General Conference Bulletin, vol. 4

GENERAL CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS

SECOND MEETING, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 10:30 A. M.

Elder G. A. Irwin in the chair. GCB April 4, 1901, page 33.5

After the opening hymn, No. 162, Elder J. O. Corliss offered prayer. GCB April 4, 1901, page 33.6

On roll-call for delegates, those not present at first and second meetings were as follows: M. H. Brown, Geo. I. Butler, S. M. Butler, Wm. Ostrander, E. R. Williams, E. E. Franke, G. W. Schubert, A. L. Chew, E. Leland, N. P. Nelson (of Nebraska), S. S. Davis, E. G. Olsen, J. W. Adams, W. T. Bland, R. S. Donnell, C. P. Bollman. H. E. Osborne, D. W. Reavis, T. Valentiner, M. H. Gregory, R. S. Owen (Cal.), W. R. Simmons, L. Mathe, Paul Roth, J. P. Henderson. GCB April 4, 1901, page 33.7

The name of A. L. Lingle, of California, appears by mistake as a delegate. GCB April 4, 1901, page 33.8

New delegates reported as follows:—Montana, W. B. White. GCB April 4, 1901, page 33.9

The Chair: The Conference is open ready for business. What is your pleasure? GCB April 4, 1901, page 33.10

A. G. Daniells: I have a report to present. In our meeting yesterday a resolution was passed by the House, voting that the regular rules and usages for the management of the Conference should be suspended, and that the conduct of the Conference be placed in the hands of a committee that was nominated in the resolution. The committee aimed at was a representative one,—the presidents and secretaries of general organizations and the leading institutions, and a few persons who represent general interests. The resolution-also stated that this committee should be empowered to add to its number, from time to time, such persons as it seemed necessary to give the work a full, fair consideration. This committee has had one or two meetings, and has a report to present this morning. GCB April 4, 1901, page 33.11

Since the resolution was passed yesterday, it has appeared that there was some little misunderstanding with reference to the aim of the course that was taken. There were some who obtained the idea that we were instructed to place the management or the conduct of the affairs of this session in the hands of men who have not been on the general board during the past two years. And so when the resolution nominated some of these men, it was thought that the resolution was not in harmony with the instruction given. GCB April 4, 1901, page 33.12

Now we do not understand that that was the object, or that the instruction given, was entirely to replace the committee; but we understand that the Lord instructed us to enlarge this committee, to add to its numbers men who have been at work in all parts of the field, and connected with all phases of the work. And instead of having business prepared mainly by the Conference Committee, with the aid of a few men appointed on committee, who would meet together and counsel regarding the work, we should have a large body of men, to study all parts of the field, and its various interests. GCB April 4, 1901, page 33.13

In order to carry this out, the committee wish to nominate the following persons to be added to this number, and we place this nomination in the hands of the Conference to make the election. The names are as follows:— GCB April 4, 1901, page 33.14

W. C. White, L. R. Conradi, F. H. Westphal, F. I. Richardson. W. A. Spicer, B. J. Cady, E. S. Butz, B. L. Howe, N. Z. Town, G. W. Caviness, GCB April 4, 1901, page 33.15

W. H. Thurston, A. J. Haysmer, I. J. Hankins, M. C. Wilcox, Allen Moon, Lewis Johnson, H. Schultz, W. C. Sisle, P. T. Magan, F. M. Wilcox, J. E. White, E. J. Waggoner, E. L. Stewart, J. S. Reekie, J. C. Ottosen, C. C. Lewis, C. W. Irwin, Frederick Griggs, B. E. Nicola, J. W. Loughhead, M. H. Brown, W. S. Sadler, J. E. Tenney, Dr. D. Paulson, Dr. H. F. Rand, and the district superintendents and Conference presidents. GCB April 4, 1901, page 34.1

Now it may be asked, “Why not appoint the whole Conference?” If, however you will look at the question a moment, you will see there is quite a difference in this body of men for counsel, and the entire congregation here. Now I suppose that all the names put together would aggregate fifty, possibly seventy-five. How many are there in this delegation now? There are two hundred and sixteen delegates. I have not counted the names that will be on this committee. Say there are seventy-five. We are told that we have been following wrong plans and operating under wrong principles, and that we must get away from them. But one object of this council is to bring together these men who have been operating under those principles, so that they can study into them. We want to get our bearings. We want to get down on solid rock and start over. We are told we must reorganize. We must start out on a new and better way, and we want to do it. Everybody here wants to do it. GCB April 4, 1901, page 34.2

So we ask you to consider this nomination, and act upon it as you may see best. We hope that there will be a very clear understanding on the part of all with reference to what we are trying to do. And let me say this: It will not be strange if, in our efforts to work on new lines, we shall meet with some confusion, or that we shall have some misunderstanding, and not strike at once in the full way, to the satisfaction of everybody. But if we will follow the instruction given by the servant of God,—to say little, pray much, and study carefully what is placed before, us,—the Lord will lead us into clear light, and on right lines, and we shall have a meeting here such as this people have never witnessed, and we shall go from this placed prepared to do a work that this denomination has never seen since it began its work. I am satisfied of that. GCB April 4, 1901, page 34.3

The Chair: What is the pleasure of the Conference in regard to this request from the Committee? GCB April 4, 1901, page 34.4

E. E. Miles: I move that these names be added to the committee. GCB April 4, 1901, page 34.5

S. H. Lane: I second the motion. GCB April 4, 1901, page 34.6

The Chair: The question is now open for remarks. GCB April 4, 1901, page 34.7

Watson Ziegler: I believe that in considering this great work, bearing this last message to mankind, that persons who are active and aggressive field laborers in the field have that in store that God has given them through experience that will be a benefit and a blessing in the councils of this body, for the furtherance of this message. I believe that you have chosen as a council many of those; but I believe many that would be instrumental in bringing into the council the mind and talents that God has given, are left out, and left out largely. I do not say I believe there is any intention of doing it; for I do not. I give my brethren here, every one, credit of being and acting in that spirit of tenderness and unity with the cause that we represent. I believe there is something lacking in the make-up of this committee or council. GCB April 4, 1901, page 34.8

A. G. Daniells: The committee has not finished its work yet. We have made quite an addition this morning. We are studying the situation. We are pressing into the light, and we are thankful to assure you that we feel that God is leading us into the light, and we shall consider these matters further; and as the resolution states, we shall be able to recommend additions, as it may be impressed upon us in our study. GCB April 4, 1901, page 34.9

G. G. Rupert: I would say that I have no objection to those that have been selected on this committee. In fact. I believe the committee as it now stands is capable of deciding almost any question that would come before this Conference: and in this committee these questions will be discussed. Their report, as will be given to the remaining portion of the delegates, undoubtedly will be largely correct; and if it were not correct, about half of the Conference, or nearly so, belongs to the committee, and I do not know what remains for the rest of the delegates to do. While the Committee is large, and will be capable of carrying out plans that will come before them, I fear that those not on the committee will lose much of the benefit that they might derive from the Conference. And any decisions they may arrive at would be very difficult to be changed by those remaining who do not belong to the committee. GCB April 4, 1901, page 34.10

A. G. Daniells: I wish to state that it is not the purpose of this committee to make decisions in regard to the business to come before the Conference. I understand that the committee is appointed to study the field, to study the principles that should govern us in our work, and to bring measures before the Conference but not to make decisions regarding what shall be done. It is not to take the place of the Conference, or the discussion that should be given here, or the consideration that should be given to matters. GCB April 4, 1901, page 34.11

S. N. Haskell: It seems to me it will give the movement that has been made here, an enlargement. We have committees of three, five, or seven, and the work they usually do will now be done by seventy-five; and that brings into the matters they bring before the Conference seventy-five minds instead of seven minds. They can mature plans better, so that the delegates can act more understandingly upon propositions brought in from seventy-five minds than from seven minds. This is the substance of the whole matter. It is enlarging committee, and bringing together the leading men from all over the field to discuss questions to present to the delegates for them to act upon. GCB April 4, 1901, page 34.12

J. O. Corliss: I can readily see the basis of some of these remarks. The idea seems to be that this committee, as it is composed of nearly a majority of the delegates, and the strongest men of the Conference, if they bring in a recommendation and are all agreed, they being the majority in the Conference, will be sure to vote in their own recommendations, and there will be little or nothing for the Conference to do. I can not see where the danger is, in having this committee so large. But if, in their work, they divide up into subcommittees to consider the various phases of the work there will be no difficulty. GCB April 4, 1901, page 34.13

W. W. Prescott: If the committee suggested and appointed in this way will only do what the Conference has asked it to do, I think it will be all right. But if they go beyond that. I say, Stop them right off. All you have asked of that committee is that it shall be a committee of counsel, not a committee of decision, not a Conference to decide things; but if they go to deciding things and running things, tell them to stop immediately. It belongs to the Conference to do this. GCB April 4, 1901, page 34.14

Dr. J. H. Kellogg: The theory of this committee, as has been discussed in the committee, is that the committee shall be large enough to include the particular representatives of every interest in the whole denomination, and then this large committee should be divided into subcommittees,—men who will discuss the very interests in which they are particularly interested, and bring the results of their respective considerations before the committee for unification, before it is brought before the Conference. Heretofore there have been standing committees, each one working alone, and very often you would come here, and there would be one standing committee working squarely against another standing committee, and each committee had something to drive through the Conference. Now it is proposed to have simply a unifying committee, a harmonizing committee, so that all the standing committees which have heretofore existed shall come together in one large committee, to unify their plans, and compare them one with another, so that in the Conference it may be a discussion of principles rather than a discussion of small things occupying a great amount of the time. GCB April 4, 1901, page 34.15

R. C. Porter: It seems to me that this committee should be in touch with all the workers. The different presidents understand the work in general, but it seems to me the committee should include more of the men that have been right in the field, and have had the actual experience in the line of field work. If they were not made members of the committee, they could be called in for counsel, I understand, just the same. I am not at all afraid of trusting the brethren on the committee, and believe it will be all right; but I think it will be unadvisable to make the committee so very large that it will become difficult for it to transact the business. GCB April 4, 1901, page 35.1

R. D. Hottel: There is a large portion of the territory in the South that is in charge of directors. There are perhaps only two or three Conferences organized in all the Southern field. It seems to me that those who have been appointed as directors of these States should be included on this committee. GCB April 4, 1901, page 35.2

The question was called, and carried. GCB April 4, 1901, page 35.3

The Chair announced that the Committee on Counsel would meet in the Review and Herald Chapel at 5 P. M. GCB April 4, 1901, page 35.4

Elder A. T. Jones stated that since the opening of the Conference, additional responsibilities had been placed upon him, and that therefore he had too much work. He earnestly requested that Elder J. O. Corliss might be placed on the staff of editors of the Bulletin. Moved by M. C. Wilcox and seconded by R. M. Kilgore that the request be granted. The motion prevailed. GCB April 4, 1901, page 35.5

At this juncture of the meeting, Dr. J. H. Kellogg requested an opportunity to make a statement with reference to the work at the Sanitarium. He spoke of the large membership of the family, and the great number of patients at the Sanitarium at the present time. Quite a number of the delegates had requested that they might have some medical attention, and he announced that such might call at the bureau of information in the Sanitarium chapel. All who desire treatment or medical counsel should enter the south door of the chapel, next to the greenhouse. The time for treatment would be from 8:30 to 9:30 A. M.; 2:30 to 4:30 P. M.; and after 7:30 P. M. GCB April 4, 1901, page 35.6

He then called attention to the question of a school of health, he said a number of delegates and visitors were desirous of having something of that kind carried on during the time of the Conference, not to take the regular hours of the Conference. An expression was taken to see how the delegation felt toward having such a school conducted during this time. The question was unanimously voted. The congregation joined in singing Coronation, after which Elder A. G. Daniells presented the topic, The Field and and its Needs, as announced in the order of business, page 17 of the Bulletin, the first topic having been considered at the 9:00 A. M. hour by W. W. Prescott. GCB April 4, 1901, page 35.7

G. A. IRWIN, Chairman.
L. A. HOOPES, Secretary.