Whereas, A. T. Jones has appealed to this Conference against an action of the General Conference Committee taken at Gland, Switzerland, in May, 1907; therefore,—GCB June 2, 1909, page 270.18

We recommend, That A. T. Jones be granted a hearing on his appeal, and that he be given one hour to make his statement, the General Conference Committee to be granted one hour for replying, and that each side be granted a further fifteen minutes for the purpose of closing up their respective statements.GCB June 2, 1909, page 270.19

The report was unanimously adopted.GCB June 2, 1909, page 270.20

Inasmuch as the chairman, O. A. Olsen, was a member of the General Conference Committee concerned in the appeal, it was suggested that another chairman should be elected, and C. W. Flaiz was elected by the meeting to act in that capacity. W. T. Bartlett was elected secretary.GCB June 2, 1909, page 270.21

The chairman, C. W. Flaiz, made a few remarks, and A. T. Jones then presented his statement.GCB June 2, 1909, page 270.22

As stated by himself, his appeal was based on the claim that “without any notice or information of any kind to me that any question was to be raised or any action taken in reference to me; and wholly in my absence in every sense; and without my having any kind of a chance to be heard; your Executive Committee tried my case, found me guilty, condemned me, executed their judgment upon me, sent to me their official notice to that effect; and then, without waiting for any reply from me as to whether I would repent or not, further executed their judgment by publishing it to the denomination and to the world.”GCB June 2, 1909, page 270.23

In support of his appeal, A. T. Jones presented a lengthy paper. After reading for one hour, time was called by the chairman, but by the consent of the meeting the speaker was allowed to finish his argument, which occupied a further forty-five minutes.GCB June 2, 1909, page 271.1

At the close of the paper the meeting adjourned to 7:30 P. M., the same place, on the 29th inst.GCB June 2, 1909, page 271.2

C. W. FLAIZ, Chairman,
W. T. BARTLETT, Secretary.

MEETING HELD MAY 29, 7:30 P. M

WASe

The Conference convened in the Seminary chapel at 7:30 P. M., May 29, according to appointment. C. W. Flaiz in the chair. I. H. Evans led in prayer. Minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved.GCB June 2, 1909, page 271.3

In view of the fact that the statement of A. T. Jones had occupied more than the hour first agreed to be given to it, the Conference decided that A. G. Daniells, speaking for the General Conference Committee, should be granted a length of time equal to that taken by A. T. Jones.GCB June 2, 1909, page 271.4

A letter was read, by consent, from A. T. Jones, making a correction in his statement of the 27th inst.GCB June 2, 1909, page 271.5

A. T. Jones then requested the privilege of making a further statement, which was granted.GCB June 2, 1909, page 271.6

A. G. Daniells then made his statement in reply. He made reference to circumstances relating to the connection of A. T. Jones with the denomination since 1901, and presented facts to prove that on several occasions various members of the General Conference Committee had sought to show to A. T. Jones that he was out of harmony with his brethren, and pursuing a course entirely opposed to the one previously followed by him. In the year 1906, at a conference held in Berrien Springs, the whole situation had been set before A. T. Jones in the clearest way. Various published utterances of A. T. Jones were also referred to, which made it plain that his attitude toward the organized work of the denomination was a hostile one.GCB June 2, 1909, page 271.7

In view of these facts, A. G. Daniells claimed that it was not true that A. T. Jones had been condemned “without having any kind of a chance to be heard,” and that when the action of the General Conference Council was finally taken in Gland, it had become an unavoidable necessity, and the only reasonable step that could possibly be taken.GCB June 2, 1909, page 271.8

Following the statement of A. G. Daniells, a few remarks were made by A. T. Jones, and a short further answer was made by A. G. Daniells.GCB June 2, 1909, page 271.9

It was then moved and seconded that the meeting adjourn, and the motion was carried.GCB June 2, 1909, page 271.10

C. W. FLAIZ, Chairman,
W. T. BARTLETT, Secretary.

MEETING HELD MAY 31, 5:30 P. M

WASe

C. W. Flaiz in the chair. Prayer was offered by Wm. Covert, after which minutes of the previous meeting were read, corrected, and approved.GCB June 2, 1909, page 271.11

The chair called attention to the fact that the previous meeting had adjourned without taking any action on the appeal before it, and asked for some expression of the mind of the Conference thereon.GCB June 2, 1909, page 271.12

C. H. Edwards remarked that the hearing on the appeal had been full and deliberate. Two days had intervened between the statement of A. T. Jones and the reply of A. G. Daniells, and now another two days had given them time to weigh the matter in their minds. He moved that the decision of the Conference be as follows:—GCB June 2, 1909, page 271.13

Whereas, A. T. Jones has appealed from the action of the General Conference Committee at Gland. Switzerland, in May, 1907, by which he was requested to return his ministerial credentials to that committee; and,—GCB June 2, 1909, page 271.14

Whereas, A. T. Jones has stated fully before this Conference the ground of his appeal, and an answer to his statement has been made by A. G. Daniells before the Conference; we find,—GCB June 2, 1909, page 271.15

1. That the declared reason for an appeal from the said action of the General Conference Committee is that the action was taken without giving the appellant any opportunity to make any statement in his own behalf.GCB June 2, 1909, page 271.16

2. That the reply to this claim shows that at various times individual members of the General Conference Committee had interviewed A. T. Jones, endeavoring to show him the extent to which he was departing from what they considered to be the right course, and that at the session of the Lake Union Conference held in Berrien Springs, Mich., in May, 1906, the question of his published utterances and his attitude toward the denomination was fully considered, A. T. Jones being present by invitation, and that at his request he was given opportunity to state his position, which he did.GCB June 2, 1909, page 271.17

3. That the action at Gland, Switzerland, was not taken arbitrary, or apart from other steps in the case, but as the logical and necessary conclusion of these steps.GCB June 2, 1909, page 271.18

4. That the action was not in the nature of a condemnation for heresy, but a protest against an inconsistent course, sufficient evidence of which was found in “public utterances and published statements.”GCB June 2, 1909, page 271.19

5. That in view of the facts here recited, the General Conference Committee was justified in asking for the return of A. T. Jones’s ministerial credentials without granting any further hearing, and that they were justified in publishing this action in the church paper in order that all the members of the denomination might understand the true status of the case.GCB June 2, 1909, page 271.20

R. F. Andrews, speaking as one of the oldest ministers in the denomination, was in entire accord with the motion, and seconded it.GCB June 2, 1909, page 271.21

By request of the meeting the motion was slowly re-read, and then put to vote. It was carried without dissent.GCB June 2, 1909, page 271.22

W. W. Prescott moved, That the records of the meeting of last Thursday evening (the 27th), and of last Saturday evening (the 29th), and of this meeting, be made as of one meeting, in three divisions, and that this meeting be the regular number following the meeting held in the tent this afternoon. The proposal was accepted.GCB June 2, 1909, page 271.23

Meeting adjourned to meet in the tent at 7:45 P. M.GCB June 2, 1909, page 271.24

C. W. FLAIZ, Chairman,
W. T. BARTLETT, Secretary.

Testimonies - FAITHFULNESS IN HEALTH REFORM READ TO THE CONFERENCE

THIRTY-SECOND MEETING