At the opening of the last General Conference a message came in clear, emphatic language, to officers, boards, and delegates, to “Reorganize.” And we were told not to wait until the Conference was over before starting the work, but to begin at the beginning of the Conference. The following statements are taken from the instruction given:— GCB July 1, 1901, page 513.1
“There must be a renovation, a reorganization.” GCB July 1, 1901, page 513.2
“There must be a decided change in the management of things at the heart of the work.” “Greater strength must be brought into the managing force of the Conference.” “Here are men standing at the head of our various institutions, of educational interests, and of the conferences in different localities and different States. All these are to stand as representative men, to have a voice in molding and fashioning the plans that shall be carried out.” “What we want now is reorganization. We want to begin at the foundation and build upon a different principle.” GCB July 1, 1901, page 513.3
These statements, with the convictions and experiences of many in the Conference, led to changes in the manner of conducting Conference business, and, subsequently, to a number of important changes in the organizations throughout the field. Some of these changes are far-reaching in their influence upon our work. They are worthy of careful study, and should be more fully presented than it is possible in this number of the BULLETIN. Here we can refer but very briefly to the most important changes that have been made. GCB July 1, 1901, page 513.4