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Ellen G. White: The Early Elmshaven Years: 1900-1905 (vol. 5)

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The New Constitution

The second major debate of the 1903 General Conference session, which came toward the end of the meeting, was centered upon the new constitution, specifically the provision for the election of a president and other appropriate officers for the General Conference. Actually, it was but a slight revision of the 1901 constitution, but it was handled as a new document. 5BIO 256.2

Two reports were filed with the session from the Committee on Plans and Constitution. The majority report supported the new constitution, which would provide for the leading officers of the General Conference to be chosen by the delegates, thus giving them a mandate from the church. On this committee were a number of conference presidents and W. C. White. The minority report, signed by three men largely connected with institutional interests, claimed that the proposed new constitution would reverse the reformatory steps taken at the General Conference of 1901. These men argued that the constitution of 1901, which provided that the General Conference Committee could choose its officers, should not be “annihilated” without giving it a fair trial. 5BIO 256.3

Dr. Kellogg strongly favored the minority report. In a letter written to Ellen White on the day of the opening of the session, he referred to “the schemes of Daniells and Prescott to become rulers over Israel,” which would be “in direct opposition to the whole plan of reorganization which the Lord gave us through you at the last General Conference.” He pointed out that if this were allowed to culminate it would “drive out of the work and into a separate movement all self-respecting doctors and nurses and many ministers as well” (JHK to EGW, March 29, 1903). 5BIO 256.4

As the discussions went on, again and again reference was made to the 1901 General Conference and to a statement quoted from Ellen White that “it is not wise to choose one man as president of the General Conference.” This had been read in 1901 from a manuscript source (Letter 24a, 1896) by those who advocated that the committee of twenty-five should elect the officers. 5BIO 257.1

Now at this 1903 meeting W. C. White and A. G. Daniells were ready; Daniells read the statement, found in Testimonies to Ministers, in its context: 5BIO 257.2

It is not wise to choose one man as president of the General Conference. The work of the General Conference has extended, and some things have been made unnecessarily complicated. A want of discernment has been shown. There should be a division of the field, or some other plan should be devised, to change the present order of things.... The president of the General Conference should have the privilege of deciding who shall stand by his side as counselors.—Page 342 (see also The General Conference Bulletin, 1903, 160). 5BIO 257.3

Ellen White did not enter into the debate on the question of the constitution. W. C. White spoke strongly in support of the changes proposed, as did some of the other respected leaders, such as Loughborough and Butler. The matter was not settled quickly. A vote with a three-fourths majority was needed. At the close of the evening meeting, April 9, 1903, the vote was taken, with 108 delegates present. Eighty-five voted Yes, carrying the action by a majority of four. 5BIO 257.4

Ellen White's final address was given Thursday morning, April 9, after J. Edson White had reported on the work in the South. She read from a manuscript written in 1902, making some comments as she read. Among these: 5BIO 257.5

I have said, “The Southern work,” supposing that our people would certainly understand that I mean especially the work for the colored people. I wish it now to be understood that this is what I meant.—Ibid., 1903, 202. 5BIO 257.6

The session voted to make a quarterly appropriation for the work of the Southern Missionary Society. 5BIO 258.1

Another significant action provided for the use of tithe money for the support of aged or sick workers and for the support of widows and orphans of workers (Ibid., 135). 5BIO 258.2