Manuscripts and Memories of Minneapolis

S D. ADVENTIST GENERAL CONFERENCE

ninth day’s proceedings

Sunday, Oct. 28, 1888, 10:30 a. m. Prayer by R. A. Underwood. Minutes approved. MMM 407.1

There being no other business before the meeting, it was- MMM 407.2

Moved, That the Chair appoint a committee of five, to take into consideration the city mission work for the coming year.-Carried. MMM 407.3

The following brethren were appointed: R A, Underwood, E. W. Farnsworth, W. C. White, C. Eldridge, G. G. Rupert. MMM 407.4

Resolutions six and seven of the report of the Committee on Resolutions, which were postponed until such time as Dr. Kellogg could be present, were called up for consideration, and the Doctor being present, he was requested to speak upon the question presented in the resolutions. He gave an interesting talk on the work of the Sanitarium Nursing School, and the wide field of usefulness that is open before proper persons in this direction. MMM 407.5

The resolutions were then unanimously adopted. MMM 407.6

The report of the Home Mission Secretary, E. W. Farnsworth, being called for, he presented the following:- MMM 407.7

There are twenty-two city missions represented in the report for 1888, against thirty-four in 1887. Fourteen have been discontinued or merged into the church that has been raised in the place. London and Liverpool were included in the report last year; but this year are included in the report of foreign missions. Sixteen of the missions report 526 persons embracing the truth since they were started, and almost one-half, 258 during the last nine months, the time covered by this report. MMM 407.8

According to reports, there are 131 workers engaged in Bible work, or have been some time during the year. They have made 43,021 visits, with 10,353 families. MMM 407.9

They have held 12,037 Bible readings, with 16,399 persons. During the nine months past, they have obtained 4,475 yearly subscription for our periodicals and 644 for less than a year, making 5,119 in all. They have sold 2,359 subscription books, and sold, loaned, and given away 1,560,111 pages of books and tracts, and in different ways have distributed 24,237 periodicals. The amount of sales on books is $7 674.40; paid for rent, $4,453.47; for other expenses, not including board of workers, $7,121.32; the amount of tithes paid by the missions, including mission workers and those who have embraced the truth through them, $4,997.20. The amount of donations to other enterprises is $1,855.25, making $6,852.45, in all. MMM 407.10

The following report was also given by the Home Mission Secretary:- MMM 407.11

brief history of the chicago mission training school

It has been a little over four years since this school was opened. Over one hundred laborers who have received more or less instruction therein, are now working in eighteen different States and in six countries. MMM 407.12

Over one hundred persons have fully embraced the truth, and a large number are now interested. MMM 407.13

The church in Chicago numbers ninety-two members MMM 407.14

The mission has donated to foreign mission work, $1,263.96; to home work-Chicago building fund, etc.-$1,224.65; and has paid about $1, 200 tithe. MMM 407.15

The present plans are to receive principally ladies, and men and their wives. MMM 407.16

These persons must have a good experience at home first. They must be converted, and give evidence of devotion, and show some ability to teach. The mission is net a place to send unconverted youth to get them under a good influence. The workers must not be burdened with this kind of work. MMM 407.17

We have connected with the Bible work, systematic visiting of the sick and poor. There are four weekly tract societies is the city, and one at Pullman. Home and foreign missionary work is attended to through correspondence, also outside missionary work of every kind. MMM 407.18

Regular instruction will be given by competent nurses from the Sanitarium, in the treatment of common diseases, also a series of lessons in physiology and hygiene, public and private Bible readings, practical religion, morning talks and readings on the subject of repentance, conversion and faith. MMM 407.19

A new building is now in process of erection at Nos. 26 and 28 College Place. It will contain about thirty rooms, one a chapel, 28 x 40 feet, capable of seating about 300 people. The building will be heated by steam, with passenger elevator. The water for the entire house and elevator is furnished free by the city. There will be no State or city tax upon the property. MMM 407.20

Out of the number who have embraced the truth, sixteen are devoting their entire time, and three a portion of their time, to some branch of the work; making nearly one fifth of the entire number laborers in the message. MMM 407.21

The Secretary remarked that he had had but little time to devote to his work, as his time had been largely devoted to other work for the Conference. MMM 407.22

A full report, he said, would show that fully 1,000 persons have been converted to the truth since these missions began their work. And in Chicago 1,500 subscriptions were taken for Good Health. MMM 407.23

The report was adopted; and the Conference adjourned to call of Chair. MMM 407.24

tenth day’s proceedings

Tuesday, Oct. 30, 1888, 10:30 a. m. Prayer by A. T. Jones. Minutes approved. The statistical reports from the State Conferences, so far as received, were read for correction, and a few corrections were made. MMM 407.25

The Committee on Distribution of Labor made a partial report as follows:- MMM 407.26

The Committee on the Distribution of Labor would respectfully submit the following report, recommending,- MMM 407.27

1. That J. W. Bagby, of Kansas, go to North Carolina, and make that his field of labor. MMM 407.28

2. That T. H. Gibbs, of Louisiana, labor in the Nebraska Conference. MMM 407.29

3. That J. M. Rees, of Tennessee, make Indiana his field of labor. MMM 407.30

4. That R. S. Donnell, of Missouri, go to Tennessee to take the place made vacant by Bro. Rees, and to take the oversight of the work in Kentucky. MMM 407.31

5. That S. H. Lane, of Georgia, go to New York and labor in that Conference. MMM 407.32

6. That M. G. Huffman, of Virginia, occupy the field made vacant by Bro. Lane. MMM 407.33

7. That B. F. Purdham, of Indiana, make Louisiana his field of labor. MMM 407.34

8. That G. H. Rogers, of Illinois, labor in the Upper Columbia Conference. MMM 407.35

9. That W. B. Hill, of Minnesota, go to Iowa and labor in that State. MMM 407.36

10. That W. A. Colcord, of Iowa, go to Battle Creek to connect with the Review and Herald Office. MMM 407.37

11. That H. R. Johnson, of Iowa, return to Wisconsin, and make that State his field of labor. MMM 407.38

12. That O. A. Johnson, of Montana, attend Eld. Matteson’s training-school in Chicago, and then make Iowa his field, and labor exclusively in the Scandinavian language. MMM 407.39

13. That John Covert, of Indiana, connect with the Michigan Conference, and labor in that field. MMM 407.40

14. That. C. W. Flaize, of Kentucky, make Minnesota his field of labor. MMM 407.41

15. That, in harmony with the request of J. H. Durland, now laboring in England, we recommend him to return to this country, and labor in Ontario, under the direction of the Michigan Conference. MMM 407.42

16. That E. W. Whitney, now in Basel, make Great Britain his field of labor, as soon as be can be spared from his work in Basel. MMM 407.43

17. That H. M. Kenyon, of Michigan, labor in the Kansas Conference. MMM 407.44

18. That J. S. Shrock, of Pennsylvania, go to Germany to labor in that country. MMM 407.45

19. That L. R. Conradi spend several months in this country, holding institutes for the instruction of German canvassers. MMM 407.46

20. That D. H. Oberholtzer, of Indiana, go to Pennsylvania to labor among the Germans. MMM 407.47

21. That John Gibson, of California, go to London as book-keeper and to assist in the management of the Office there. MMM 407.48

22. That R. F. Andrews, of Illinois, labor in Indiana. MMM 407.49

23. That M. B. Miller, of Michigan, take charge of the work in Nova Scotia. MMM 407.50

24. That W. S. Hyatt, of Wisconsin, go to Texas to take the presidency of the Conference and T. and M. Society there. MMM 407.51

25. That O. C. Godsmark, of Georgia, make Illinois his field of labor. MMM 407.52

26. That C. P. Haskell, of Colorado, labor in the Kansas Conference. MMM 407.53

27. That E. P. Auger, of General Europe, return to this country, to labor in the French canvassing field. MMM 407.54

28. That D. T. Bourdeau go to Canada, to labor among the French, under the direction of the Michigan Conference. MMM 407.55

29. That the Pennsylvania Conference take charge of the work in New Jersey. MMM 407.56

30. That A. T. Jones, if the way opens, visit Boston, Chicago, and other points, where local Conferences can secure suitable places to reach the masses of the people, and present the subject of religious liberty. MMM 407.57

31. That R. A. Hart return to Norway to assist O. A. Olsen in the management of the Scandinavian printing-house. MMM 407.58

32. That B. M. Shull, of Wisconsin, engage in the Scandinavian work, under the direction of the General Conference, and that if possible, he go to Norway within six months, to labor in the publishing house there. MMM 407.59

33. That Rasmus Peterson, of Minnesota, spend a season at the Review and Herald, with a view, after the benefit of such experience, to connect himself with the printing-house in Christiana, Norway. MMM 407.60

34. That M. C. Wilcox, of New York, go to the Signs Office, to assist in editing the Signs of the Times. MMM 407.61

35. That J. W. Scoles, of Idaho, go to Oakland, Cal., to connect with the Signs Office. MMM 407.62

36. That May Taylor, of Central Europe, go to England, to labor in Bible work. MMM 407.63

37. That Eld. J. F. Hansen attend the training-school in Chicago, then go to Denmark to labor In the great Scandinavian field. MMM 407.64

Under a motion to adopt and act upon each item separately, No. 9 was referred back to the committee; a motion to refer No. 18 back, was lost. No 19 was amended by adding the words, “and workers.” Nos. 28 and 29 were referred back to the committee. With the exceptions above named, all were adopted down to No. 30, action on which was pending when the conference to call of Chair. MMM 407.65

eleventh day’s proceedings

Wednesday, Oct. 31, 1888, 9 a. m. Prayer by F. D. Starr. Minutes approved. The report of the Committee on the Distribution of Labor was resumed, and the remaining recommendations adopted, with the exception of No. 31, which was deferred for further consideration. MMM 407.66

The Committee presented the recommendations referred back to them, as follows:- MMM 407.67

9. That W. B. Hill, of Minnesota, go to Nebraska, and labor in that Conference. MMM 407.68

28. That D. T. Bourdeau go to Canada to labor among the French in that country. MMM 407.69

No. 9 was again referred back to the committee, and No. 28 was adopted. MMM 407.70

The Committee then presented the following additional report:- MMM 407.71

38. That the canvassing company in Iowa, consisting of M. W. Lewis and wife, Arthur Hur, N. P. Long, Willis Adams, Lewis Star, and Laura Farris, make Maryland and Delaware their field of labor during the coining year, beginning work in the city of Baltimore; and that M. W. Lewis act as State agent. MMM 407.72

39. That S. F. Reader and E. Robb, with their wives, move from Kansas to West Virginia, there to engage in the canvassing work, S. F. Reader to act as State agent. MMM 407.73

40. That C. D. Wolf and wife, and J. E. Frazee, of Kansas, remove to North Carolina, to engage in the canvassing work; C. D. Wolf to act as State agent. MMM 407.74

41. That A. F. Harrison and wife, J. B. Thayer, Thomas Stewart, Ben. Hensley, and Moses Edwards, remove from Kansas to Louisiana, there to engage in the canvassing work; A. F. Harrison to act as leader of the company. And we further recommend that I. Q. Reynolds and wife, of New Orleans, connect with this company. MMM 407.75

42. That Chas. F. Curds devote his entire time to the canvassing work, acting as State agent for Georgia and Florida; and that Chas. E. Giles and Wm. Fenner, of Michigan, and Luther Harmon, of Indiana, make Georgia and Florida their field of labor. MMM 407.76

43. That J. H. Dortch devote his entire time to the interests of the canvassing work in Tennessee. MMM 407.77

44. That the Indian Territory be given to Kansas, as a canvassing field. MMM 407.78

45. That Wm. Arnold return to Great Britain in the early spring. MMM 407.79

By amendments, the name of Geo. Winn was added to the company named in No. 41, and South Carolina was added to the field specified in No. 42. MMM 407.80

The report was adopted. MMM 407.81

The Committee on Nominations reported, recommending that the following persons be elected to the offices named:- MMM 407.82

For President, O. A. Olsen; Secretary, U. Smith; Corresponding Secretary, W. H. Edwards; Home Mission Secretary, Geo. B. Starr; Foreign Mission Secretary, W. C. White; Educational Secretary, W. W. Prescott; Treasurer, Harmon Lindsay; Executive Committee: O. A. Olsen, S. N. Haskell, U. Smith. W. W. Prescott, W. C. White, E. W. Farnsworth, and R. M. Kilgore. MMM 407.83

For Book Committee: W. C White, U. Smith, R. M. Kilgore, W. W. Prescott, A. T. Jones, E. M. Morrison, C. Eldridge, J. H. Kellogg, E. W. Farnsworth, J. G. Matteson, F. E. Belden, A. T. Robinson, C. H. Jones. MMM 407.84

For Officers of the General Conference Association of S D. Adventists: Geo. I. Butler, U. Smith, A. R. Henry, W. H. Edwards, Harmon Lindsay. MMM 407.85

For Labor Bureau: A. R. Henry, C Eldridge, H. W. Kellogg. MMM 407.86

A motion was made to substitute the name of L R. Conradi for that of R. M. Kilgore, on the Conference Executive Board, but was lost. MMM 407.87

The report was adopted, each nomination having been voted upon separately. It was then- MMM 407.88

Moved, To reconsider the election of W. W. Prescott to the Conference Executive Board; which was carried. MMM 407.89

An amendment was then offered, substituting he name of Geo. I. Butler for that of W. W. Prescott, and an amendment to the amendment was presented, substituting the name of R. A. Underwood for that of Geo. I. Butler. After a lively discussion, the amendment to the amendment came to a vote, and was lost. MMM 407.90

The Conference then adjourned to call of Chair. MMM 407.91

S. N. Haskell, Chairman.
U. Smith, Sec.
(To be continued.)

The Review and Herald

“Sanctify them through Thy Truth Thy Word is Truth.”
Battle Creek, Mich; November 13, 1888
URIAH SMITH. Editors.
I. A. SMITH. Assistant Editors.
GEO. BUTLER
S. N. HASKELL. Corresponding Editors.