General Conference Daily Bulletin, vol. 1
November 27, 1887
VOLUME 1. - OAKLAND, CAL., - NUMBER 12
Twelfth Day’s Proceedings
“HEIR of the Kingdom” was sung to open the meeting of the Publishing Association at 9:30 o’clock A. M., November 25. Prayer was offered by Elder O. A. Olsen. The minutes of the last meeting were then read and approved, after which the Treasurer submitted the following report of the Association for the fiscal year ending November 1, 1887:- GCDB November 27, 1887, page 38.1
| Real estate | $51,500 00 | |
| Accounts received | 138,871 76 | |
| Notes received | 22,825 32 | |
| Due from banks | 9,145 16 | |
| Cash on hand | 1,240 52 | |
| Office donations | 1,128 39 | |
| Sanitarium Kinder. Co | 677 94 | |
| IN- ] Books on hand | $69,649 75 | |
| VEN- ] Material on hand | 35,858 59 | |
| TORY ] Unfinished work | 22,357 49 | |
| ] Machinery | 39,429 49 | |
| ] Plates and moulds | 8,979 92 | |
| ] Type | 7,657 84 | |
| ] Cuts and engravs | 3,094 61 | 187,027 69 |
| Notes payable | $ 78,907 26 | |
| Accounts payable | 120,763 75 | |
| Demand notes | 38,024 69 | |
| Paid in capital | 43,790 00 | |
| Donations and legacies | 14,532 33 | |
| Surplus | 108,854 89 | |
| Net earnings for year | 7,546 86 | |
| ending Oct. 31,’87 | ||
| $412,416 78 | 412,416 78 |
The Treasurer also presented an itemized report and a comparative statement of this year with last. He also made remarks at some length explaining some of the difficulties in managing the business of the Review Office. He wished that the Association or the Conference would take some action in the way of defining how far the institution should go in the matter of furnishing means to other branches of the work, and stated that it is often very difficult to decide just how much may be done safely. The Review Office has the best of credit but its credit can only be preserved by not using it too much; and the managers there have sometimes seen pretty close places because of the calls made upon the office for money to carry forward the various enterprises connected with the cause. The whole amount of money ever put into the Review Office both in stock and donations is only about $60,000, while the Tract Societies alone have from the office the use of nearly that amount without interest. In order to conduct the business safely, it is necessary to keep on hand not less than $8,000, and owing to the frequent calls for money for other branches of the work this is sometimes very hard to do. Brother Henry said, however, that if the Association would say how far the office was to go in these matters, he would do his best to carry out its wishes. On motion of W. C. Sisley the report was accepted. GCDB November 27, 1887, page 38.2
Elder Butler said that he was glad that Brother Henry had made these remarks, for he thought that these matters should be fully understood. He also said that if the impression had gone out that Brother Henry was opposed to helping our missions and other enterprises for the spread of the truth he wished to correct it, for he had always found him very willing to do all that he felt could be safely done in that direction. GCDB November 27, 1887, page 38.3
The Committee on Resolutions submitted the following:- GCDB November 27, 1887, page 38.4
Resolved, That we express our gratitude to God for the prosperity that has attended the sale of our publications during the past year. GCDB November 27, 1887, page 38.5
Resolved, That we approve the action of the Trustees, in so increasing the facilities of the Association as to meet the present demands for our publications. GCDB November 27, 1887, page 38.6
Resolved, That we express our appreciation of the efforts of our Tract Societies and canvassers, during the year, to carry out the plans adopted at the last General Conference, and that we extend to them our hearty sympathy and support for their encouragement in the good work during the year to come. GCDB November 27, 1887, page 38.7
WHEREAS, There is a great demand for men understanding the various branches of the publishing work, to act as clerks, foremen, and department managers in our mission printing offices; therefore, GCDB November 27, 1887, page 38.8
Resolved, That we request the Trustees of this Association, and the managers in the publishing houses, to unite in calling into the employ of the Association young men of talent and Christian character, and that they be given an opportunity to gain a theoretical knowledge of all departments of the publishing work, while learning thoroughly one of the branches. GCDB November 27, 1887, page 38.9
Resolved, That this Association donate to the South African Mission $1,000 worth of publications. GCDB November 27, 1887, page 38.10
Resolved, That we donate to the British Mission $1,000 worth of publications for use in its ship and city mission work. GCDB November 27, 1887, page 38.11
Resolved, That we donate $500 worth of publications to the Central European Mission, to be used in its international mission work. GCDB November 27, 1887, page 38.12
Resolved, That these publications be donated at wholesale rates, and at such times and in such quantities as these missions may order. GCDB November 27, 1887, page 38.13
On motion of R. A. Underwood these resolutions were considered separately. Brother White explained the great demand which exists for young men who can take charge of different departments of our publishing work in foreign fields, and said that by all means we ought to have men in training for these positions. C. H. Jones, J. D. Pegg, O. A. Olsen, S. H. Lane, and the Chairman also spoke to this resolution. GCDB November 27, 1887, page 39.1
The resolution to donate publications to our various foreign missions was discussed by W. C. Sisley, A. R. Henry, W. C. White, and Sister E. G. White. Sister White made an eloquent and touching plea for these missions. She spoke of the hardships passed through, and of the self-denial practiced by those who started the work at Battle Creek and on the Pacific Coast, and said that now we should all be willing to do all in our power to help forward the work in other and newer fields. Our interest in the work in Europe should be just as great as it is in this country, for it is always and everywhere the Lord’s work. The resolutions were adopted as read. GCDB November 27, 1887, page 39.2
The Committee on Nominations then reported, recommending that the following-named persons constitute the Board of Directors for the ensuing year: G. I. Butler, A. R. Henry, U. Smith, H. W. Kellogg, C. Eldridge, F. E. Belden, W. H. Everts. GCDB November 27, 1887, page 39.3
After some discussion it was voted to refer the report back to the committee, to await the action of the Tract Society, which action may make the change of one name necessary. Meeting then adjourned to call of the Chair. GCDB November 27, 1887, page 39.4
CONFERENCE
At 11 A. M. the President called a meeting of the General Conference. Prayer was offered by Elder J. F. Hanson. GCDB November 27, 1887, page 39.5
After the reading of the Secretary’s report, the Committee on Distribution of Labor submitted the following additional recommendations:- GCDB November 27, 1887, page 39.6
30. That Bro. W. B. White act as President of the Dakota Sabbath-school Association. GCDB November 27, 1887, page 39.7
31. That D. E. Lindsey labor in Maryland and Delaware. GCDB November 27, 1887, page 39.8
32. That J. E. Swift, of New York, go to Ohio to labor in the Cleveland Mission. GCDB November 27, 1887, page 39.9
33. That the Province of New Brunswick be made a part of the Maine Conference. GCDB November 27, 1887, page 39.10
34. That J. F. Hanson engage in the Scandinavian work in San Francisco, under the direction of the California Conference. GCDB November 27, 1887, page 39.11
35. That Wyoming Territory be made a part of the Colorado Conference. GCDB November 27, 1887, page 39.12
36. That E. Hilliard go to Minnesota as soon as he can be spared from the New Orleans Mission. GCDB November 27, 1887, page 39.13
37. That as soon as convenient Sister Carrie Irwin change her field of labor from New Orleans, La., to Washington, D. C. GCDB November 27, 1887, page 39.14
38. That O. A. Johnson, of Nebraska, go to Montana next summer, and hold tent-meetings as the way may open. GCDB November 27, 1887, page 39.15
39. That G. E. Langdon, of Nebraska go to New Zealand, to assist Brother Daniells in the work in that field. GCDB November 27, 1887, page 39.16
40. That J. E. Robinson, of Pennsylvania, labor in the Brooklyn Mission. GCDB November 27, 1887, page 39.17
41. That the California Conference Committee consider the wants of San Francisco, and provide a proper person to labor there at least a part of his time during the coming year. GCDB November 27, 1887, page 39.18
42. That Elder Jacob Reiswig go to Colorado for his health. GCDB November 27, 1887, page 39.19
These recommendations were discussed briefly by M. H. Brown, J. B. Goodrich, W. C. White, J. D. Pegg, A. T. Jones, and others, and adopted. GCDB November 27, 1887, page 39.20
The committee to whom the resolution concerning a book committee was referred, presented the following substitute:- GCDB November 27, 1887, page 39.21
WHEREAS, Our growing publishing interests in different parts of the world are one in purpose, and should ever be united in action; therefore, GCDB November 27, 1887, page 39.22
Resolved, That this Conference appoint a standing committee of thirteen persons for the coming year, to be known as the Book Committee, whose duty it shall be to labor for the improvement and wider circulation of our denominational literature. GCDB November 27, 1887, page 39.23
Resolved, That it shall be the duty of this committee to hold a meeting in the spring and another in the autumn of the year, at the most convenient place for a majority of the committee to meet. GCDB November 27, 1887, page 39.24
Resolved, That questions as to the necessity of establishing new printing offices, the duties and privileges of the smaller offices now in operation, and all questions that may arise between our publishing associations, or general agents, shall be referred to this committee, whose decisions, after receiving the approval of a majority of the General Conference Committee, shall be considered as the voice of this body. GCDB November 27, 1887, page 39.25
Resolved, That the members of this committee for the coming year be nominated by the Nominating Committee of this Conference. GCDB November 27, 1887, page 39.26
The Conference then adjourned to call of the Chair. GCDB November 27, 1887, page 39.27
AFTERNOON
At 3 P. M. there was a meeting of the Health Reform Association, the President, Dr. J. H. Kellogg, in the chair. Prayer was offered by Elder J. H. Morrison. The unfinished business of the last meeting was taken up, and the Committee on Resolutions presented a slightly modified substitute for resolution five, which was not taken from the table. GCDB November 27, 1887, page 39.28
The President made some remarks showing the necessity for such a building, and the advantages of having a separate building for a charity hospital. He said that with such a building two or three times as much good could be done as now, without increasing expenses. GCDB November 27, 1887, page 39.29
Sister White said she could not see why we ought not to make greater arrangements for caring for the sick poor. The want has long been felt; we ought to care for the widows and orphans, and she had been made ashamed by being forced to acknowledge that we have no special provision for such work. GCDB November 27, 1887, page 39.30
In answer to a question, the President stated that with the present buildings about $80,000 worth of charity work has been done. Sister White spoke again, making an earnest appeal for a greater amount of charity work, and deprecating the idea of having suspicion whenever any advanced move is contemplated. Dr. Kellogg has labored untiringly for the Sanitarium, with small compensation, and now proposes to build, out of his own savings, a charity hospital for the institution, and it is an exceedingly ungenerous thing to suspect him of having some selfish ends to serve in making this gift. She would accord to him the same honesty of purpose that she would wish him to accord to her. The resolution was first adopted by the stockholders, after which the entire congregation expressed their approval of it by a rising vote. The remaining resolutions were passed with but little discussion. GCDB November 27, 1887, page 40.1
The business of the Association having been completed, Dr. Kellogg made some remarks concerning the proposed charity hospital, stating that there is no underhanded scheme connected with it, but that every step so far had been taken only with the approval of all the members of the Board, most of whom were present. At his suggestion, A. R. Henry read a copy of a paper, the original of which is in the Sanitarium safe, in which Dr. Kellogg binds himself to put up the building himself, to leave entirely in the control of the Sanitarium Board, to derive no benefit whatever from it, and at the end of five years to sell it to the Association for one-half the cost. GCDB November 27, 1887, page 40.2
Following this there were remarks by the President, Elders J. O. Corliss, J. H. Cook, and A. T. Jones, when a motion by Elder S. H. Lane, that the stockholders endorse the action of the Board, in taking steps to prepare a hospital for the sick poor, was adopted, and afterward approved by the entire congregation. The meeting then adjourned. GCDB November 27, 1887, page 40.3