W. A. Spicer, C. P. Bollman, I. H. Evans, C. M. Snow, T. E. Bowen
May 30, 10:45 A. M.
Elder L. R. Conradi in the chair. Prayer by W. J. Fitzgerald. New delegates seated: E. A. Sutherland, of the Southern Union, delegate at large, who had been present for some time, but had overlooked responding at call for delegates; C. T. Everson, of the Latin Union. GCB May 31, 1909, page 221.12
The chairman called attention to the partial reports of the Committee on Plans (resolutions 16 to 19) on pages 188 and 189 of the BULLETIN, and (resolutions 20 to 27) on page 208, now before the Conference as unfinished business. GCB May 31, 1909, page 221.13
On motion to adopt by considering and acting upon each resolution separately, the reports were taken up. GCB May 31, 1909, page 221.14
Resolution 16 (on equipment of schools) was read and adopted without discussion. GCB May 31, 1909, page 221.15
Resolution 17 (on school buildings and gardens) was then read. GCB May 31, 1909, page 221.16
C. McReynolds: Is it recommended that this shall be a work undertaken by the conference from a financial standpoint? or must it be by the church itself, or by the advice of the conference? GCB May 31, 1909, page 221.17
Frederick Griggs: The purpose of the resolution is simply to enable the conference to advise in this matter. It is not that they should go into the expenses of erecting the buildings. There is room for improvement in the church-school facilities. Our schools in many instances are conducted in illy-ventilated, poorly-lighted, and entirely inadequate quarters. By this resolution we place ourselves on record in favor of proper quarters for our church-schools, and the only reference to the conferences is that they shall advise and encourage such work. GCB May 31, 1909, page 221.18
Question was called, and the resolution was carried. GCB May 31, 1909, page 221.19
Resolution 18 (on school buildings) was read. GCB May 31, 1909, page 221.20
Frederick Griggs: There is no question but school buildings are often erected with a poor style of architecture at about as great cost as they would be if a good style of architecture were selected. It seems as if it were properly the work of the department of education (I am not speaking alone of the General Conference Department, but of the departments of education, local as well as general) to have suggestions at hand, and encourage the erection of buildings suited to the purpose in mind, and well designed architecturally. GCB May 31, 1909, page 221.21
H. M. Hiatt: I believe that it is the duty of the officers of the Conference, especially of the educational department of each local conference—to impress every Seventh-day Adventist Church elder and officer that the Testimonies are full of information concerning this very thing. Volume VI and some of the Testimonies we received in council last May, are full of instruction in regard to the duties of parents, where to locate schools, how to build, and all other details. GCB May 31, 1909, page 222.1
A. O. Tait: I would like to suggest that in carrying out this resolution the department could get out good pictures or illustrations of various schools, together with the cost of the same, with some specifications for their building, and have them printed in such a way that they could be distributed quite generally. In this way, plans that ordinarily might cost from twenty-five to fifty dollars could be distributed so that they would cost only a few cents. GCB May 31, 1909, page 222.2
Question called, and the resolution carried. GCB May 31, 1909, page 222.3
Resolution 19 (on correspondence schools) was read. GCB May 31, 1909, page 222.4
Frederick Griggs: Perhaps a word of explanation is necessary. We have among our young people many whose circumstances are such as to make it impossible for them to attend our schools. We have ministers whose duties are such that while they desire further study, it is impossible for them to leave their work,—teachers, and other workers who desire to pursue studies further along general lines. Not only so, but men and women are continually coming into the truth who would avail themselves of courses of Bible study, history study, and other lines of work, and that to great advantage. Now correspondence schools, as stated here, have been shown to be successful. Some of these schools are independent. Others are connected with other schools, such as the University of Wisconsin, the University of Chicago, etc. It appears to us that there is a broad field of usefulness for such a school, particularly in view of the work which our Missionary Volunteer Department is carrying forward. In certain sections of the country this department has asked for something of this sort; and we believe that there is a great field for such a school. GCB May 31, 1909, page 222.5
C. M. Christensen: The question in my mind is, Why confine it to the General Conference? Why not also apply it to our various training-schools in the conferences? GCB May 31, 1909, page 222.6
Frederick Griggs: This has been undertaken by several of our training-schools, and, so far, it has not proved successful. That is not saying but what it might prove successful, but it has not; and we believe that for a correspondence school to be successful, it must be conducted by men and women who can devote all their time and their energies to that work. If this school is made a success, it needs just as careful attention as any other school. GCB May 31, 1909, page 222.7
R. S. Owen: I am sure there is a demand for such a school along Bible lines. For 18 years I have been teaching Bible in our schools. Many persons have sent to me for lessons, and I have sent them out, but have not been able to answer the letters. I have attempted it, but my time was so occupied with my classes that it was impossible for me to give the work the attention that it demanded. No one should attempt this work who already has all he ought to do. GCB May 31, 1909, page 222.8
J. W. Lair: I would like to ask a point of privilege on Resolutions 16 and 17. I notice that Resolution 16 suggests that the school boards enlarge their scientific and industrial departments. Now it seems to me that this recommendation ought to be revised so that the schools already established raise the means within themselves, rather than that the boards of management be asked to raise that means in the various conferences. GCB May 31, 1909, page 222.9
Professor Griggs: Resolution 16 applies with particular force to the intermediate schools, which do not have laboratory facilities, except for the simpler subjects, such as physiology. They have very few books in their libraries. There is also a lack along special scientific lines, and along agricultural lines. Somebody ought to supply this great need, and those who drew up the resolution hardly knew better whom to call upon than the boards of management, who can obtain this money where it seems best. In the majority of cases, at least, the members of these boards of management are conferences themselves, and they can make their arrangements to get the money as they may think best. GCB May 31, 1909, page 222.10
Question was called, and carried. GCB May 31, 1909, page 222.11
Resolution No. 20 (on educational journal) was read. (See page 208.) GCB May 31, 1909, page 222.12
Professor Griggs: I simply wish to offer a word of explanation. For a number of years there has been a demand for an educational journal, and for educational matter, in addition to that which we have had in the Review. We have a health journal to promulgate our health principles to the world. There is a great educational movement of progress in this and other countries, and God has given to us advanced light in this direction, and it seems as if we should endeavor to disseminate this light. We have the book “Education.” Reference may be made to that later as a means which we may employ in that direction. But I think we can use a proper educational journal, not only for our own teachers, but for the educational world at large. This is one reason why we think we should have such an educational journal, and we believe it should contain matter of vital importance to all our people. I do not want, however, that there should be no representation of our school work in the Review. I believe it should contain matter on our educational work just the same as it contains matter on religious liberty, Missionary Volunteer, and other phases of our work. GCB May 31, 1909, page 222.13
W. W. Prescott, editor of the Review, inquired if this action would make it necessary to maintain the special educational department now published each month. On learning the object of the resolution, he moved that the resolution be amended by striking out that portion of it which says, “In addition to the educational matter that may appear in the Review and Herald,” making it read, “That the Executive Committee of the General Conference arrange for the publication of,” etc. GCB May 31, 1909, page 222.14
The motion was seconded. GCB May 31, 1909, page 222.15
After some further discussion the chairman said: The motion before the house is to amend Resolution 20 by striking out the words, “In addition to the educational matter that may appear in the Review and Herald.” GCB May 31, 1909, page 222.16
The question was put, and the amendment was carried. GCB May 31, 1909, page 222.17
Resolution 20, as amended, was voted upon, and accepted. GCB May 31, 1909, page 222.18
The Chairman: The secretary will read the next resolution. GCB May 31, 1909, page 222.19
The Secretary [reading]: GCB May 31, 1909, page 222.20
WASe
Whereas, Experience has shown that the schools conducted by local conferences should seldom carry work beyond the tenth grade; and,— GCB May 31, 1909, page 222.21
Whereas, Several of these local schools are now called academies, though not doing, or equipped to do, full academic work, for lack of libraries, laboratories, and sufficient teaching force; and,— GCB May 31, 1909, page 222.22
Whereas, We have the following instruction from the spirit of prophecy: “It is not wise for a new school to lift its banner, and promise a high grade of work, before it has proved that it is fully able to do preparatory work as it should be done. It should be the great aim of every intermediate school to do most thorough work in the common branches.... It would be a sad mistake for us to fail to consider thoroughly the purpose for which each of our schools is established. This is a matter that should be faithfully considered by our responsible men in each union conference. All the different educational interests should be given careful consideration, and then each school should place its work on a proper basis;” therefore,— GCB May 31, 1909, page 222.23
21. We recommend, (a) That the local conferences, in counsel with their union conference committee, adapt the name and grade of work of these local schools to the intermediate school standard, except in those special cases where circumstances make this step inadvisable. GCB May 31, 1909, page 222.24
(b) That the union conference training-schools do not draw intermediate students from the territory within the jurisdiction of the intermediate schools without previous arrangement with the local conference president. GCB May 31, 1909, page 222.25
(c) That in each union conference there be created a committee of inspection, consisting of the union conference president, the union conference educational secretary, and one member of the training-school faculty to be appointed by the faculty, to counsel with the individual conferences or schools, in order to unify and grade the work of the intermediate schools and academies of the union conference. GCB May 31, 1909, page 222.26
The Chairman: This resolution is open for remarks. GCB May 31, 1909, page 222.27
Morris Lukens: This resolution says so much that it is hard for us to find out just what it does say. I notice that it starts out by stating, “Experience has shown that the schools conducted by local conferences should seldom carry work beyond the tenth grade.” When it comes to sections (a), (b), and (c) of the recommendation, it conveys the idea that the local conference schools are intermediate schools. GCB May 31, 1909, page 222.28
Now, if I understand correctly, the other day it was stated that an intermediate school is where three or four churches unite together and have a large church-school. But where a conference has a school, I can not understand why that should be called an intermediate school. I simply speak from the standpoint of our school in Indiana. Most of the schools in the Lake Union Conference carry work to the eleventh grade, and it seems as if this is a plan to change it. It looks to us as if it would compel us to limit our conference school to the tenth grade. That would give us only two grades above the church-school. GCB May 31, 1909, page 222.29
We have, in our conference, 18 church-schools. They run to the eighth grade. We would not care to see those reduced any, because to do so would mean to send our children away from home before they were old enough to go away to some other school. Then, if we keep them in the church-school until the eighth grade, we have only two grades for our conference school. It will mean to shut up many of our conference schools, if this is carried out. GCB May 31, 1909, page 223.1
I recognize the fact that this is only a suggestion, but I notice that it is placed in the hands of three men,—the union conference president, the union conference educational secretary, and one of the faculty. While they are to consult with the members of the board, and counsel with the members of the board, yet it seems to me that it places out of the hands of the conference committee final decision as to just what grade that school should carry—just what grade it should go to. I am not going to offer an amendment just now, but I should like to see that first “whereas” cut out entirely, and not mention the tenth grade; for it seems to me I can see trouble for our conference schools, if this is left in. GCB May 31, 1909, page 223.2
F. Griggs: The Testimonies make provision for intermediate schools. They call for intermediate schools, and they call for them in localities where a number of churches can unite. There is no provision made in the Testimonies for a conference school. There is no such suggestion. In fact, there is a strict statement that they should not exist. The Testimonies indicate three grades of schools, the church, the intermediate, and the advanced schools. Some of this instruction that occurs in the second preamble, was given to a school that was endeavoring to lift its grade of work above the tenth grade. Now there are localities, and there are schools, that seem to make it necessary for a school to do work above the tenth grade. Take the Northern Union, for instance. They have no advanced school in that union, and there is some occasion for that to be done. GCB May 31, 1909, page 223.3
This resolution is introduced for two or three reasons. One is the matter of expense. In order to maintain the eleventh and twelfth grades in addition to tenth-grade work, there must necessarily be an increase of the teaching force, and laboratory and library facilities which are not required in work up to that grade. Zoology is almost always taught, and advanced lines of history; other scientific studies are taught in the eleventh and twelfth grades, and these require quite an increase of facilities. Furthermore, the teaching force in our intermediate schools is not as large as it is in our advanced schools, and the teachers are required to do the work of those schools in less time. The recitation periods are shorter; each one is obliged to cover more subjects. Now the grade of work which a pupil gets in these eleventh and twelfth grades in connection with the intermediate schools is not equal to that which they get in the advanced schools. GCB May 31, 1909, page 223.4
Again, the number of pupils in each one of these intermediate schools above the tenth grade, is limited. There are four, five, or seven, or something like that. Sometimes it runs more, but it is a limited number, above the tenth grade. And if the school is carried above that grade, and a proper teaching force is had, it appears to be at a loss financially. Not only so, but the advanced schools are just as much the property of the local conferences as their own local schools. This matter has been carefully gone over by our educators, and this resolution does not make it binding that advanced work can not be done under any circumstances. There may be cases where it is necessary or advisable to do such work. GCB May 31, 1909, page 223.5
I would further call attention to the fact that the committee that is appointed by the third clause in the recommendation is not a committee to say whether a school shall carry its grades beyond the tenth or not. This is not the purpose of the committee. It is to examine the work of these schools and see that the standard of work is what it should be. The object is not to tell the schools that they shall do this or that, but to suggest how they can improve their work. GCB May 31, 1909, page 223.6
E. E. Andross: As a people, we are not generally in favor of exemption clauses. In Southern California we have one of the best schools in the United States for the training of laborers, and that school is an academy. I believe that it is possible for an academy to do just as good work as any other school, as far as it goes. I would hate to see anything pass this Conference that would in any way militate against the work of the academy. At the principals’ meeting held a year ago in Cleveland, Ohio, I noticed on the board a straight line, divided into three parts: one was for the church-school, the next the academy, and the third the college, or training-school, and then beneath that was the intermediate school. If I understood it right at that time, the intermediate school was considered abnormal, a sort of make-shift till the time when we would have only the church-school, the academy, and the college. And now has the academy suddenly slid down, and become that abnormal thing, that makeshift? I believe the academy ought to hold its place among our other schools which are preparing men and women for the field. GCB May 31, 1909, page 223.7
Of course I recognize the fact that we ought to take more counsel in the starting of schools. I do not believe we ought to undertake schools when we are not prepared to carry them through. But I would be glad if we could arrange this resolution in some way so that it would place the academy, which is doing such magnificent work, in a little more prominent position. That exemption clause may be stricken out, or withdrawn at the next meeting of our Conference. It is simply toleration, and I do not believe it ought to be put on that basis; for I do know that the academies are doing some excellent work for the young people of our denomination. GCB May 31, 1909, page 223.8
H. R. Salisbury: It seems to me that this resolution is brought in to protect just such schools as Elder Andross is speaking of. There are certain schools going by the name of academies, or training-schools, or institutes, or seminaries, or schools for Christian workers, that are doing training-school work, and they should be protected. There is another class that is trying to imitate them, drawing our students away from our training-schools, and still are not doing the grade of work that should be done. I understand the school in question is a training-school; and if so, this resolution is for the purpose of protecting it, in order that some little school will not start up, call itself an academy, imitate its work, and draw away its students. South Lancaster Academy is an academy, but we consider it a splendid training-school. This resolution is not to stop the academies, but to stop the schools that are trying to do the work of an academy and are failing. If there is any fault with this resolution, it is that it is too weak instead of too strong. GCB May 31, 1909, page 223.9
Now take the question brought up by the delegate from Indiana. I do not know what that school which he mentioned has grown to, but if it has grown to be a strong academy, doing academic work, then truly this committee, when it visits the school, will pass it as a school that is doing the work it is intended for. If that committee should visit it, and find that it is not doing the work for which it is intended, then it would be better for it to be known as a respectable intermediate school than a poor academy. If it is a respectable academy, then that committee will surely approve of it. GCB May 31, 1909, page 223.10
F. Griggs: There is another phase that this resolution aims at. This year we have graduated thirteen young men and young women in our degree courses, and thirteen only. We are called upon to equip new schools. Now it is a fair proposition that a teacher ought to be educated at least a year or so ahead of those he is to teach. That is, if his pupils are doing tenth-grade work, he ought to have had as high as the twelfth; if they are doing twelfth-grade work, he ought to have gone two or three grades higher. The trouble is, we are not graduating enough young people from the higher grades; we are not getting men and women who can edit our papers, who can man our advanced schools, who can go out into the hard places. I was talking with Elder Shaw and others yesterday concerning the kind of workers needed in Oriental fields, and he told me, “You must raise the standard of the education of the young people that you send over there.” Too many workers are chosen from our lower schools. Our intermediate schools are trying to turn out good preachers and Bible workers. The tendency is to lower the standard and efficiency of our work. We want to raise that standard, so that we can qualify men and women for the great work that is to be done in a short time. We believe this to be a very important thing. I do not believe every boy and girl should take a college course; but I do believe that our boys and girls should be educated to the place for which they are qualified in this great work. We have the greatest work, the mightiest work, that is going on in this earth, and we need strong, well-educated men and women to carry it on. I believe that this very resolution, in its practical working out, will tend toward that result. GCB May 31, 1909, page 223.11
C. Thompson: I understood the last speaker in some former remarks to say that when one of these academies is located in a conference, the conference is responsible for its work as well as that of the local church-school. Professor Salisbury, in speaking of the committee that is proposed in Section (c), said that the conference president was a member of the committee. But in the committee proposed here, there is no officer provided for from the conference in which the school is located. It is a committee outside the conference altogether. Neither the educational secretary of the local conference nor the president of the local conference is recognized. It seems to me that that committee ought to be raised to five members, including the local conference president and the secretary of the local conference in which the school is located. GCB May 31, 1909, page 223.12
C. Christiansen: Our training-schools are supported by the State or conference schools. In several of the conferences we are starting from one to three intermediate academies. Now the first thing we know, we shall be taking all the money that we can collect in these conferences to support our schools, because every State will want to have an academy to do advanced work. That means more teachers, it means more finance. It seems to me it would be better, as has been suggested, to have a few training-schools well equipped before starting others. Some of our church-schools are also desirous of carrying work to the tenth grade. I believe, brethren, that this recommendation is in the right direction. GCB May 31, 1909, page 224.1
C. C. Lewis: I believe that this resolution as it stands is worthy of our consideration, and ought to be adopted by this conference. It has not been brought before this conference without careful consideration by the educational council, where the principals of these academies and schools that have been spoken of here were present. This resolution is the result of a second referring back to the Committee on Resolutions of that department, and it has also received careful consideration by the Committee on Plans. GCB May 31, 1909, page 224.2
I believe that the delegate from Southern California misapprehends the meaning of that diagram which he once saw on the blackboard, in which the intermediate schools were placed below the line of the others. He seems to have gotten the idea (this is the first time I have ever heard it expressed) that that meant that it occupied an abnormal position. Not so. It simply represents an actual condition. The intermediate schools almost always have to lap back to the seventh and eighth grades, which are taught also in the church-schools. I think that the delegate from Kansas made a suggestion that is worthy of our consideration,—that upon this committee of inspection which has to do with the grading of the schools in the conference, the conference itself ought to be represented. I therefore move an amendment, that the president of the local conference, and the educational secretary of that local conference, be added to this committee called for in Section (c), making a committee of five. GCB May 31, 1909, page 224.3
R. A. Underwood: I wish to second that motion. GCB May 31, 1909, page 224.4
W. W. Prescott: It seems to me that the very purpose of this committee is misapprehended. May I suggest first, as a mere verbal change, that instead of calling this a committee of inspection, it be called a board of visitors? It seems to me that would be a more proper name. GCB May 31, 1909, page 224.5
Now, Mr. Chairman, as to this motion to make an amendment, let me call your attention to the fact that the very purpose of such a board of visitors is to include those who are not conducting the school. You do not want a board of visitors composed of those who are closely associated with the school. That would be contrary to the very purpose of this section, which is to give help from the outside, not from the inside. GCB May 31, 1909, page 224.6
Now I understand that the purpose of this action is to endeavor, in a proper way,—not by arbitrary legislation, not by setting arbitrary rules,—to provide a way that this can be done without this arbitrary method. This board of visitors is to visit the schools, not with authority to say what they shall do, but to say, If you wish to be in harmony with the general plan of the work, you should conform your work to that plan. The board of visitors are to advise whether the work is in harmony with that plan or not, leaving it to the local management to decide whether they are willing to come into harmony with the plan. Such counsel as this could best be given by men who are not closely associated with the school, or prejudiced in its favor. Therefore I think the provision made in this resolution appointing general men as the board of visitors to give counsel and advice, is wise. I hope that the amendment will not prevail, and that the resolution will be adopted. GCB May 31, 1909, page 224.7
Secretary: Shall we substitute “board of visitors” for “committee of inspection”? It was so agreed. GCB May 31, 1909, page 224.8
C. Thompson: This committee would not be as large as the last speaker seems to indicate. There would be the three provided for in the resolution, and associated with them the local conference president and the local educational secretary, in the conference in which the school itself may be established. I spoke to this from the standpoint of Professor Grigg’s remarks that the local conference in which a school is established is responsible for its running and for its work, and therefore ought to be recognized. It does not include bringing in the presidents and educational secretaries of all the conferences that comprise the union. GCB May 31, 1909, page 224.9
The question was called on the amendment. A vote was taken, and the amendment was lost. GCB May 31, 1909, page 224.10
R. A. Underwood: I would speak to the one point made concerning exemption. This resolution was twice referred back to the Committee on Plans. They recognized that there was a difficulty in carrying out the purpose of this resolution without interfering with a few schools that of necessity ought to carry on eleventh- and twelfth-grade work. Now in our union we have no advanced training-school. Our students are attending College View and our academies. We have been advised to secure certain property and establish a union conference training-school. When this action was under consideration by our local conferences, one conference, perhaps the largest in the union, Iowa, was conducting an academy and also one intermediate school. That conference decided that it would be a matter of policy and blessing to drop their work above the tenth grade and conform to the tenth-grade plan, if a union training-school were established. Now if an advanced training-school is maintained in a union conference, the local conferences must maintain that school. That school is a part of their work just as much as the intermediate school or the academy. The question is simply whether the local conferences can to advantage carry double work in three or four schools, or whether it can be done better in one advanced school. I am in harmony with the resolution. GCB May 31, 1909, page 224.11
B. G. Wilkinson: I wish to speak on one phase that has not been mentioned yet, and that is the question of reciprocity. Our colleges desire not to take students from these schools of lower grades; but when these schools reach out into the schools of higher grades, sometimes the training-schools, the higher schools feel compelled to reach down and take students from the lower grades. I wish to say that a large number of the chiefs of our training-schools were visited when this resolution was under consideration, and they felt very willing to stick to their grades if the schools under them would stick to their grades. Therefore I believe the resolution ought to be passed. GCB May 31, 1909, page 224.12
H. M. Hiatt: Here is a testimony that I have: “It is not necessary that all the youth rush off from home responsibilities to seminaries or higher schools, in order to reach the highest rung of the ladder. It should be remembered that right in the home there are generally young children to be instructed. The elder should ever seek to help the younger. Let the elder members of the family consider that this part of the Lord’s vineyard needs to be cultivated,” and so on. GCB May 31, 1909, page 224.13
Now we have one intermediate school and one academy in our conference (Kansas), and I would hate to see this resolution prevent us from going any higher than the tenth grade; for the reason that many times the children are not able to go to the higher schools,—the training-schools. People are constantly coming into the truth; many times a mother will bring a daughter or a son in with her, while the father is not in the truth, and will not furnish the money to send the children to college. Sometimes the intermediate school or the academy can advance their work one or two grades, and still do local work that will meet the local demands. In our conference we have an academy which is doing good work. We have five teachers employed for this year, and possibly will add another. The Presbyterian college has said it would like to have us take over its college, and move our academy into its building. The business men have appealed to us to take it up. Now, if I understand it, there is nothing to be gained by lowering the grades of such a school. I am in favor of maintaining a high standard. GCB May 31, 1909, page 224.14
B. A. Wolcott: I wish to say that there is one question that we have had to face that has not been touched upon. The vast number of our young people can never go through our colleges. There are some who will, but the great majority can never hope to go through our higher schools. Now are we going to pull down our standard of education for the vast majority of our young people by saying we can go in our schools only through ten grades? I say, No. The majority of our young people will stop when they get to our intermediate schools; they will not go on. We need to strengthen all our schools, and we ought each to put our shoulders to this task. I would not like to see a cap put on at the tenth grade, saying that our schools should do no more. GCB May 31, 1909, page 224.15
The question was called, and the original motion carried. GCB May 31, 1909, page 224.16
Resolution 22 (in regard to patronizing our school industries) was read. GCB May 31, 1909, page 224.17
C. S. Longacre: There is a question about the industries. Why is one industry mentioned (tent-making), and the others omitted? GCB May 31, 1909, page 225.1
Frederick Griggs: It would be almost impossible to name all the industries in a resolution. GCB May 31, 1909, page 225.2
I. H. Evans: That was given simply as an illustration of what was meant. GCB May 31, 1909, page 225.3
R. F. Andrews: The resolution emphatically states, “and other industries.” It seems to me that it could not be any plainer. GCB May 31, 1909, page 225.4
The resolution carried. GCB May 31, 1909, page 225.5
The secretary then read Resolution 23 (on Foreign Mission Seminary). GCB May 31, 1909, page 225.6
W. W. Prescott: I would be sorry to see this resolution passed without some statement before this body of delegates concerning the work of this institution. It is since the last session of this Conference that this institution has been established as the Foreign Mission Seminary. It was done by vote of the Conference Committee in its large council in Switzerland two years ago. We have had two years’ of experience in conducting this school; we have had two years’ demonstration as to the field which it is designed to fill; and it seems to me that it would be very profitable if we should have a statement from the principal of the Seminary concerning some of the experiences of the last two years,—a statement of the work already done by the Seminary in supplying the demands for the fields, as a basis upon which these brethren are to intelligently indorse such a resolution as this. I would like to suggest, in the absence of the chairman of the board, that the president of the Seminary be asked to make a statement concerning the experiences of the school from this standpoint. GCB May 31, 1909, page 225.7
H. R. Salisbury: In the financial report of the Seminary that is to be called at the legal meeting, I was going to give a summarized report, but if the delegates would wish to hear something, I could give it off-hand. Otherwise I would rather leave it until I give my treasurer’s report. GCB May 31, 1909, page 225.8
Question was called, and the resolution carried. GCB May 31, 1909, page 225.9
Resolution 24 (on the preparation of our publications) was read, and, pending action, the meeting adjourned. GCB May 31, 1909, page 225.10
L. R. CONRADI, Chairman,
W. A. SPICER, Secretary.