General Conference Daily Bulletin, vol. 1
November 21, 1887
VOLUME 1. - OAKLAND, CAL., - NUMBER 7
Seventh Day’s Proceedings
FORENOON
ON Sunday, November 20, at 9 A. M., the eighth meeting of the General Conference was opened with prayer by E. S. Griggs. After the reading of the minutes, the report of the Nominating Committee was called for, and rendered, as follows:- GCDB November 21, 1887, page 21.1
For President, Elder Geo. I. Butler; Secretary, Elder U. Smith; Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. M. J. Chapman; Treasurer, A. R. Henry; Executive Committee, Elders Geo. I. Butler, S. N. Haskell, O. A. Olsen, W. C. White, R. A. Underwood, U. Smith, R. M. Kilgore. GCDB November 21, 1887, page 21.2
Moved by J. O. Corliss, seconded by D. T. Jones, that the report be adopted as a whole. Before action was taken, the report was spoken to at length by W. C. White and Mrs. E. G. White. Brother Sisley first asked what the duties of the Corresponding Secretary are, and if the other duties of the present incumbent of that office would allow her to relieve the President from the burden of correspondence as much as is desirable. GCDB November 21, 1887, page 21.3
Brother White stated that it was he who first introduced the matter of having a Corresponding Secretary, knowing as he did the immense amount of work falling to the President of the General Conference. He said the amount of work for the President is doubling every year: accounts are sent to him, and reports in great numbers from various parts of the field. He asked, Why not have persons connected with the Conference Committee as Secretaries who can look these accounts and reports over, and put them in proper shape for final action? Much work that is done at the sessions of the Conference might just as well, and even better, be done before the session, and thus save much time. The matter for the “Year Book” ought to be nearly all collated before Conference sits. Is it not better to employ one man fifty-two weeks than to take the time of one hundred delegates four or five days to do the same work? If this were done, the time of Conference sessions might be shortened. GCDB November 21, 1887, page 21.4
Another matter which he wished considered was the employment of men to take in charge certain branches of our work - not as managers, but as secretaries. One man could have the foreign work in his hands; he could be charged with the burden of missions, and being thoroughly informed as to the standing of each, he could attend the camp-meetings and successfully appeal for means. GCDB November 21, 1887, page 21.5
Our city missions are burdened. We can’t think of cutting them down and thus cramping the work, but we ought to have a Home Missionary Secretary, who can give the principal part of his time to visiting the different city missions and training schools. Through him, different city mission workers could compare notes, and thus increase their individual usefulness. He could go out into the country and work up recruits by holding institutes for the purpose of giving instruction in bible-reading and canvassing work. This Secretary could gain definite knowledge of the condition of the city mission work, and could give valuable information to the Conference Committee, so that they could plan more understandingly than they now can. GCDB November 21, 1887, page 21.6
Another step: The educational work needs someone to give it general attention. There are many places where local schools ought to be started; but the Educational Society, and in many cases the people who need the schools, have been afraid to start them lest they should detract from the interest and efficiency of our large schools, by keeping pupils away, and by calling teaching help from them. There ought to be a Secretary to have the oversight of the educational work in the whole denomination, and to go through the whole country doing recruiting work, and selecting teachers to attend the Normal department of our colleges, to prepare for work in local schools. GCDB November 21, 1887, page 21.7
Sister White said that she had been burdened with this matter a great deal for some time. There is great need of various kinds of help which we might now have if we had planned for it. Managing ability is needed, and there is plenty of it, if it is only developed. The great want has been of persons who could do much of the detail routine work, so that Elder Butler can trust it entirely to them, and thus be relieved. Of course they will not know how at first, but they can learn. She said that she would not lift her hand to elect Elder Butler President of this Conference if he could not have this help. The same plan ought to be carried out in all our State Conferences. It should not be left with the President to go from camp-meeting to camp-meeting begging funds. Men in each Conference ought to do this. It is more important to keep up all the branches of church and missionary work than to do so much sermonizing. If this were done, the Conferences would be in a stronger condition. Too many have been afraid to trust these things out of their own hands, but there must be men who are getting an education in the work. Our city missions should not be left to any one Conference. Some man should have the oversight of the whole work, should visit the various missions, and should not be afraid to remove a man if it is necessary. We are not laboring to build up anybody’s feelings, but to build up the cause of God. If this plan had been carried out in the past, men who are now in their graves would be aiding us by their counsel. GCDB November 21, 1887, page 21.8
Elders Lamson and Lane spoke briefly in favor of these suggestions, and A. R. Henry spoke of the necessity of making some more full provisions for the General Conference incorporation. The report of the Nominating Committee was then adopted. GCDB November 21, 1887, page 22.1
W. C. White moved that the Constitution of the Conference be so amended as to provide for a Foreign Mission, a Home Mission, and an Educational, Secretary. Carried. GCDB November 21, 1887, page 22.2
Elder Underwood introduced the matter of the health institute in Ohio. Buildings have been put up, and the institution has been legally incorporated, and $20,000 has been invested. There has been some difficulty in securing a suitable physician, and the institution has not been extensively advertised, nor thrown open for patronage. He moved that the Chair appoint a committee of seven to take this matter under consideration, and to make recommendation to the Conference. Elder D. E. Lindsay warmly seconded Elder Underwood’s motion, which was carried, and the following committee was appointed: R. A. Underwood, J. H. Kellogg, J. N. Loughborough, A. R. Henry, J. Fargo, Wm. Covert, and J. W. Raymond. GCDB November 21, 1887, page 22.3
W. C. White moved to request the Nominating Committee to nominate the Secretaries provided for by the change in the Constitution. Carried. GCDB November 21, 1887, page 22.4
The committee to whom the matter of the “Year Book” was referred, reported as follows:- GCDB November 21, 1887, page 22.5
Your committee appointed to arrange for the “Year Book” for 1888, and to report, respectfully submit the following:- GCDB November 21, 1887, page 22.6
We recommend that the size, style, general arrangement, and contents be the same as last year, with the following changes and additions:- GCDB November 21, 1887, page 22.7
1. That the sketches of our different institutions, missions, etc., be grouped under one main head, with appropriate subheads; the main head to be, “Progress of the Work During the Year 1887.” That the reports on organizations, etc., be brief, but specifying minutely the changes and improvements that have been made during the past year, and the advance steps that have been taken. GCDB November 21, 1887, page 22.8
2. That the book contain the Articles of Incorporation of the General Conference Association, the Act under which it was incorporated, its Constitution and By-laws, together with a statement of the object and scope of the Association. GCDB November 21, 1887, page 22.9
3. That the headings under “General Directory,” etc., be set in bolder type than last year. GCDB November 21, 1887, page 22.10
4. That the running titles state as nearly as possible the contents of the page. GCDB November 21, 1887, page 22.11
We further recommend that a committee of three be appointed to collect reports and take charge of this work, and to push it forward to an early completion; that the societies represented bear a share of the expense of publication, so that the book can be furnished at retail at the nominal price of ten cents; that the book be published at the Review and Herald Office Battle Creek, Mich. We would suggest that F. E. Belden, G. W. Morse and M. J. Chapman constitute said committee. GCDB November 21, 1887, page 22.12
Your committee would also suggest the propriety of having some person or persons appointed to be gathering up reports, statistics, etc., for the next “Year Book,” so that there may be no delay in its publication. GCDB November 21, 1887, page 22.13
This report was amended so as to include instruction as to how to deed property to the General Conference Association; two members, D. T. Jones and L. T. Nicola, were added to the committee recommended, and the report was then adopted. GCDB November 21, 1887, page 22.14
A motion that an edition of 10,000 copies of the “Year Book” be printed before the first of January, and that each Tract Society take an amount of these proportionate to its membership, was voted down. GCDB November 21, 1887, page 22.15
The Treasurer’s report was then called for and read. It showed that the General Conference will be considerably in debt when it has settled with the workers, and Elder Butler and others spoke strongly of the duty of each State Conference to pay a little of its receipts to the General Conference, as provided in the Constitution. GCDB November 21, 1887, page 22.16
The Treasurer, A. R. Henry, then gave the report on the new hymn book as auxiliary to the Treasurer’s report. It showed that the profit in the hymn book, allowing that the books now on hand will be sold only at cost, has been $2,789.73. This profit, and any that may accrue hereafter, goes to Foreign Missions. GCDB November 21, 1887, page 22.17
The report of the committee to which was referred the resolution relative to the color line, was then called for, and rendered as follows:- GCDB November 21, 1887, page 22.18
Your committee, to whom was referred the question known as “the color line,” respectfully submit the following report:- GCDB November 21, 1887, page 22.19
As the question pertains to the best methods to be pursued in the presentation of the truth in the South, where persons of African descent are most numerous, and as no one of the committee has had any personal experience in that work, we have deemed it proper to confer with those whose fields of labor have been in that section of the country. As the result of these interviews we find those who are present who have labored in the South unanimous in the opinion that it is easy to pursue a course which will create no disturbance, and do no injustice to the colored people. This being the case, your committee can see no occasion for this Conference to legislate upon the subject, and would, therefore, recommend that no action be taken, and that all reference to this question be omitted from the minutes. GCDB November 21, 1887, page 22.20
This called forth some discussion, but the report was finally adopted. GCDB November 21, 1887, page 23.1
The meeting then adjourned to the call of the Chair. GCDB November 21, 1887, page 23.2
AFTERNOON
The second meeting of the ninth annual session of the International S. S. Association was called to order at 3 P. M. After the usual opening exercises, consisting of the song, “Bringing in the Sheaves,” a prayer by Elder R. S. Owen, and the minutes of the previous meeting, Elder A. D. Olsen presented a brief report of the work in Dakota. He said that they had decided to have the President of their Association devote considerable time to Sabbath-school work. Some have expressed themselves as thinking that meetings devoted to this work were as good as preaching. The President, C. H. Jones, said that he was glad that steps were being taken in several of the States to employ suitable persons to develop this important branch of the work. GCDB November 21, 1887, page 23.3
The Committee on Nominations then submitted the following report: For President, C. H. Jones; Vice-President, W. C. White; Secretary and Treasurer, Winnie E. Loughborough; Executive Committee, C. H. Jones, W. C. White, E. J. Waggoner, F. E. Belden, E. W. Farnsworth, Winnie Loughborough, and R. S. Owen. GCDB November 21, 1887, page 23.4
It was then moved that the report be adopted as read. The President called Brother Owen to the chair, and made a plea that some other name be substituted for his. He urged that the President and Secretary should be so situated that they could hold frequent consultations with reference to the work. Brother A. T. Jones stated on behalf of the committee that they had taken that matter into consideration in making their nominations, and he moved that the Constitution be so altered as to provide for a Corresponding Secretary. GCDB November 21, 1887, page 23.5
The report of the committee was then adopted, electing the officers as recommended. The motion to amend the Constitution was then reviewed, and, after some discussion, was referred to the Committee on Resolutions. GCDB November 21, 1887, page 23.6
By invitation of the President Sister Jessie F. Waggoner presented some very interesting thoughts on the subject of “Teachers and Teaching.” She said: “Because we are counted as teachers, let us not think that we are teachers,” and enforced the thought by an appropriate illustration. “A teacher” she said, “is one who causes another to know something that he did not know before. A Sabbath-school teacher is one who causes another to know the way to Heaven; and the successful teacher will also cause others to walk in that way. But in order to do that, the teacher must himself be walking in the way to Heaven.” She suggested that some might be discouraged because of their imperfections, but said that we need not be discouraged. She said that while crossing the Sierras recently, she had noticed flumes for conducting water for mining and irrigating purposes. In many places these flumes were so imperfect that they leaked badly, and she wondered how any of the water ever reached the destination, but concluded that it was because it flowed so swiftly over the bad places. The application was this: though imperfect, if we receive the waters of divine truth fresh from the Fountain-head, and are constantly conveying them to others so that the stream does not become stagnant, we may by the blessing of God accomplish much good notwithstanding our imperfections. We must be constantly receiving supplies from the Fountain-head. We sometimes notice the hills when they are all dead and dry and there is scarcely a green spot to be seen anywhere, and again we see lawns that are constantly green; the former have not received a supply of moisture; the latter have water every day. Just so if we teachers would be green and fresh we must be watered by divine grace daily. GCDB November 21, 1887, page 23.7
Perhaps the most interesting facts presented were those upon the model teacher. The successful artist studies his model, so the successful teacher must study Christ, for he is the model Teacher. He was in love with his work, and so the successful Sabbath-school teacher must be in love with his work. Christ studied his scholars and knew all about them, and so we must study our scholars and learn all we can of their disposition and surroundings. All must not be treated alike. What would be good for one would spoil another, and if we would be successful we must adapt ourselves to each child and use illustrations which each will understand. GCDB November 21, 1887, page 23.8
Christ always had something important to say. The way for us to have something important to say is to read, study, think, and PRAY. Anciently the sacrifice had to be prepared before God would accept it, and so we must be prepared if we would have divine help and sustenance. GCDB November 21, 1887, page 23.9
Christ always gained the attention of his scholars; we, too, must follow our Model in this. To do this we must be prompt, quiet, and reverent. The teacher should get close to his scholars, and make them feel that he is not afraid of them. The speaker said, “Literally take off your kid gloves and go to work.” The first question should be such as will arrest the attention of all. Do not use question books or paper. The speaker asked, “What would you think of me if I were to come to visit you, and engage in no conversation except that which I had carefully prepared beforehand, and had to read from a slip of paper? You would regard me as the most uninteresting visitor you ever had.” GCDB November 21, 1887, page 23.10
Christ was careful to make himself understood. Just so the successful teacher must make himself understood. The teacher should crack the nuts at home, and bring only the kernels to Sabbath-school. Do not use big words, and do not use any words that the children do not understand. Sometimes very simple words have to be explained to children; for instance, a child who has always lived in the city may not know anything about wells, springs, and woods, while the country child knows nothing about those things that are familiar to those in the cities. It was also suggested that care be exercised in asking questions. Questions should be plain and definite, and yet not leading. For instance, the question, “What was David?” would admit of a dozen correct answers, and yet no one of them be the one that the teacher had in mind and wishes to draw out, while the question, “Was David a good man or a bad man?” admits of but one correct answer, and yet requires the child to exercise some thought. GCDB November 21, 1887, page 24.1
Christ made use of all helps in his reach. He used illustrations and gave object lessons. The world is full of objects that may be used as illustrations. In every lesson have a point, stick to your point, and make your point. GCDB November 21, 1887, page 24.2
In concluding, Sister Waggoner exhorted all to remember that the best key to the human heart is Jesus, so while all may not be teachers all should take Jesus as their model. To the minister she said: “You may not be teachers but you are shepherds. Do not forget the lambs. Wherever you go encourage the Sabbath-school work. If you do not already know how to teach the children, learn how. And then as you go from place to place instruct others. Don’t neglect the Sabbath-schools.” GCDB November 21, 1887, page 24.3
At the conclusion of these remarks it was moved and unanimously carried that a vote of thanks be extended to Sister Waggoner for her able presentation of the subject. It was also voted unanimously that she be requested to prepare a series of articles covering the same ground for publication in the Sabbath-school Worker. GCDB November 21, 1887, page 24.4
The report of the committee was then called for and the following were presented:- GCDB November 21, 1887, page 24.5
WHEREAS, The existence of many of our small churches depends largely upon the interest created by the Sabbath-school; and, GCDB November 21, 1887, page 24.6
WHEREAS, Experience has shown that where earnest personal labor has been devoted to the schools, by some judicious, practical Sabbath-school worker, the interest has greatly increased; therefore, GCDB November 21, 1887, page 24.7
Resolved, That this Association request each State Conference to employ some one of the officers of the Sabbath-school Association within its bounds, to devote the greater part or the whole of his time to building up the interests of the Sabbath-schools. GCDB November 21, 1887, page 24.8
WHEREAS, There has been a difference of custom in the different State Associations, in the matter of tithing their contributions, some tithing the whole, and others tithing only one-fourth, and it is desirable that there should be uniformity in this matter; therefore, GCDB November 21, 1887, page 24.9
Resolved, That it is the sense of this Association that, beginning with January, 1888, every Sabbath-school should pay a tithe of all its contributions to the treasury of the State Association with which it is connected, and that after paying the necessary running expenses of the school, it should donate the remainder to whatever mission may be recommended. But this resolution shall not be construed as shutting off the members of any school from paying a part or the whole of the running expenses of their school out of their own pockets, leaving all the contributions, less the tithe, to be donated to missions. GCDB November 21, 1887, page 24.10
Resolved, That we recommend that all the Sabbath-schools in the Association make the London City Mission the recipient of their contributions for the year 1888. GCDB November 21, 1887, page 24.11
Resolved, That we recommend to our Executive Committee such a reconstruction of the system of primary lessons as will naturally lead the young mind to a knowledge of God, to our need of a Saviour, and to the compassionate love of God as manifested in the life and mission of Jesus Christ. This to be followed by lessons upon those portions of the Old Testament history which illustrate these all-important themes. GCDB November 21, 1887, page 24.12
A motion was made to adopt the resolutions as read by considering them separately. Resolutions one, two, and three were discussed briefly by William Covert, E. J. Waggoner, J. D. Pegg, John Burden, A. T. Robinson, L. C. Chadwick, and others, and passed. Pending the consideration of the fourth resolution, the Association adjourned to call of the Chair. GCDB November 21, 1887, page 24.13