General Conference Bulletin, vol. 1

GENERAL CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS

THE seventh meeting of the Conference convened at 10 A.M., February 22. A hymn was sung, and S. H. Lane offered prayer. After the reading of the minutes, reports of committees were called for. The Committee on Education submitted an additional report, as follows:— GCB February 24, 1895, page 315.5

The Committee on Education presents the following additional partial report:— GCB February 24, 1895, page 315.6

4. Whereas, There is a demand for church and conference schools in various parts of the field, and to secure the best results it is highly important that teachers be selected who are thoroughly prepared for the lines of work to be carried, also that the schools be established upon a safe financial basis, therefore, — GCB February 24, 1895, page 315.7

Resolved, That it is the sense of the Conference, that before starting such schools there be careful deliberation and consultation between the local Conference or the local Mission Board and the Educational Secretary. GCB February 24, 1895, page 315.8

The Committee on Resolutions presented the following:— GCB February 24, 1895, page 315.9

Your Committee would respectfully ask the privilege of withdrawing resolution No. 12, and also of submitting the following additional report:— GCB February 24, 1895, page 315.10

14. Resolved, That the General Conference Association be requested to make arrangements with the Pacific Press Publishing Company for the purchase of the Bible Student’s and Apples of Gold Libraries, and that the said Association, through the International Tract and Missionary Society, publish all our tracts, pamphlets, and libraries, and place the same on the market at as low a price as possible. GCB February 24, 1895, page 315.11

15. Whereas, The rapid enlargement of the work brings in larger burdens to be borne by those in responsible positions, and, — GCB February 24, 1895, page 315.12

Whereas, It is impracticable for the General Conference Committee to deal with the many details of the work in the General Conference Districts; therefore, — GCB February 24, 1895, page 315.13

Resolved, That the presidents of the conferences, chairmen of mission boards, and the district superintendent of each district, constitute an Executive Board for their field, to take under advisement, with power to act, such local matters as shall be named by the General Conference, as follows:— GCB February 24, 1895, page 315.14

(1). The changing of laborers from one State to another in the same district conference, providing such changes do not conflict with appointments made by the General Conference Committee or Foreign Mission Board. GCB February 24, 1895, page 315.15

(2). The arranging of all camp-meetings and other general meetings in the district. GCB February 24, 1895, page 315.16

(3). The originating and conducting of canvassers’ and church schools of more than four weeks’ duration. GCB February 24, 1895, page 316.1

(4). The appointment of a treasurer for each district outside of North America, who shall receive all General Conference funds, disbursing the same as the General Conference may direct. GCB February 24, 1895, page 316.2

16. Resolved, That all moves in connection with the district work that call for large expenditure of means, be referred to the General Conference Committee for counsel. GCB February 24, 1895, page 316.3

17. Resolved, That this Board, with as many of the laborers of each conference as shall be chosen by the State conference executive committee, meet in counsel at least once a year to make a study of the best plans for carrying forward the work; and that a series of Bible studies be conducted during this council, the time, place, and length of this council to be decided by the District Executive Board; and, — GCB February 24, 1895, page 316.4

Further, That the District Board hold other meetings for counsel as often as the district superintendent, in correspondence with the several presidents in his district conference, shall appoint. GCB February 24, 1895, page 316.5

And, That the President of the General Conference be requested to attend the councils of these districts as far as shall be consistent with his other duties. GCB February 24, 1895, page 316.6

18. Whereas, The closing work is not only to go to all the world but also to go with great rapidity; and, — GCB February 24, 1895, page 316.7

Whereas, It has been urged upon us repeatedly to send laborers to the “regions beyond;” therefore, — GCB February 24, 1895, page 316.8

Resolved, That we approve of the course that has been pursued by the Foreign Mission Board in the past, and request them to continue to study carefully the field, and to send forth laborers as fast as the proper persons can be selected and fitted for the work, and as fast as means are on hand with which to send them. GCB February 24, 1895, page 316.9

The Committee on Resolutions asked permission to substitute for Resolution 7, the following:— GCB February 24, 1895, page 316.10

Resolved, That the General Conference Association be requested to make arrangements with the Pacific Press Publishing Company to place the Signs of the Times under the direct management of the General Conference, and that steps be taken to reduce the cost of the paper, so as to enable our people to give it a much greater circulation. GCB February 24, 1895, page 316.11

The Committee also desired to substitute the following for Resolution 9:— GCB February 24, 1895, page 316.12

Resolved, That we approve of the plan of inserting in the Signs of the Times, the Present Truth, and the American Sentinel, a limited amount of carefully selected advertisements, the illustrating of the papers to be left with the publishers. GCB February 24, 1895, page 316.13

H. P. Holser moved that the Committee be allowed to make the proposed substitutions. A. T. Jones seconded the motion, which was carried. The motion “to refer” which was pending at the time of adjournment, and which applied to the above resolution, was by consent withdrawn. GCB February 24, 1895, page 316.14

The Secretary then read Resolutions 7, 8, and 9 in harmony with the substitutions. GCB February 24, 1895, page 316.15

Question. — Will the reduction in price apply to single subscribers, or only to the Tract Societies and others acting as agents? GCB February 24, 1895, page 316.16

Answer by the Chair. — It will be the duty of the Association to consider the interests of all, and to make such arrangements as will suit the interests of those who sell the paper, as well as of those who subscribe for it. GCB February 24, 1895, page 316.17

W. D. Curtis reverted to the subject of inserting advertisements, and in a few remarks reviewed the arguments which had been presented in favor of inserting them. GCB February 24, 1895, page 316.18

The President, calling J. N. Loughborough to the chair, proceeded to consider at some length the subject under consideration. He stated that there is a demand for a cheap missionary paper. Efforts have been made from time to time to use the Signs of the Times in this capacity, and at one time its circulation was raised to 25,000 copies, but this was only for a short period, when it soon relapsed to its usual number. The great obstacle in the way of giving it the extensive circulation we desire, is the price; and to reduce the price a few cents would not materially change the situation. We must make a radical reduction in order to be able to make the use of the paper that we desire to do. The matter of inserting advertisements has been candidly and carefully canvassed from every standpoint. We find that even with a circulation of 100,000 copies, it would not be possible to place the subscription price at a figure within our reach, if advertisements are not used; and in that case a donation of $12,000 or $15,000 a year would be required to support the paper. GCB February 24, 1895, page 316.19

While the Chair recognized the sincerity of those who had objections to the appearance of advertisements in our papers, he still observed that this objection was disappearing, a revolution of sentiment was taking place, and he thought that by concerted action, objections to carefully-selected advertisements would soon disappear. Ordinary advertisements would be objectionable, while proper advertisements would not be. Without them we shall deprive ourselves of the privilege we so much desire of sending the paper to thousands of people to whom we could send it by the aid of a few advertisements. GCB February 24, 1895, page 316.20

W.B. White raised the question as to whether advertisements were not already appearing in the Signs of the Times, and presented a sample copy in evidence. The question was further discussed by Eugene Leland, C. P. Bollman, M. C. Wilcox, and D. A. Robinson. GCB February 24, 1895, page 316.21

Question from congregation. — Are visitors who are not members of the Conference permitted to participate in the deliberations? GCB February 24, 1895, page 316.22

Answer by the Chair. — Such privilege has in the past been extended to visiting brethren, and has never, to our knowledge, been denied them. GCB February 24, 1895, page 316.23

The resolutions under consideration were adopted by a large majority. GCB February 24, 1895, page 316.24

Resolution 10, p. 250, was then read. GCB February 24, 1895, page 317.1

D. A. Robinson remarked that it was hardly necessary for him to say that he was strongly in favor of the resolution. The only suggestion he would make would be to double the amount specified. In answer to the query as to how the $5000 would be used, Elder Robinson stated that it would be used in assisting men and women to sell the paper, for the profits were so small that it had hitherto been impossible to make a living from the proceeds of the sales. In consideration of the magnitude and importance of the field, and the great work to be done in Great Britain, the speaker thought that $10,000 would not be proportionately too large an amount to devote to this purpose. GCB February 24, 1895, page 317.2

The resolution was heartily adopted. GCB February 24, 1895, page 317.3

C. P. Bollman then moved to adopt the report of the Committee on Resolutions found on page 283 of the BULLETIN, numbered 11 and 12. F. M. Wilcox moved and J. H. Durland seconded that the privilege of withdrawing Resolution 12 requested by the Committee be granted. Carried, and the resolution was withdrawn. GCB February 24, 1895, page 317.4

The Secretary then read Resolution 11, which was spoken to by C. P. Bollman, L. D. Santee, G. O. States, D. H. Lamson, S. H. Lane, C. L. Boyd, and others. While the discussion was in progress, the moment for closing arrived, and the Conference adjourned. GCB February 24, 1895, page 317.5