Spirit of Prophecy Counsels Relating To Church-State Relationships

Land Grant Considered By 1895 General Conference—(February 15-March 15)

February 20, 1895, Resolution Introduced.

“The Chairman of the Committee on Resolutions submitted the following additional report:— SPCCSR 156.4

“Your Committee on Resolutions would respectfully submit the following: SPCCSR 156.5

“Whereas, Opportunities have arisen and doubtless will arise in the future to secure from various civil governments grants and donations, and,— SPCCSR 156.6

“Whereas, To seek or even to accept any such thing from any civil government in any country would be a violation of the fundamental principles of separation of Church and State, therefore,— SPCCSR 156.7

“11. Resolved, That we ought not as a denomination either to seek or accept from any civil government, chief, ruler, or royal chartered company, supreme, local, or otherwise, any gift or donation, concession or grant, either of land, money, credit, special privilege, or other thing of value, to which we are not in common with all others justly entitled as men without any reference to our religious profession or religious work. This does not preclude the receiving of aid from rulers, royal personages, or private individuals when such assistance is rendered by these parties in their individual capacities. SPCCSR 156.8

“12. Resolved, That in harmony with this resolution, the General Conference Association be instructed to pay an equivalent for all government land that may be secured in Africa or elsewhere.”—GCB 1895, p. 283. SPCCSR 157.1

February 24,—The Resolution Discussed.

“The committees having no further reports to submit, the Chair announced the order of business to be the pending motion to adopt Resolution 11, page 283. SPCCSR 157.2

“Elder A. T. Jones took the floor. The speaker contended that our position on the entire separation of Church and State should be without a conditional ‘but’—it should be a clear and decided one. All these resolutions implied doubts and a disposition to compromise. The circumstances of Israel in Medo-Persia and Babylon had been referred to, but did not illustrate the case, since the people were then in captivity, and under the power of a hostile nation. We should look for primitive principles. Christ in His discussion of principles pointed them back to the beginning. Divorces and polygamy were allowed, but in the beginning ‘it was not so.’ Had Israel not forsaken God, the books of Esther and Nehemiah would not have been written. The speaker reviewed at some length the circumstances in which we are at present placed. SPCCSR 157.3

“D. H. Lamson remarked that though there was something peculiar in the circumstances of Israel as depicted in Nehemiah and Ezra, still there were features of their relation to the civil power which he could not explain on the ground of entire separation from the state. SPCCSR 157.4

“Wm. Healey said that the circumstances of Israel in captivity were not applicable to the question, because the favors that the king bestowed upon them were simply the restoration of the rights which had been forcibly taken from them. If a government were to bring a general persecution upon a religious community, and carry away the people in captivity, and after some years a new administration should come in, which would restore the people to their original condition, there would be nothing in accepting that restoration which would compromise the relation of that church to the State. However, the speaker thought that the resolution might be somewhat improved, and moved to strike out the words ‘chief, ruler, or royal chartered company.’ SPCCSR 158.1

“J. M. Rees seconded this motion, and it was carried without discussion. SPCCSR 158.2

“The resolution as it then stood was discussed by A. T. Jones, R. C. Porter, D. T. Jones, C. P. Bollman, and W. W. Prescott. The question was called for. The latter speaker remarked that the passage or value of the present resolution was of comparatively small importance compared with its benefit as an educator. He therefore trusted that the discussion would be allowed to proceed, and that questions would be freely asked and answered. The original commission of Christ to the disciples was given when there was but one government in the world, and that government was totally opposed to the gospel, and those who carried it must do so under the penalty of death or the confiscation of property. But they went forth asking no special privileges or immunities from the government. SPCCSR 158.3

“G. E. Fifield, Wm. Healey, W. W. Prescott, S. H. Lane, A. T. Jones, O. A. Johnson, D. T. Jones, R. A. Underwood, and C. P. Bollman participated in the discussion that followed. The latter moved to strike out the words ‘private individual,’ and the motion was seconded by W. D. Curtis. This motion was spoken to by L. H. Crisler, D. T. Jones, and others. Carried. SPCCSR 158.4

“D. T. Jones then moved, and S. H. Lane seconded, to strike out the words ‘credits’ and ‘special privilege.’ This motion was spoken to by L. D. Santee, A. T. Jones, D. H. Lamson, W. W. Prescott, D. T. Jones. SPCCSR 159.1

“The period of the meeting having expired, the motion to adjourn was carried.... SPCCSR 159.2

“The discussion of the resolution was animated and instructive. There was no clashing of sentiment, nor of personal feelings, and much that was helpful was brought out, and all felt that the meeting had been a profitable one, and were able to see the issue before us much clearer than before.”—GCB 1895, pp. 340-41. SPCCSR 159.3

No Action Recorded.

(Note: The General Conference Bulletin fails to record any action adopting the resolution.—A. L. White.)

February 26. O. A. Olsen Reports On The Discussion Of South African Land

Question at Two Meetings at 1895 Session. (O. A. Olsen to W. C. White) SPCCSR 159.4

“I enclose with this letter some extracts from a letter I have lately received from Eld. Haskell, and also a copy of a letter which Eld. Jones has sent him in reply. You will see that they relate to the mission farm in Matabeleland. Bro. Jones has himself received a letter from Bro. Haskell, and also one from Sr. Druillard, in which the subject is quite fully discussed. It is very likely that you already have copies of these letters, but I do not know. If I had access to the letter of Sr. Druillard, I would send you a copy of that; for I want you to understand the whole situation. SPCCSR 159.5

“It has been the mind of the Foreign Mission Board from the first to pay for the land; but when our brethren went up there, and it was offered to them so freely, they thought it right to accept of it, and then on their return to Cape Town, Elder Haskell took the same view of the matter as they did. I wrote Bro. Haskell quite freely the mind of the F.M.B. with reference to paying for the land, and now I send you a copy of his reply. You will notice that he treats the idea of paying for the land with considerable lightness. SPCCSR 159.6

“Now the question has also been before the General Conference as you will see by the Bulletin, though the whole discussion does not appear, of course. Nearly two meetings of the Conference were taken up in talking the matter over, and bringing out important thoughts in connection with the subject of the union of church and state, etc. I am glad to say that the discussion was carried on in a dignified manner, and while it occupied a much longer time than I had expected, I am not sorry, because it was very instructive, and I believe that the principles brought out will be helpful to all who were present. I hope that our brethren in S. Africa will properly relate themselves to the situation, so that unfavorable complications may be avoided.”—(O. A. Olsen to W. C. White, Feb. 26, 1895.) SPCCSR 160.1

March 17, Mission Board Acts To Purchase Land In South Africa.

“Work in Zambesia. SPCCSR 160.2

“3. That the following propositions be adopted for the guidance of our work in Zambesia:— SPCCSR 160.3

“1. That the work shall be under the direction and control of the Foreign Mission Board of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. SPCCSR 160.4

“2. That the land secured from the government shall be purchased and not received as a grant. SPCCSR 160.5

“3. That we express it as our judgment that no more land should be purchased than is necessary for practical purposes in connection with mission work. SPCCSR 160.6

“4. That a letter be written to Messrs. Rhodes and Jamison, representing the British South Africa Land Company, expressing our appreciation as a Board for the favors offered us, and also our desire to so conduct ourselves and our work that we may always have their perfect cooperation; but that we do not feel free to accept of the land as a gift, but will pay them a price that they and our agent may agree upon, feeling that this will be m.ore satisfactory to them and also to ourselves, leaving us more free to go forward and carry out the plans of missionary work that we have arranged for.”—Minutes Foreign Mission Board, March 17, 1895. Present: O. A. Olsen, J. N. Loughborough, U. Smith, J. H. Morrison, A. O. Tait, W. W. Prescott, G. C. Tenney, A. R. Henry, J. H. Durland, L. McCoy, and F. M. Wilcox. SPCCSR 161.1

March 28. The Ellen G. White Testimony ⁵ Reaches Battle Creek. (O. A. Olsen to W. C. White)

“Now with reference to the business connected with the General Conference: as you have the Bulletin, and will look that over, you will follow the business transactions from day to day; also the devotional meetings and the Bible studies. I think: that the business proceedings were given more fully in the last Bulletin than at any time before. The business passed off quite nicely, and quite satisfactorily in a general way. We had many evidences of the Lord’s blessing and presence.... SPCCSR 161.2

“Since receiving the last mail from Australia, and reading the many communications sent by your mother, I see some things in a clearer light than I have viewed them before. Only yesterday I finished reading those communications; and I am more thankful than I can express, with reference to the instruction she has given, and the light she has thrown, on certain matters connected with the religious liberty movement. I have been greatly burdened all the year over the way some things have taken shape in that line. I have spoken to, and warned some of our brethren at different times; but from the fact that, with a multitude of matters that necessarily come to me to look after, I have not been able to follow along and give all these matters the careful study that others have done, therefore I am not so well posted on every question as I ought to be.”... SPCCSR 161.3

“I have felt bad over what has seemed to me to be extreme positions taken on various questions. During the Conference I felt very sorry for the resolution that was brought in concerning the Matabeleland question, etc. I had not seen the resolution until it was read on the floor. It went through me at first with a shock. I did what I could to assist in modifying the terms of the expression, but that was all that it amounted to. If we had had the instruction that came to us in the last mail from Australia, many things that were said would not have been said, and the resolution, if offered, would have been of an entirely different nature. Well, it shows me more and more that I can not place any dependence upon any man or set of men; it makes no difference who they are or where they are. SPCCSR 162.1

“But while this is so, it greatly increases the responsibilities of the one who stands in the position that I do, and in view of these things, I feel, many times, as though I would sink in the earth. My only comfort is in the thought that the work is the Lord’s; and I am glad that that is so. He has had it in charge all these years until now, and He will still have it in charge. In the past He has many times overruled our mistakes because we did it ignorantly. I hope He will still do so; for otherwise we should be in a most trying position.”—(O.A. Olsen to W.C. White, Maranatha, 28, 1895.) SPCCSR 162.2

March 29,—Further Mission Board Action.

“6. That as much land as is necessary for practical mission purposes be secured by the superintendent of the Mission of the British South Africa Land Company on such conditions as may be agreed upon, providing such conditions comport with sound business principles, and do not in any way compromise our work as a denomination. SPCCSR 163.1

“7. That this land thus secured shall be worked and used wholly for the interests of the general mission and not for personal advantage. SPCCSR 163.2

“8. That the natives living on the same shall not be dispossessed or driven off, but allowed to live peaceably in the enjoyment of their legitimate pursuits.... SPCCSR 163.3

“The question was raised as to the amount of means to be invested in the enterprise for the first year. After some consideration, it was SPCCSR 163.4

“VOTED, That five thousand dollars be the limit of the expenses for the first year; this to include the wages paid to laborers, but not the expense connected with the purchase of the land, ⁶ in case it should be deemed necessary to secure it in this way.”—(Minutes Foreign Mission Board, Maranatha, 29, 1895.) SPCCSR 163.5