L. R. Conradi occupied the chair. Prayer by Elder J. C. Raft, of the Scandinavian Union. W. T. Bartlett was chosen as secretary pro tem.GCB June 6, 1909, page 324.32

The unfinished report of the Committee on Plans and Finance (on pages 288-89 of the BULLETIN) was taken up.GCB June 6, 1909, page 324.33

Resolution 45, authorizing the application of five per cent of general funds to General Conference Association and General Conference Corporation indebtedness, was read.GCB June 6, 1909, page 324.34

J. J. Ireland: I desire some information as to this. The General Conference Association, according to its reports, has a present worth of $4,000 and over. Now if all assets are considered good, there will be no necessity for any further sum to be set aside. With reference to the General Conference Corporation, this is a corporation that was created after the work was moved to this place. It has a present worth of $40,000 according to the report. But there are a large number of bills payable and receivable. The present worth exceeds the real estate, buildings, and furniture. Now are all the assets of this corporation considered good? If so, what would be the need of any further sum being set aside in its behalf?GCB June 6, 1909, page 324.35

A. G. Daniells: There is one thing sure, the General Conference Committee will not set aside any 5 per cent if it is not needed. As to the association, the assets are uncertain. So far as I know, we have not set aside anything for the Corporation. If we can collect the accounts due the Association, we shall not have to set aside anything. But I know now of one account of $2,500 that was advanced to a missionary enterprise. We are holding the account against it, and have held it for twenty years, and it is not paid yet. Still we hold it as an asset. Those owing it have sent in a petition to this Conference for us to forgive it. The fact that we have had authorization to set aside 15 per cent to meet these obligations, but have not used over 5 per cent during the last four years, is evidence that all that is wanted is a provision to keep the Association from insolvency.GCB June 6, 1909, page 324.36

J. P. Laird: I look at it the other way. We voted $20,000 indebtedness by the action taken yesterday, when we took over the Seminary. According to the reports, there are heavy liabilities against the General Conference Association and the General Conference Corporation.GCB June 6, 1909, page 324.37

J. J. Ireland: On the other side, there are assets, bills receivable. If all these are collected, there will be no necessity for any further money to liquidate the liabilities of both these corporations.GCB June 6, 1909, page 324.38

A. G. Daniells: We do not want to set aside general funds to pay the liabilities when we have good notes due from various corporations. We would never think of doing such a thing as that. We do not want to pile up, in our General Conference Corporation, a great present worth by taking money from the general funds.GCB June 6, 1909, page 324.39

Question being called, this resolution was carried.GCB June 6, 1909, page 325.1

Resolutions 46 and 47 (on Sabbath-school offerings) were read and carried without discussion.GCB June 6, 1909, page 325.2

On motion of H. W. Cottrell, it was voted to defer action on Resolution 48 (paper for the blind) until such time as Brother Miller, editor of The Christian Record, could be present.GCB June 6, 1909, page 325.3

Resolutions 49 and 50 (on Missionary Volunteer Department) were read, and carried by vote.GCB June 6, 1909, page 325.4

Resolution 51 (emphasizing personal work and prayer as the basis of the work of the youth) was read.GCB June 6, 1909, page 325.5

M. E. Kern: Personally, I have no desire to see our young people organized in a mere mechanical way. I hope that these two resolutions, 50 and 51, will be taken by our brethren throughout the field as an ideal for this young people’s work; that, first of all, we recognize the spiritual life as fundamental. We must make an earnest evangelistic effort for our young people, many of whom have only a theory of the truth, but no acquaintance with its power. In planning their work, we must hold up personal, heart-to-heart work as fundamental. I believe this will help us a great deal to avoid difficulties and mistakes that have been made in the past.GCB June 6, 1909, page 325.6

H. W. Cottrell: As the framer of these resolutions has just spoken, making reference again to Resolution 51, which we have just passed, and inasmuch as there is still time to reconsider this, I wish to say that it does seem to me it would be too bad to have Resolution 50 pass out in print before the world, carrying the idea that hitherto we did not recognize, as a people, conversion and the reception of the Holy Spirit as a fundamental principle. It carries with it that idea. I think we have always recognized that conversion was necessary, and that it is necessary to have the Holy Spirit. I would suggest that this resolution be reconsidered, and dropped from the records.GCB June 6, 1909, page 325.7

R. F. Andrews: It seems to me that if we put in the words “as heretofore” after the word “recognize,” that would show that we have heretofore done so, and still do so.GCB June 6, 1909, page 325.8

H. W. Cottrell: In order to get this question before the delegates, I move that we reconsider Resolution 50.GCB June 6, 1909, page 325.9

This was seconded, and carried.GCB June 6, 1909, page 325.10

W. T. Bartlett: Why not change “recognize” to “emphasize,” making it read, “that we emphasize a change of heart,” etc.GCB June 6, 1909, page 325.11

This was considered as a motion, and was seconded.GCB June 6, 1909, page 325.12

D. H. Kress: I would suggest that Section (b) be made to read, “That to this end we continue to make earnest evangelistic efforts to carry forward this work in their behalf.”GCB June 6, 1909, page 325.13

E. E. Farnsworth: It seems to me that if we put in the clause “we continue” in Section (b), we have lost the force of what was intended by the department. We want to do more than we have ever done.GCB June 6, 1909, page 325.14

A vote was taken on the question of changing the word “recognize” in Section (a) to “emphasize.” Carried.GCB June 6, 1909, page 325.15

R. S. Owen: I suggest that we insert the word “more” in Section (b), so that it shall read “a more earnest evangelistic effort be carried forward in their behalf.”GCB June 6, 1909, page 325.16

The motion was seconded.GCB June 6, 1909, page 325.17

M. L. Andreasen: It reads “to this end.” To what end?GCB June 6, 1909, page 325.18

F. M. Dana: The point of this resolution as already expressed by Brother Farnsworth, is to bring before this body the thought that we have neglected the work which ought to have been done for the youth. Now “more earnest evangelistic work” shall be carried forward, not simply to get them to join the church, but really to have a change of heart, and give them better opportunities to be faithful missionaries.GCB June 6, 1909, page 325.19

C. Santee: There is one point I think should be made emphatic in this “more” earnest effort, and that is the liability among all our young people of getting a formality in their programs. A living issue that comes from the heart can never be formal, and ever so good a program, unless it does come from the heart, becomes formal. It seems to me that as we are planning to carry this out, we as laborers want to know that we have something to give our youth; and when we do it, and put forth this “more” earnest effort, it will prevent the youth from introducing formality into the carrying out of these principles.GCB June 6, 1909, page 325.20

The amendment was carried.GCB June 6, 1909, page 325.21

The original motion was then carried.GCB June 6, 1909, page 325.22

Resolutions 51 and 52 were read and adopted.GCB June 6, 1909, page 325.23

The secretary read Resolution 53 (on a series of doctrinal lessons for the youth), and it was adopted.GCB June 6, 1909, page 325.24

Resolutions 54 and 55 were read and adopted without discussion.GCB June 6, 1909, page 325.25

Resolution 56 (on junior work) was adopted.GCB June 6, 1909, page 325.26

A. G. Daniells: I would like to make one word of explanation. Some may not see any reason in having these details regarding the young people’s work brought in here. I would call attention to this fact, that as each department has been organized, we have, to a greater or less extent, gone over the ground of the basis of their operation, and taken action upon it in detail. I think you will remember that when the Medical Department was launched four years ago, there was presented a list of recommendations, and we studied the details of their plan of operation. We went into the matter thoroughly, to get before us, and before the whole denomination, the basis of operation. I presume that is why this has been brought before us. The same was done with the publishing work six years ago. This lays the foundation for the general plan of operation, and then as we get experience in our work from year to year, we can adjust this.GCB June 6, 1909, page 325.27

Recommendation 57 (on camp-meeting work for youth) was carried.GCB June 6, 1909, page 325.28

Resolution 58 (on Foreign Seminary scholarship fund) was read.GCB June 6, 1909, page 325.29

C. W. Irwin: What is the use of the word “endowed” in this connection?GCB June 6, 1909, page 325.30

M. E. Kern: Whether right or wrong, that is what we have called it. It is a fund we are raising to assist students through the Seminary who are in need of some special assistance, and the idea has been that this will be a permanent fund,—that this money would be loaned, and in a few years returned, and, therefore, we have called it “The Endowed Scholarship Plan.” It may be a wrong term, but that is the name we assigned to it.GCB June 6, 1909, page 325.31

C. W. Irwin: If I understand the meaning of the word “endowed,” it means a fund which has been set aside, the proceeds from which are used in helping students in school. It seems to me the term is incorrect, and that we ought to use the “Missionary Scholarship Fund,” instead.GCB June 6, 1909, page 325.32

I would move that we strike out the word “endowed.”GCB June 6, 1909, page 325.33

H. M. Hiatt: I second the motion.GCB June 6, 1909, page 325.34

Chas. Thompson: I would like to inquire what it means by “completing the fund”? It does not say how much the fund will be.GCB June 6, 1909, page 325.35

A. G. Daniells: I would like to say just a word with reference to this fund and what it means. When the decision was made to change the college into what it is now, we began to put forth efforts to get into this school the persons it was created to help. There are young people all about who volunteer to go to foreign fields. Their hearts turn in that direction. Some of them have not had great educational advantages. Others have finished their work in our academies and colleges. They do not expect to go to school any more.GCB June 6, 1909, page 325.36

Some of these the Mission Board accepts, and advises to come here. They are often without funds. They have strained every point for three or four years, perhaps, to get through the school they have been attending. They are now ready to go abroad, with the exception of a brief specific preparation. Now what shall we do when a candidate has not the money to get the needed preparation? With the tremendous demands from China, Japan, India, and Africa for young people who have accustomed themselves to labor, who have disciplined minds, who give promise of ability to grasp the languages and perfect themselves in their work,—with these demands upon us, I have felt for two years tremendous pressure over this thing, and have urged that something be done to give possible candidates some advantage here in the school to get through quickly, and so pass on to the fields beyond.GCB June 6, 1909, page 325.37

I am personally responsible for this scholarship fund, if any blame is to be put on anybody, and I have heard some criticism of it. While I was studying and trying to consider every kind of a proposition, the thought came to me: Now these volunteers for missions are young people from schools, principally, and they are going out as young people. Why not get the Missionary Volunteer societies to work for scholarships, or shares in scholarships, to provide a fund to help these young men and young women to get out into the fields?GCB June 6, 1909, page 325.38

Some have thought we were raising money to deposit with the Seminary, that they might have a big fund here to help them out. But this fund does not touch the Seminary. We can fill this Seminary full and running over without doing that thing at all. In fact, the Seminary makes a discount for the person having a scholarship. It is no advantage to the Seminary in a financial way, as such, except in this: If the Seminary does just what it is designed to do, gets the persons that the mission field should have, and who are prepared to take this course, it enables us to fill up quickly, and so operate to better advantage; but I want to tell our friends who have schools in other parts of the country, and emphasize it, that this fund is not for the Seminary. Scholarships are assigned by the Missionary Volunteer Society and the General Conference Committee in counsel with the president of the Seminary. This fund is not for the individual who receives it, either. It is for the millions of people in the mission fields calling for young men and young women.GCB June 6, 1909, page 326.1

H. M. Hiatt (Kansas): I can answer for our conference that at first we were asked to raise two scholarships. Later, as a strong conference, we were asked to do more than that. Our conference raised two, and sent in $300. Later we agreed to raise another scholarship. I am heartily in favor of this plan. I believe there are a good many of our young people who waste enough money in photographs, gum, and ice-cream, to more than pay a good many of these scholarships, and I think it is a good training for our young people. I hope we will not do away with it, and those who have not made up their scholarships, will receive a blessing in doing so. Right after this scholarship matter came, there came a call from Brother Everson, of Rome. He said he would like to have a tent to pitch close to the Vatican. We were at a German young people’s convention, and brought it before them, and raised a donation of $125 within a few minutes. Then we received another letter that they needed some equipment for medical missionary work in India, and on top of all these other things, our young people have started out to raise $375 for that, and they will not be any the poorer after that, either.GCB June 6, 1909, page 326.2

The Chairman: Are you ready for the question to amend Resolution 58 by striking out the word “endowed”?GCB June 6, 1909, page 326.3

Question called and passed.GCB June 6, 1909, page 326.4

By vote of the Conference, Resolution 58, as amended, was adopted.GCB June 6, 1909, page 326.5

Resolution 59, by vote, was adopted.GCB June 6, 1909, page 326.6

Resolution 60, by vote, was adopted.GCB June 6, 1909, page 326.7

Conference adjourned.GCB June 6, 1909, page 326.8

L. R. CONRADI, Chairman,
W. T. BARTLETT, Secretary pro tem.

Departmental Meetings

THIRTY-NINTH MEETING