General Conference Bulletin, vol. 4

GENERAL CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS

Ninth Meeting, April 9, 10:30 A. M.

O. A. Olsen in the chair. After the opening hymn, Elder A. G. Haughey led in prayer. GCB April 10, 1901, page 169.4

The Chair: Several days ago a meeting of the Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association was called, and adjourned to this hour. Elder Irwin, the president of that Association, will now come forward. GCB April 10, 1901, page 169.5

G. A. Irwin: We are here, ready to proceed with the Review and Herald stockholders’ meeting, as adjourned the other day. It is a question in the minds of some whether or not some other business should not take precedence of this, and allow this meeting to be adjourned to a later day. GCB April 10, 1901, page 169.6

S. H. Lane: In view of the fact that there are several important matters which should receive attention by the General Conference as soon as possible, which will have an important bearing on the decisions reached by the stockholders, I move that a meeting of the stockholders of the Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association be adjourned to 10:30 A. M., April 16,-one week from to-day. GCB April 10, 1901, page 169.7

This motion was seconded, and carried unanimously. GCB April 10, 1901, page 169.8

The Chair: This opens the way for the General Conference to proceed with its work. We will acknowledge that the Lord is with us, and has been instructing us day by day. While it may appear in some ways that we have not made much headway, yet I think we have made excellent progress, and the Lord is shedding more light on the way before us. I am very desirous that the good Spirit of the Lord may continue with us. Let us all be in earnest prayer to-day. Matters will come before us in this meeting that will be of the greatest importance to our future work, and we all desire that God shall lead in the decisions that shall be made. GCB April 10, 1901, page 169.9

The minutes of yesterday’s proceedings are found on pages 137-139 of this morning’s BULLETIN [Extra No. 6]. If corrections should be made, please notify the Secretary. GCB April 10, 1901, page 169.10

The partial report of the Committee on Organization, as rendered yesterday, has been printed on slips, and distributed to the delegates. It is also found on page 139 of the BULLETIN. What is your pleasure regarding this report? GCB April 10, 1901, page 169.11

It was moved and seconded to adopt the report. The Secretary read the first recommendation, as follows:- GCB April 10, 1901, page 169.12

“1. That the perfecting of plans for the organization of District Union Conference be carried forward as rapidly as possible during this session of the General Conference.” GCB April 10, 1901, page 169.13

Watson Ziegler: What effect will these Union Conference have, if any, upon the present General Conference organization and the Foreign Mission Board? Will they exist as separate and distinct organizations from the Union Conferences? GCB April 10, 1901, page 169.14

The Chair: The chairman of the committee will please explain. GCB April 10, 1901, page 169.15

W. C. White: If I refer to our Australasian Union Conference in answer to these questions, it is because an illustration can sometimes be made in fewer words and more effectively than an abstract explanation. I would therefore present the fact that in the working of the Australasian Union Conference, we recognize the General Conference and the Foreign Mission Board, and our existence as a Union Conference does not necessarily affect them in any of their organic conditions and relations. GCB April 10, 1901, page 169.16

J. W. Watt: Is it the mind of the committee that these organizations be perfected while here, by the delegates representing the various Conferences in their districts, or will each call a special meeting in which to perfect the several organizations? GCB April 10, 1901, page 169.17

J. H. Morrison: The way this first recommendation reads does not seem to me to be very clear. I would therefore offer the following as an amendment to the first recommendation: “That the delegates from the several General Conference districts be asked to go forward in the perfecting of plans for the organization of District Union Conferences as rapidly as possible during this session of the General Conference.” GCB April 10, 1901, page 170.1

H. W. Cottrell: I second the motion to amend. GCB April 10, 1901, page 170.2

The question was put, and the amendment carried, after which the first recommendation, as amended, passed unanimously. GCB April 10, 1901, page 170.3

The Chair: The Secretary will read the second recommendation. GCB April 10, 1901, page 170.4

“2. That the delegates from each district appoint three of their number to act with the Committee on Organization in the framing of a constitution and working plans.” GCB April 10, 1901, page 170.5

W. C. White: We know you will each wish to frame constitutions which suit the peculiar requirements of your local field. It is also true that you will wish to have these constitutions as uniform as possible without destroying their effectiveness. GCB April 10, 1901, page 170.6

The question of the adoption of the second paragraph was called, and the paragraph adopted unanimously. GCB April 10, 1901, page 170.7

The Chair: The Secretary will read the second recommendation. GCB April 10, 1901, page 170.8

“3. That all questions regarding the change of district territorial lines be referred to the Committee on Constitutions and Plans.” GCB April 10, 1901, page 170.9

The question of adoption was called, and this paragraph carried unanimously. GCB April 10, 1901, page 170.10

The Chair: The Secretary will read the fourth recommendation. GCB April 10, 1901, page 170.11

“4. That in framing constitutions and working plans for these Union Conferences, provision be made for the use by the district organizations that are strong financially, of such parts of their income only as are necessary for the administration of the District Union Conference, and that the balance be forwarded to the General Conference for the maintenance of its administration, and to assist weaker Conferences and missions.” GCB April 10, 1901, page 170.12

Questions as to the meaning of certain parts of this recommendation were asked by Elders C. McReynolds, J. H. Morrison, J. M. Rees, C. W. Flaiz, and Watson Ziegler, which were answered by those having the matter in charge. GCB April 10, 1901, page 170.13

The question was called for. GCB April 10, 1901, page 170.14

The Chair: The question is called for. All in favor of adopting the fourth paragraph of this report, manifest it by saying, Aye; contrary, No. It is unanimously carried. GCB April 10, 1901, page 170.15

The Chair: The report of the Committee on Finance is before you. [Slips bearing this report were distributed to the delegates. The report follows.] GCB April 10, 1901, page 170.16

Your Committee on the More Equal Distribution of Funds respectfully submits the following recommendations:- GCB April 10, 1901, page 170.17

“1. We recommend to our Conferences, as far as they are able and consider that it would be a blessing to do so, to pay a second tithe to the general cause for its mission work. GCB April 10, 1901, page 170.18

“2. We further recommend to such Conferences as are able and willing to do so, that they send a number of their laborers into the mission field and support them there, operating as far as consistent through the boards having charge of the different fields to which the laborers are sent. GCB April 10, 1901, page 170.19

“3. We recommend that, as far as consistent, the General Conference, the Union Conferences, and the local Conferences agree beforehand with their tried and accredited laborers as to the salaries which shall be paid them, and that no portion of their wages be held back. GCB April 10, 1901, page 170.20

“4. We recommend that our Conferences everywhere be urged to adopt and further develop the ten-cent-a-week-plan for the support of our foreign work, as inaugurated by the Foreign Mission Board last year. GCB April 10, 1901, page 170.21

“5. We recommend that all who especially labor in word and doctrine in our colleges and academies in the training of workers for the field, be supported from the tithe. GCB April 10, 1901, page 170.22

SIGNED.

L. H. EVANS,	DR. J. C. OTTOSEN,
W. C. WHITE,	N. P. NELSON,
L. R. CONRADI,	J. D. GOWELL,
C. W. FLAIZ,	R. A. UNDERWOOD,
P. T. MAGAN, Secretary.”

The Chair: What is the pleasure of the Conference on this report? GCB April 10, 1901, page 170.23

W. T. Knox: I move that we adopt the report. GCB April 10, 1901, page 170.24

J. H. Morrison: I second the motion. GCB April 10, 1901, page 170.25

The Chair: The Secretary will read the first item. GCB April 10, 1901, page 170.26

The Secretary [reading]: “1. We recommend to our Conferences, as far as they are able and consider that it would be a blessing to do so, to pay a second tithe to the general cause for its mission work.” GCB April 10, 1901, page 170.27

The Chair: This paragraph is now before you for consideration. What is your pleasure? GCB April 10, 1901, page 170.28

S. H. Lane: I think it is very fortunate indeed that the recommendation refers to the Conference, and not to the Conference Committee. The fact is, and I think we all recognize it, that the more thoroughly a Conference Committee keeps in touch with the people of the Conference, the more successful will that Committee be. GCB April 10, 1901, page 170.29

R. A. Underwood: I also am glad that it refers to the people; but there is another thought I would like to call attention to. As expressed in the proverb, “Like priest, like people.” So if the laborers as well as the Conference Committee in each Conference will throw their influence strongly in favor of sending away more of our funds, and reaching out into these destitute fields, the people will all say, Amen. GCB April 10, 1901, page 170.30

The vote on the first recommendation was called, and the question carried unanimously. GCB April 10, 1901, page 170.31

The Chair: The secretary will read the second paragraph. GCB April 10, 1901, page 170.32

The Secretary [reading]: “2. We further recommend to such Conferences as are able and willing to do so, that they send a number of their laborers into the mission field and support them there, operating as far as consistent through the boards having charge of the different fields to which laborers are sent.” GCB April 10, 1901, page 170.33

M. Mackintosh: I am glad to have the privilege of speaking in favor of this recommendation. I am heartily in favor of it. I believe that what we need is less machinery and a clear-cut connection with all our laborers in the field. But let us give the people a direct connection with the men that we have sent out to other fields, and God will bless in it, and the work will go forward more rapidly. GCB April 10, 1901, page 170.34

G. G. Rupert: There is one point in this recommendation that I am interested in, not so much in the machinery part, but the expression of the recommendation itself, that we furnish laborers to foreign fields, and I do not want this Conference to lose sight of it. We want to see this truth taken out of these old Conferences, and put into new fields. I believe the machinery part of it will adjust itself sooner or later; but we want the spirit of the message, and we want to sacrifice in our Conference for the truth. We want to furnish not only men but also tithes with them. GCB April 10, 1901, page 170.35

M. C. Wilcox: I am glad this resolution is before us, and I hope that all our Conferences will remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that it is more blessed to give than to receive. There is a great blessing in this for our Conferences, and for our great churches, especially, in our large Conferences. It is true that we are multiplying laborers and labor among those who ought to be our forces instead of our field. Our churches ought to be a force in this great work of carrying forward the message of the Lord; but it is getting to be a fact that many of our churches, and especially our large churches, are becoming the fields of labor for our ministers, instead of carrying forward this message. GCB April 10, 1901, page 171.1

Luther Warren: I can see in this recommendation, if it is carried out, a fine help for our churches. If we could add new territory, as one of the brethren has suggested, and make that the home field, it could not fail to produce a greater interest among our people in the churches. GCB April 10, 1901, page 171.2

The Chair: The question is called on the adoption of Recommendation No. 2. GCB April 10, 1901, page 171.3

It was carried unanimously. GCB April 10, 1901, page 171.4

Recommendation No. 3 was called for and read by the secretary as follows:— GCB April 10, 1901, page 171.5

“3. We recommend that, as far as consistent, the General Conference, the Union Conferences and the local Conferences agree beforehand with their tried and accredited laborers as to the salaries which shall be paid them, and that no portion of their wages be held back.” GCB April 10, 1901, page 171.6

The Chair: This recommendation is now before you. GCB April 10, 1901, page 171.7

The question was called, and carried unanimously. GCB April 10, 1901, page 171.8

No. 4 was then called up, and read. GCB April 10, 1901, page 171.9

The Chair: This recommendation is now before the Conference. GCB April 10, 1901, page 171.10

I. H. Evans: I am much interested in regard to the work in foreign fields, and the securing of funds to carry on that work. I think we all agree that there is a vast work to be done by us in the regions beyond. The vast majority of the population of the world lies-outside of our organized territory, and it will take a great many men and laborers to carry on the work in a strong manner in these fields. GCB April 10, 1901, page 171.11

To show that the ten-cent-a-week plan is a wise one, you need only to study the financial reports of the Foreign Mission Board from quarter to quarter. Since the adoption of this plan, the finances of the Foreign Mission Board have rapidly risen, and we have been enabled to carry our work and pay our men regularly and systematically, and to pay all our old obligations of fifty thousand dollars resting upon us two years ago. To-day we have sufficient to pay our audit, and still enough left to pay our men from month to month in advance, instead of having our foreign fields always behind in the pay roll. GCB April 10, 1901, page 171.12

The last quarter our donations have been the largest in the history of the denomination, aggregating $52,671.35. This is very encouraging to those who have to be responsible for the support of the work. GCB April 10, 1901, page 171.13

Voice: I would like to inquire if we are going to carry on the First-day offerings with this? GCB April 10, 1901, page 171.14

I. H. Evans: This is the First-day offering. It takes the place of all others. I might add here that the Foreign Mission Board is requested to collect funds to settle the Scandinavian indebtedness in Christiania. That indebtedness aggregates $81,084. It has to be paid in semi-annual installments of $11,000, making $22,000 a year that the board has to raise. We shall have to pay $11,000 the first day of July, and the money must leave the office here as soon as the 15th of June, in order to reach there at that date. That is a large indebtedness; but we believe, brethren, that our board will be enabled to pay this, if we can only have the hearty co-operation of each one. So it seems to me that instead of putting on the brake, fearing that there is too much money going into the Foreign Missionary treasury, that we should all take hold, and lift, and do our very best. GCB April 10, 1901, page 171.15

[Voices: Amen!] GCB April 10, 1901, page 171.16

M. H. Brown: Did the offerings of $52,000 include the annual offering? GCB April 10, 1901, page 171.17

I. H. Evans: Yes. I will give the amount of the annual offering. All will like to hear it. We have received since January 1 of this year, $32,979.32. Of this amount, $26,208.66 was sent straight to the Foreign Mission Board, to be used where needed: $5,190.90 was a contribution to the Scandinavian publishing house, and was so specified: $1,579.90 was specified to go to Skodsborg. The Foreign Mission Board has already paid to Skodsborg $3,000 out of its treasury, that has not been reimbursed. We have also paid the first installment on the publishing house; but the next is due July 1. GCB April 10, 1901, page 171.18

J. H. Morrison: I am in favor of this recommendation; but it is one thing to vote to recommend something, and another to do it. The offerings in District 4, we find, amount to but four cents a week, instead of ten. If we had six cents more for each member, it would bring up the amount to about one hundred thousand dollars. I would like to see this done. GCB April 10, 1901, page 171.19

W. C. White: I believe in the ten-cent-a-week plan, and in the second tithe. I can advocate them both, because one will be a stepping-stone to the other. When I first heard of this ten-cent-a-week plan, I considered the theory of it, and I was not pleased with it. But I have been brought into contact with churches that are working it, and I must say that the fruits of the tree are good. GCB April 10, 1901, page 171.20

C. W. Flaiz: I believe if these recommendations are followed out, it will open up the springs of benevolence among our people everywhere. GCB April 10, 1901, page 171.21

G. B. Thompson: I am in favor of all of these recommendations. The hope of our foreign mission work is not in these delegates, but it is in the farmers and hanics and widows and children and orphans of this denomination, who are scattered all over the world. With this ten-cent-a-week plan, we can go to them with something which gives them all a change to help. For that reason, I am in favor of it. In my labors among the churches, I find the fruits of the plan are good. I met a brother in a church the other day, who told me he had commended the ten-cent-a-week plan, and that the Lord had blessed him so abundantly that he was now able to lay by a dollar a week for foreign missions. GCB April 10, 1901, page 171.22

J. O. Corliss: The ten-cent-a-week plan does not ask our brethren to do any more personally than they have been doing the last two years. From my personal knowledge and experience where I have been in the work, I know it has raised the contributions away above what they were before, and the brethren there feel that it is the best plan ever adopted. Inasmuch as it will not ask the brethren personally to do any more than they have done, I think it is well for us to think very seriously before we drop this plan which has worked so well among us. GCB April 10, 1901, page 171.23

Recommendation 4 was voted upon, and heartily passed. GCB April 10, 1901, page 171.24

W. C. White: I move that we do now adjourn. If permitted to give my reason, I would say that important committees have been appointed for this hour, and I know there are persons wishing to speak upon this next recommendation [Recommendation No. 5] more fully than we are willing to hear at this hour. GCB April 10, 1901, page 171.25

P. G. Stanley: I second the motion. GCB April 10, 1901, page 172.1

Before adjournment, the chairman called attention to the sacredness of the house of God, and the importance of our maintaining the utmost decorum; that in the multiplicity of business and the great congregation, we are liable to lose sight of these things. GCB April 10, 1901, page 172.2

Voted to adjourn. Benediction by Elder W. T. Knox. GCB April 10, 1901, page 172.3

O. A. OLSEN, Chairman.
L. A. HOOPES, Secretary.