General Conference Bulletin, vol. 5

GENERAL CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS. Eighth Meeting

W. T. Knox

THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 1903, 10:20 A. M.

W. T. Knox in the chair. Hymn No. 639 was sung, after which prayer was offered by R. M. Kilgore. GCB April 3, 1903, page 62.13

The Chair inquired if any committees were prepared to report. It was stated that the Committee on Plans had a partial report. The report was called for. GCB April 3, 1903, page 62.14

H. W. Cottrell: The Committee on Plans and Resolutions are prepared to submit the following partial report:— GCB April 3, 1903, page 62.15

“Whereas, The one great work of this people is to carry the third angel’s message in this generation to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people; and,— GCB April 3, 1903, page 62.16

“Whereas, About four-fifths of the laborers, and the means with which to support them, are now gathered in the United States, where there is only about one-twentieth of the world’s population; therefore,— GCB April 3, 1903, page 62.17

“1. We recommend, That a systematic and thorough campaign be entered upon and kept up to turn the attention of conference committees, ministers, and people to the needs of the fields outside of their respective conferences and outside of the United States: and that all conference resources of ministers and money be held open by the conference management to the needs and calls of the regions beyond, the same as within the bounds of local conferences. GCB April 3, 1903, page 62.18

“2. We recommend, That conferences urge their laborers to move out into needy fields, especially into fields outside of the United States, and pledge to support them there, as their own laborers, until they have raised up a sufficient constituency to give them their support. GCB April 3, 1903, page 62.19

“3. We recommend, That, in all cases where laborers are sent into another field, as above suggested, they work under the direction of the conference into whose fields they are sent; that the committee under whose direction they labor audit their accounts; and that all appropriations for their support be sent to the treasury of the Mission Board. GCB April 3, 1903, page 62.20

“4. We recommend, That the General, Union, and State Conferences give their internal workings and the expenses of administration careful study, to the end that all unnecessary expenses be eliminated, and the work put upon a sound basis. GCB April 3, 1903, page 62.21

“5. We recommend, That we encourage the states that are able to do so, to set aside a definite per cent of the regular tithe as an appropriation to the general work of the Mission Board. GCB April 3, 1903, page 62.22

“6. We recommend, That this forward movement in behalf of missions be placed clearly before our people, and that their responsibility to pay a full tithe into the Lord’s treasury be emphasized. GCB April 3, 1903, page 62.23

“7. We recommend, That, in addition to this devotion of conference resources to destitute fields, we urge all our laborers and people to agitate the matter of the regular weekly offerings to missions, known as the ten-cent-a-week plan, by which a large treasure may easily be turned to the evangelization of the world.” GCB April 3, 1903, page 62.24

H. W. Cottrell: I would move the adoption of this partial report. GCB April 3, 1903, page 62.25

N. W. Allee: I support the motion. GCB April 3, 1903, page 63.1

The motion having been carried, the secretary read the first recommendation, by request of the Chair. GCB April 3, 1903, page 63.2

The Chair: This recommendation is now before you. Are there any remarks? The question is called for. GCB April 3, 1903, page 63.3

The secretary read the second recommendation. GCB April 3, 1903, page 63.4

The Chair: Are there any remarks upon this recommendation? GCB April 3, 1903, page 63.5

H. Shultz: I rise simply for a little information. This recommendation is that “all conference resources of ministers and money be held open by the conference management to the needs and calls of the regions beyond, the same as within the bounds of the local conferences.” Does it mean that the General Conference or the Mission Board can come in to any of our local conferences and Union Conferences and say, Here, we will draw from you what we want? GCB April 3, 1903, page 63.6

A. G. Daniells: If I understand the spirit of this resolution, it is that the conferences should be ready always to give assistance as far as consistent with their home work. It is not the idea that the General Conference Committee or Mission Board shall enter any Union or state conference to engage workers or solicit money without the fullest counsel with the officers and the most friendly cooperation between them. The idea is to direct the attention of the conferences in America to the needy, destitute fields outside of their own boundaries, that they may keep those fields in mind, and be ready to respond by letting their laborers go, and giving of their means just as far as it is consistent with the demands of their own conference. GCB April 3, 1903, page 63.7

R. R. Kennedy: I am in sympathy with the spirit of this resolution. I know that the field is the world, but I do not like the wording of this resolution, especially the latter clause, “the same as within the bounds of local conferences.” I would like it changed to read. “As far as is consistent with the local work.” I think the management of that work is our first duty, and then we should do all we can for foreign fields. GCB April 3, 1903, page 63.8

Watson Ziegler: It seems to me if we look at it carefully, it places it all in the hands of the local conference, in consultation with the General Conference. We are asked to hold resources of means and workers open to calls from the most needy fields. We have it in our own power to say what we think is the “most needy” field, and we ought to be willing to do the work in the most needy fields. I can see no objection to it, and I should like very much to see this passed, in the guarded language in which it is expressed. GCB April 3, 1903, page 63.9

A. G. Daniells: Notice the expression, “be held open.” By whom are the resources to be held open?—“By the conference management;” that is, by your own State Conference. This is a qualifying clause. So far as I am concerned, I am perfectly willing to see inserted the further modification, “so far as consistent with local needs,” making this portion of the resolution read, “and that, so far as consistent with local needs, all conference resources,” etc. GCB April 3, 1903, page 63.10

C. W. Flaiz: I should not like to see this resolution modified in any way whatever. The principle underlying this recommendation is one we need to study. By this resolution we are simply invited to change the policy to which, for years, many of our state conferences have adhered. Many conferences have been organized simply for the purpose of carrying on the work within the conference limits. I do not believe that this is the right principle. We are organized in conferences for the purpose of advancing the work in the world. Any modification of this resolution will, I fear, modify our acceptance of the principle that should underlie conference management,—the principle that the field is the world. GCB April 3, 1903, page 63.11

R. A. Underwood: The principle that we are not to confine our work to certain boundary lines seems to be laid down very clearly by Christ. State boundary lines have been made simply for convenience. I believe that the principle set forth that resources of workers and money be held open to the needs of the regions beyond is right, and that to modify this resolution would be to lessen the importance of studying the principle of taking an unselfish interest in every part of the world-wide field. GCB April 3, 1903, page 63.12

H. Shultz: I did not raise this question to create discussion, but simply to bring out its meaning, so that when we go to our various fields we may work shoulder to shoulder, without any misunderstandings. For years I have been in favor of using the surplus means in the treasury for advancing the truth in needy fields, from which calls were coming for means. All the money that is given by the people for conference work is God’s means. The tithe does not belong to me, or to any other man; it is God’s, and should be used wherever it can best glorify Him and advance His truth. GCB April 3, 1903, page 63.13

C. P. Bollman: There is a point to which I should like to call attention, the phrase in the second resolution, “especially into fields outside of the United States.” I think we should remember that to the south of us we have a field described as one of the “most needy and most neglected fields.” I believe that sometimes it would be well to encourage laborers to enter that field under support of our older and stronger conferences. Some who could not go to foreign fields might do good work in the South. Among our brethren in the South there is a strong feeling that a mission should be established at Tampa, Fla., for the purpose of reaching Cuba. In this city there are thousands of Spanish-speaking Cubans. Constantly many are passing backward and forward. This, and many other places in the South, are real mission territory. The chairman of the General Conference called attention to what seemed to him a fact, that the situation could not be met simply by sending money into the field, but that laborers should be sent there. Between the brethren of the North and the South there needs to exist a closer bond of sympathy. How can such a bond be better maintained than by various Northern conferences putting laborers into the Southern field, supporting them there until they shall have raised up a constituency that will support them. I should like to see this resolution so modified that this Conference shall recommend the sending of paid laborers to the Southern field. GCB April 3, 1903, page 63.14

E. R. Palmer: I move that the clause, “especially into fields outside of the United States,” be stricken out. GCB April 3, 1903, page 63.15

This motion to amend was seconded and carried. GCB April 3, 1903, page 63.16

Smith Sharp: I move that the words, “and outside of the United States,” be stricken out of the first resolution. GCB April 3, 1903, page 63.17

C. P. Bollman: I support this motion. GCB April 3, 1903, page 63.18

A. G. Daniells: I hardly like to see this done. All the countries in the United States are nearer to us than are the fields abroad. We certainly know more about the various sections of our own land than we know about the more distant fields. The great world abroad is very imperfectly known to us. GCB April 3, 1903, page 64.1

With your permission, I will read to you something that I thing will illustrate how little we know of conditions in other lands. In my hand is a letter that has just come from Prof. B. G. Wilkinson. It was written from Barcelona, Spain, where two or three of our ministers have gone for a look over the ground and to study the openings for entering Spain with the message. These brethren give us a very encouraging report. Professor Wilkinson gives me a brief statement of a visit he has had with a native Spaniard. With his letter he has sent a translation of a statement this man made to him. Brother Wilkinson says:— GCB April 3, 1903, page 64.2

“Yesterday a man came to see us at our hotel at Barcelona, and gave us his history, as follows: He was converted seventeen years ago. From the day of his conversion he received the missionaries in his home. Later he was invited to sell out his business and enter the missionary work. He agreed to do so, leaving to the Lord the matter of supporting his family, with the promise from the missionary that his case would be presented to the Committee in Sweden. He labored at his own expense for five months before the answer came. He has gone through hard times, and has seen many deliverances by the Lord. A little girl of his and his father were the first persons to be buried outside of the Catholic Church in the town where he lived. The civil authorities had to protect him against the fury of the clergy during the burial. In one place where he preached, twenty-four were converted; in another place, thirteen, in twenty-two months. At the same time, he taught fifty-one pupils. GCB April 3, 1903, page 64.3

“To-day this man has taken us to the principal places where missionary work is being done in Barcelona. Of course, he speaks the language, and acts as interpreter for our brethren. Here is an abstract of his conversation with us on his way: ‘Most of the missionaries say, and write in their letters home, that Spain has rejected the gospel. I have traveled much in Spain, and have visited a great many mission stations, besides preaching the gospel for several years, and I can say that Spain wants the gospel. I know for a fact, that for each person that attends the Protestant meetings as regular members, there are a thousand of convinced ones who stay at home.’” GCB April 3, 1903, page 64.4

I must not trespass upon your time, to read more, but it is very interesting, indeed, as it opens up to us a knowledge of the field of which we have never had possession. We know nothing about the situation; and there are millions upon millions of people in those countries of whose condition we are entirely ignorant. I fell that in all our plans we should keep before us the great world abroad and outside the United States. We have many people who can go to the Southern or Atlantic fields, who could not go abroad. We can supply that help in this country, but when we get our vision extended to the very utmost, we shall find it is only to take in the needs, the destitution, and the openings of those great fields abroad. And while I am in favor of striking out in the second recommendation the words, “especially into fields outside of the United States,” I would say, Let us not strike out the similar words in the other. Let us not get it all out. GCB April 3, 1903, page 64.5

R. A. Underwood: While I feel anxious to see something done in the South, and also in the East, I want the delegates to know that in the state of Pennsylvania there are a goodly number of counties that, so far as I know, have never had the labors of a Seventh-day Adventist minister. We have had canvassers in those counties, and they have sold a great many thousands of dollars’ worth of books. Appeals are coming to me almost every week from places where they have never had a minister, where these canvassers have sold our books, appealing for a minister to come into their neighborhood. Yet I do not want a single person to come to Pennsylvania or into the East, for what I say of Pennsylvania is true of some of the other Eastern states; I do not want to see any one come there that can go abroad, but I believe there are other brethren or sisters who can go to some of these states who would not be prepared to go into distant fields GCB April 3, 1903, page 64.6

The Chair: The amendment is withdrawn. So recommendation 2 is before us. GCB April 3, 1903, page 64.7

H. G. Thurston: It seems to me there is danger that we weaken the force of the recommendation. So I am not in favor of striking anything out or changing it at all. GCB April 3, 1903, page 64.8

A. J. Breed: I would much like to see this first recommendation qualified as suggested by Brother Daniells. GCB April 3, 1903, page 64.9

A. G. Haughey: Are both recommendations before us—1 and 2? GCB April 3, 1903, page 64.10

The Chair: Number 2 is really before us. GCB April 3, 1903, page 64.11

A. G. Haughey: The remarks I want to make have to do with both. It seems to me that the latter part of No. 1 covers all that is left in No. 2, when we strike out the words, “especially into fields outside of the United States.” The expression in the latter part of recommendation No. 1 says, “The same as within the bounds of local conferences,” so that is all that is embraced in recommendation No. 2, when you strike out the expression, “the fields outside of the United States.” GCB April 3, 1903, page 64.12

H. W. Cottrell: It seems to me, brethren, that recommendation No. 2 should remain intact, by all means. It seems to me that we certainly would be doing the right thing if we reckon quite strongly in favor of doing something outside of the United States. GCB April 3, 1903, page 64.13

E. T. Russell: I would not like to see recommendation No. 2 stricken out. I like the spirit of it very much. It reads, “that conferences urge their laborers to move out into needy fields, especially into fields outside of the United States;” in other words, that means, if anything, that there should be a sentiment created in the states in favor of mission work beyond their own borders. GCB April 3, 1903, page 64.14

J. W. Watt: I would like to relate an experience we had in our conference last fall, in behalf of the resolutions. I suppose there is not a conference in all the United States that is more destitute of laborers than the little state of Vermont. When we came up to our camp-meeting, we had three ordained ministers, one licentiate, and one Bible worker. We had no idea of reaching beyond conference lines; but before the conference was over, we voted to send a man to a distant field, and to support him there. The spirit of these resolutions was really our experience, and I think they are what God would have us experience as a people. GCB April 3, 1903, page 64.15

We were asked to send one of our three ordained ministers to a foreign field, and to support him there. Never in all my conference work have I had anything occur that so stirred a conference as that stirred that conference. We discussed it for one meeting, and then thinking that perhaps it was a wave of enthusiasm, and that we ought not to be too hasty in passing the resolution, we passed it over for the next day, and let the brethren have twenty four hours to think and pray over the matter. We came into the meeting again, and the feeling was just as strong as it was the day before to carry out the resolution. The Lord completely took that meeting out of our hands. GCB April 3, 1903, page 65.1

When the meeting adjourned, a lady came to me and said, “Elder Watt, I place in your hands that note of $200. I want it to be appropriated to the cause, wherever you may feel that it should go.” The next day another person came to me, and said, “I place in your hands $800 for the cause of God.” And so the work went forward until, in that little conference, we had $1,625 donated right there for the different branches of the work. Since that time we have had windfalls in tithe, more than equaling the expense of sending that laborer to his field. So I know by experience, brethren, that the Lord would have His people reach out beyond conference lines, and beyond the United States, and that there is nothing that will bring into our conferences and into the hearts of our people more courage spiritually and greater willingness to give financially than to reach out and say that we are going to warn the world. I believe that the stronger conferences should see this matter as it is; for I believe the Lord has taught us a lesson in the little state of Vermont. GCB April 3, 1903, page 65.2

J. E. Jayne: The delegate who has just spoken has called our attention to the fact that the Vermont Conference received spiritual blessing and help because of their effort to assist needy fields; in other words, they did not obtain this blessing and help until such time as they had carried their work far enough to actually reap results. Now if we disassociate Nos. 1 and 2, we will fail in this very thing. The second recommendation says that conferences “urge” their laborers. Now that means a good deal, that a conference shall urge their laborers to go. They do not simply say, “We will sustain you,” but, “We urge you to go, that we may sustain you there.” So if you stop short of this thing, you stop short of reaping the fruits that you really wish, and you spoil the whole thing. I should dislike, therefore, to see this recommendation stricken out. GCB April 3, 1903, page 65.3

S. H. Lane: I think there is one expression in No. 2 that contains salt enough to save the whole recommendation, and that is the thought of urging the men into the needy fields. I hope that both recommendations will be preserved, and not only preserved, but acted upon, and that that action will prove a great blessing, both at home and abroad. GCB April 3, 1903, page 65.4

W. A. Spicer: We have just received a letter from Brother J. N. Anderson, in China, which touches this very question. He is in that land of 400,000,000. We have half a dozen workers there; and Brother Anderson reports that he has made a journey into the far interior, to the province of Honan, and there he found six adult Chinese ready for baptism,—the result of work done by Brother Pilquist. They are men of intelligence, some of them being ready to go out into the work for others. The first Seventh-day Adventist Church has been organized in China (Amen!), not along the seacoast, but in the far interior; and Brother Anderson says the people are coming in from the regions round about, inquiring after the truth. GCB April 3, 1903, page 65.5

Now, with that situation pressing upon him, and with 400,000,000 of souls round about him in the darkness, he writes to this Conference, asking if it would not be possible to suggest that every conference in America send one of its laborers to enter that great land that we have neglected these fifty years. It may be thought too much, and that it is not a practical suggestion; but surely it would not be too much for China’s 400,000,000. These fifty years we have heard of the woes and the sorrows of China; but during these fifty years we have never told suffering China of the glorious message of salvation that God has given to us; and yet during all these fifty years, during every month of it, “a million a month in China have been dying without God.” GCB April 3, 1903, page 65.6

Now it is not the desire of the workers whose hearts are in other lands to cripple the work at home in any way, or to take from the work at home. It seems to me all these resolutions are formed in the spirit of God’s own call to us to “enlarge the place of thy tent; let them stretch forth the curtains of thy habitation: spare not; lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes.” I believe this work will strengthen home conferences; it will strengthen the stake, and drive it down more securely, so that we may send out an even longer line, a life-line, to reach to the uttermost parts of the earth. GCB April 3, 1903, page 65.7

The question was called for. GCB April 3, 1903, page 65.8

H. W. Cottrell: I really think that the cream of this resolution No. 2 was taken out in the amendment that was passed a few moments ago. I should like to see this motion go through as written. GCB April 3, 1903, page 65.9

The Chair: It is moved and seconded that we reconsider our action. There is a motion before us striking out recommendation No. 2. This will have to be disposed of before we can consider any other action. GCB April 3, 1903, page 65.10

A. G. Haughey: I am in perfect harmony with the idea of sending laborers abroad, and to my mind the recommendation as it stands, with that thought stricken out, should stand. GCB April 3, 1903, page 65.11

The Chair: The motion is called on the amendment striking out recommendation No. 2. All in favor of this signify it by saying, Aye. Contrary, No. The motion is lost. GCB April 3, 1903, page 65.12

W. C. White: If we are to be a world’s conference, why do we discriminate against any section? GCB April 3, 1903, page 65.13

E. R. Palmer: I moved that the phrase be stricken out. I wish to state the reason why I did so. I am in harmony with the spirit of the phrase, and it never occurred to me until Brother Bollman spoke that it was so worded that it might seem to discriminate against a needy section of the field, and that it might be so understood, as intentionally worded that way by the people who lived in that section; therefore I moved that it be stricken out. GCB April 3, 1903, page 65.14

With regard to the second resolution as a whole, I think it is the complement of the first. The first is that the conferences open the door that the invitations may come in. The second is that the officers inside invite those who are inside to go out in response to those calls that they have let in. I think the second should be retained as the complement of the first, and that the impression can be saved which might be caused by the expression, “especially outside of the United States.” I should be pleased to have that thought retained. GCB April 3, 1903, page 65.15

The Chair: The question is called on No. 2. The secretary will read No. 3. GCB April 3, 1903, page 66.1

No. 3 was read. GCB April 3, 1903, page 66.2

The Chair: The recommendation is before you. GCB April 3, 1903, page 66.3

J. W. Watt: I would like to ask a question. In our own experience in sending out workers, we only had in mind the wages of the laborer. This recommendation provides that the conference under which the laborer is working shall audit the accounts. Do we understand that this recommendation would have in mind that the expenses also be borne by the conference sending that laborer into a distant field, and that both laborer and expenses would be expected of the conference sending out the laborer? GCB April 3, 1903, page 66.4

On this recommendation, A. G. Daniells explained that conditions varied so greatly in various fields that the direct audit of laborers by home conferences was a matter of great difficulty. Such audit would sometimes be above and sometimes below the necessities or standards of the fields abroad. It is an aid also in arranging a worker’s labor in any field to have his accounts under the supervision of the local directors of the work. Further, having the money sent through the Mission Board enables the mission treasury to make a fair report at the end of the year of funds contributed. GCB April 3, 1903, page 66.5

Watson Ziegler suggested that some special case in mind might have been better dealt with had the home support been sent direct. He thought it might be better, and save hardship in some cases, if the Mission Board sent the funds direct to the worker, and moved to amend by adding the words, “and that funds designed for the support of specified workers be sent direct to those workers.” This would guard against any withholding of necessary means in a far-away field, where it would work great hardship upon the laborer to be deprived of his allowance. GCB April 3, 1903, page 66.6

E. J. Waggoner: I do not intend to make a speech; I have simply a few words to say. It seems to me that it is a wonderful anomaly of our position that we should need a resolution pledging ourselves to send workers to the world. That is what we are in the world for. But the trouble with us is we have made boundaries of imaginary lines. But there is one feature that I should like to have come before the brethren here, that they may understand an embarrassment that is sometimes caused. For instance, at a local conference camp-meeting in the United States, a recommendation is made that such and such a brother go to Scotland, or such and such a-brother go to Ireland, or such and such a brother go to Wales, or even more particularly, that such and such a brother go to the north of England, to labor. Sometimes the committee on the ground might find that some other portion of the field was more needy, and that that brother was better adapted to labor in some other portion of the field. It would ordinarily be better, in helping Union Conference fields, to assign the laborer to the Union field, allowing the local committee to determine in what part of the field he shall labor. GCB April 3, 1903, page 66.7

And I will take opportunity right here to say that the brethren and sisters, as well as the committeemen, across the waters feel most kindly and lovingly toward the brethren and sisters in America for the interest that is being taken in sending laborers to them. I know their hearts go out in gratitude and love to the brethren and sisters on this side of the Atlantic for the help that has been rendered. GCB April 3, 1903, page 66.8

G. W. Anglebarger: I wish to second the motion made by Brother Ziegler. GCB April 3, 1903, page 66.9

Pending the discussion on the amendment, the Conference adjourned. GCB April 3, 1903, page 66.10

W. T. Knox, Chairman.
H. E. Osborne, Secretary.