in England. At the next summer meeting the Conference was organized with a membership of about seven hundred. GCB April 7, 1901, page 93.3

In 1899 the General Conference and Medical Missionary Association recommended several workers to return with us to that field from the General Conference. There were ten or eleven who went over at that time, including Dr. Kress and Mrs. Dr. Kress. In our general meeting in 1899, the Drs. Kress were present. We asked them to preach the gospel to the people, and they did so as the Lord had given them light. When we chose Conference officers, Dr. Kress was invited to be a member of our Committee. No question was raised as to whether or not these workers should be paid from the tithes. Our principle was, They that preach the gospel shall live of the gospel, and nobody objected. GCB April 7, 1901, page 93.4

The Chair: The time for adjournment has arrived. GCB April 7, 1901, page 93.5

Upon motion; it was voted to adjourn to 3 P. M. GCB April 7, 1901, page 93.6

O. A. OLSEN, Chairman. GCB April 7, 1901, page 93.7

L. A. HOOPES, Secretary. GCB April 7, 1901, page 93.8

Fifth Meeting, Friday, April 5, 3 p. m. GCB April 7, 1901, page 93.9

Elder O. A. Olsen in the chair. After the opening hymn, the Conference was led in prayer by Elder R. F. Andrews. GCB April 7, 1901, page 93.10

The Chair: I call attention to the place in yesterday’s BULLETIN where the minutes of the last meeting may be found. If there are any corrections to be made in these, the delegates will please call the attention of the Secretary to the matter. As there is no unfinished business before the house, it has been thought best to give the consideration of foreign mission work; and Elder Evans, the chairman of the Foreign Mission Board, will take the lead. GCB April 7, 1901, page 93.11

I. H. Evans: The past history of the missionary operations of Seventh-day Adventists in foreign fields can briefly be told. It occupies the short space of but twenty-seven years. Most of those who are delegates here to-day can well remember the first missionary sent abroad by Seventh-day Adventists, and it is no small astonishment to the world that a people so few in numbers, without experience, and with but limited funds, have been able to accomplish so much in so short a space of time. GCB April 7, 1901, page 93.12

Convinced that the message we hold dearer than life is world-wide in character, Seventh-day Adventists have given themselves and their means to send it to the “regions beyond.” Elder J. N. Andrews being selected to go to Europe, and establish a center for the operations of our work, left America in the spring of 1874. From that time until the present, an aggressive policy has been pursued, new stations having been planted, and the standard of truth carried into regions heretofore unentered. GCB April 7, 1901, page 93.13

Three years after Elder Andrews started his work in Central Europe, Elder J. G. Matteson was sent to open up the work in Scandinavia. Then followed the work in England and Germany, until to-day we have good Conferences organized in each of these fields. GCB April 7, 1901, page 93.14

Nor have we stopped by simply opening the work in Europe. The islands of the sea have been entered. Australasia, the West Indies, many islands in the Pacific Ocean, Mexico, Central America, South Africa, India, Japan, several countries in South America, Iceland, Finland, Palestine, Egypt, and other countries have had the message started by the living missionary. Thus it will plainly be seen that Seventh-day Adventists rapidly opened up missions in various countries, taking in the extremities of the world. God has greatly blessed the efforts in most of these fields, in giving souls as the result of the labors of the faithful missionary. GCB April 7, 1901, page 93.15

The last General Conference marked a new era in the history of foreign missions. Since that meeting a hearty cooperation has characterized the brethren in sustaining the work with both men and means. GCB April 7, 1901, page 93.16

At the General Conference at South Lancaster a promised donation by one who pretended to have great wealth threw the General Conference off its guard, and it made no provision for supplying the treasury of the Foreign Mission Board. Relying upon the promised donation, the Foreign Mission Board planned greatly to strengthen the work in the fields already entered. When, however, the time passed, and the donation was not forthcoming, the board found itself wholly unable to meet the present exigencies from its available resources. It was $35,000 short of being able to pay its last audit, besides over $15,000 for books previously used in mission fields, and without money in the treasury. In fact, when the board was moved from Philadelphia to New York, it was difficult to find a bank in New GCB April 7, 1901, page 93.17

York City that would accept our deposits, because we had so small a sum to place in their hands. For many a month we were wholly unable to make adequate remittance to our fields, and not a few of our missionaries had to borrow money in order to carry themselves from time to time. GCB April 7, 1901, page 94.1

In July of 1899 the Foreign Mission Board had a meeting, where it discussed the situation, and worked out policy that it should pursue under the existing conditions. Being prevented from fully carrying out the aggressive work that it had planned and hoped for at the opening of the board’s administration, because of its financial embarrassment, it determined:— GCB April 7, 1901, page 94.2

1. That it would strengthen the fields already entered as far as God should give it the means to do so, instead of opening up new fields, which could only embarrass the already distressing situation. GCB April 7, 1901, page 94.3

2. That, as far as God should give us wisdom, we would send only tried and true workers to these foreign fields, and— GCB April 7, 1901, page 94.4

3. That we would not carry on the Lord’s words on borrowed money. GCB April 7, 1901, page 94.5

The policy of the board, as far as finance is concerned, has been rigidly carried out. We have refused to accept loans of money from brethren, even when it has been offered to us without interest, refusing to obligate ourselves in any possible way for any amount of money, under any conditions. We have taken the money that has come in to us as donations, and we believe equitably divided it among the respective fields according to their needs, and in proportion to the amount we had for division. GCB April 7, 1901, page 94.6

At this meeting the ten-cent-a-week plan was taken up, and has since been agitated,—we believe with very good results. While it is true that many have not adopted this systematic plan of giving, we must admit that good results have come from this course of contributions whenever and wherever it has been adopted. The finances of the board began immediately to rally, and at the end of the year 1899 the Foreign Mission Board found itself able to advance to the respective fields money as fast as it was necessary. GCB April 7, 1901, page 94.7

The donations to the board becoming more liberal, it adopted the policy of remitting to the fields in advance so that each worker could have eighty per cent of his last year’s weekly audit from month to month. For the past year the Foreign Mission Board has had sufficient funds on hand to keep each field reasonably well supplied with money. At the close of last year it had on hand $15,594.48. This does not pay the fields the whole amount of their requirements, as we had adopted the General Conference policy of paying these fields but eighty per cent. However, we are glad to say that at the last meeting of the Foreign Mission Board it abandoned the idea of paying our workers but eighty per cent of their last audit, but thought rather that those who had faithfully labored should be permitted to draw the full amount of their allotment from month to month. GCB April 7, 1901, page 94.8

This became almost necessary, as in many fields the brethren were wholly unable to live upon eighty per cent of their last audit, and we could see no reason why, after faithfully discharging their duty, the money should lie in the bank or the treasury, and not be in the hands of those who are suffering for it. We trust, therefore, that the future policy of the board will be to pay each laborer in the field the amount that he may reasonably expect, and we are quite sure that such a course will be more satisfactory to the laborers. GCB April 7, 1901, page 94.9

In the distribution of our funds, the board has paid some $37,000 to the medical missionary branch, and the balance for literature, and other workers. GCB April 7, 1901, page 94.10

While speaking on the finance of the Foreign Mission Board, we wish to suggest that we believe that if we could inaugurate a systematic plan of giving, the finances of the Foreign Mission Board would be brought into a better condition than they have ever yet been. As you will see from the Treasurer’s report, the total amount of donations to the Foreign Mission Board last year was $89,740. We believe this sum could be easily doubled without overtaxing our denomination, if it could be given in small contributions from week to week. GCB April 7, 1901, page 94.11

It is known to most of our brethren here that the General Conference, together with the respective State Conference presidents and other leading brethren, have requested the Foreign Mission Board to act as their agent in securing funds, and paying the obligations of the Christiania publishing house. We would say that these obligations aggregate $81,084, besides nearly $9,000 which they owe the Foreign Mission Board. GCB April 7, 1901, page 94.12

According to the arrangements at the fall council, all the money of this year’s annual offering in excess of the donation of last year, will be paid upon the Christiania publishing house obligations, and those of the Skodsborg sanitarium. The whole of the large obligations to the creditors of our publishing house in Norway must be met by the future donations of our people. It therefore seems to us that every Conference must take hold, and, as far as possible, inaugurate in its respective territory a systematic plan of giving. If we can get this immediately in operation, the Foreign Mission Board will have sufficient funds to pay these obligations as they come due. GCB April 7, 1901, page 94.13

We have to raise $22,000 per annum on these obligations. This should be raised in addition to an increased donation to the Foreign Mission Board; for it can not be possible that this denomination will continue to do only the amount of work that it has already undertaken in foreign fields. We must enlarge our borders, strengthening the outposts already entered, and take upon ourselves the responsibility of entering other fields. GCB April 7, 1901, page 94.14

In this connection we must not fail to mention the very substantial aid rendered our board by many of our State Conferences. Not a few of them have given liberal sums from their tithes to help the work in other lands; while others have given both men and means. Nor do we think that this has tended to impoverish these Conferences, but rather to them is fulfilled that blessed assurance, “There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth.” GCB April 7, 1901, page 94.15

The location of the office in Philadelphia proving unsuitable for its work, the board removed its headquarters to rooms in the American Tract Society building in New York. Here we are in close touch with our shipping and forwarding interests to our missionaries in all parts of the world. Most of our missionaries arrive and depart from this port to and from foreign fields. In fact, the present location seems ideal. The heart-throbs of a mighty world pulsate on every side. Time continually demonstrates the wisdom of the location. GCB April 7, 1901, page 94.16

When the present board began its administration, it made a careful survey of the various fields where it was operating, and desired to give special attention to securing the best possible results. Believing that the word of God is the great factor, when impressed with the influence of the Holy Spirit, as a means of soul-saving, the board adopted the following resolutions at a meeting held in its office, Dec. 20, 1899:— GCB April 7, 1901, page 94.17

“Whereas, Experience has demonstrated that in all our foreign fields, to the extent we have left the gospel plan of ‘teaching the word,’ we have failed in bringing souls to Christ; and,— GCB April 7, 1901, page 95.1

“Whereas, Building institutions and running industrial schools and missions before we have a constituency of believers to assist in sustaining them by moral and financial support, seems unwise, and tends rather to embarrass the work than to help it; therefore,— GCB April 7, 1901, page 95.2

“We recommend, That the future policy of the board shall be to encourage its workers in foreign fields to adhere closely to teaching the word of God, and the circulating of literature on present truth,” using other’s agencies as auxiliaries only. GCB April 7, 1901, page 95.3

Wherever our workers have given their attention to teaching the word of God and circulating literature, we have never failed in results. Whether it be in the heart of Africa or in the halfcivilized country of Japan, among the islands of the sea,—wherever we have taken the word of God, and presented it to the people, teaching the truth from the Bible, souls have been led to Christ. We have tried many other things to introduce the truth; but the word of God alone seems to be the great thing to which we must cling, and the means that God is most willing to bless to open the eyes of the blind, and to lead them to repentance and to Christ. GCB April 7, 1901, page 95.4

Not unfrequently it has seemed to the board that we are too prone to rely upon some tangible evidence of wealth, some material demonstration, rather than to be willing in a humble way to take the word of God, and teach the truth as we find it to the poor people. In those countries where we have conformed to this practice the most faithfully, we have secured our best results. Where we have deviated from it the most largely, we have secured the least results. GCB April 7, 1901, page 95.5

We hope and desire that at this Conference there may be some earnest talk given by those who have had experience in the field bearing directly on the influence of the word of God and the Holy Spirit as the great means of leading souls from the darkness to the present truth and Jesus Christ, and we shall regret if this Conference shall close without an inspiration being given to us all, and from this Conference to permeate to all the outward stations planted among the nations of earth, that the word of God is the great and supreme factor in the work of soul-saving. GCB April 7, 1901, page 95.6

Nor must we rely alone, in this great work, upon the mere verbal expressions of the Holy Scripture, divine and sacred though they be. The worker, as he presents this truth, must be endued with the Spirit of Christ, and burdened with a desire to save souls. When the heart is tender and subdued by the gentle influence of the spirit of Christ, and all the acts are brought into harmony with the word of God, when unity and love prevail among the workers so that heart responds to heart, and no discord nor alienation is discernable by any, then and then only can we expect real and true success in the work of soul-saving. None should ever forget that we as ministers and workers, whether in the home or foreign field, must see that our own lives conform to the teachings of God’s Word, and our own practice is in harmony with the great truths that we represent. Otherwise we can be only sources of weakness; and while we may teach the truth, we are not real soul-winners, because the spirit and life are lacking to bring forth fruits. GCB April 7, 1901, page 95.7

The board, after due consideration, has seen fit to sell the brigantine “Pitcairn.” We received for the same $6,500,—$600 in cash, the balance in a note. The board has already decided to sell the schooner “Herald,” believing that the time and expense in managing and directing this boat are not warranted by the results. We hope that we shall soon be able to dispose of this boat. GCB April 7, 1901, page 95.8

The Foreign Mission Board has taken a very deep interest in the circulation of our denominational literature, encouraging the preparation of the best of our writings in the native languages of the respective fields. In many places we find that the literature that we have for Americans and English is too difficult to be translated into the native languages, the natives being wholly unable to appreciate the arguments. Having but little conception of spiritual things, these natives are unable to detect the delicacy of a point of doctrine like one whose mind has been enlightened, and who has lived under Christian influences for many generations. We therefore find a necessity of preparing some simpler reading-matter, written in harmony with the style of the country, using their own phrases, adopting the truth to the conditions of the people for whom it is prepared. There are certain of our works that are generally appreciated, and that most of the people are able to read and understand. Among others we might mention “Steps to Christ,” “Christ Our Saviour,” and similar works, which deal largely with spiritual things in a simple manner. GCB April 7, 1901, page 95.9

In the different mission fields we are publishing nine journals, all of which are monthly, except two. One of these two is a semi-monthly, and one a quarterly. The languages in which they are issued are as follows: Spanish, three besides one health journal; one in Mexico, one in Chile, and one in Argentina. There is one each in Finnish, Japanese, Portuguese, Fijian, and English. GCB April 7, 1901, page 95.10

Besides these missionary journals we have some literature, running from a four-page tract to our largest works in twenty-one different languages. This includes none of the European languages, except those under the supervision of the Foreign Mission Board. GCB April 7, 1901, page 95.11

In Arabic we have 9 tracts and leaflets; in Turkish-Armenian, 7 tracts; in Armenian-Greek, 4 tracts; in Basutu, “Steps to Christ” and I tract; in Chinese, 3 pamphlets and 2 tracts; in Finnish, “Great Controversy,” “Life of Christ,” “Prophecies of Jesus,” “Steps to Christ,” also 3 pamphlets and 2 tracts; in Fijian, 1 pamphlet, 3 tracts, 1 hymnal with music, and 1 without music; in Greek, 7 tracts. We have in Hawaiian, 2 pamphlets and 13 tracts; in Indian native languages, 9 tracts, 7 of which are in 1 language, while 2 are published in 2 languages. In Icelandic we have 1 book; in Japanese, “Steps to Christ,” 1 pamphlet, and “Christ Our Saviour,” translated; in Kaffir, 1 pamphlet and 3 tracts; in the Maori, 3 tracts: in Portuguese, “Steps to Christ,” and 3 tracts; in Spanish, 3 bound books, 1 pamphlet, and 14 tracts; in Samoan, 1 pamphlet, and “Christ Our Saviour” translated; in Tahitian, 1 hymnal and 2 pamphlets; in Tongan, 13 tracts. GCB April 7, 1901, page 95.12

This literature is but a beginning of what must be had for the million of unwarned souls. Competent men must be selected, who can give time to the preparation of more literature, in a cheap form, for these different nationalities. Our book sales in foreign fields for the last two years have aggregated $47,000. GCB April 7, 1901, page 95.13

During the present board’s administration we have sent out 68 new workers into foreign fields, while 23 have been returned for various causes. We have employed in foreign fields 284 workers, beside the local help in this country. One can scarcely realize the dearth of competent help till he tries to secure it. We wish here to express the appreciation of the board, both to the General Conference Committee and to all State Conferences in so freely offering any help at their disposal for foreign fields. GCB April 7, 1901, page 95.14

Some measure of success has attended the labors of our workers in these distant lands. Beside all deaths, removals, and apostasies, there has been an increase of 1,539 in membership to our ranks the last two years. We now have in mission territory 105 churches, 102 companies, 4,653 baptized Sabbath-keepers, who contributed the last two years to exceed $33,000 for mission work. GCB April 7, 1901, page 96.1

We would be ungrateful not to here express our gratitude to God for the preserving care he has manifested over our missionaries in these distant lands. But three of our workers have fallen by by death’s stern hand, and these died bravely in the front of the battle, and at their post of duty. Deeply as we mourn their loss, we rejoice to know they triumphed in the Christian’s hope, and left an inspiration to us all for unselfish service in the cause we love. Others have been compelled to leave their field on account of failing health; but all in all, we have much for which to praise our Heavenly Father. GCB April 7, 1901, page 96.2

The policy of the board has been to leave all management to local committees. All we could hope to do, was to assist by a hearty co-operation in securing help and funds, but all details of the work have been left entirely in the hands of the respective local committees. GCB April 7, 1901, page 96.3

We would offer a few suggestions relative to the future organization and operations for our foreign work:— GCB April 7, 1901, page 96.4

1. First, relative to the organization of the Foreign Mission Board. It would appear to us better judgment that an organization operating in such a variety of fields, under such varied conditions, should, as far as is possible, be a permanent organization, so that the personnel of the board should remain intact, and the organization be perpetual. We would suggest that instead of changing or electing all members of the board at one session of the General Conference, that it be organized on the following plan: First, if the sessions of the General Conference continue biennially, that the membership of the board be divided into three divisions, the first three members being elected for a term of two years, the second for the term of four years, and the third for a term of six years. If the sessions of the General Conference be changed to be held quadrennially, we would suggest that only half of the members of the board be elected at any regular session. This would leave at least one half or two thirds of the board as permanent members. GCB April 7, 1901, page 96.5

2. That this General Conference select some of its ablest men who shall go to these distant fields, and have the general superintendency and management, thus attending the councils of the various committees, helping to plan the work on a broad and aggressive basis, who can and will study the field, and make recommendations to the board that will enable it to co-operate in a wiser manner than is possible under the present conditions. These superintendents should be men of faith, adaptability, and of experience sufficient to warrant their being intrusted with so great a responsibility. It is far easier to manage the work here in the United States with weaker men than it is in foreign fields. There everything must be trusted to those on the ground. It is impossible for the board to direct or dictate in regard to the best methods of reaching the people, or the different plans that must be laid for the prosecution of the work. All that the home board can say is the amount of money that it will be able to raise and furnish a specific field, and do its best in selecting such help as the foreign field requires; but the policy to be pursued, except in a general outline, must be left to the workers upon the ground. This certainly must appeal to every man who has held responsible positions, that men in these distant fields, being compelled to rely upon their own judgment, being unable to get counsel from those of more experience than themselves, of necessity should be the best men in the denomination. GCB April 7, 1901, page 96.6

3. We need a general superintendent for South America, for the Mediterranean field, for Japan, and for South Africa, besides many additional laborers, who should go to each of these fields, and to others to give their lives to the work. GCB April 7, 1901, page 96.7

4. Another point in regard to workers must not be overlooked, and we trust that some wise suggestions may be made during this Conference relative to the effectiveness of this line, that is, the proper training and development of native talent. We shall do well to look to the training of competent men and women who have the language and some ability, who know the customs and habits of the people, and that we may save in expense in managing these distant fields. Native help is generally as effective, if not more so, than foreign help, and far cheaper. The salary of a laborer sent from this country to a foreign field is more than twice as much as is paid to the native laborer. Then, too, the foreigner has the disadvantage of having to learn the language, possibly never becoming efficient in it, while the native helper has the language to start with. We shall probably always need some wise managers who shall go from Anglo-Saxon countries to direct the work; but we believe that in the future, economy and experience will teach us that besides the leading managers and teachers, we must look to the development and training of native talent to do the work. This will necessitate that schools be started in these various countries as soon as a constituency can be secured warranting the same, in which the natives shall be taught the third angel’s message, and the best methods of presenting it to the people. GCB April 7, 1901, page 96.8

5. That in counsel with the Foreign Mission Board our parent printing houses be requested to start small publishing missions in the different countries where needed, and to take charge of the book depositories, superintend the circulation of our literature, publish our papers and tracts, etc., making the work missionary in its nature. GCB April 7, 1901, page 96.9

6. The board should have annually not less than $200,000 to carry on the work in a proper way. We trust this Conference will indorse the ten-cent-a-week plan, or devise a better one, and we all work together in harmony and faith. Beside this $200,000 needed for the foreign work, let us ever remember that $22,000 annually must be raised for Christiania. GCB April 7, 1901, page 96.10

7. The Sabbath-school donations have been a great help to the foreign work, raising for other lands nearly $20,000 a year. This branch should be encouraged for our children’s sake. Many of the youth and children attend no other church service, and this is their only opportunity to come in touch with doing for other lands. GCB April 7, 1901, page 96.11

8. That this Conference take under advisement an equalization of the funds of the denomination, that some fields may share their abundance with the regions yet unworked. GCB April 7, 1901, page 96.12

9. That money and men must be supplied that some of these distant fields may start training schools for native talent. GCB April 7, 1901, page 97.1

10. At least two consecrated, educated workers should be sent from this Conference to China. The language is difficult, and it takes years to master it. A literature must be gotten out in that tongue, for the population is so great we can reach its millions only by the aid of the printed page. GCB April 7, 1901, page 97.2

11. Arrangements must be made granting our missionaries located in the tropics a furlough from every three to five years. Their lives and usefulness are imperiled by a continuous stay in these hot latitudes, and nature demands a tonic. While it entails expense in transportation, yet we believe this money to be wisely invested. Let each missionary under ordinary circumstances return to the field or Conference whence he was called, and let that Conference set him at work, becoming responsible for his time. Thus the Foreign Mission funds are conserved, the worker is employed, and we trust the home fields helped. GCB April 7, 1901, page 97.3

Some people believe that every time a man comes in from a foreign field, it is because he is homesick, or lazy, or has found a hard place, and lacks the grit and perseverance necessary to succeed; but that is not necessarily so. You take men who go down into the tropics, into malarial regions, and experience will teach us that men must have a change, and must be brought into a colder climate every few years unless they sacrifice their lives; and many of these workers that have come home, have not come home because they feared the hardships of the place. They came home simply to save their lives; and the board ought to take into consideration, and the brethren in general ought to be educated, that a man is not necessarily lazy or homesick if he is called home and granted a year’s privilege of recruiting his health in this country or some other. GCB April 7, 1901, page 97.4

12. Our Missionary Magazine had a circulation two years ago of between 3,000 and 4,000. The board then organized the Missionary Reading Circle. Our brethren sent in their orders till its list reached 10,000 one year ago. At that time its subscription price was 25 cents. There was a heavy loss. Last July the subscription price was raised to 50 cents. In the fall the Missionary Reading Circle was so changed that the field studies came monthly. The renewals came in but slowly, the interest in the field studies languished, and the list has decreased to only about 5,000. We believe this Magazine should be placed in every family of Seventh-day Adventists. We believe the Magazine is a great educational factor in enlisting interest in this great work in other lands. GCB April 7, 1901, page 97.5

In closing we would say the future of foreign missions never seemed brighter, nor the opportunities for labor more auspicious, than at present. Stretched before us are the whitened fields, inviting the reapers’ sickle. The Star of Bethlehem shines over every nation, bidding the messengers of the Crucified One to service. GCB April 7, 1901, page 97.6

The Macedonian cry is not alone in one country, but the cry of heathendom is “Come over, and help us.” Open doors await our footsteps. From Africa to Siberia, and from the farthest east to the remotest west, but one petition is heard, “Send us help.” GCB April 7, 1901, page 97.7

Instead of having the few we now have,—less than 300 workers in foreign fields,—we could to-day use a thousand, yea, the demand is unlimited, and we can use any number as fast as they can be sustained. GCB April 7, 1901, page 97.8

Oh, that this Conference may prove an inspiration to foreign mission work and from this day a new pentecostal blessing rest upon this people, to lead them whither the Lord would have their service. GCB April 7, 1901, page 97.9

The Treasurer’s report for the Foreign Mission Board was called for, and read as follows:— GCB April 7, 1901, page 97.10