General Conference Bulletin, vol. 7
Division Conference Minutes
W. A. Spicer, C. P. Bollman, C. C. Crisler, T. E. Bowen, H. E. Rogers, J. N. Anderson
THE EUROPEAN DIVISION CONFERENCE
First Meeting
In accordance with the action of the General Conference, the delegates present from European union conferences met at 8:30 A. M., May 25, 1913, in the Seminary chapel, Takoma Park, Md. GCB May 29, 1913, page 189.1
By request of the delegation, A. G. Daniells occupied the chair. Guy Dail acted as secretary. GCB May 29, 1913, page 189.2
Delegates were present from the British, Central European, Danube, East German, Latin, Russian, Scandinavian, and West German union conferences. Most of the members of the General Conference Committee were also present. GCB May 29, 1913, page 189.3
It was voted,— GCB May 29, 1913, page 189.4
That, in harmony with the recommendation passed by the General Conference, 2:30 P. M., May 22, 1913, we, the representatives of the unions named as forming the original constituency of the proposed European Division Conference, hereby constitute ourselves the European Division Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. GCB May 29, 1913, page 189.5
That we adopt the constitution recommended to us by the General Conference [it having first been read, and carefully considered]. GCB May 29, 1913, page 189.6
That the Siberian Union Mission be accepted into the conference, and F. Ginter seated as a delegate. GCB May 29, 1913, page 189.7
That the Levant Union Mission be accepted into the conference. GCB May 29, 1913, page 189.8
That L. Krug and wife, of the Syrian Mission, be seated as delegates. GCB May 29, 1913, page 189.9
That A. A. Carscallen, of British East Africa, be seated as a delegate. GCB May 29, 1913, page 189.10
That D. C. Babcock and wife be accepted as delegates from the West African Mission. GCB May 29, 1913, page 189.11
That the union conference presidents of the European Division act as a committee to nominate the standing committees. GCB May 29, 1913, page 189.12
This committee nominated the following, their report being accepted:— GCB May 29, 1913, page 189.13
On Nominations: H. F. Schuberth, W. B. White, J. F. Huenergardt, J. Sprohge, J. C. Raft. GCB May 29, 1913, page 189.14
Resolutions: J. T. Boettcher, O. E. Reinke, Guy Dail, Dr. A. B. Olsen, W. T. Bartlett. GCB May 29, 1913, page 189.15
Credentials: W. J. Fitzgerald, A. G. Daniells, J. G. Oblander, L. P. Tieche, W. C. Sisley. GCB May 29, 1913, page 189.16
Meeting adjourned to 7:30, even date. GCB May 29, 1913, page 189.17
A. G. DANIELLS, Chairman;
GUY DAIL, Secretary.
Second Meeting, May 25, 7:45 P. M. GCB May 29, 1913, page 189.18
By vote of the delegation, Allen Moon was asked to act as chairman. GCB May 29, 1913, page 189.19
Prayer was offered by J. W. Westphal. GCB May 29, 1913, page 189.20
Minutes of previous meeting read, and approved after slight corrections. GCB May 29, 1913, page 189.21
The committee on resolutions offered the following report, which was unanimously adopted:— GCB May 29, 1913, page 189.22
I. Resolved, That we of the European Division Conference gratefully acknowledge the prospering hand of God upon us, guiding and protecting to this time, and do, as we enter upon a new stage of development and responsibility, consecrate afresh our lives, our substance, and our children, to the finishing of the advent message, earnestly imploring upon all our future labors the divine benediction. GCB May 29, 1913, page 189.23
2. Resolved, That we do hereby testify our appreciation of the fostering care bestowed in time past upon the work in Europe by the General Conference and our brethren in the United States, and we, as a Division Conference, invite the same fraternal interest for the future, pledging ourselves to stand by the General Conference and our brethren in loyal cooperation till we all rejoice together in the consummation of the blessed hope. GCB May 29, 1913, page 189.24
In adopting the first resolution, the delegation arose, and Brother Geo. B. Thompson offered prayer. GCB May 29, 1913, page 189.25
The committee on nominations submitted the following report, which was adopted:— GCB May 29, 1913, page 189.26
For president, L. R. Conradi. GCB May 29, 1913, page 189.27
Vice-president, J. T. Boettcher. GCB May 29, 1913, page 189.28
Secretary, Guy Dail. GCB May 29, 1913, page 189.29
Treasurer, Alice Kuessner. GCB May 29, 1913, page 189.30
Representative of the educational work, O. Luepke. GCB May 29, 1913, page 189.31
Representative of the medical work, Dr. A. B. Olsen. GCB May 29, 1913, page 189.32
Representative of the Sabbath-school work, H. Hartkop. GCB May 29, 1913, page 189.33
Representative of the young people’s work, E. Arnesen. GCB May 29, 1913, page 189.34
Representative of the publishing work, W. C. Sisley. GCB May 29, 1913, page 189.35
Executive Committee: Those named above, together with the union conference presidents and union mission field superintendents of the conference, and J. Robert, Chris. Juhl, J. Erzberger, G. Woysch (auditor). GCB May 29, 1913, page 189.36
The committee on credentials and licenses offered a report, which was unanimously adopted. [We omit the list of names.] GCB May 29, 1913, page 189.37
Meeting was closed with prayer by L. R. Conradi. GCB May 29, 1913, page 189.38
ALLEN MOON, Chairman;
GUY DAIL, Secretary.
THE NORTH AMERICAN DIVISION CONFERENCE
First Meeting
The first meeting of the delegates from the North American union conferences was held in the Seminary chapel, Takoma Park, Md., at 1:30 P. M. May 26, 1913. GCB May 29, 1913, page 189.39
Meeting was called to order by Elder Daniells. GCB May 29, 1913, page 189.40
Prayer was offered by Elder M. C. Wilcox. GCB May 29, 1913, page 189.41
By request of the delegation, A. G. Daniells acted as chairman, and Guy Dail as secretary. GCB May 29, 1913, page 189.42
In this meeting, the delegates of the following union conferences were present: Atlantic, Central, Columbia, Lake, Northern, North Pacific, Pacific, Southeastern, Southern, Southwestern, Eastern, Eastern Canadian, and Western Canadian. GCB May 29, 1913, page 189.43
Voted, That, in harmony with the authorization of the General Conference, in session at 10 A. M., May 26, we do hereby organize ourselves into the North American Division Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. GCB May 29, 1913, page 189.44
The constitution recommended by the General Conference was then read and adopted, as appears in the BULLETIN, page 145. GCB May 29, 1913, page 189.45
The chairman was requested to appoint a committee of fifteen, five of whom should be union conference presidents, five local conference presidents, and five other persons, to nominate the standing committees. GCB May 29, 1913, page 189.46
Meeting adjourned.
A. G. DANIELLS, Chairman;
GUY DAIL, Secretary.
Second Meeting
May 26, 6:40 P. M.
The meeting was called to order by Elder Daniells in the large pavilion. GCB May 29, 1913, page 189.47
Prayer was offered by Elder Corliss. GCB May 29, 1913, page 189.48
Minutes of previous meeting were read. GCB May 29, 1913, page 189.49
The chairman named the following as the committee to nominate the standing committee of the conference: W. B. White, M. N. Campbell, C. B. Stephenson, E. T. Russell, Allen Moon, F. M. Burg, H. C. Hartwell, J. W. Christian, J. I. Taylor, O. K. Butler, Dr. Ruble, O. J. Graf, J. B. Blosser, A. J. Clark, L. H. Christian. GCB May 29, 1913, page 189.50
The committee was accepted. GCB May 29, 1913, page 189.51
The remainder of the hour was devoted to a very careful and thorough consideration of the financial outlook for the support of the work of the North American Division, and of the mission work carried on by the General Conference. GCB May 29, 1913, page 189.52
The chairman stated the need of the utmost care in launching this new division, that all branches of the work may receive the financial assistance they demand. He showed that we must plan for no decrease in the funds that have heretofore been flowing into the General Conference treasury, as that would be disastrous to our mission work, as well as to the proper development of the cause of God in the North American Division. GCB May 29, 1913, page 189.53
It was suggested that departments that deal mostly with affairs in North America, as the Religious Liberty, North American Negro, and North American Foreign departments, and the Press Bureau, could probably be discontinued in the General Conference, to go with the North American Division Conference, while the publishing, educational, medical, Sabbath School, and Missionary Volunteer departments might continue General Conference departments. He suggested that the assistant secretaries of General Conference departments could perhaps act for a time as secretaries of the corresponding departments in the North American Division, until the Division has time to settle upon its permanent headquarters’ location. GCB May 29, 1913, page 189.54
Meeting was adjourned. GCB May 29, 1913, page 189.55
A. G. DANIELLS, Chairman;
GUY DAIL, Secretary.
Third Meeting
May 27, 10 A. M.
After the opening of the General Conference a short meeting of the North American Division Conference was called by W. T. Knox, for the presentation of the following report of the committee selected to nominate the standing committees:— GCB May 29, 1913, page 189.56
Nominations: C. W. Flaiz, C. F. McVagh, S. E. Wight, F. Griggs, G. F. Watson, H. C. Hartwell, M. N. Campbell, O. A. Olsen, E. K. Slade. GCB May 29, 1913, page 189.57
On Plans: E. R. Palmer, Charles Thompson, C. W. Irwin, J. H. Schilling, O. J. Graf, W. A. McCutchen, L. A. Hansen, Meade MacGuire, H. H. Hall, Dr. W. A. Ruble, A. J. Haysmer, M. C. Strachan, E. T. Russell, G. B. Thompson, C. S. Longacre. GCB May 29, 1913, page 189.58
On Finance: W. T. Knox, H. A. Morrison, H. W. Cottrell, R. W. Parmele, Allen Moon, W. B. White, I. H. Evans, L. M. Bowen. GCB May 29, 1913, page 190.1
On Credentials and Licenses: E. E. Andross, B. G. Wilkinson, C. B. Stephenson, R. A. Underwood, A. T. Robinson. GCB May 29, 1913, page 190.2
The report was adopted. GCB May 29, 1913, page 190.3
Meeting then adjourned. GCB May 29, 1913, page 190.4
W. T. KNOX, Chairman;
W. A. SPICER, Secretary.