Manuscripts and Memories of Minneapolis

TALK OF A PROPHECY

The World’s Conference of Seventh Day MMM 547.2

Adventists Opens in the Lake MMM 547.3

Street Church. MMM 547.4

Daniel’s Story of the Beast with Ten Horns MMM 547.5

Causes a Debate—Senator Blair’s MMM 547.6

Sunday Bill. MMM 547.7

The world’s conference of Seventh Day Adventists opened yesterday morning at the Advent church on Lake street. It was bright and early, too, as most of the elders were up with the sun, and it was hardly more than 7 o’clock when a number of them gathered in the church and held devotional exercises. At 9 o’clock the regular session began, and when the roll was called 81 delegates, representing 37 conferences, and 14 other ministers responded. These delegates are from all parts of the world. Among some of the most distinguished are S. N. Haskell, of London; Mrs. E. G. White, of Healdsburg, Cal., who has been associated with the Seventh day day [sic] movement ever since its origin, and J. G. Matteson, former missionary to Scandinavia. MMM 547.8

In the absence of the president, Elder Butler, of Battle Creek, Mich., Elder S. N. Haskell was chosen chairman. The morning session opened with a prayer by Elder Uriah Smith, after which the elders buried themselves in business. After the usual time had been consumed in examining credentials, a number of elders were chosen to represent the various fields which had no delegates. W. H. Starblick [sic] was chosen for the North Pacific Conference; S. N. Haskell for the English work, and G. G. Rupert, South America. A motion was made that the secretary of foreign missions be chosen to formally represent all foreign fields, but that was met by some opposition and it was finally decided to leave the matter in the hands of a committee. MMM 548.1

A request from the Arkansas conference to be admitted to the general conference was accepted, as was a similar one from Australia. The request from the latter conference was followed with a very interesting report, which showed that in three years 266 churches and 335 Sabbath schools had been established in the antipodes. During 10 months over $3,600 in tithes had been paid into the treasury. MMM 548.2

After the business of the morning had been transacted Elder Uriah Smith discoursed at length on the breaking up of the Roman empire by the barbarians of the North. Mr. Smith is an interesting speaker and kept the attention of his audience throughout. After he had finished speaking a half an hour was devoted to answering questions on the subject. This subject relates to the prophecy of Daniel of the beast with 10 horns, as it is generally believed that Daniel had the breaking up of the Roman empire into 10 kingdoms in mind when he uttered the prophecy. MMM 548.3

What the elders desired to know was where they should locate one of those kingdoms. Some of them wanted the conference to take a vote on the matter and thereby settle the question. Elder Waggoner, however, did not want so important a question settled until it had been thoroughly investigated. The matter was discussed in this manner until it was high noon and time for adjournment. MMM 549.1

The afternoon session was devoted to discussions of a similar nature. Elder Waggoner gave subject lessons on the “Law of God and its relations to the gospel.” One of the matters of interest that came up for discussion was Senator Blair’s famous national Sunday bill, which is now pending in congress. It is, of course, against the belief of the Seventh Day Adventists to recognize Sunday as the Sabbath, consequently this bill does not have a harmonious effect. They do not impugn the character nor the motives of the abettors of the bill, but they think it inconsistent with the boasted freedom of America to place any restriction or time for people to worship. It was accordingly decided to do all they could to prevent the passage of such a bill and to send out 400,000 copies of the American Sentinel, which is supposed to show up the sophistry of the measure. MMM 549.2

In the evening Elder S. N. Haskell spoke on “Work in the Foreign Mission Field.” Following are the standing committees appointed: MMM 549.3

Nominations—J. B. Goodrich, Maine; J. Fargo, Michigan; Daniel J. [sic] Jones, Missouri. MMM 549.4

Resolutions—R. A. Underwood, Ohio; A. T. Robinson, Missouri; A. [sic] Conradi, Switzerland; E. J. Waggoner and E. H. Gates, Colorado. MMM 549.5

Licenses and credentials—R. M. Kilgore, Illinois; I. D. Van Horn, Michigan; H. Nicoley [sic], Iowa. MMM 549.6

Distribution of labor—E. W. Farnsworth and G. G. Rupert, Michigan; A. J. Reed, Wisconsin; C. H. Jones, Colorado: Louis Johnson. Minnesota. MMM 549.7

Auditing—C. Eldredge [sic], A. R. Henry, J. Fargo, H. W. Miller, Michigan; A. T. Robinson, Massachusetts; J. W. Kaymond [sic], Pennsylvania. MMM 550.1

Financial—H. Lindsay, A. R. Henry, C. Eldredge [sic], Michigan; C. H. Jones, A. T. Jones, California. MMM 550.2

The conference will be in session for several days. MMM 550.3

n.a., “Very Early Risers” Minneapolis Tribune, (10/19/1888), p. 5. MMM 551.1