AUTUMN COUNCIL OF THE GENERAL CONFERENCE COMMITTEE … · Book and Bible Houses, evangelistic agencies 1670 Bresee, H.N., to Oklahoma 1681 Budget for 1941 1656 Call to world-wide

AUTUMN COUNCIL

OF THE

GENERAL CONFERENCE COMMITTEE

St. Paul, Minnesota, October 15 — 23, 1940

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Also Meetings of the Committee, October 1, 3, 7, 8, 13 and 23,1940

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r

INDEX

AUTUMN COUNCIL

And Meetings preceding and following the Council

October 1 --- 23, 1940

Adult Education 1671 American Reading Circle 1601 Anderson, Bjorge, to Sierra Leone 1650 Appointments and Itineraries

W.H.Teesdale, F.C.Gilbert 1602 D.E.Robinson, W.G.Turner,L.H.Christian,A.L.White 1604 L.H.Wood, B.P.Hoffman, J.L.Shuler 1604 J.E.Weaver, W.A.Butler, M.A.HollisterI A.W.Peterson 1682 D.A.Ochs, C.E.Weaks, L.H.Christian, H.T.Elliott 1682 F.C.Gilbert4 L.Halswick, O.B.Haynes, W.E.Howell 1683 Meade MacGuire, G.E.Nord, C.A.Reeves, R.Ruhling 1683 A. .Spalding, G.W.Schubert, Dr. H;M.Walton,G.W.We11s1683 R.h.Wentland, C.S.Longacre, E.R.Colson 1683

Appreciation Of services of Kathryn Jensen-Nelson 1628

* Resolutions of 1680 Auditing Committee 1643 Automobile policy 1680 Autumn Council, 1940

F.R.Boggs to 1604 Overseas representatives present 1609 Opening address 1610

Autumn Council, 1941, October 14 to 23 1651

Big Week, date 1673 Blair, Ainsley, to Maritime Conference 1649 Board of Regents, members of 1645 Boggs, F.R., to Autumn Council 1604 Book and Bible Houses, evangelistic agencies 1670 Bresee, H.N., to Oklahoma 1681 Budget for 1941 1656

Call to world-wide evangelism 1667 Canadian Union, comeback to Oshawa Missionary College 1603 Central European Division, Section I

To supervise work in western Poland and Alsace Lorraine 1605

Central European Division, Section II Supervision of Tanganyika to Southern African Division 1605 Hungary, Bulgaria, Greece, Albania, Turkey,help from Southern European Division 1606 Ainsley Blair to Maritime Conference 1649

China Division Cable re evacuation of workers 1607 Cable to S.L.Frost and American Consulate 1608 Special appropriation from exchange gains 1658 W.A.Scharffenberg to Central Union 1682

*Appropriations, 1656,1658

Church Extension Fund, appropriations from 1658 Church Funds, handling of 1677 College of Medical Evangelists

Report of Survey Commission 1625 Payments from Pacific Union,union and local conferences, sanitariums and General Conference 1626

Colporteur evangelism 1641 Colson, E.R., to Atlantic Union College 1682 Comeback to Oshawa Missionary College 1603 Committees

American Reading Circle 1602 Curriculum 1602 Standing Committees of Council 1613 General Conference and union conference sessions 1617

Coon, C.J., to Potomac Conference 1607

Daily Program 1613 "Daniel and Revelation" 1684 Day of Fasting and Prayer 1651 Debt reduction, report on 1628 Devotional Services led by

W.AESpicer 1612 17.G.Turner 1624 H.L.Rudy 1627 L.H,Christian 1632 E.E.Andross 1635a L.L.Andreasen 1644

Distribution of Labor, report of committee 1649 Division presidents, reports from 1630

Educational Department Curriculum committee 1602 Elementary school teachers' salaries 1676

Education of missionaries' older children 1673 Elementary teachers' salaries 1676 Elevator for General Conference building 1617 Entertainment of government officials 1603 Evacuation of workers from parts of China 1607 Evangelism, call to 1667

Commission on 1669 For youth 1648

Evangelistic Council 1669 Evening meetings of the Council 1630 Exchange, policy 1652

Rates for 1941 1662 Adjustments in rates 1663

Far Eastern Division S. Ogura, superintendent of Japan Union 1606 Cables to H.O.Oberg and R.S.Watts 1608

Fasting and Prayer, day of 1651 Financial Statements 1619 Financial Summaries of institutions 1620 First Sabbath Missionary Offering 1640 Foreign Missions Conference, telegram to 1607

Freight allowances 1676 Vumdamentals of Christian EdUcation" 1669 Furloughs, in war time 1607

Rent allowance during 1675

General Conference Building, elevator 1617 General Conference Session, date 1620

Committee to investigate locations 1651 Government officials, entertainment of 1603 Gratitude and Consecration, resolution of 1639 Greetings 1617

Hansch, Gertrude, to Brookfield Branch 1649 -Harvest Ingathering

Message for union conference papers 1628 Messages of appreciation for efforts in 1650 Division of funds 1674 No comeback on basic goal 1674 All funds on Forty-cent-a-Week Fund 1675 Committee on material for magazine 1675

Home Commission, recommendations 1649 Home Missionary Department

Win One for Christ 1640 First Sabbath Missionary Offering 1640 Society of Missionary Men 1641

Home Study Institute, courses in 1671

Inter-American Division F.W.Miller, extension of furlough 1604 V.A.LaGrone to South Caribbean Conference 1681

International Insurance Company,directors elected 1628

Japan Union, S.Ogura appointed superintendent 1606 Jensen-Nelson, Kathryn, appreciation of services 1628 Johns, A.H., to Southern California 1607

LaGronel V.A., to South Caribbean Conference 1681 Letter to the President 1664 Liberty Magazine, increasing circulation 1670 Lindsay, G.A., special counselor for Norwegian,

Danish and Baltic fields 1605 Literature Distribution 1669 Logan, Ralph, internship 1603

Mayor of St. Paul, welcome from 1637 McElhany, J.L., opening address to the Council 1610 Medical Cadet Corps, report on 1626 "Messages to Young People" 1602,1672 Miller, F.W., extension of furlough 1604 Ministerial Internships

To Ralph Logan 1603 Allotments for 1941 1678 Date for beginning 1678

-4-

Missionaries Help on education of older children 1673 On furlough, rent subsidies 1675 Rehabilitation allowance, amended 1675 Outfitting allowance, amended 1675 Freight allowance 1676

Missions Extension Offering, date 1648 Goal and projects 1679

Missionary Men, Society of 1641 Missionary Volunteer Department

Evangelism for youth 1648 M.V.Secretaries to have time for evangelism 1648 "Messages to Young Peopleu 1672 Regional meetings 1684

Moffitt, L.L., to Northern California 1649

North America Reports from union presidents 1633 Meeting of union and local presidents 1651

Northern European Division G.A.Lindsay, counselor for Norwegian, Danish and Baltic fields 1606 L.A.Vixie to Southern African Division 1649 Bjorge Anderson to Sierra Leone 1650 C.A.Reeves to British Columbia 1682 E.R.Colson to Atlantic Union College 1682

Oakwood Junior College, constituency meetings 1625,1638 Orient

Telegrams to H.H.Votaw and Foreign Missions Conference 1607 Cable to S.L.Frost 1607 Gables to S.L.Frost, American Consulate, H.A.Oberg and R.S.Watts 1608

Oshawa Missionary College, comeback 1603 Outfitting allowances 1675

Peckham, H.A., to Northern New England 1682 Pingenot, E.L,, to Battle Creek church 1650 President Roosevelt, letter to 1664 Presidents' Council 1651 Press Cards 1639 Prophetic Charts 1673 Publishing Department

Greater Colpotteur Evangelism 1641 Distribution of literature 1669 Book and Bible Houses, evangelizing agencies 1670 Big Week, date 1673

Reeves, C.A., to British Columbia 1682, Rehabilitation allowance 1675 Reiswig, L,R., to Kansas 1681 Religious Liberty, recommendations 1670 Rent subsidies for missionaries on furlough 1675 Reports from division presidents 1630 Reports from North American union presidents 1633

-5—

"Review and Herald" circulation 1641 Riverside Sanitarium constituency meetings 1625,1638

Sabbath and evening meetings of the Council 1630 Sabbath morning services in churches 1639 Sabbath Observance 1646 Sabbath School Department

Lesson Study, Soul Winning, Missing members 1642 Branch S.S. Leadership 1643

Scharffenberg, W.A., to Central Union 1682 Searles: Gladys, to Hinsdale Sanitarium 1649 "Selections from the Testimonies" 1646 Service records, keeping and preserving 1677 Society of Missionary Men 1641 Sorenson, C.P., to Southern Union 1604 Soul-winning Endeavor 1647 South American Division

Gertrude Hansch to Brookfield Branch 1649 Southern African Division

To supervise work in Tanganyika 1605 L.L.Moffitt to Northern California 1649

Southern European Division To give help in Hungary, Bulgaria, Greece, Albania and Turkey 1606 Adjustment in budget 1658

Spirit of Prophecy Reading Program 1602 Statistical Report 1618 "Steps to Christ" service edition 1640 Stoner, C.C., to South Dakota 1650 Sustentation, amendments to policy 1636

Temperance, recommendations 1672 Treasurer's report 1620

Union Conferences in North America Reports from presidents 1633 Sessions in 1942 1651 Meeting of presidents, union and local 1651

Union sessions overseas 1651

Vixie, L.A., to Southern African Division 1649 J Votaw, H.H., telegram to 1607

Walton, Dr. H.M,, postgraduate work 1603 Welcome from Mayor of St. Paul 1637 Wheeler, Lee S., American Reading Circle 1601 Win One for Christ Sabbath 1640 Workers: calling and ,transferring of, 1618 Workers, service records of 1677

1601

FOUR HUNDRED FIFTY-EIGHTH MEETING


October 1, 1940, 10:30 A.M.

MDABERS PRESENT:

W. Dick, H.T. Rasmussen, Hollister,

H.Branson, J.L.McElhany, W.G.Turner, A.W.Cormack, E.D. Elliott, C.E.Weaks, C.S.Longacre, E.E.Andross, Steen E.E.Franklin, H.L.Rudy, W.H.Bergherm, G.W.Wells, M.A. T.J.Michael.

OTHERS PRESENT:

D.E.Robinson, A.L.White, Lee S.Wheeler.

"THE AMERICAN READING CIRCLE":

Elder Lee S.Wheeler, of Union Springs, New York, met with the Committee by appointment tef present a phase of litera-ture ministry in which he has been engaged since when for health reasons some fifteen years ago he had to retire from active ser-vice in the ministry. During this time he has given himself to the upbuilding of the work by correspondence with leading govern-ment officials in many countries, using the organization title "The American Reading Circle," and has contacted thousands of people in various countries from whom he has numerous letters of acknowledgment and deep appreciation. He has used such papas as the Liberty Magazineal Centinela, and others. He now has hundreds, and perhaps thousands of names of people to whom with-out help he is unable to send literature. Besides this, there are unlimited possibilities for securing other names of in-fluential persons.

Thus far the financial provision for subscriptions has been supplied through the publishing house meeting fifty per cent of the subscription cost, the field immediately concerned twenty-five per cent, and Brother Wheeler from his own funds and help he has received from friends, the remaining twenty-five per cent. His purpose in presenting the matter to the Com-mittee, is that if possible some arrangements may be worked out whereby he might be able to secure additional funds for the sub-sidizing of subscriptions, and with which to employ more secre-tarial help, so that the work may be enlarged and extended.

After assuring Brother Wheeler of our interest in the good work he has been carrying forward, it was

1602

October 1,1940

VOTED, That the Chair appoint a committee of seven to take the matter under consideration and report.

Appointed; Steen Rasmussen, chairman; C.E.Weaks,E.D.Dick, W.H.Bergherm, W.G.Turner, H.H.Cobban, E.E.Andross.

VOTED, That the Treasurer be authorized to meet the ex-penses of Lee S.Wheeler in making the trip to Washington to pre-. sent his work to this ComMittee.

CURRICULUM COMMITTEE:

VOTED, That Conrad Rees be substituted for V.P.Lovell on the Curriculum Committee.

SPIRIT OF PROPHECY READING PROGRAM:

The committee appointed to arrange for the Spirit of Prophecy Reading Program for 1941 submitted the following recom-mendations, which were adopted:

1. That in view of the crisis which the youth and par-ents of the Advent Movement face, of the two books selected for 1941 by the General Conference Committee at its Spring Meeting, "Messages to Young People" be the first to be taken up, to be followed by "Patriarchs and Prophets."

2. That the assignment and promotion features employed during 1940 be continued through 1941,

3. That overseas divisions where "Messages to Young People" is in preparation, be encouraged to speed the comple-tion of the work, providing that volume, if possible, for use sometime during 1941.

APPOINTMENTS AND ITI.JERARIES:

VOTED, That we approve of the following appointments and itineraries:

W.H.Teesdale, Lake Union, November 6 to December 2; Atlantic Union, December 6-181

F.C.Gilbert, Upper Columbia Conference, one month as may be arranged en route to appointments in Californka,

W.H.Branson, Chairman. E.D.Dick, Secretary. E.Zeidler, Recording Secretary/.

1603

FOUR HUNDRED FIFTY-NINTH MEETING


October 3,1940

MEMBERS PRESENT:

W.G.Turner, J.L.McElhany, W.H.Bran-son, H.T.Elliott, E. Nelson, H.H.Cobban, W.A.Spicer, Steen Rasmussen, J.A.Stevens, G.W.Wells, M.A.Hollister, Dr. H.M.Walton, E.E.Franklin, J.J. Ireland, L.E.Froom, W.K.Ising, W.H.Teesdale, S.A.Weilman, H.E. Rogers, H.H.Votaw, J.J.Strahle, C.E.Weaks, C.S.Longacre, W.H. Bergherm, M.C.Taft, M.L.Andreasen, A.W.Peterson, F.C.Gilbert, M.E.Kern, T.J.Michael.

OTHERS PRESENT:

A.L.White, D.E.Robinson, Claude Conard, H.V.Barrows, Frederick Lee, V.E.Berry (of Cuba).

Prayer by J.A.Stevens. Minutes of the meeting of Sep-tember 30 were approved.

OSHAWA MISSIONARY COLLEGE--COMEBACK:

VOTED, That we authorize the release of the debt-paying comeback to Oshawa Missionary College, the college having quali-fied for the comeback during the school year 1939-40.

ENTERTAINMENT OF GOVERN1r_ENT OFFICIALS:

Attention was called to the fact that in order to make contact with government officials, for the purpose of secur-ing information or help from them, it is sometimes necessary for the one charged with this responsibility to entertain such of-ficial.

VOTED, That when members of this Committee entertain government officials in order to make necessary contact with them, such expense shall be considered a reportable expense.

DR. H.M.WALTON--POSTGRADUATE WORN:

VOTED, That provision be made under the regular policy pertaining to postgraduate -.fork for physicians, for Dr. R.M. Walton to take a postgraduate course at the University of Pennsylvania in 1941.

RALPH LOGAN--INTERNSHIP:

The Internship Committee sought counsel in connection with the application from the Columbia Union for ministerial

Black

Highlight

1604

October 3, 1940

internship for Ralph Logan. Brother Logan began his internship September 1, but through a misunderstanding regarding his sum-mer's work in school, the application was not presented until the meeting of the Internship Committee on October 2. According to the policy the General Conference portion of the internship salary would not begin until October 2. In view of the mis-understanding in connection with sending in the application, it was

VOTED, That an exception to the policy be made in the case of the internship of Ralph Logan, and that the General Conference portion of the internship salary date from Septem-ber 1.

VOTED, further, that the feature of the Internship Policy relating to the setting of the date for the beginning of the internship be referred to the coming Autumn Council for consideration.

F.W.MILLER--EXTENSION OF FURLOUGH:

VOTED, That because of health conditions, the furlough pf F.W.Mtiler, of the Inter-American Division, be extended to December 31.

C.P.SORENSON--SOUTHERN UNION:

VOTED, That in response to the request received from the Southern Union, we request the Columbia Union Conference to make available, for such time in November as can be worked out between the two unions, the services of C.P.Sorenson to assist in the development and guidance of the Medical Cadet Corps work. F.R.BOGGS--AUTUMN COUNCIL:

VOTED, To invite F.R.Boggs to attend the Autumn Council it being understood that the Southern Union and the Carolina Con ference will meet the transportation, and the General Conference the entertainment expense.

APPOINTMENTS AND ITINERARIES: VOTED, That we approve of the following appointments

and itineraries:

D.E.Robinson to Atlantic Union Conference,November 22-30

W.G.Turner, Pacific Union College, December 7-14; Cen-tral Union Evangelistic Convention, December 16-19.

L.H.Christian, to a meeting of the Washington Conference In Seattle, November 30.

A.L.White, Pacific Union, eight to ten weeks, beginning in January.

L.H.Wood to Madison, Keene and Oakwood. B.P.Hoffman to Union Springs Academy. J.L.Shuler to the Central Union Evangelistic Convention

December 16-19. W.G.Turner, Chairman. H.T.Elliott, Secretary.

E.Zeidier, Recording Secretary.

•

1605

FOUR HUNDRED SIXTIETH MEETING


St. Paul, Minnesota, October 7, 1940, 7 P.M.

***********

The meeting was held in the Century Room of the Hotel Lowry.

MEMBERS PRESENT:

J.L.McElhany, L.H.Christian, W.G.Turner, W.H.Branson, E.D„Dick, A.W.Cormack, H. T. Elliott, W.E.Nelson, W.H.Williams, H.H.Cobban, N.C.Wilson, V.T.Armstrong, N.F.Brewer, J.F.Wright, N.P.Neilsen, H.L.Rudy, T.J.Michael, W.C.Raley, W.A.Spicer, F.M. Wilcox, E.E.Andross, 0.Montgomery, F.Griggs, Meade MacGuire, G.W.Wells, W.E.Howell, R.Ruhling, F.C.Gilbert.

OTHERS PRESENT;

Claude Cunard, H.W.Barrows, Y.E.Phillips.

Prayer by N.F.Brewer.

TANGANYIKA MISSION:

In view of the fact that it is impossible for the Cen-tral European Division, Section II,to give the close super-vision to the work in Tanganyika which is so desirable at the present time, it was

VOTED, That the Southern African Division be asked to give temporary and emergency supervision to the Tanganyika Mis-sion field, with the understanding that no permanent assignment of territory is involved in this arrangement.

NORWAY, DENMARK AND THE BALTIC FIELDS:

Since it is impossible for the Northern European Divis-ion leadership to visit the Scandinavian and Baltic fields,

VOTED, That G.A.Lindsay be recognized as a special coun-selor for the Norwegian, Danish, and Baltic fields, as an emer-gency arrangement.

WESTERN POLAND AND ALSACE LORRAINE:

VOTED, That the Central European Division, Section I, be asked to take temporary supervision of the work in Western Poland and Alsace Lorraine, this arrangement to continue until the next General Conference session.

1606

October 7, 1940

HUNGARY, BULGARIA, GREECE, ALBANIA, AND TURKEY;

Inasmuch as it is impossible at the present time for the officers of the Central European Division, Section II, to visit their fields in Europe,

VOTED, That we invite the officers of the Southern European Division to assist the brethren of the Central European Division) Section II, in supervising the work in Hungary, Bul-garia, Greece, Albania, and Turkey, paying such visits to these fields as they conveniently can, and giving such counsel and leadership as may be indicated from time to time.

J.L.McElhany, Chairman. E.D.Dick, Secretary.

FOUR HUNDRED SIXTY-FIRST. MEETING


St. Paul, Minnesota, October 8, 1940, 9:45 A.M.

****


MEMBERS PRESENT:

J.L.McElhany, E.D.Dick, W.E.Nelson, A.W.Cormack, H.T. Elliott, W.E.Howell, F,M.Wilcox, F.Griggs, E.E.Andross, W.A. Spicer, O.Montgomery, H.L.Rudy, W.C.Raley, W.E.Read, J.I.Robison, N.F,Brewer, L.H.Christian, W.G.Turner, V.T.Armstrong, Meade MacGuire, G.W.Schubert, R.Ruhling, F.C.Gilbert, H.O. Olson, N.P.Neilsen, H.H.Cobban, E.R.Colson, G.A.Roberts, W.H. Branson, G.W.Wells, T.J.Michael, F•A.Mote.

OTHERS PRESENT:

Claude Conard, H.W.Barrows, W.E.Phillips.

S, OGURA--JAPAN UNION:

In view of the situation which has developed in Japan, and in harmony with the known wishes of the Far Eastern Division Committee, which cannot meet at the present time, and also with the understanding that it is in harmony with the wishes of the brethren in Japan, it was

VOTED, That S.Ogura be appointed superintendent of the Japan Union Mission, this appointment to take effect immediately.

1607

October 8, 1940

SITUATION IN THE ORIENT TELEGRAM TO H.H.VOTAW:

VOTED, That a telegram be sent to H.H,Votaw in Washing-ton, suggesting that he and T.E.Bowen contact the State Depart-ment immediately, expressing to the Department our grave concern for the safety of our missionaries, and especially of the women and children, in Japan and Korea, and asking counsel from the State Department as to what we should do; our final decision in the matter to be deferred until reply is received from Brethren Votaw and Bowen,

TELEGRAM TO FOREIGN MISSIONS CONFERENCE;

VOTED, That a telegram be sent to the Foreign Missions Conference in New York, inquiring what steps are being taken by other mission boards in the light of present developments in Japan and Korea.

EVACUATION OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN FROM PENETRATED CHINA;

VOTED, That a cable be sent to S.L.Frost, advising that our missionary women and children from the Hankow, Kiukiang,and Canton areas be evacuated immediately.

FURLOUGHS IN WAR TIME:

In response to inquiries from the field as to the plan to be followed in connection with furloughs for our mission-aries in time of war, it was

VOTED, That the divisions be counseled that as far as consistent and wise they proceed with plans for missionaries to take their furloughs at the regular time during the present war situation, with the understanding that the division committees shall be free to arrange for workers to furlough in other coun-tries where their health needs would be provided for, if it is impossible for them to spend their furloughs in their homelands, It is understood that the division committees are authorized to arrange for such workers to furlough in America if circumstances indicate this as being desirable, each case being dealt with on its merits.

A.H.JOHNS--SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA C.J.COON--POTOMAC CONFERENCE:

VOTED, To pass on to the Pacific Union and the Southern California Conference the call from the Columbia Union for C.J. Coon to connect with the Potomac Conference; and to pass on to the Columbia Union and the Potomac Conference the call from the Pacific Union for A.H.Johns to connect with the Southern Cali-fornia Conference.

J.L.NicElhany, Chairman. E.D. Dick, Secretary-.

1608

FOUR HUNDRED SIXTY-SECOND MEETING


St. Paul, Minnesota, October 13, 1940

******


MEMBERS PRESENT:

J.L.McElhany, L.H.Christian, W.H.Branson, W.G.Turner, E.D.Dick, A.W.Cormack, H.T.Elliott, W.E.Nelson, W.H.Williams, H.H.Cobban, V.T.Armstrong, J.F.Wright, G.A.Roberts„ N.P.Neilsen, N.F.Brewer, H.L.Rudy, W.E.Read, N.C.Wilson, W.A.Spicer, E.E. Andross, F,Griggs, 0.Montgomery, G.W.Wells, F.C.Gilbert, J.I. Robison, E.R.Colson, T.J.Michael, Meade MacGuire, G.W.Schubert, H.J.Detwiler, E.H.Oswald, W.K.Ising, A.R.Ogden, J.F.Piper, F.A. Mote, M.E.Kern, R.Ruhling, W.A.Butler, W.H.Berherm,J.H.Cochran, W.E.Howell.

OTHERS PRESENT:

Claude Conard, H.W,Barrows, W.E.Phillips, C.B.Haynes.

Prayer by H.T.Elliott.

SITUATION IN THE ORIENT:

Much consideration has been given by the Officers to the situation in China, Japan and Korea, in view of the developing political conditions in the Orient. Cables have been exchanged with the fields, and counsel from the State Department and the Foreign Missions Conference in New York has been secured.

A cable from Shanghai just received asks for counsel and instructions as to how to proceed in case of emergency.

VOTED, That instruction be sent by cable to S.L.Frost in Shanghai, H.O.Oberg in Tokyo, Japan, R.S.Watts, in Seoul, Chosen, and the American Consulate in Shanghai.

J.L.McEIhany, Chairman. E.D.Dick, Secretary.

1609

AUTUMN COUNCIL

St. Paul, Minnesota, October 15 to 23, 1940

*******

FOUR HUNDRED SIXTY-THIRD MEETING


October 15, 1940, 7:30 P.M.

The Autumn Council.of 1940 was held in St. Paul,Minne-sota, October 15 to 23, the Hotel Lowry serving as the head-quarters hotel, and the meetings being held in the Municipal Auditorium. The opening meeting was at 7:30 P.M., October 15. "Stand up, Stand up for Jesus" was sung, and prayer was of-fered by W.A.Spicer.

PRESENT:

There were present nearly all the members of the Gener-al Conference Committee resident in North America, the General Conference auditors, senior and junior college presidents, union Home Missionary and union Sabbath School secretaries, represen-tatives from the three large publishing houses, workers as-sociated with the Medical Cadet Corps work, and a number of oth-er workers from union and local conferences„(

Representatives from overseas divisions were present as follows:

China: N.F.Brewer, C,B.Green, W.I.Hilliard, C.E.Wimer, W.E.Strickland, W.A.Scharffenberg, Dr. H.C.James.

Far East: V.T.Armstrong, F.A.Mote, O.A.Blake, A.P.Ritz, M.F.Wiedemann, C.F.Thurston, R.H.Wentland, W.E.Gillis.

Inter-America: G.A.Roberts, W.C.Raley, H.M.Blundon, A.R. Ogden, C.P.Crager, L.V.Finster, C.A.Edwards.

Northern Europe: W.E.Read, J.I.Robison, E.R.Colson, G.E. Nord, L.A.Vixie, C.A.Reeves,

South America: N.P.Neilsen, H.O.Olson, H.,G.Stoehr, J.C. Ruskjer.

Southern Africa: J.F.Wright, J.R.Campbell, L.L.Moffitt, Miss Helen Hyatt.

Southern Asia: N,C.Wilson, J.D,Strever.

Southern Europe: E.P.ManselI.

1610

October 15, 1940

OPENING ADDRESS:

Elder J.L.McElhany as he welcomed the delegates ex-pressed thankfulness that even in these times of trouble and per-plexity and danger so many had been brought safely from distant parts to participate in the Council, though others because of present world conditions had not been able to come. He spoke of the many problems and perplexities arising from these troubled times into which we have come, and urged every one to pray earn-estly to God that wisdom and guidance may be given for the .carry-ing forward of the work.

He then read the second chapter of Joel, and spoke of his conviction that the hour has come when such a work as described by the prophet should be seen among us in mighty power. We know, he said, that the world is prepared for the coming crisis, the Lord is ready to do His part; but the church is not ready. The greatest need of the church, our greatest need as church lead-ers, is to be thoroughly converted, revived, and reformed. As stated in the Spirit of prophecy, "A revival of true godliness among us is the greatest and most urgent of all our needs,"

Further points emphasized were, using Elder McElhanyt s own words:

We need to sound a new call to greater evangelism. The church exists for one purpose on earth and that is to win souls for the eternal kingdom of God. It was founded for the great purpose of carrying the gospel to the world, and it exists for no other purposes

We face a doomed and dying world. As we look about us, we see a world without God and without hope. Faith is at a low ebbs Men are confused in their thinking, and there is no great voice sounding in the world to point the way of hope and salva-tion. To us as a people God has committed the task of sounding the last great call to prepare for His coming kingdom. It is nothing to be boastful or egotistical over; but rather it ought to humble us and drive us to our knees in an endeavor to dis-cover the best way to discharge that great responsibility. This is a serious hour. It is a solemn hour. It is a solemn hour for the world and for the people of the world. But it is a ten-fold more serious hour to you and to me, for we are the custo-dians of the last message that God intends for the world, and to the extent that we fail in the execution of that vital com-mission, just to that extent do we bring upOn ourselves a great, er degree of responsibility.

Are we satisfied with the impression this message is making upon the world at the present time? Are we satisfied with having things go on just as they are? Are we inclined to be satisfied with mediocrity? with inefficiency? Or are we making sustained and well defined efforts to lift the quality of our work to higher levels? Are we planning to help our work-ers reach a higher degree of efficiency? We will never accom-plish our task if we keep on along the lines we are now working.

S

1611

October 15, 1940

It is gratifying to see the development of the mission-ary spirit in our churches. Commendable efforts are being made to train hundreds of our lay brethren to go out and proclaim the truth. But what we need today are some Pauls and some Timothys, men mightily endued with power, stalwart preachers to go out in-to the high places of the earth and hold aloft the blazing torch of truth; men whose tongues are anointed with the Holy Ghost and with power as they proclaim the message of Jesus' soon com-ing.

We have in this cause many men of outstanding capacity and ability, but we are misdirecting their efforts. We have them tied up in lines of work where their talent is anothered. We are using the talents of the majority of our laboring force in pastoring our churches, whereas they should be out preaching as evangelists, according to the Lord's plan. To a large extent we have departed from the Lord's plan. I believe the time has come when the majority of our working force should be out herald-ing the message of Christ's soon coming.

Let us never make the mistake of thinking that the day of public evangelism is past. There has never been a better hour in the history of the world for public evangelism. People are anxious to know "what these things mean." This is the time to preach the message. It is the greatest thing in the world today) and it ought to be making an impression upon the world. The time has come to call the church into universal action. Every facility, every talent is needed. And above all, we need to have every activity endued and energized by the mighty power of the Holy Spirit.

"Faith of Our Fathers" was sung to close the meeting, and the benediction was by 0.Montgomery.

J.L.McElhany, Chairman. E.D.Dick, Secretary. E.Zeidler, Recording Secretary.

•

1612

FOUR HUNDRED SIXTY-FOURTH MEETING


October 16, 1940, 9:45 A.M.

itit*-114111

"Lord, in the morning Thou shalt hear, my voice ascend-ing high," was the opening song for the devotional meeting, Wednesday morning, October 16, and prayer was offered by J.L. McElhany.

Elder W.A.Spicer, who conducted the service: emphasized the certainty of the soon coming of the Lord, and the necessity of being prepared for that event. The prophet Habakkuk, he said, lived in a time when the earth was filled with violence, so that he was constrained to cry out, "0 Lord, how long shall I cry,and Thou wilt not hearl' even cry unto thee of violence, and Thou wilt not save!" Again today, the earth is filled with violence, and we are inclined to question, Why does the Lord allow it? To the prophet's cry the answer was, "The vision is yet for an ap-pointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie; though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry." The answer to the cry from human hearts is, --The Lord is coming:

When everything on earth seems to be crumbling, it is good to know that there is a God who reigns in heaven, who has the affairs of this world in His hand. That knowledge is most clearly manifest to all men everywhere through prophecy, and to us has been committed the message of fulfilled and fulfilling prophecy. We have the message that the world needs today.

The signs on every hand indicate that we are nearing the end of the journey, Swiftly and ever more swiftly do events take place, among the nations, and in connection with our work. We are told in Volume 6 of the Testimonies that with unerring accuracy the Infinite One still keeps the account with all na-tions. When the figures reach a certain point which God has fixed, then the account is closed. But there is something of more importance to us than to watch the nations, In "Great Controversy" we read that while all the nations are to be passed in judgment before God, yet He will examine the case of each in-dividual with as close scrutiny as if there were no other being upon the earth. We must pass that scrutiny. We must know at that time that against the record the angel has written "Con-fessed, and forgiven."

And here we are, said Elder Spicer, shepherds of the flock, with the crisis of all the ages right upon us, the reign of sin ending, when Satan will have a chance to work his will. We must get the people ready and prepared to meet the coming storm. We must get the people to the place where they can say, as Jesus said, "The prince of this world cometh, but he hath nothing in me." We as workers must have this experience, first for ourselves, and then for the people, Then shall we be able

1613

October 16, 1940

to pray that last prayer in the Bible, "Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus."

• Following a song, to open the second business session of the Council, prayer was offered by W.E.Read, of the Northern European Division.

DAILY PROGRAM:

A Daily Program for the Council was adopted as follows:

Devotional 8:30 -- 9:30 A.M. Council 9:45 --12:00 Union and Local Confer-ence Committees and Boards 1:15 -- 2:15 P.M. Committees or Council Session 2:30 -_ 6.00 Committees of Council Session 7:30 -- 9:00

STANDING CODWaTTEES:

Suggestions concerning the personnel of standing com-mittees were presented. These suggestions were accepted, and the committees appointed as follows:

Platform Committee:

L.E.Lenheim T.G.Bunch V.E.Peugh

Music Directors:

J,L.McConaughey

Guiding Committee:

E.F. Hackman.

W.E.Howell

J.L.McElhany W.H.Branson T. J. Michael

L.H. Christian W. E. Nelson

E.D.Dick

W.G.Turner

Seating of Delegations and

411 Distribution of Materials:

H.T,Eliiott

W.E.Phillips W.H.Bergherm J.A.Stevens

W. A. Butler J.E.Weaver

D.A.Ochs S.A.Weliman

1614

October 16, 1940

Committee on Budget:

E E Andross C L Bauer R L Benton W.H Branson T G Bunch Glenn Calkins L H Christian H H Cobban Claude Conard A W Cormack E D Dick L K Dickson H 1 Detwiler H T Elliott

W.E.Nelson) Chairman W.H.\7illiams, Secretary

R T Emery J J Ireland J K Jones S J Lashier H E Lysinger J Si MacNeil L McConaughey

J L McElhany A E Miliner W B Mohr 0 Montgomery E L Neff J J Nethery W B Ochs

I G Ortner E H Oswald ✓ 7; Peugh J F Piper S Rasmussen M L Rice C A Scriven W A Spicer J A Stevens J W Turner 17 G Turner H M Walton,M D F M Wilcox

Distribution of Labor:

✓ T Armstrong R L Benton W H Bergherm C L Bond N F Brewer Glenn Calkins L H Christian A W Cormack • J Detwiler E D Dick F Griggs M A Hollister

W G Turner) Chairman H T Elliott, Secretary

W Ising J K Jones C Longacre J L McElhany T J Michael L Neff

W E Nelson N P Neilsen J J Nethery W B Ochs H Olson E H Oswald

F L Peterson J F Piper W C Raley W E Read M L Rice G A Roberts • I Robison H L Rudy J J Strahle W H Teesdale N C Wilson W H Williams

Committee on Nominations:

S

✓ T Armstrong R L Benton N F Brewer A W Cormack Glenn Calkins H J Detwiler E D Dick F Griggs

L H Christian, Chairman A W Cormack) Secretary

J K Jones J L McElhany E L Neff N P Neilsen W E Nelson J J Nethery W B Ochs E H Oswald

J F Piper W E Read M L Rice G A Roberts H L Rudy N C Wilson J F Wright

1615

October 16, 1940

Committee on Finance:

H E Abernathy

✓ G Anderson E E Andross ✓ T Armstrong H W Barrows W A Benjamin R L Benton W H Bergherm O A Blake H P Bloum H M Blundon N F Brewer Glenn Calkins Jur V Campbell J R Campbell H C Childs L H Christian J H Cochran E R Colson

G Conger A W Cormack C P Crager C W Degering H J Detwiler E D Dick G F Eichman H T Elliott W P Elliott C 0 Franz L W Graham Frederick Griggs B L Grundset E F Hackman H H Hamilton R H Harrison

E Nelson, Chairman H Cobban, Secretary

W I Hilliard W H Holden M A Hollister L N Holm James Howarth W E Howell Otis Hudson G A Huse J J Ireland H H Johnson Eric Jones J K Jones H J Klooster L E Lenheim J L KcElhany W E MePherson,M D B C Marshall T J Michael O Montgomery J L Moran E L Neff N P Neilsen -W A Nelson J J Nethery G E Nord W B Ochs D S Osgood E H Oswald A W Peterson F L Peterson W E Phillips J F Piper F H Raley W C Raley S Rasmussen

W E Read J J Reiswig M L Rice E L Richmond G A Roberts F H Robbins W 1:: Robbins R P Rowe H L Rudy N H Saunders G W Schubert H A Shepard J D Smith W I Smith A R Smouse W A Spicer J A Stevens H G Stoehr H C Taft W H Teesdale J C Thompson M V Tucker H H Votaw David Voth H W Walker C E Weaks S A Wellman F D Wells G W Wells S E Wight F H "Tilcox B G Wilkinson W H Williams • C Wilson J F wright

Committee on Plans:

is T

T H Allison C V Anderson H L Andreasen C E Andross ✓ T Armstrong F G Ashbaugh E A Beavon Gordon Beckner,M D G S Belleau

H Branson, Chairman J Michael, Secretary

O 0 Bernstein F R Boggs C L Bond G W Bowers R E Bowles R R Breitigam N F Brewer C M Bunker W A Butler

H B Butterfield H D Casebeer L H Christian H K Christman A Clark W A Clemenson Lora Clement H H Cobban E R Colson

1616

October 16, 1940

Committee on Plans (Continued):

T L Copeland A W Cormack E E Cossentine J G Dasent Carl Dent, M D E D Dick E W Dunbar C A Edwards H T Elliott L E Esteb Louis Ford E E Franklin T T Frazier T M French L E Froom K L Gant O T Garner P D Gerrard F C Gilbert W E Gillis C B Green J A P Green L Halswick 7 A Harvey 0 B Haynes H H Hicks H Holden

J C Holland H Howard

E S Humann Helen Hyatt W K Ising H E James, M D C A Joyce R I Keate F S Keitte M E Kern L H Xing ✓ A LaGrone C V Leach Frederick Lee C S Longacre Ernest Lloyd

H G Lucas Meade MacGuire E A Manry J W MacNeil J L McElhany E P Mansell A S Maxwell L L, Moffitt W C Moffett J L Moran H A Morrison F A Mote J P Neff M L Neff N P Neilsen W E Nelson F D Nichol D A Ochs A R Ogden M E Olsen H 0 Olson T L Oswald C L Paddock C F Palmer J B Penner G E Peters F L Pierson I C Pound B M Preston VIT C Raley W E Read C A Reeves D E Reiner A V Rhoads A P Ritz E H Risley, G A Roberts H E Rogers J M Roth T M Rowe R J Roy H L Rudy

R Ruhling J C Ruskjer A H Rulkoetter C A Russell F 0 Sanders W A Scharffenberg C W Shankel J L Shuler J E Shultz J D Snider 0 P Sorenson A W Spalding J J Strahle R G Strickland W E Strickland E A Sutherland,MD G E Taylor C F Thurston M R Thurber J A Toop W G Turner T E Unruh L A Vixie J H Wagner D N Wall J E Weaver A E Webb F. H Wentiand A L White S G White S E Wight M F Wiedemann • G Wilkinson E F Willett N C Wilson

M D I J Woodman J F Wright W H Williams J I Robison

A committee consisting of W.H.Branson, J.A.Stevens, and J.J.Nethery was appointed to receive suggestions of any addi-tions that should be made to the standing committees.

(This committee brought in a report later, and the names suggested were added to the committees as herein listed!)

1617

October 16, 1940

GREETINGS:

Mention was made of workers and former workers who have met with us in Autumn Councils in former years, and it was

VOTED, To send greetings from this Council to--

I.H.Evans, one of our Field Secretaries, A.Minck, of the Central European Division, Section I, A.V.Olson, of the South-ern European Division, C.H.Watson, of the Australasian Division; also to J.L.Shaw, Dr. P.T.Magan„ Mrs. L.Flora Plummer, J.E.Fulton and W.W.Prescott.

GENERAL CONFERENCE SESSION:

The Chairman referred to the action that was taken by the 1939 Autumn Council, postponing the General Conference session for one year. It is therefore necessary that this Council give further consideration to the question of the time of holding the session. If it is to be held in 1941, the definite date should be set. If a further postponement is thought to be necessary, such action should be taken by this Council. It was

VOTED, That a committee be appointed by the Chair, of which he shall be the chairman, to give consideration to the question of the time of holding the General Conference session, and also the place if it is decided to hold the session next year,

Committee appointed: The General Conference officers, the presidents and secretaries and treasurers from overseas divisions, and the North American and overseas union presidents who are present.

TIME OF UNION SESSIONS:

The time of holding the union conference sessions was referred to the Committee on General Conference session.

ELEVATOR FOR GENERAL CONFERENCE BUILDING:

The Chairman stated that a number of years ago an action was taken in a Council, authorizing the installation of an ele—vator in the General Conference Building. However, the de-pression came on soon after and with the failing off in funds, and the many calls for help from the world field, the Minority Committee did not feel free to go forward with the project,and still does not feel free to go forward without the approval of

the full Committee. The item was placed on the Agenda for the purpose of learning the mind of the full Committee% After a number of expressions of conviction of the apparent need of an elevator, it was

1618

October 16, 1940

VOTED, That we reaffirm the former action authorizing the installation of an elevator in the General Conference Build-ing,

VOTED, That the item on the Agenda, Procedure in Call-ing and Transferring Workers, be referred to a committee com-posed of the union and local conference presidents and the Goner= al Conference Officers,

Other items on the Agenda were referred to the various standing committees,

STATISTICAL REPORT:

H.E.Rogers, the'Statistical Secretary, rendered the Sta-tistical Report for 1939, of which we give a brief summary as follows:

At the close of 1939 this work was conducted in 404 countries, islands and island groups, by 28,900 evangelistic and institutional laborers, who were using 820 languages and modes of speech in their work. This is an increase of 54 lan-guages during 1939, During the last four years the net increase In languages has been: 1936, 71; 1937, 65; 1938, 52; 1939, 54, a total of 242 during the peat four years, or one new language added every six days during that period. Literature is now printed in 199 languages.

The membership of the 8,761 churches throughout the world at the close of 1939 stood at 486,670, a net increase dur-ing the year of 16,719, or a gain of 3.56 per cent. The in-crease in membership since the figures presented at the close of the 1936 General Conference session has been 63,702 members, an increase of 15.06 per cent.

There are 69 union conferences) 133 local conferences, 306 missions, and 518 institutions, with which are connected 28,900 evangelistic and institutional laborers, In North America there are 10,608 laborers, and outside 18,292. The percentage relation standing for North America: 36.71, and outside 63.29. The total laborers for 1939 constitute - one laborer for every 16.84 church members. This, however, does not take into account many hundreds of lay workers who are doing efficient work in be-half of this cause.

The total funds received during 1939 were the largest amount ever contributed in any year. It was larger than the amount contributed in 1938 by $493,235.041 or 3.79 per cent in-crease. The total amount was v13,499,973.10. The tithe was increased by 6351,100.72, an increase of 4.82 per cent; foreign mission funds were increased by 064,511.51, an increase of 1.77 per cent; home mission funds were increased by $77,622,81) an increase of 3,72 per cent.

1619

October 16, 1940

There are 520 conferences and missions, employing 4,092 ordained and licensed ministers, with 5,760 missionary licen-tiates and office workers assisting in evangelistic lines of work, The 2,763 primary and advanced schools employ 6,240 teach-ers, and have an enrolment of 116,706 as students, with 1,330 entering some line of denominational work at the close of the school year, The 158 sanitariums and treatment rooms employing 6,734 physicians, nurses, and others in the care and treatment of the sick, expended $368,000 in charity work during the year, and treated 739,324 patients. Connected with the 79 publishing houses are 1,324 engaged in producing denominational literature, which, during 1939, amounted in value to over 44,500,000. The 29 food companies employ 1,345 persons.

There are, thus, 3,560 employing organizations in the denomination, with 28,900 persons actively engaged, having an annual denominational expenditure exceeding 440,000,000.

Adjournment was taken to 2:30 P.M., with the closing prayer by C.B.Haynes.

J.L.HcElhany, Chairman. E.D.Dick, Secretary. E.Zeidler, Recording Secretary.

FOUR HUNDRED SIXTY-FIFTH MEETING

GENERAL CONFERENCE COMEITTEE

October 16,1940, 2:30 P.M.

###*#-**#

After the opening song for the third session of the Council, at 2:30 P.M., October 16, prayer was offered by V.T. Armstrong, of the Far Eastern Division.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR 1939:

H.E.Rogers, the Statistical Secretary, presented the Financial Statement for the year ending December 31, 1939, show-ing assets and liabilities of all the organizations and insti-tutions connected with the denomination. The total assets were $49,688,895.91. The increase during the year was s-,;1,608,326.891 or 3.35 per cent. The liabilities now stand at $14,547,736.67, a decrease of $169,412.39, or 1.15 per cent, thus showing a net worth of $35,141,159.24, an increase of a,777,739.28, or 5.33 per cent, The total income was $42,240,603,73; expenditures, 440,462,864,45,

1620

October 16, 1940

FINANCIAL SUMMARIES OF EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS:

Financial and Operating Summaries of Seventh,day Ad-ventist colleges and academies in North America were presented, in printed form, by Claude Conard, the General Conference audi-tor. The summaries showed that in many respects the school year 1939-40 has been a favorable one. Assets have been increased over 4400,000; liabilities reduced nearly $80,000. New build-ings and equipment have been provided, of nearly $540;000. Opera-ting losses of 4102,000 without subsidies were the smallest since systematic school summaries were first compiled in 1924.

SANITARIUMS AND HOSPITALS IN NORTH AMERICA:

A report was also presented showing the financial and operating standing of the Seventh-day Adventist sanitariums and hospitals in North America for the year 1939, and the eight months to August, 1940, During this year and eight months the net operating gains totaled 4213,000; assets have increased 4319,000; and liabilities decreased $91,000. Note indebtedness has been reduced practically $200,000. In 1925 the interest-bearing obligations of the sanitariums were nearly $2,300,000. At the end of August, 1940, the note liabilities were $990,000, a reduction during the fourteen years and eight months of pract-ically 41,300,000,

GENERAL CONFERENCE SESSION:

The Committee on the General Conference session submit-ted a partial report, which was adopted as follows:

We recommend, That the General Conference session be held in 1941, from the evening of May 27 to the evening of June 11,

TREASURER' S REPORT:

The Treasurer presented the Operating Statement of In-come and Expenditures and the Balance Sheet of the General Con-ference for the eight months ending August 31, 1940, as follows:

[See three pages following)

Adjourned to 9:45 Thursday morning, October 17, with the closing prayer by M.L.Andreasen.

W.H.Branson, Chairman* E,D,Dick, Secretary. E.Zeidler, Recording Secretary.

/6,4 GENERAL CONFERENCE OF SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS

OPERATING STATES.= For Eight Youths Ending August 31, 1940

INCOME

TITHE --With America:

Union Conferences 34 631 59 Per Cent of Tithe (Detail pp. 7 and 8) 555 401 91

Miscellaneous 1 785 24 591 818 77

Overseas: European Tithe of Tithe 490 50 European Per Cent of Tithe 8 071 23 Other Divisions 4 956 36 13 518 09

Total Tithe 605 336 86

MISSION OFFERINGS

Forty-Cent -a -reek Fund 1 461 455 37 (Detail p. 5)

Miscellaneous kissions 094 63. 1 465 550 oo

Overseas: European Misc. Missions 39 574 24 Other Divisions in) 849 68 181 £i23 92

Total Missions 1 646 973 92

MISCELLANEOUS INCOME 19 406 72

Exchange Gains 38 134 45 Surplus Tithe 47 OP)j. 99

33 333 28 Donation from G. C. Corp. Donations for Rel. Lib. Work 98 5o Reclaimed Funds 7 750 33 Specific Mission Offerings 2 432 85 Royalties 138 55 148 319 63

Revertible Missions 4,p 577 64 Total Miscellaneous

573.M 27

TOTAL rNcomE

2 831 208 05

EXPENDITURES (See Next Page)

Total Expenditures 2194:L966 67

Income Exceeds Expense

4o 341 38

•

•

_ADMINIS TREITIVE EXPENSE

Salary and Exp. of Depts. Transportation kgentst Expense

170 7 10

617 959 996

68 78 65

189 574 11

Maintenance and General Expense

APPROPRIATIONS

Overseas Regular Base-Approp. 1 388 205 20 Home Regular Base Approp. 156 397 84 Special Approp. -- Overseas 63 453 36 Special Approp. -- Home 35 024 95

1 643 081 35

MISC. AND FIXED APPROPRIATIONS

62 540 28

hilierielci-AYETT-oni-; -- Overseas 33 368 12 -- Home 22 638 96 -... Sick Relief 6 53320

--- 13th Sab. Overflow Provision 19 000 00 Harvest Ingathering Exp. Pro. 50 000 00 Missions Promotion Exp. Pro. 8 000 00 Appointees Expense 2 652 09 Retired Workers Exp. and Salary 4 405 18 Overseas Specific Miss. °friss. 2 /432 85 Sustentation Appropriation 33 513 51 Specific and Fixed Appropriations 18.127 11

200 671 02

APPROPRIATIONS BY REVERSION Institutional Comeback ~ 265 948 98 Alaska, Hawaii, by Reversion 16 080 19 Harvest Ingathering Overflow Pro. 36 032 10

Total Home Reversions 318 061 27

Spring in Tithes and Offtgs. (Overseas) 8 901 28

Overseas Missions by Reversion 430 577 64

757 540 19 2 601 292 56

TOTAL EXPENDITURES 2 790 866 67

CONDENSED COMPARATIVE STATEMENT

FOR EIGHT MONTHS ENDING AUGUST 31 OF EACH YEAR AS INDICATED

INC. OR DEC.* 1936 1939 194) 1940 Oral 1939

INCOME,

Tithe 43626939 538 567 07 605 336 86 66 769 79

Mission Offerings 1 169 401 21 1 374 414 53 1 846 973 92 272 559 39

Misc. Income 420 184 58 508 336 81 578 897 27 70 560 46

Total Income 2 026 655 16 2 419 318 41 2 831 208 05 411 889 64

EXPENDITURES

Administrative Expense 191 676 88 194 139 60 189 574 11 4 565 49*

Appropriations 2 005 924 40 2 539 271 31 2 601 292 56 62 021 25

Total Expense 2 197 601 23 2 733 410 91 2 790 688 67 57 455 76

Expense Exceeds Income 171 748 12 314 092 50

Income Exceeds Expense 1940 40 341 38

Net Improvement 1940 over 1939 354 433 88

/4.73 a.v

GENERAL CONFERENCE OF SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS BALANCE SHEET August 31, 1940

ASSETS

Cash and Banks 1 822 057 21

Notes and Securities. Securities 1 115 021 90 Notes Receivable 158 00 1 115 179 90

Accounts Receivable Divisions 81 297 91 Publishing Houses 35 051 21 Transportation Agencies 10 121 36 Personal Accounts 11 657 17 Miscellaneous 30 530 97 168 658 62

Inventories--Supplies and Misc. 9 379 46 Library 4 562 95 Less Reserve 2 761 72 1 801 23

TOTAL ASSETS 3 117 076 42

LIABILITIES

Accounts Payable "midis ions 16 694 35

Publishing Houses 1 613 08 Personal Accounts 29 566 10 Miscellaneous 26. 562 56 74 436 09

Trust Funds 739 387 47 Unexpired Subscriptions 1 902 so Accrued Expense Reserves 117 943 44 859 233 71

TOTAL LIABILITIES

933 669 so

SURPLUS

Surplus, January 1, 1940 Plus Increase Eight Months

Total Surplus

TOTAL LIABILITIES hED SURPLUS 3 117 076 42

2 143 065 24 40341 38

2 183 1.106 62

1624

FOUR HUMOR= SIXTY-SIXTH MEETING


October 17, 1940, 9:45 A.M.

*******

"At an Hour that Ye Think Not" was sung for the opening of the devotional service Thursday morning, October 17. Prayer by M.L.Andreasen.

Eider W.G.Turner took for the basis of his study Micah 2:10, and Hebrews 11:13-16. We quote the following excerpts from the study:

From the day that Adam turned his face from his Maker, the human race has faced a polluted world, and human eyes have turned toward the day that shall bring the restoration of all things without sin. The thought of that restoration has been the inspiration of the lives of God 's people. It was the prayer of patriarchs and prophets. Through the early centuries it brought courage to the martyr, It has imparted confidence to the distressed, brought peace to the sufferer, and joy to the repentant sinner.

In almost all the writings of the Old Testament the prophets referred to the promise of the second advent of the Lord. It was the inspiration of the apostolic church. It was the theme that the Reformers loved to dwell upon. Wycliff ); looked forward to the Redeemer's appearing as the hope of the church. Calvin bade Christianity "not to hesitate ardently desiring the day of Christ's coming as of all events most au-spicious." It was the central theme of the movement that trans-formed the lives of thousands in 1843-44. It should be the most thrilling and inspiring thought of those who live today.

The patriarchs and prophets lived in stirring times, just as we do; but they made little of the things transpiring about them in the world, as compared with their hope of the Lord's return. Their lives were not shaped by the rise and fall of nations, or the edicts of emperors and kings. Their lives were tremendously influenced by the consciousness that one day Christ would come. The advent hope meant far more to them than did the affairs of nations. So it should be with us.

Jesus also is looking forward to the time of His second advent to this world, forwe find Him referring to it in the seventeenth chapter of John, when He said, "Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hest given Me, be with Me, where I am." No greater longing filled his heart than to have His people with Him. Do we have the same intensity of desire to be with Him? If we do, prayer will have an important place in our experience. We will be picking up the Word of the living God at every op-portunity. We will be sanctified through the truth. We will find our feet walking in the footprints of Jesus as He leads us to the city of our God.

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October 17, 1940

Prayer was offered by H.M.Blunden, of the Antillian Union Mission, at the beginning of the fourth business session of the Council.

As this was the hour appointed for the meeting of the Oakwood Junior College and Riverside Sanitarium constituencies, the Council recessed, and these meetings were called in their order as follows:

OAKWOOD JUNIOR COLLEGE AND RIVERSIDE SANITARIUM:

A meeting of the constituency of Oakwood Junior College was called by J.K.Jones, the Chairman of the Board. A report concerning the College was given by J.L.Moran, the president, and a financial statement was rendered by T.T.Frazier, the treasurer. The Nominating Committee of the Council was asked to nominate twenty-four trustees, to serve for a term of two years. The meeting was adjourned to Monday, October 21, at 10 A.M.

A meeting of the constituency of the Riverside Sanitarium and Hospital was called by J.K.Jones„ the Chairman of the Board, and a report was rendered by the business manager. The Nomina-ting Committee of the Council was asked to nominate a board of trustees for the ensuing two-year term. The meeting adjourned to Monday, October 21, at 10 A.M.

The Council resumed, and the Chairman called for the re-port of the Commission that was appointed at the last Autumn Council, to make a survey of the College of Medical Evangelists. This report was presented and adopted as follows:

COLLEGE OF MEDICAL EVANGELISTS REPORT OF SURVEY COMMISSION:

As members of the Commission appointed in harmony with the action of the Autumn Council of 1939, to study the work of the College of Medical Evangelists, we express our appreciation to the president and officers of the medical school for their earnest efforts in directing the affairs of the institution. tie recognize that there have been multiplied difficulties to face and overcome, maw of them of the most serious nature. Notwith-standing these perplexities) the evident blessing of God has rested upon the work, for which we are profoundly grateful. It is a pleasure to note the marked improvement in the physical plant, vrhich we believe has added materially to the teaching facilities. The quality of the instructional work has also been strengthened by improvements in the teaching staff.

We emphasize especially our endorsement of every effort to improve the spiritual influences of the school. This part of the work requires the fullest cooperation of every leader and faculty member to the end that the real purpose of the College may be safeguarded. We believe that the faculty is working along right lines in its purpose to maintain a high standard in the

1626

October 17, 1940

requirements for student admissions, not alone in scholastic lines, but also in spiritual and moral conduct.

We believe that honest efforts are being made by those associated with the various activities of the medical college and its affiliated organizations to manage the institution in a careful and efficient manner; and we express our confidence in the men and women responsible for this good work.

We recommend, 1. That the Pacific Union Conference be requested to increase its contribution to the College of Medical Evangelists to 416,000 a year) eginning with January 1, 1941.

2. America and equal to .3 cal college

3. pay to the gelists .2

That the local and union conferences in North the General Conference be requested to pay an amount of 1* of their tithe receipts to apply on the medi-budget for at least the calendar years 1941 and1942.

That the sanitariums in North America continue to General Conference for the College of Medical Evan-of 1* of their net patients collections.

MEDICAL CADET CORPS:

H.A.Morrison gave a brief report of what has been ac-complished as a result of the action of the last Autumn Council which provided for the organization of the Medical Cadet Corps Council. Medical Cadet Corps units have been organized in a number of centers, and uniform courses of study have been agreed upon. Nearly 2000 of our men have completed the courses of study in regard to basic and technical training. Another 2000 have re-ceived a portion of the training, and about 4000 are in training at the present time.

Adjourned at 12 o'clock, ✓ith the closing prayer by H,G.Stoehr, of the East Brazil Union Mission.

J.L.McElhanY, L.H.Christian,

Chairmen. E.D.Dick, Secretary. E.Zeidler, Recording Secretary.

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FOUR HUNDRED SIXTY-SEVENTH MEETING


October 18, 1940, 9:45 A.M.

"The Gospel of the Kingdom in its Relation to our Times* was the subject of the devotional service, conducted by H.L.Rudy, Friday morning, October 18. The text was Isaiah 51:9-16. Following is part of the study as presented by Elder Rudy:

God responds to the prayer of His children with the words am He that comfortetb.° He shows the absurdity of their

fears. He tells them how absurd it is to be afraid of a man that shall die, whereas He has stood for all time. God doesn't want His church to be forever fearful; He wants them to know that He is present to deliver them.

In verse 16, the Lord gives His people a definite com-mission. This may be taken as Isaiah's rendering of Matthew 24:14. Christ calls it the gospel of the kingdom; the prophet Isaiah calls it the gospel of a new heaven and a new earth that is to go "unto all nations.° The prophet is speaking of a time of oppression and violence, The people of God are pictured as in tribulation, as being in danger of losing their very existence upon the earth. Surely that describes the condition of God's suffering children in many parts of the earth today. Bit God who has given a message to His children is covering them with His hand.

We find ourselves today in a world that is setting out to oppose this gospel of the kingdom. But there are some con-ditions that make this a most opportune time for the preaching of that gospel.

1, The world is left rudderless in the storm that has broken upon it.

2. The present war with its barbarism is disproving the supposed fundamental goodness of human nature. Destruction is going forward with a speed such as the world has never seen before. On every hand we see evidences of helplessness and the futility of man's thinking and reasoning, all of which opens the way for the preaching of the gospel in a most unusual manner.

3. The religious thinking of our time is undergoing a change. The very futility of modern philosophy, demonstrated by what is taking place, is forcing men back to the fundamentals of the Bible. The gospel of a new heaven and a new earth is the only hope of the world today,

1628

October 18, 1940

The fifth business session of the Council convened at 9:45 Friday morning, October 18. Prayer was offered by F.D. Wells,'of the Texas Conference,

11/ DEBT REDUCTION:

W.E.Nelson, the Treasurer, asked for reports from the union conference presidents in North America relative to the pro-gress being made in their various fields in the matter of debt reduction. After all the unions had responded, it was found that during the Year 1939 there had been. a net reduction of in-debtedness on conference organizations and institutions amount-ing to the gratifying sum of $348,310.

INTERNATIONAL INSURANCE COMPANY:

The Council recessed, and a meeting of the International Insurance Company of Takoma Park, Maryland, was called by the President, J.L.McElhany. A report of the business of the com-pany was made by W.A.Benjamin.

Nominations being presented by the Nominating Committee, J.H,Nies, W.B.Mohr and C.C.Pulver were elected directors of the Insurance Company for a term of three years.

The meeting of the Insurance Company was adjourned, and the Council resumed.

MRS. KATHRYN JENSEN-NELSON:

The Chairman stated that a member of the General Con-ference staff, Miss Kathryn Jensen (now Mrs. Nelson), had re-signed from the associate secretaryship of the Medical Depart-ment, and her resignation being accepted, Miss Lois Burnett of the Glendale Sanitarium, had been called to take her place. It ,was

RESOLVED, That we, the General Conference Committee in Autumn Council assembled, do hereby express to Mrs. Kathryn Jensen-Nelson our very deep appreciation of her efficient and devoted service in the cause, especially through the years of her connection with the General Conference Medical Department.

HARVEST INGATHERING CAMPAIGN:

Steen Rasmussen, of the acme Missionary Department,spoke of the splendid work done throughout the union and local con-ferences in the promotion of this year's Harvest Ingathering campaign, In view of the added responsibility placed upon the North American field for the support of the missionary enter-prise, through the cutting off of such support from other fields, it was

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October 18, 1940

VOTED, To send the following message from this Council, for publication in the forthcoming issues of the union conference papers:

"Autumn Council General Conference assembled St. Paul, Minnesota, facing most serious situation in history, Large mission revenues formerly available now cut off by war restrict-ions in many lands thus thrusting heavy new responsibilities up-on believers in North America. Crisis challenges God's people to arise and consecrate all to heavenly Leader for finishing work Revival true godliness greatest need of hour. Entire Council profoundly appreciates wonderful work already done in 1940 In-gathering effort and appeals to all conference and church lead-ers and believers everywhere to bend every energy and assist in raising full million dollars this year by this means, Objective in sight. Let us go over this grand goal. What remains to be done, let it be done quickly."

Adjourned at 12 o'clock, with closing prayer by A.R. Ogden,

J.L.McElhany, Chairman. A.W.Cormack, Secretary. LZeidier, Recording Secretary.

•

1630

THE EVENING AND SABBATH MEETINGS

OF THE COUNCIL

The evening and Sabbath meetings of the Council, with the exception of the eleven o'clock hour Sabbath forenoon, were given over to hearing reports of the progress of the work and God's providences in the overseas divisions. In the eleven o'clock service on Sabbath, Elder J,L.McElhany in his sermon made an earnest appeal not only to those in attendance, but to the entire church body for renewed consecration and increased devotion in preparation for the times to which we are coming.

J.F.Wright, of the Southern African Division, brought greetings from 60,000 or more Sabbath school members, We can scarcely realize that our largest congregations of all the world field, not excepting the Sabbath attendance at a General Confer-ence sessionl are found in Central Africa. At Gitwe Mission,the attendance at the camp meeting this year numbered 12,000, and at Rwankeri 20,000.

N.P.Neilsen, reporting for South America, told of pro-gress in his field,--32,000 baptized believers besides thousands of others preparing for baptism gather to worship God from Sab-bath to Sabbath. The work is not only gaining ground in the populous centers but is penetrating the most remote sections of the Amazon jungles and lofty inhabited heights of the Andes. He told of a camp meeting in the jungles, Attended by three hundred, where all came by boat, and of our Sabbath school in the Andes, 16,000 feet above sea level,

W.E.Read, of the Northern European Division, brought a story of courage from the lands so affected by war. Despite the restrictions imposed, the work goes forward. In Britain, and in Sweden also, our brethren were able to exceed their Harvest In-gathering goals in even a shorter period than any time previous-ly, Our institutions are all intact and prospering. The litera-ture work in a number of countries exceeds any peace-time re-cord, God's hand has been over His people and until now [the time of the Council] we have suffered but few losses of life due to the war,--two in Finland, two in Norway, and two in Britain.

N.F.Brewer reminded us of the immensity of his parish by stating that were one hundred twenty persons to file by a fixed point every minute night and day, it would require seven and a half years for the people of China to pass, so populous is that land. He told of the tragedies which have overtaken the people of China, and the institutional losses we have sus-tained. Our work has been carried on amid inconvenience and danger, but in spite of all it is onward. There has been marked progress in the literature work, particularly as regards the Chinese Signs of the Times. At the outbreak of the war the sub-scription list stood at 50,000, ' In September of thip year 104,000 copies were printed, Three and a half years of awful

1631

war had doubled the subscription list. During the first six months of this year, literature sales amounted to 140,669 dol-lars, Chinese currency, being 80,000 dollars more than for the first six months of last year. Receipts from the Harvest In-gathering campaign amounted to 108,000 dollars, the highest in the entire history of the field. Besides the direct evangelis-- tic activities, much has been done in the way of welfare work for refugees. With the financial assistance of the Red Cross, our workers fed 10,000 men, women and children daily, for months. Brother Brewer reported our schools overcrowded with students, and the courage of our workers good.

V.T.Armstrong, of the Far Eastern Division, brought greetings from 32,000 baptized Members. He told us that our percentage gain in membership for the entire world field from 1929 to 1938 was 56%, while for the Far Eastern Division it was 76%. Last year, 2,300 were baptized, with prospects for a larg-er number this year. People are hungering for the message of life as evidenced by the story of the work of two colporteurs in Mindanao.

These two colporteurs went to a certain village. Each day for their morning worship they would sing a song, read the Bible and have prayer, in which they invited their landlord to join them. On Sabbath morning, with their song books, Bibles and lesson quarterlies, they prepared to have Sabbath school, inviting in the landlord. While they were singing, they dis-covered the yard was filling with people, and the landlord said, "They are coming to Sabbath school. They want to hear the Bible: Thereupon one colporteur stood in one window of the little house, and the other colporteur stood in the other window. One col-porteur asked the questions from the quarterly, and the other answered by reading the Bible. Then they sang a song, and ex-pected the crowd to go. But the crowd said, "No, we want to hear more." So one colporteur stood in one window and preached a sermon, and when still the people did not go, the other col-porteur stood in the other window and preached another sermon. This they kept up from 8:30 in the morning until the sun went down. A number were converted that day, and three churches were admitted into the mission as the result of the work of those two colporteurs.

The evening foil:owing the Sabbath, N.C.Wilson brought to the Council an effective report of the work in the Southern Asia Division, illustrated with well-chosen color slides. Evi-dence of a substantial and growing work was apparent from Elder Wilson's remarks and the accompanying pictures.

G.A.Roberts brought a report of progress from the third largest overseas division,--Inter-America, with its over 36,000 church members, and 60,000 Sabbath school members, Summarizing the growth we were told that in 1936 the Sabbath school member-ship stood at 40,090; at the close of 1939, 50,699,--a clear gain in four years of 16,609; and the momentum seems to be in-creasing, for during the first six months of this year there was a net gain of 3,286 Sabbath school members, This means a

•

4,

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monthly gain of 547, and should the gains continue they would add 6,500 new Sabbath school members in 1940. We were reminded that the Inter-American Division is essentially a field of lay-men's endeavors. This is supported by the fact that in the nine major lines of missionary activities on which the Home Mission-ary Department of the General Conference gathers statistics, the Inter-American Division led all overseas divisions, and in at least three items leads the world field,- including North America,

FOUR HUNDRED SIXTY-EIGHTH MEETING


October 20, 1940, 9:45 A.M.

Following the song for the opening of the devotional service Sunday morning, October 20, prayer was offered by Meade MacGuire. L.H.Christian, who conducted the service, announced as his subject, "The Adventist Answer to the Call and the Chal-lenge of the Day," He referred to the meeting held in Minnea-polis in 1888, and the blessings that came to God's cause and people following that Conference. Standing where we do today, he hoped we might go forth from this Council to accomplish even greater things than they did at that time,

We live in a time, he said, when the most fundamental pillars of society, of the church, and of mankind in general, are failing, What is the answer of man to all of this? The answer of the men of the great powers of earth is,--force, war, conquest; revenge. The answer of the business man is,--opportunity to make more money. The answer of the educator is,-- more education, The answer from the Papacy is,--a change in attitude during the past few months. What is the answer of the great body of Protestant churches? They have a good diagnosis, but they have no remedy. There are statements concerning the dangers, but no message from God. On every hand we find people who know the trouble, but they do not know the way out. (Micah 3:5-8)

What is the answer of the Advent Church? We have the spirit of prophecy; we have the last warning message, and through that message will be gathered out a people prepared for the com-ing of the Lord.

What is the answer of our members in countries where there is war and persecution? The word that comes to us in-dicates that theirs is a marvelous answer. The important thing is, What is our answer in these lands of peace? What answer will every one of us as leaders make at this time? Our ()Nee- . tive should be to make these present crises count for Christ) for the church, and for the deepening of faith and love in the heart of every believer.

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The service closed wi_th a:testimony meeting in which a __goodly number took part.

"How Firm a Foundation" was sung to open the sixth business session of the Council, Sunday morning, October 20. Prayer by J.L.McElhany.

REPORTS FROM THE NORTH AMERICAN UNION PRESIDENTS:

This session of the Council was devoted to a symposium by the North American union presidents, led by W.G.Turner. Elder Turner called attention to the organization of 38 new churches during 1939, and a net gain in membership of 5,127, bringing the membership of the North American Division up to 177)341. The presidents reported on various phases of the work in their respective unions.

W.B.Ochs) of the Canadian Union) said that though their means are limited, they have learned how to do evangelism with very little money. In one city through an effort that cost less than a thousand dollars, 45 persons were added to the church. When no place could be found for the baptism of thirty converts resulting from the efforts of one young man, the Mormon church in that town opened its doors for the baptismal service. One young worker, with no budget for an evangelistic effort, brought in forty-two persons.

M,L.Rice spoke of the great need of evangelism in the Atlantic Union) with its great cities and teeming population; and of the statement in the Testimonies that the message is to return to the cities of the East, and return with great power. Notwithstanding difficulties, such as the large foreign popu-lations) the conservatism of the people, the expense of securing halls in which to conduct efforts, he reported the work making progress. An aggressive work is going forward in the city of Boston, and a fine work is also being done in Northern New England, the birthplace of the message.

E.L.Neff, reporting for the North Pacific Union, said they had realized good results from evangelistic efforts held in our own churches* A number of efforts had been held in small tabernacles. The possibility of conducting a successful evangelistic effort and Harvest Ingathering campaign at the same time had been demonstrated by two young men in the Idaho Con-ference) sixty-six persons being baptized as the result of the effort, and the Ingathering goal being reached ahead of the specified date. As a result of the combined efforts of mini-sters and lay members) eight new churches were organized during the year. Brother Neff stated that in some of the conferences in his union there is a Seventh-day Adventist for every 100 of the population.

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October 20, 1940

The Medical Cadet Corps work in the Lake Union was the special feature spoken of by J.J.Nethery, President, and E.W. Dunbar, Missionary Volunteer Secretary of the union. Mention was made of Medical Cadet Corps units organized and in process of organization, and of the arrangements for courses of in-struction. 233 men have been graduated from the courses given, 13 cadet officers commissioned, and approximately 1000 men are in training at the present time. Dr. E.N.Dick, of Union College, who assisted for a short time in this work in the union, de-scribed the nature of the training given, and expressed his con-viction that the men will be the better for the training even though they may never be called into the army.

J.F,Piper told of the organization of Federated Dorcas Societies in the Central Union. There are now ten such Federa-tions in the union. The attendance at Federation meetings ranges from 40 to as high as 400. Their programs feature religious liberty, church responsibility, methods of soul winning, and other subjects. Healthful living is a live topic of discussion. Federated meetings in one month brought in 4800 worth of business to the Boulder food factory. Through meetings in two cities, a shipment of a ton and a half of dressings, bandages, clothing and bedding was supplied to the Orient. In most of the churches in the union there are also Societies of Missionary Men.

The special phase of the work in the Southern Union emphasized by J.K.Jones was that of the Lay Bible Study Classes, He stated that nearly half of the ministerial force in the union either have or are conducting Bible training classes, and at least thirty pastors are conducting such classes. 270 persons, either trained or being trained in these classes are giving Bible read-ings. Cottage meetings are being held in more than 400 homes of interested persons. Results: During the first two quarters of 1939, the lay members in the Southern Union gave 35,021 Bible readings; during the same period in 1940, 38,551, or 1,482 per week, 212 a day. There were added to the church as the result of this work, during the first two quarters of 1939, 128 new converts; and for the same period in 1940, 259.

Glenn Calkins reported gratifying results from the work being done through radio evangelism in the Pacific Union. The union is broadcasting over seventeen different stations in California and Arizona. Since the work began, nearly 1000 have been baptized and are now members of churches in the union. For the month of July, 1939, the income that came through the mails from radio listeners amounted to a:799.24. One year later the income was 0,056.85. It is expected that in another year the radio work will be fully self-supporting. The Voice of Prophecy company was awarded the certificate from the Broadcasters Listeners Association of America this past Year as having the most outstanding religious radio broadcast*

•

1635

October 20, 1940

H.J.Detwiler, reporting for the Columbia Union, stated that there are in his union 1,900 cities and villages with popu-lations ranging from 1,000 to 2,000,000, an entire population of 27,000,000. To carry this message to this mass of people through our truth-filled literature, there are 205 book and magazine salesmen, 16 leaders and associate leaders, and 189 regular col-porteurs. Last year this corps of workers delivered 4110,000 worth of our subscription books and magazines. The magazine workers sold more than 400,000 single copies of Life and Health, The Watchman, Liberty, and the Message Magazine, One leading evangelist from dplay table in connection with his public effort, sold $2,500 worth of literature, and already he has bap-tized 356 converts.

R.L.Benton reported that in the Southwestern Union, with an evangelistic budget of only $7,000, they had succeeded in bringing 990 people into the truth during the year, and had fin-ished or nearly finished twelve new church buildings in which they may worship, He stated that, being in what is known as the American Dust Bowl, the Southwestern Union has the experience of losing some of its members as fast as they are gained, for the dust sends their soil to the Southern Union and their members to the Pacific Union, However, they are of good courage, and hope to go considerably over the goal they have set, of 1000 new mem-bers for the year.

E.H.Oswald, of the Northern Union, spoke of his special interest in the Lay Workers Movement, He felt that in many churches there are talented men and women who need only to be sought out and given a preparation to engage successfully in this kind of work, In his union four institutes are conducted each year, with an attendance ranging from 65 to 104. Great care is exercised in selecting those who shall receive training. Follow-ing the institute the workers are sent out two and two, district leaders taking a special interest in assisting them to find good locations and get started in their work, During 1939, sixty souls Were reported baptized as the direct result of lay preach-ers' efforts.

The meeting adjourned at 12 o'clock, with the closing prayer by W.H.Branson.

W.G.Turner, Chairman. H.T.Elliott, Secretary. E.Zeidler, Recording Secretary.

1635-cv

FOUR HUNDRED SIXTY-NINTH MEETING


October 21, 1940, 9:45 A.M.

Eider E.E.Andross conducted the devotional service Monday morning, October 21, "Longing, dear Saviour, for Thee," was the opening song, followed by prayer by R.L.Benton,

"Blow ye the trumpet in Zion" (Joel 2:1), was the cen-tral theme of the morning study. The blowing of the trumpet had a number of significant meanings in the days of ancient Israel. Originally two silver trumpets were made at Mt. Zion. These were given to.two priests, sons of Aaron, and were to be blown by them, The leaders of God's people today, his ministers, are to blow the trumpet in Zion (the church), and command the people, that they move forward.

The blowing of the trumpet was a warning of danger, when the enemy surrounded the camp. Ezekiel 33:2-9, places the re-sponsibility of blowing the trumpet of warning upon the ministry, God's watchmen. "If the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his ini-quity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand ."

The blowing of the trumpet was also a signal of the breaking of the day. When the night is past, and the day be-gins to dawn, it is time to awake out of sleep. "And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness; and let us put on the armor of light." "Awake, awake; put on thy beautiful garments, of Jerusalem." Vie are to awake and dress, to cast off the works of darkness, and put on the raiment of light, that we may be ready to meet the Bridegroom when He comes,

"The world is to be warned of its coming doom. The slumbers of those who are living in sin are so deep, so death-like, that the voice of God through a wide-awake ministry is needed to awaken them," "Gospel Workers," old edition.

It is time to awake, to sound the warning message, to give the command to move forward. When God gave the command to Israel to move forward, there were obstacles in the way that were insurmountable so far as human ability to overcome them was concerned. But when the people moved forward, d-od took care of the obstacles, The time has come for this body of men ga-thered here to rise at the command of God, to pass on to the church the word to move forward, and then expect God to reveal His mighty power. "There is no obstacle that can prevent the onward march of the people of God." Test. vol. 6 pp.28-29. The God who wrought so mightily for ancient Israel is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

1636

October 21, 1940

The seventh business session of the Council was convened at 9:45, Monday, October 21. "Just when I need Him most," was sung, and prayer was offered by G.E.Nordi recently of the North-ern European Division,

• A partial report from the Finance Committee was submitted and adopted as follows:

SUSTENTATION1

We recommend, 1. That the regulation relating to Medical Allowances be amended to read as follows:

"Beneficiaries who are sick and require constant medical attention involving expense, may be given a medical allowance not to exceed $12,00 a month, the amount to be based upon conditions in each particular case. The medical allowance is granted spe-cifically for medical expense and should never be considered as a subsidy to the regular allowance, nor should it be continued beyond the time when a beneficiary requires it for medical ex-pense."

2, That the following regulation relating to conference •forkers laboring in self-supporting institutions be adopted:

"A conference worker who may be assigned by his committee to serve in a self-supporting institution as church pastor, chaplain, or Bible teacher:the major part of whose salary is paid by the conference and who continues to be under the direct-ion of the conference committee, shall not be considered as hav-ing severed his connection with the organized work, and his ser-vice under these conditions shall be recognized as service on which his sustentation eligibility and rate may be based."

3. That the following section of the regulation relating to Special Duty Nurses be deleted:

"Other part-time employees of our institutions who hold themselves subject to call, and on whose wage the percentage for sustentation has been paid by the institutions employing them, are entitled to the same consideration under the sustentation plan, it being understood that the service period will be com-puted on the actual time of lator,"

4, That the regulation relating to the Employment of Workers Over Thirty-five Years of Age be amended to read as fol-lows:

"Special care should be used in bringing individuals in-to service who have already reached the age of thirty-five years, However, in exceptional cases when a candidate for service has special qualifications that in the opinion of the employing or-ganization warrant his employment, such worker shall be regard-ed as eligible for assistance from the Sustentation Fund on the

1637

October 21, 1940

same conditions as for those entering the service at an earlier age, but the rate of sustentation to be paid shall be left to the discretion of the Sustentation Committee. It is understood that those working at skilled trades and those with profession-al training will in most cases receive the regular rates pro-vided by the schedule, while unskilled workers may receive a lower rate, each case being considered on its merits."

5. That in order to bring the following sustentation regulations into harmony with the foregoing revisions and amend-ments, the words that are underlined be deleted:

Individuals who enter denominational service before reaching the age of thirty-five shall be required to render not less than fifteen years of service in order to become eligible to assistance from the Sustentation Fund, and those who enter denominational service after reaching the age of thirty-five shall be required to render a minimum period of service of fif-teen years plus one additional year for each year of their age above thirty-four when first employed.

Regular colporteurs who have entered the work before reaching the age of thirty-five years and whose work has been continuous for fifteen or more years and whose service reaches up to the time of becoming incapacitated, shall be eligible to to the benefits of the Sustentation Fund. Those beginning work after reaching the age of thirty-five shall not be recognized as eligible for assistance until after having served continuous-ly the required period of time as provided under paragraph No.

Discretionary power is given to the Sustentation Com-mittee to fix the rates, as circumstances seem to make neces-sary, of men who have served in the ministry of other denomina-tions and enter our work after reaching the age of thirty..five and who later find it necessary to apply for sustentation as-sistance,

WELCOME FROM MAYOR McDONALD OF ST.PA0L:

At this point the Mayor of St. Paul, Mr. McDonald, en-tered, and was introduced by Eider J.L.McElhany. The Mayor ex-tended to the delegates a cordial welcome to the city of St. PaulA He said they had looked forward to entertaining our world conference, which was to have been held in St. Paul last spring, and were disappointed when the session was postponed. Mr.Pearit Secretary of the Association of Commerce, also spoke a few words of welcome.

Elder McElhany responded, thanking the Mayor and Mr. Pearlt for their kind words, and expressing appreciation for the courtesies extended to us.

1638

October 21, 1940

OAKWOOD JUNIOR COLLEGE AND RIVERSIDE SANITARIUM:

This being the hour to which the legal associations of the Oakwood Junior College and the Riverside Sanitarium had ad-journed, the Council recessed, and constituency meetings of these two institutions were called by J.K.Jones, the Chairman of the Boards. A report from the Nominating Committee was presented, and the following-named persons were elected a joint Board of Trustees for the two institutions, for the ensuing two-year term:

J.K.Jones, W.G,Turner, H.A.Morrison, H.M.Walton, M.D., W.H.Williams, C.O.Franz, J.L.Moran, C.A.Russell, F.S.Keitts, Anna Knight, H.W.Walker, C.V.Anderson, F.L.Peterson, A.E.Webb, J.J.Nethery, H.J.Detwiler, R.L.Benton, M.L.Rice, T.H.Allison, J.H.Wagner, L.E.Ford, T.k.Rowe, J.G.Dasent, Carl Dent, M.D.

The constituency meetings of the Oakwood Junior College and the Riverside Sanitarium adjourned sine die.

The Council resumed, and recommendations from the Gener-al Conference Officers were presented, and adopted as follows:

PRESS CARDS:

In view of the feeling that measures need to be intro-duced to control to a greater extent than in the past the ism,—, suance and use of our denominational press cards,

We recommend, That the press cards at present in the pos-session of our workers to considered as canceled; that the matter of their re-issuance be left to handled by the Minority Com-mittee, with the understanding that the Committee will prepare regulations to govern the issuance of the cards, and will exer-cise discretion in issuing the cards only to those who qualify to receive them in harmony with the regulations, each case to be dealt with on its merits by the Minority Committee.

SABBATH YORNING SERVICES IN OUR CHURCHES:

With a view to avoiding, as far as possible, any con-gestion in the conducting of the Sabbath services in our churches,

We recommend, 1. That the Sabbath school be confined to one hour and ten minutes (seventy minutes), and close promptly with song and silent prayer; the program of the Sabbath school to be substantially as now advocated by the General Conference Sabbath School Department , great care being taken not to short-en the period df thirty minutes devoted to lesson study. That wherever conditions permit, the Sabbath school begin at 9:30 AM.

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October 21, 1940

2. That immediately following the Sabbath school and without dispersal of the divisions and class formation, the Mis-sionary Service of the church be entered upon and continue for a period of ten minutes, closing with the benediction.

3. That the Missionary Service be followed by an inter-mission of ten minutes to permit of necessary preparation for tie ensuing regular Sabbath service.

4. That the regular Sabbath service begin promptly at the hour appointed, pastors and local elders seeking to carry out the spirit of a former recommendation which reads:

"Recognizing the sacredness of the hours of divine wor-ship, and the necessity for deepening the spiritual life of the people through the preaching of the Word,

"We recommend, That every regular Sabbath service be so arranged and conducted as to foster the spirit of devotion, and to provide a spiritual feast to the church members and others who may be present.

Word, "In order to affOrd proper time for the study of the

"We recommend, That an earnest effort be made to limit the opening exercises preceding the sermon' or Bible study so as not to exceed twenty minutes.--1930 General Conference Bulletin p. 236.

A partial report from the Plans Committee was presented, the first resolution of which was adopted as follows:

GRATITUDE AND CONSECRATION:

Faithful to His pledged word, unfailing in the fulfill-ment of His promises, God has in the midst of earth's turmoil and upheaval mercifully thrown about His cause and people the safeguards of His protection and care, In the midst of dangers seen and unseen God's ministering servants have been preserved; in spite of local/ national and international hindrances God's truth has continued to advance throughout the world.

During the past year of rapidly spreading war and devas-tation, we have had demonstrated to us daily that there are po " world perils or catastrophies, no gainsayings or opposition Of men, and no invisible principalities or powers that can Stop Godls work until it has accomplished its divinely appointed purpose.

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October 21, 1940

Moved, therefore, by a sense of profound gratitude as we contemplate these mercies, strengthened with new courage as we consider God's unfailing faithfulness) and fortified to meet the unknown developments of the future by the providences of the past,

RESOLVED, That we hereby declare and record our deep-ened devotion to God and to His cause, unitedly resolving to yield ourselves in renewed and unreserved surrender to God for the completion of the unfinished task of giving the third an-gel's message to. the world,

In adopting the resolution, the delegates arose and were led in a prayer of renewed consecration by 0.MontgomerY.

Further recommendations submitted by the Plans Com-mittee were amended and adopted as follows:

"STEPS TO CHRISTu:

WHEREAS, The service edition of "Steps to Christ" pro-foundly influenced the lives of thousands of young men called to service during the First World War; and

WHEREAS, America's young men are again summoned for military training;

We recommend, 1. That the service edition of "Steps to Christ" be given as wide a circulation as possible.

2. That the Missionary /olunteer Department in co-operation with union and local conference committees plan to enlist the help of every Missionary Volunteer society to make this book available for distribution.

WIN ONE FOR CHRIST:

We recommend, 1. That the first Sabbath of the new year, January 4, 1941, which is the regular missionary Sabbath, be designated "Win One for Christ" Sabbath.

2. That we request our workers and church leaders to bring this recommendation to the attention of our people, with a view to enlisting every church member in an earnest endeavor to win at least one soul to Christ during the year 1941.

FIRST SABBATH MISSIONARY OFFERING:

WHEREAS, The first Sabbath in every month is designated as Home Missionary Sabbath, and the offering received on that Sabbath in our churches and companies is for the financing of the Home Missionary program of the local church, such as the purchase of missionary literature and other missionary ob-jectives,

1641

October 21, 1940

We recommend, That emphasis be given to the taking of this offering month by month, and that care be exercised in the utilization of these funds for Home Missionary purposes only.

SOCIETY OF MISSIONARY MEN:

WHEREAS, The Society of Missionary Men has developed considerable strength and is finding steadily enlarging fields of activity,

We recommend, 1. That the further development of this organization of the Society of Missionary Men be encouraged in all churches where there is a sufficient number of men available.

2. That in addition to the evangelistic activities at present carried on) the efforts of this society be directed along the lines of temperance and religious liberty,with pub-lic. presentationi through the press) by distribution of litera-ture in 000 and military training camps) etc.

"REVIEW AND HERALD":

WHEREAS, The month of December, 1940 was designated by the Spring Meeting of the General Conference Committee for ini-tiating a special effort for building up the circulation of the Review at reduced subscription rates of $2.25, effective Decem-ber 1, 1940, to January 15, 1941,

We recommend, That every necessary means be employed in this campaign period through organization and promotion to at-tain the circulation goal in every conference in North America, thus increasing the present Review subscription list of approxi-mately 28,000 by 40 per cent, bringing it up to the accepted goal of 39,125.

GREATER COLPORTEUR EVANGELISM:

WHEREAS, Conditions in the world today proclaim in no uncertain tones that we are nearing the end of the days left for the finishing of the work committed to us, and that what we have to do in warning the world must be done quickly; and, recogniz-ing the large place that colporteur evangelism is to occupy in the closing work of the message; therefore

We recommend, la That our union and local conference executive committees give special study to the needs of the col-porteur work in their respective fields in its relation to the great task of evangelism.

2. That pastors, district leaders, and church elders be requested to keep before our churches the importance of the literature ministry, through sermons and other public references to this work, and that they seek out and encourage suitable in-dividuals to take up colporteur evangelism in order that

1642

October 21, 1940

throughout the field the number of workers engaged in this line of soul-winning endeavor may be quickly and greatly increased.

3. That each pastor, district- leader, and church elder be requested to put forth special effort during 1941 to secure at least one recruit for regular full-time colporteur work and others who can work part time, the names of those thus received to_ to placed with the conference field missionary secretary.

SABBATH SCHOOL LESSON STUDY:

WHEREAS, The spiritual life and Christian experience or every soul is dependent upon the study of the Word of God, and upon the application of the Living Word to their own lives,

We recommend,That renewed efforts be put forth to lead our people into daily, diligent, prayerful study of God's Word through the Sabbath school lessons.

SOUL WINNING IN SABBATH SCHOOLS:

We recommend, That all union and local conference Sab-bath school secretaries give special attention to the develop-ment of the soul-winning plans of the Sabbath school by person-al work for pupils on the part of teachers and officers, and by encouraging the conducting of consecration services at least once each year in all Sabbath schools,

MISSING MEMBERS:

WHEREAS, There are many church members who are record-ed as chur3b members n missing" from the Sabbath school; and

WHEAE:AS, This situation has resulted in spiritual de-clension to the individual and to the church, and is a contri-butory step to apostasy,

We recommend, That the following steps be taken to rec-tify this alarming situation:

1. That all conference and institutional workers, to-gether with church officers, take renewed interest in the Sab-bath school work and by their personal attendance and interest encourage others to do likewise.

2. That we urge every Seventh-day Adventist church member who is not now attending to become a member of the Sab-bath school either through its class organization, traveling workers' division, or the Home Division.

1643

October 21, 1940

3. That the first Sabbath of each quarter be consid= ered as Sabbath school enrolment day, and that every conference put forth special efforts to enlist on that day every missing church member, the slogan for next year to be: 'Bring One in '41.2

4. That we urge all Sabbath school officers to con-tinue to study ways and means of making their Sabbath school a greater spiritual force in the church by making its program so inspiring and helpful that the missing church members will de-sire to attend.

5. That we counsel our ministers when admitting new converts to the church to instruct them in their responsibility of regularly attending Sabbath school.

6. That as far as possible our churches provide ade-quate facilities for housing the various Sabbath school divis-ions, giving particular attention to the children's divisions.

7. That we call upon all Sabbath school teachers to be-come more efficient in teaching the Sabbath school lessons and in carrying their spiritual responsibilities, by enrolling in the Reading Course and taking the Sabbath School Teachers' Training Course, as a means of holding older members and draw-ing new ones,

BRANCH SAEBATH SCHOOL LEADERSHIP:

We recommend, That at the beginning of each year a branch, Sabbath school leader be appointed in each Sabbath school by the Sabbath School Council, and that, where possible, this leader be chosen from among the Sabbath school officers.

AUDITING COMMITTEE:

In harmony with the Constitutional provision, the fol-lowing named persons were appointed a committee to audit the accounts of General Conference workers:

The Officers of the General Conference, J.K.Jones, H.J. Detwiler, J.F.Piper, Glenn Calkins, W.B.Ochs, M.L.Rice, E.L. Neff, J.J.Nethery, E.H.Oswald, R.L.Benton, 0.T.Garner, T.G. Bunch, F.D.Wells, C.A.Scriven, L,K.Dickson.

Adjourned at 12 o'clock, with the closing prayer by G. A. Roberts.

J.L.McElharbro W. H. Branson,

Chairmen. H.T.Eliiott, Secretary. E.Zeidler, Recording Secretary.

1644

FOUR HUNDRED SEVENTIETH MEETING


October 22,1940, 9:45 A.M.

*****

The texts used as a basis for the devotional service by M.L.Andreasen, Tuesday morning, October 22, were 2 Cor. 13:5 and 1 Cor. 3:10-15. Elder Andreasen spoke in part as follows:

This is October 22, 1940. Ninety-six years have passed since the stirring events of the 1844 movement. Our presence in the world on the 22nd day of October, 1940, demands an ex-planation. What excuse can we give? As leaders, we are re-sponsible for the direction of this movement, We owe it to the cause and to ourselves to survey the work and examine ourselves. Are we directing the work as God would have it directed? A survey of the work should include a survey of causes as well as results, and an examination of methods apart from any effect.

Up to the present there has been a remarkable oneness of belief and purpose in all our different divisions and or-ganizations throughout the world, This unity has been brought about by three factors which are in danger of becoming less effective These three factors are:

1. Finances. The influence of the financial structure of this denomination is widespread* Our foreign mission program has been largely instrumental in shaping the thinking of our members, Any field that is wholly or partially dependent upon help from a parent organization will naturally keep in close touch with such organization.. This tends toward unity and co-operation.

2. Leadership. In the beginning our leadership was sent out from this North American field. These men and women were personally acquainted with or known by the leaders at home. Wherever they went, they preached the same thing. This assured unity in all the mission fields. But present trends indicate that we are facing a new time. Have we among the nationals of other countries leaders so trained that we can trust them to re-main faithful to the vital forces of this message? Have our missionaries so built the work that the cause can safely be left in the hands of those who remain behind when the missionary must leave? We need to pray God to preserve the unity of the faith, whatever political conditions may prevail.

3. Foreign travel. We are sometimes accused of traveling too much. But visits made by leading workers to over-seas fields are most valuable. The unifying influence of such visits is not easily over-estimated.

By the time of the coming General Conference session plans must be matured for meeting the new world conditions that

1645

October 22, 1940

we face. We must not come up to that Conference unprepared. If the next General Conference is merely another good meeting, it will be the greatest tragedy that has ever come to us. The time has come for the outpouring of the Spirit of God, There are matters in the church that need correction, but God has placed in the church means for the correction of any trends that disturb the peace and progress of the church. God wants us to look at ourselves in the light of His counsel, and that calls for deep heart searching and the application of the eyesalve which God alone can furnish.

We are on the eve of another Pentecost. Thousands have come into our ranks, and thousands more are coming. But there is another matter of equal importance, and that is the conserva-tion of the gains made. We must not close our eyes to the fact that the losses sustained are disturbingly large. Back of that fact lie causes which we should know, and there should be thor-ough inquiry into the reasons for the existing conditions.

While we must resolutely face conditions and not deceive ourselves, these things should only stir us to new endeavors. With all our faults and shortcomings, the church of God is the supreme object of His love. Soon the shout of victory will swell into a mighty chorus as Godt s people move unitedly against the foe within and without. Let us carry the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus to glorious triumph, and on this October 22, 1940, let us pledge ourselves anew to stand loyally and unitedly for the faith once delivered to the saints.

In connection with the opening of the eighth business session of the Council, by request received by telegram from San Diego, California, special prayer was offered in behalf of Elder B.W.Cottrell, eighty-eight years of age, who was to under-go a serious surgical operation.

BOARD OF REGENTS:

The Committee on Nominations submitted the following recommendation, which was adopted:

We recommend, To fill vacancies on the Board of Re-gents, E.F.Hein and E.E.Cossentine, for a three-year term; Miss Lois Burnett for a two-year term,

A further report from the Plans Committee, after being amended was adopted as follows:

1646

October 22, 1940

CIRCULATION OF "SELECTIONS FROM THE TESTIMONIES":

WHEREAS, God has spoken to us "in these last days" by the "Testimonies of His spirit " ( Test. Vol. 5, p.661), in-structing, correcting, and leading the remnant church; and that none may fall short we have been admonished that "the Testi-monies should be introduced into every Sabbath-keeping family, and the brethren should know their value, and be urged to read them. . .They should be in the library of every family"(Test. Vol. 5, p.681); and

WHEREAS, In the statement of the servant of the Lord "Many are going directly contrary to the light which God has given to His people, because they do not read the books which contain the light and knowledge in cautions, reproofs, and warn-ings" (Test. Vol. 5,p.681), we detect a contributing cause for the large losses sustained in our church membership; and

WHEREAS, We recognize that the earnest efforts of re-cent years have been fruitful in placing the Spirit of prophecy writings in thousands of homes formerly without them, yet the leadership of the church is still faced with the challenging situation of many thousands -- nearly one half of our English-reading church membership in some conferences -- yet without access to the "Testimony" counsels vital to the spiritual wel-fare of the church; and

WHEREAS, To meet the needs of many of this large sec-tion of church membership, especially those of limited financial circumstances, the "Selections from the Testimonies" have been provided; therefore

We recommend, That each union and local conference de-velop effective plans to introduce these "Testimony" counsels into the homes where they are needed, In so doing, we suggest:

1. That pastors and evangelists, as Shepherds of the flock, be urged not only to foster the placing of this counsel in homes now without it, but also to encourage its faithful study as a means of building up and safeguarding the spiritual interests of the members.

2. That this question be listed for counsel and action at conference workers' and church officers' meetings.

SABBATH OBSERVANCE:

WHEREAS, The Sabbath has been given to man as the great sign of God's creatorship, in the keeping of which is signified man's loyalty to God, His government, and His 1E3,9 therefore we are to keep the Sabbath, not doing our own work or finding

1647

our own pleasure on this holy day, guarding its edges, maintain-ing its spirit, and observing it as a day of spiritual rest and refreshing; and

WHEREAS, Nominal Christianity's growing disregard for the sacredness of the Sabbath institution, together with the in-creasing pressure of these tense times, is manifesting itself among our people in a growing laxity as regards Sabbath observ-ance, and by encroachments of a commercial character in many of our Sabbath services of worship;

We therefore earnestly recommend, A renewed consecration on the part of our workers and people everywhere in the observ-ance of God's holy day by:

1. Sacredly guarding the edges of the Sabbath, making full preparation for its opening before the setting of the sun.

2. Welcoming the blessed day by worship around the family altar, and again at the setting of the sun at the close of the Sabbath, rededicating ourselves and our children to the Lord.

3. Putting aside all secular papers, and refraining , from the use of the radio.

4. Refraining from automobile journeys not in harmony with the proper observance of the Sabbath.

5. Jealously guarding the hours of divine worship, sacredly reserving them for the worship of God, and for the feed-ing of the flock of God with heavenly manna, carefully guarding the hour devoted to the preaching of the word.

6. Exercising great carefulness in the manner of rais-ing money on the Sabbath, and disposing of literature during the Sabbath services, reducing announcements and campaign instruct-ions to the minimum so that the spiritual character of the Sab-bath be kept ever before our churches, and by seeking to make all specific campaigns and programs contribute to the upbuilding of spiritual life.

SOUL-WINNING ENDEAVOR:

WHEREAS, Earth's teeming millions, who are now making their decision for eternal life or eternal death, present to us a compelling challenge in this closing hour of human probation for a more intensive soul-winning endeavor; and

WHEREAS, In this solemn hour of opportunity we who love Christ cannot, and dare not, ignore the challenge of these un-warned multitudes around us; and

RECOGNIZING the extreme urgency of the need for now uti-lizing every available facility for bringing souls to Christ;

We recommend, 1. That we call our ministers, depart-mental and institutional workers, colporteurs, and laity, old and young, to a concerted and coordinated advance in soul win-ning that will meet the need of this mighty hour.

1648

October 22, 1940

2. That local ministers who are not already fully en-gaged in public efforts be enlisted in holding community Bible schools for groups of interested people, especially in connect-ion with the distribution of appropriate literature by selected lay members and young people, and that instructional material on this neighborhood Bible school plan of evangelism, and a sample set of the associated leaflets for securing the names of in-terested people, be placed in the hands of our workers, church elders, missionary leaders, Missionary Volunteer leaders, and lay preachers.

EVANGELISM FOR YOUTH:

WHEREAS, Evangelism for our unconverted children and youth is designated as "our first work," and "missionary work of the highest type"; and

WHEREAS, The records indicate that many of the child-ren of Seventh-day Adventists who have come to the age of ac-countability are yet unconverted and unbaptized,

We recommend, That all ministers and church workers make a continuous, concerted effort to bring the "lambs of the flock" to a decision for Christ:

a. By holding in our churches short series of evan-gelistic services especially designed for young people.

b. and engaging

c. love Jesus"

By cultivating a sympathetic interest in the youth, in personal work for them.

By training and encouraging the youth who "really to work for the conversion of their young companions

d. By counseling with the officers of the Missionary Volunteer society, thus helping them to make their society meet-ings and activities truly evangelistic in character.

We further recommend, That the conference and mission committees so order the work of the Missionary Volunteer secre-tary that he may be able to devote much of his time to the type of evangelism called for in the foregoing recommendation.

CHANGE IX DATE OF THE 1941 MISSIONS EXTENSION OFFERING:

WHEREAS, It is now decided that the General Conference session will be held May 2? to June 11, 1941,

We recommend, That the Missions Extension Offering date for 1941: as voted at the Spring Meeting of 1940, be changed from May 10 to April 19; and that the date of Big Week be April 12 to 19, instead of May 4 to 10.

1649

October 22, 1940

WORK OF THE HOME COMMISSION:

WHEREAS, "In His wisdom the Lord has decreed that the family shall be the greatest of all educational agencies" (Coun-sels to Teachers, p. 107); therefore, it must be recognized that Christian education begins in the home; and

WHEREAS, The parents as the first teachers of their children require "a training for their sacred responsibilities" ("Education," p. 276); therefore

We recommend, 1. That increased attention be given to providing instruction in our schools which will enable our youth to understand and maintain the high principles of Christian social relations, thus preparing them to carry worthily respon-sibilities that may come to them in marriage and parenthood.

2. That we promote in our churches the work of the Home Commission in its efforts to bring into the homes of our people the practical results of true Christian education.

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON DISTRIBUTION OF LABOR:

The Committee on Distribution of Labor presented the following report, which was adopted:

We recommend, 1. That L.L.Moffitt, returned from the Southern African Division, be invited to connect with the Paci-fic Union for service in the Northern California Conference as secretary of the Sabbath School Department.

2. That Ainsley Blair, returning from the Arabic Un- ion Mission, be invited to connect with the Canadian Union for evangelistic work in the Maritime Conference.

3, That the Northern Union and the Minnesota Confer- ence be requested to release Miss Gladys Searle to connect with the Lake Union for stenographic work at the Hinsdale Sanitarium.

4. That Miss Gertrude Hansch, returned from the South American Division, be invited to connect with the Pacific Press Publishing Association, for service at the Brookfield Branch in translation and other work.

5. That L.A.Vixie, returned from the Northern European Division, be placed under appointment for service in the South-ern African Division, it being understood that he may remain in America until after the General Conference session.

1650

October 22, 1940

6. That we pass on to Bjorge Anderson, a student in America from Northern Europe, the call of the Northern European Division for him to serve in the Sierra Leone Mission.

7. That the North Pacific Union and the Oregon Confer-ence be requested to release E.L.Pingenot to connect with the Lake Union for service in the Michigan Conference as pastor of the Battle Creek Church,

S. That the Lake Union and the Indiana Conference be requested to release C.C.Stoner to connect with the Northern Union for service in the South Dakota Conference as field mis-sionary secretary,

9. That all further requests for transfer of workers be referred to the Executive Committee.

APPRECIATION OF HARVEST INGATHERING EFFORTS:

A cable was read from England, reporting that the Brit-ish Union had passed the L111000 mark in their Harvest Ingather-ing campaign, and, still carrying on, were hoping to exceed the best year in their history. Extraordinary results were report-ed also from Sweden, South Africa and Australia, and it was

VOTED, To send a message to these fields, expressing our appreciation of their efforts to sustain the cause by this means in these trying times.

Adjourned to 4:30 P.M., with the closing prayer by E.T.Elliott.

J.L.McElhany, W.G.Turner,

Chairmen. A.W.Cormack, Secretary. E.Zeidler, Recording Secretary.

1651

FOUR HUNDRED SEVENTY-FIRST MEETING

GENERAL CONFERENCE COMflITTEE

October 22, 1940, 4:30 P.M.

The ninth session of the Council, at 4:30 P.M., October

22, was opened with song, followed by prayer by F.M.Wilcex.

DAY OF FASTING AND PRAYER:

In view of the seriousness of the times in which we are living, and the resulting perplexities in connection with carry-ing forward the work of Gods it was

VOTED, That we set apart December 7, 1940, the first Sabbath of the Week of Prayer, to be observed thrOughoUt the world field as a Day of Fasting and Prayer.

AUTUMN COUNCIL, UNION SESSIONS, PLACE OF GENERAL CONFERENCE SESSION:

The report of the Committee on Autumn Council, Union Sessions, and place of General Conference Session was submitted and adopted as follows;

We recommend,l;hat the date for the 1941 Autumn Council be October 14 to 23.

2, That the union conference sessions in North America be held in 1942.

3. That where it is found practicable to do so, the union sessions in the overseas divisions be postponed until 1942.

4. That an investigating committee be appointed to carefully study the facilities offered in the various cities considered as likely locations for the 1941 General Conference session; this committee to report to the Minority Committee, the Minority Committee being authorized to make final decision.

We recommend, further, that arrangements be made for a meeting of the North American union and local conference presi-dents, to be held at such time and place as the Minority Com-mittee shall decide.

The following further report from the Finance Committee was adopted:

1652

October 22, 1940

EXCHANGE POLICY:

In order to guarantee a fixed amount of local currency to the various countries of the world field receiving appro-priations from the General Conference, a fixed rate of exchange for each of the currencies used in each division is set at the time of the Autumn Council, and this rate of exchange is used by the General Conference, the divisions, and other organizations in the transaction of business.

The policy of fixed rates of exchange is to give assur-ance to each organization that the amount of the appropriation in the local currency of the country shall not be adversely affected by conditions affecting the rate of exchange. The policy

thus saves the fields from the financial embarrassment that would come if the appropriations fluctuated with the exchange rates. When at the fixed rate there are losses in the exchange, these losses are absorbed by the General Conference, and the field re-ceives the amount of the appropriation in local currency. When there are gains the gains belong to the General Conference and are used for reappropriation to the world fields.

The fixed rates of exchange shall apply to the following transactions only:

1. a, Regular budget appropriations. b. Reporting of tithes, offerings, and exchange. c. Payments of salaries and expense of workers

under appointment, on furlough, or permanently returned to their homeland.

d* Credits and charges relating to sustentation. e. Church extension and special appropriations

unless exception is made by the General Conference Committee.

2. All other transactions of business, such as the sale of foreign currency, transfer of personal funds of workers and their orders for supplies, etc., and the payment for all sup-plies and equipment by all organizations shall be handled at the current rates of exchange and the difference between the current and fixed rates shall be entered to an exchange account and re-ported monthly through the divisions to the General Conference by all organizations receiving appropriations. The current rate of exchange is understood to be the rate received in local cur-rency for the sale of foreign currency.

3. It is recognized that workers living outside of their home countries are often placed at a disadvantage in caring for dependents and in the securing of supplies; hence provision is made in this policy for such workers to receive assistance. In order that the division may have a fund out of which it may meet the loss between the current and fixed rates on remittances made by workers, or on charges received for supplies ordered,within

1653

October 22, 1940

the limits hereinafter provided, the General Conference will appropriate by reversion two thirds of the net gain in exchange reported by each division. Thus while such transactions are handled between organizations and the General Conference at cur-rent rates of exchange, the workers may have assistance equiva-lent to the loss between the current and the fixed rates of ex-change, as provided in succeeding paragraphs.

4, The General Conference shall credit to an Exchange Reserve Fund one third of the net exchange gains reported by the divisions to meet net exchange losses reported by divisions and for appropriations by the General Conference to meet emer-gency conditions due to exchange fluctuations.

5. All divisions shall make remittances to their re-spective union and local fields in the currency of the country in which such fields are operating unless it is found advan-tageous to the General and Division treasuries to exchange funds locally.

6. Division, union cnd local fields and all institu-tions shall be required to build their budgets and provide for all needs in local currency, including foreign and native salar-ies, travel, local and general expense, equipment and supplies for all institutions, conferences, and missions.

7, Since transfers of private funds which result in a saving to a worker bring a corresponding loss to mission funds: such transfers must of necessity be limited in amount and re-stricted to transfer of money earned in denominational service while in the mission fields, and should not include any money brought into the field by a worker at the time of his appoint-ment or subsequent thereto,

8. A mission worker located outside his native country, but not outside his home division field, may be allowed the difference between the current and fixed rates of exchange, in the transfer of funds to his home country to an amount not to exceed 20% of the worker's salary during the time he is in the mission field: except as provided for in succeeding paragraphs of this policy. Such transfers may include school accounts in-curred in the education of the worker's children, assistance to dependent relatives, imported supplies, books and periodicals for personal use only, and personal salary savings. It should be clearly understood, however, that money once transferred may not be brought back to the mission fields for transfer a second time. Such transfers may be made only by credit through the regular channels.

9, A mission worker located outside his home division field may be allowed the difference between the current and fixed rates of exchange in the transfer of funds to his home

1654

October 22, 1940

country or to the country where he may be permitted to furlough, to an amount not to exceed 20% of the worker's salary during the time he is in the mission field, except as provided for in suc-ceeding paragraphs of this policy. Such transfers may include school accounts incurred in the education of the worker's child-ren, assistance to dependent relatives, imported supplies, books and periodicals for personal use only, and personal salary sav-ings, Such transfers may be made only by credit through the regular channels, and then it should be clearly understood that money once transferred may not be brought back to the mission field for transfer a second time.

10, Under emergency conditions occasioned by war or other unusual circumstances a mission worker located outside his home division field may be allowed the difference between the current and fixed rates of exchange in the payment of imported supplies for his personal use only from any country upon which the division committee and the worker may agree.

11. All mission workers, both national and foreign,may be allowed the difference between the current and fixed rates of exchange in securing for personal use only periodicals and books regularly listed by the Seventh-day Adventist publishing houses.

12. If an employed missionary family has unusual school or other necessary expenses, they may be allowed the difference between the current and fixed rates of exchange in the transfer of additional funds above the 201Q provision through the regular channels upon consideration and action by the division committee on the merits of each individual case.

13, A worker returning on furlough or permanently to his homeland upon the approval of his division committee, may be allowed the difference between the current and fixed rates of exchange in the transfer of additional funds to an amount not to exceed 10% of his salary in denominational work during the time he has been in the field, provided he has not previously bene-fitted from this same privilege. Such transfer may be made only by credit through the regular channels and the fixed rate shall be that prevailing at the time of his return to the homeland. These funds may include receipts from the sale of household fur-niture and personal salary savings,

14. A mission worker who takes his furlough or leave of absence in a country other than his homeland, due to emergency conditions, may, on approval of the division committee, be al-lowed the difference between the current and fixed rates of ex-change in the transfer of an amount not to exceed 20% of the worker's salary during the time he is in the mission field, ex-cept as provided for in succeeding paragraphs of this policy. Such transfers may include school accounts incurred in the edu-cation of the worker's children, assistance to dependent re-latives, imported supplies, books and periodicals for personal

1655

October 22, 1940

use, and personal salary savings. Such transfers may be made only by credit through the regular channels, and it should be clearly understood that money once transferred may not be brought back to the mission field for transfer a second time,

15, When nationals of other divisions come to the North American Division for educational purposes, attending our own, schools, they may be allowed the difference between the current and fixed rates of exchange in transferring funds on the follow-ing conditions:

a. When the student is a dependent of a denomina-tional worker, and the transfer of funds is approved by the division committee.

b. When the student has been sent on the bursary plan and the transfer of funds is approved by the division com-mittee.

16. National workers or their dependents desiring to take courses of study in the Home Study Institute may upon the approval of their division committee be allowed the difference between the current and fixed rates of exchange in the transfer of sufficient funds to cover the cost of such courses, includ-ing necessary books.

17. Workers located in countries where the living stand-ards are low resulting in salaries in local currency having a very low value in the currency of the home country may be given special assistance in the transfer of funds on the merits of each case by action of the division committee.

This policy shall go into effect January 1, 1941.

THE BUDGET:

The report of the Budget Committee was presented, and adopted as follows:

•

BUDGET FOR 1941 1656

We recommend, That the estimated income for appropriations from the mission treasury to overseas and North American Division fields for 1941 be as follows:

Regular General 6onterence income General Conference reserves

3,163,359,22 237,217.55

and special Total estimated income for net base/appropriations

We recommend, 1. That the regular base

for 1914 3,400,576.77

appropriations for 1941 and

9,000.00

19)19 be as follows:

Australasia Central Europe I (Netherlands Conf)3,300.00 Central Europe II 126,123.58 China 3251176.77 Far East 308,811.20 Inter-America 223,849.28 Northern Europe 97,386.25 South America 246,155,89 Southern Africa 253,914.55 Southern Africa (Tanganika) 21,060000 Southern Asia 319.961.51 Southern Europe 159)004,98 Southern Europe (Ethiopia) 19,129.00

Canada 31,305.42 North Pacific (Alaska) 1,200.00 Pacific (Hawaii) 3,500.00 Southern Union 3,703.19 Southwestern Union 8,953.28

North American Negro: Southern Union Mission 25,000.00 Southwestern Union Mission 10,149.40 Oakwood Jr. College 12,000.00 Riverside San. & Hospital 12,500.00

S.D.A. Theological Seminary 29,606.99 Bureau of Home Missions 85,609.79 College of Medical Evangelists 10,000.00 2, G. White Publications 6,163.28 Miscellaneous and Fixed 516,696.96 Administration 310,909.50

Total regular budget 3,180,168.82

2. That special appropriations be as follows:

Central European Division II: Iran:

School equipment in Hamadan 8,000.00 Rials

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China Division: Evangelistic tent for West China Evangelistic tent for Manchuria Purchase of land in Shanghai where coke

furnaces are being erected Land adjoining Hongkong church 7000 sq.ft. Dining-hall service bldg. Manchuria Tr.Inst. Shanghai Medical Education House at S.China Tr. Institute Specials to be assigned by Div. Com.

Far Easter Division: Foreign workers was bonus Sarawaktiostan siver launch Portable calculator, N.E.I. Un. Auditor Manila Santarium equipment

Inter-American Division: Antillian Un., school bldg. & equipment,

Santa Clara ean.Aman., additional land and two cottages for teachers, Costa Rica

Col.-Vene. school bldg. and land

Northern European Division: War emergency Complete new hospital, Nigeria Assist new school project, Toivonlinnan,

Finland

South American Division: E.Brazil Union Academy:

Workshop Boys' dormitory

Administration bldg. for River Plate College of Argentina

Southern African Division: Zambesi Un.Tr.Se.bldg.„ Lower Gwelo Dormitory for girls' school, Bethel Tr.sch. Press and type for printing plant at

Malamulo Mission Two mission stations and equipment, Congo Working capital Tanganyika: hospital bldg. and equip.

Southern Asia Division: Division evangelistic fund and equip. Spicer College relocation Assam mission station

1,700.00 Mex. 1,700.00 Mex.

15,000.00 Mex. 7,200.00 HK 7,500.00 Yen

37,110.00 Mex. 9,300.00 BK 63,000,00 Mex.

20,000.00 SS$ 475.00 Sar$ 1410.00 Fl

5,000.00 Peso

12,500.00 Cuban Peso

170000e00colon 21,500,00 Peso

10,617-17-11 ; 500-0 -0

500-0 -0 4

10:000$000 30:000000

26,000.00 Arg.Peso

385-0-0 1,500-0-0 ;

320-0-0 1,600.0-0 4 1,070-0..0 4 20,000.00 Sh.

25,000.00 Rs. 75,000.00 Rs. 24,000400 Rs.

Total foreign special appropriations, approZ. $196,407•95

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3. That special appropriations to North America be made as follows:

Atlantic Union: Greater New York Ephesus church $2,000.00

Canadian Union: Canadian Jr. College Resthaven Sa. & Hosp. 5,000, " 6,500.00

Columbia Union: Mount Vernon Academy 3,000. Sligo Church Project 2,000, 5,000.00

Lake Union: Special project at E.M.C. 7,500.00

Literature for officials of foreign governments 500.00

E.G. Ihite Books: Initial expense for foreign languages in Overseas Divisions to be distributed by the General Conference Committee 2,500.00

Total special appropriations to North America $24,000.00

Total special appropriations, approximately $220,407.95

Total estimated regular and special appropriations ;3$/00,576,77 We recommend, LI. That the following special requests be referred to the

General Conference Minority Committee with power to act:

Japan and Chosen salary war bonus French Indo China Tr. School Mexican Union Clinic, Monterrey

5. That the adjustment of the Southern European Division budget and their requests for special appropriations be referred to the General Confer-ence Minority Committee with power to act*

6. That a special appropriation equivalent to one third of the net exchange gains coming to the General Conference treasury from the China Division during 19/41 be made from emergency funds to care for the present war emergency in China.

7. That requests from the union conferences in North America for appro-priation for drought relief, etc., from the emergency fund be referred to the General Conference Minority Committee.

8, The following appropriations for 1941 to overseas divisions and the North American Division from the Church Extension Fund:

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Overseas:

China Division: Shanghai

Far Eastern Division: Ipoh, Malaysia Makassar, Celebes, N.E.I.

Inter-American Division: Tampico, Mexico Tela, Honduras Paramaribo, Dutch Guiana Montego Bay, Jamaica

Northern European Division: Asst. erection small churches, Nigeria Small churches, Upper Nile Mission Small churches, N. Cameroons To be distributed by G. C. Committee on recommendation of Northern European Div.

South American Division: Quito, Ecuador Arequipa, Peru

Southern African Division: Salisbury, native, S. Rhodesia Nova Lizboa, European, Angola Malan, Bechuanaland Ntdora, Urundi Kurundi, Congo Orlando, Johannesburg Ikisul Tanganyika

Southern Asia Division: Delhi

Southern European Division: Distribution by General Conference Committee on recommendation of the Southern Eur. Div.

Total appropriations to overseas Divisions from the Church Extension Fund, approximately

50,000,00 Mex.

/4,550.00 85$ 6,000.00 Florins

20,700.00 Pesos 2,4600.00 Lempiras 1,825.00 Florins

45.00

100-0-0 ; 150-0-0 ; 100-0-0 ;

350-0-0 ;

25,000.00 Sucres 13,750.00 Soles

400-0-0 ; 41,000.00 Angelares

300-0-0 ; 350-0-0 ; 350-0-0 ; 400-0-0 ;

10,700.00 Shillings

50,000.00 Es.

26,100.00 Sw.Frs.

$60,826.00

North American Division: Atlantic Union: Bath, Me. Staten Island, N. Y. Hartford, Conn. Gr. New York church.

Ephesus

800.00 2,200,00 2,200,00

1,500,00 6,700.00

Caiadian Union: Halifax, Nova Scotia 500.00

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Fort William, Manitoba Montreal, Quebeo Rutland, B. C. Calgary, Alta. Innisfree, Ukr. Thorsby, Alta. Sexsmith, Peace River, Alta.

1,250.00 2,000.00 500.00 400.00 100,00 100.00 150.00 5,000.00

Central Union: Marion, Kansas 625.00 Parsons, Kansas 625.00 Saratoga, Thermopolis & Rock Spgs. Wyo. 1,000.00 Washington, Missouri 625.00 Columbia, Missouri 625.00 3,500.00

Columbia Union: Sligo church project 3,000.00 Wilmington, Delaware 500.00 Philadelphia, German 500.00 Bethlehem, Pa. 500.00 Newark, N. J., colored 500.00 Asbury, Park, No. 1, New Jersey 250.00 Rockaway-Dover, N. J. 250.00 Columbus, Ohio, colored 500.00 Pittsburgh, No. 1 500.00 Pittsburgh, colored 500.00 Bluefield, West Virginia 500.00 7,500.00

Lake Union: Milwaukee 4,000.00

Northern Union: Burlington, Iowa 2,500.00 Pierre, S. D. 400.00 Butte, N. D. boo.00 3,500.00

North Pacific Union: Billings, Montana 2,500.00 Idaho Falls, Idaho 1,000.00 3,500.00

Pacific Union: Tucson, Arizona 2,000.00 Phoenix, Arizona 1,500,00 3,500.00

Southern Union: Clanton, Alabama 560.00 Gulfport, Mississippi 550.00 Durham, North Carolina 460,00 Fayetteville, North Carolina 210.00 High Point, North Carolina 960.00 Lake Worth, Florida 760.00 3,500.00

Southwestern Union: Houston, Texas 5,000.00

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Total appropriations to North American Division from the Church Extension Fund 45,700.00

110 Total appropriations from the Church Extension Fund, approximately 106,526,00

Appropriations for 1941:

Base -- all Divisions 3,180,168.82

Specials, approximately 220,407.95

Revertibles Overseas, Basis 1939 691,533.78 North America, Basis 1939 5080523.2,1

Total appropriations for 1914 including reversions 4,600,633.79

A number of the overseas division representatives re-quested the privilege of expressing their appreciation of the budgets voted to their respective fields.

N.P.Neilsen spoke for South America, V,T,Armstrong for the Far Eastern Division, N.C.Wilson for Southern Asia, R.L. Rudy, Central Europe, Section II, G.A.Roberts, Inter-America, N.F.Brewer, China, J.F.Wright the Southern African Division, and W.E.Read, Northern Europe.

The entire delegation then joined in singing, "Praise God from Whom all Blessings Flow."

EXCHANGE RATES:

A report from the Committee on Exchange Rates for 1941 was adopted as follows:

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Division Monetary Unit Exchange Rate, 1941

Australasian Australian i 3.60

Central Europe, Sec. I Reichsmark .214 Germany Holland Florin .55

Central Europe, See. II Bulgaria lava Egypt Egyptian Greece drachma .00 Hungary pengo .20 Iran rial .06 Iraq dinar 4.50

Palestine Palestine i, 4.50

Syria Syrian i 050- _ Tanganyika shilling ,225 Turkey Turkish 3 .7?

China HongKong Hong Kong .25 China Shanghai g •09 Manchukuo yen. .25

Far East British North Borneo B N B 3 .51 Sarawak sarawak .51 French Indo China piaster .025 Japan and Chosen yen .25 Netherlands East Indies florin .55 Philippine Islands peso .50 Siam tical .35 Straits Settlements Singapore $ .51

Inter America Bahamas English 1 4.50 Barbados dollar .90 British Guiana dollar .90 British Honduras dollar 1.00 Colombia peso .58 Costa Rica colon .18 Cuba peso 1.00 Curacao florin 455 French West Indies French franc .025 Guatemala quetzal 1.00 Haiti gourds) .20 Jamaica pound 4.50 Mexico peso .22 Nicaragua cordoba .21 Panama balboa 1.00 Puerto Rico peso 1.00 Salvador colon .140 Santo Domingo peso 1.00 Spanish Honduras lempira .50 Trinidad dollar .90 Venezuela bolivar .295

.01204 4.50

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Northern Europe British Isles pound ' 4.50 Gold Coast pound 4.50 Kenya pound 4.50 Liberia dollar (Tied $)

III Nigeria pound Sierra Leone pound

4.50 4.50

\ Uganda pound 4.50 Denmark kroner .20 Estonia kroner .26 Finland markka .02 Iceland kroner .1671 Latvia lat .1655 Lithuania lit .161 Norway kroner .225 Sweden kroner .2)1 Cameroon French franc .025

South America Argentine peso .25 Bolivia boliviano .03 Brazil milreis - .o6 Chile peso .04 Ecuador =ere *075 Peru sol .19 Uruguay peso *42

Southern Africa Angola angolare .04 Belgian Congo Belgian franc .0339 Northern Rhodesia pound 4.50 Nyasaland pound 4.50 South African Union pound 4.50 Southern Rhodesia pound 4.50

Southern Asia India, Burma, Ceylon rupee .33-1/3

Southern Europe Belgium Belgian franc .0339 France, French franc .025 Italy lira .05265 Jugoslavia dinar .0215 Mauritius rupee .33-1/3 Portugal escudo .04 Rumania lei .0075 Spain peseta .11 Switzerland Swiss franc .23

EC recommend, That the Minority Committee be authorized to adjust any of the fixed rates of exchange in case special emergency arises in any field which may produce a wide difference between the current and fixed rates of exchange as compared to the rates prevailing at the time this action was taken.

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October 22, 1940

LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT:

A report from the Plans Committee, being a letter ad-dressed to President Roosevelt, was submitted and adopted as follows:

The President, The White House,

Mr. President:

Assembled in Annual Council in St. Paul, Minnesota, October 22, 1940, at a time of unprecedented world and inter-national perplexity, we have remembered the stupendous respon-sibilities that weigh upon you, our Chief Executive, at such a time, and have not been unmindful of the Scriptural injunction to "pray for those in authority."

The grave developments of the present hour have reminded us also of our historic position as a religious body regarding war and the bearing of arms. In the war between the States, 1861-1865, as well as in the World War, 1917-1918, we were recog-nized by the government as noncombatants and accorded that stat-us. Now, at this first gathering of the governing body of Seventh-day Adventists since peace-time conscription went into effect, we wish to express to you our deep appreciation of the privilege bf living under the jurisdiction of a government which recognizes and makes orovision for the conscientious convictions of its citizens, We fervently thank God for such a government.

At the same time, we definitely remember and sincerely and gladly cherish the attitude of loyalty and cooperation that every citizen owes his government at all times, especially in this hour of national emergency when our government is making every effort to place the United States of America in a position of strength and preparedness.

In accepting with gratitude and thankfulness the benefits to our members of the provisions made for the exercise of their conscientious convictions while serving the government even lin-der conscription, we desire, Mr. President, respectfully to place before you a brief statement of our position concerning a par-ticular and important tenet of our faith and practice, which definitely concerns the service that our men gladly render to their country,

Together with our conscientious convictions against bear-ing arms and the taking of human life, another conviction has characterized us throughout our history. We believe that the Fourth Commandment of the Decalogue enjoins the observance of the seventh day of the week as the Sabbath; that this is holy time, and is to be sacredly observed as such according to the

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October 22, 1940

Scriptures from sunset Friday to sunset Saturday. We believe that for us to engage in secular work or pursuits on this sacred day would be to violate the Fourth Commandment, and, therefore, to commit sin. The example of the Saviour, however, and the teachings of the Scriptures make plain to us that works of mercy and healing done on the Sabbath are compatible with true Sabbath observance, and, desiring earnestly to avoid the taking of any position that would occasion perplexity to our government when -our members are summoned to service, we venture respectfully to submit to you, the Commander in Chief of the armed forces of the nation) the following suggestions:

1. If through your gracious intervention an arrange-ment could be effected whereby Seventh-day Adventist men who are qualified for service in the Army Medical Corps, when drafted, could be assigned to duty in the appropriate companies of that organization of the army to perform such tasks as are necessary on the Sabbath in caring for the sick and wounded, their problem of conscience concerning the observance of the Sabbath week by week would thus be solved. Many of our men will be found to have put forth earnest efforts to qualify themselves for this special service so necessary to the army. For some time past, we have been giving as many of the members as possible of our churches, of draft age, certain instruction and training in medical and nursing service, organizing them into Medical Cadet Corps. we did not wait for the draft before beginning this instruction, but in view of the seriousness of the times and of the gracious recog-nition ly our government in the past of our noncombatant princi-ples, we consulted the office of the Surgeon General of the army, and developed these courses of training for our Medical Cadet Corps in conformity with the information and counsel received.

2, There are, however, in this country many loyal young men, observers of the seventh-day Sabbath, who may not have the privilege of securing preparation for service in the Medical Corps. Inasmuch as in time of war or national emergency there are many works of necessity and importance in civil life in which such, men could render acceptable service, we would respectfully 4-B236 that they be assigned such tasks, with recognition of their convictions regarding Sabbath keeping.

Our petition springs from sincere conscientious convic-tions based on religious training, belief, and practice, not from any desire to escape service or to avoid dangers that that ser-vice might involve. We plead only for the privilege of serving our country in such a manner as will be compatible with our con-scientious convictions regarding noncombatancy and Sabbath ob-servance.

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October 22, 1940

Respectfully urging that you set in motion such agen-cies as will bring about the desired solution of our problem, and thanking you therefor, we remain

Most respectfully yours,

GENERAL CONE HENCE OF SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS

J.L.McElhany, President.

E.D.Dick, Secretary.

Adjournment was taken at 6:30, to meet again at 7:45 P.M. Closing prayer by C.P.Crager.

J.L.McElhany, Chairman. E.D.Dick, Secretary. E.Zeidler, Recording Secretary.

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FOUR HUNDRED SEVENTY-SECOND MEETING

GENERAL CONFERENCE:COMMITTEE

October 22, 1940, 7:45 P.M.

********

The tenth session of the Council, which was held in the

convention room of the Hotel Lowry, convened at 7:45 P.M.,Octo-

ber 22. "I know in Whom I have Believed" was sung to open the

meeting, after which prayer was offered by J.A.Stevens.

The following further report from the Plans Committee was adopted:

ARISE, 0 CHURCH, AND FINISH THY TASK!

A World-Wide Call to Evangelism from the 1940 Autumn Council

God has committed to the heralds of the Third Angel's Message the stupendous task of giving heaven's final message to man--a message presenting His last overtures of mercy to a world in revolt, a message that will decide the eternal destiny of each individual on earth. The climatic hour of human history to which the church long has looked is manifestly here, when amid scenes of earthly turmoil and trouble, blended with celestial power and glory, such as the world has neverpegfi, the message is to close triumphantly.

The hour has come for the sounding forth of the loud cry of the third angel, when divine power is to be united with con-secrated human effort. As opposition to the claims of the mes-sage reaches its climax, the truth is to become the center of world attention and decision, and will be heralded to all men everywhere.

Timel s,hour is late. The days of trouble, long foretold, are upon us. Probation soon will close. The world is in a state of unprecedented upheaval. The conflict of the nations spreads throughout the earth. The old order is passing. What we fail to do in times of comparative peace and prosperity, in lands still open to us: will soon have to be done under the most for-bidding conditions.

We have been ninety-six years in the time of the Third_ Angel's Message. Truly the hour has come to arise and finish the work. We must read aright the lesson of those lands where today public evangelism is seriously hindered. We must press into those doors of opportunity that are still open--in Europe, North, Inter and South America, Africa, India, the Orient, Aus-tralasia—ere they close and the opportunity be forever past.

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October 22, 1940

The sands of time are sinking. Probation's hour is fast closing. What we do, must be done quickly. We must therefore catch a new vision of God's expectation of us, and of our duty to Him. We must understand His divine provision for this momen-tous hour, We must pray for the latter rain in this time of the latter rain. We must enlarge our plans, and proceed with our God-given task with increased rapidity.

The time has come to put away all lethargy and self com-placency. We must address ourselves to the supreme goal of fin-Lang our task. We must pray for a revival of true godliness in our own hearts.

Public evangelism must now be pressed to the fullest de-gree possible. Men of God's appointment, with special evangelis-tic endowments) must enter the great cities, sounding forth the last message of mercy. We must capitalize present public inter-est and concern in current and impending events to proclaim the coming of Jesus.

We must enter the unentered areas--the cities, towns, and country places -- where as yet there are no representatives of the church. We must assign more workers for continuous pub-lic evangelism in our conferences and missions. We must train more young men for evangelistic ministry, holding them unswerv-ingly to evangelistic endeavor.

Every available resource should be drafted and employed to accomplish this great objective. Every worker should make soul winning the supreme purpose of all his efforts. National and indigenous workers should be developed speedily and given increased responsibility. The world should be sown with the literature of the message. The consecrated efforts of our laity and church officers should be added with increasing effective-ness to those of our ministers in one vast, unceasing endeavor quickly to finish our task. The latent talents of our great army of youth should be enlisted, trained, and led into this greater evangelism movement. The spirit of sacrifice and ser-vice in soul-winning must become our supreme passion. Emergency times demand emergency plans and action.

The assembled delegates of the 1940 Autumn Council earn-estly appeal to our entire church and ministry in all the world to join in prayer and devoted consecration to God that the di-vine energy of the Holy Spirit may characterize our lives and service. We earnestly summon the remnant church to evangelistic action in harmony with the clear mandate of God for the times, Arise, 0 church, and finish thy commissioned task:

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October 22, 1940

COk'llISSION ON EVANGELISM:

We recommend, That the General Conference Minority Com-mittee be authorized to appoint a representative commission to give thorough study to the principles and involvements of the foregoing world -wide call to Evangelism, such commission to re-port to the forthcoming General Conference session on ways and means of making this denominationewide evangelistic advance in-creasingly effective.

EVANGELISTIC COUNCIL:

We recommend, That the General Conference Minority Com-mittee be requested to arrange for a three-day Evangelistic Council to be held just prior to, and at the place of, the 1941 General Conference, this council to be devoted to the study of the principles, problems, and methods of evangelism, and de-signed also to foster the movement toward greater evangelism here called for.

"FUNDAMENTALS OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION:"

WHEREAS, The seriousness of the times and the sacred-ness of the task of giving the gospel message to all the world call for a clearer understanding of the education and training of our children and youth for their participation and responsi-bility in this heaven-assigned service; and

WHEREAS, These conditions and needs may well be met in part by placing in the hands of parents and other believers suitable reading from the Spirit of prophecy; and

WHEREAS, The book "Fundamentals of Christian Education" has been chosen as the Spirit of prophecy book for the Elemen-tary Teachers' Reading Course this year;

We recommend, 1. That the union conference educational secretaries and the local conference educational superintendents in North America, together with the other conference workers, lead out in a strong effort to widen the circulation of "Funda-mentals" among parents and other members of our churches.

2. That the publishers be invited to study the possibility of providing a paper-covered edition of "Fundamentals" to be used in this work,

LITERATURE DISTRIBUTION:

WHEREAS, We believe that in the providence of God Seventh-day Adventists have been provided with a literature that will enlighten men regarding the significance of the times,as well as build character: stabilize faith, and deepen Christian experience; and yet our people are not receiving the benefit of this literature as they should because they are not reading it

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1670

October 22, 1940

as they should; and

WHEREAS, The Spirit of prophecy has pointed out that "Though the minister may faithfully present the message, the people are not able to retain it all, the printed page is there-fore essential, not only in awakening them to the importance of the truth for this time, but in rooting and grounding them in the truth, and establishing them against deceptive error"; and

WHEREAS, Large numbers of new members are uniting with us, whose chief need is to be stabilized in the faith, while others are constantly departing from us whose apostacy might be avoided by the better understanding of the truth which our liter-ature is designed to impart;

We recommend, 1. That our workers, in their public ef‘ forts and in their personal work among our people be urged to keep before our members the importance of having their homes well provided with literature which will feed the souls of old and young and help to prepare them to stand in these days of peril,

2. That our Book and Bible Houses be more generally recognized as valuable evangelizing agencies, and that in choos-ing individuals to take charge of these, due thought be given to the importance of selecting those who not only have a technical training for their clerical responsibilities but who are quali-fied to do strong promotional work from the office and in the field.

RELIGIOUS LIBERTY:

WHEREAS, Seventh-day Adventists have always advocated the principle of complete separation of church and state and the free exercise of the conscience of the individual in religious

irrespective of nationality, race, or religion;there-fore

We recommend, 1. That our people be encouraged to re-double their efforts to awaken the public conscience in these perilous times by teaching the principles of civil and religious liberty; and that each conference and church in the United States be urged to increase the circulation of the Liberty Magazine during the 1941 Religious Liberty Campaign, attempting to raise the subscription list so it will be at least equivalent to the church membership,

2. That we exhort our members to be vigilant in safeguarding our heritage of liberty by seeking to prevent the en-actment of religious laws.

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October 22, 1940

ADULT EDUCATION:

WHEREAS, The regrettable losses in membership from which some of our churches are suffering, show that there is wide-spread need of a better trained and more consecrated church lead-ership; and

WHEREAS: The new Home Study course in Spiritual Leader-ship and Organization: prepared by a number of our experienced men, has proved successful in creating in every church in which it has been introduced, a group of strong lay leaders whose skillful work in caring for the members has greatly reduced losses and has largely opened the way for pastors and Bible work-ers to devote their efforts almost entirely to aggressive evan-gelism;

We recommend, That an earnest and well-sustained effort be put forth to introduce this timely course of study into as many of our churches and companies as possible,

WEHREAS, Our large and growing army of Lay Preachers is already doing much to spread the truth, but with systematic train-ing could do a far greater work;

We recommend, That these lay brethren lB strongly en-couraged to enroll for the new Home Study course in Lay PreaCh-ing, prepared jointly by the Home Missionary Departmenr and the Home Study Institute,

WHEREAS, Some thousands of our young men will soon enter training in military camps, where they will have some leisure time;

We recommend, That our educational superintendents and Missionary'Volunteer secretaries put forth systematic efforts to encourage these young men to enroll with the Home Study Insti-tute for courses in Bible, English, Shorthand, Bookkeeping, Ac-countancy, and other timely subjects; and

WHEREAS, Men and women in all branches of our organized work need to grow mentally and spiritually in order to maintain a high standard of personal efficiency, and the Institute offers these persons the best opportunity for pursuing advanced studies while at the same time carrying on their regular duties,

We recommend, That conference committees be encouraged to cooperate with the Home Study Institute in encouraging their workers to enroll for correspondence courses suited to their needs.

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October 22, 1940

"MESSAGES TO YOUNG PEOPLE":

WHEREAS, The church is entering upon an unusual time of test which will bring new problems both to parents and young people alike; and

WHEREAS, The Spirit of prophecy reading program in-cludes "Messages to Young People," which contains counsel vital to young people during these times,

We therefore recommend, 1, That the Southern Publish-ing Association be requested to make available the book "Mes-sages to. Young People' at a substantial reduction in price for all three bindings.

2. That the conference leadership counsel with the executive committee of each Missionary Volunteer society in the laying of plans which will make it possible to place the book "Messages to Young People" in all Seventh-day Adventist homes where there are young people.

TEMPERANCE:

WHEREAS, During recent years there has been an alarm-ing increase in the consumption of alcoholic liquor in the United States, resulting in a tragic increase of drunkenness, crime, traffic accidents and moral delinquencies; and

WHEREAS, At present a nation,oaide advertising campaign is being carried on by the liquor traffic to make drink at-tractive and to exploit and endanger the youth; and

WHEREAS, Court records reveal that more than half a million people were condemned last year to serve prison sen-tences

as a result of drink, and the National Safety Council

traced 62 per cent of the fatal auto accidents to drink in the States where liquor is legalized; and

WHEREAS, The evil effect of the liquor traffic consti-tutes a challenge for action on the part of the church of Christ,

We recommend, 1. That all our members be urged to exert themselves more strenuously in the battle against liquor, par-ticularly in the direction of temperance education, by planning for more temperance lectures in our churches, colleges, and academies, and in cooperation with other temperance organiza-tions, and by a wider circulation of our temperance books and pamphlets, and the distribution of such literature as the Spec-ial Temperance issue of the Signs of the Times, the Temperance issue of the Little Friend, and the Temperance Bulletin of the American Temperance Society,

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October 22, 1940

Resolved, 2, That physicians and other capable men and women of experience be encouraged to introduce our temperance literature in the public schools, high schools, colleges, and universities, and deliver scientific temperance lectures to stu-dent bodies on the evil effects of alcohol and other narcotics upon the human body) thus revealing to the youth that alcohol and tobacco are among the greatest hindrances to success in life.

PROPHETIC CHARTS:

We recommend, That we favor the production of the Prophe-tic Charts, prepared by the Review and Herald Publishing Associa-tion: suitable for use by Bible workers, theological students and lay evangelists, or by ministers conducting efforts in small halls; and that the General Conference Minority Committee be au-thorized to appoint a committee to work in collaboration with the Review and Herald Board to decide as to the subjects to be covered, the number of charts to be included in each set, and the total number of sets to be produced.

1941 COLFORTEUR BIG WEEK;

We recommend, That April 12-19 be appointed Colporteur Big Week for 1041.

ASSISTANCE ON EDUCATION OF OLDER CHILDREN OF MISSIONARIES:

Recommendations from the Officers on the granting of assistance on the education of the older children of foreign missionaries were presented and adopted as follows:

WHEREAS, It is desirable and often necessary to render financial assistance to foreign missionaries serving in coun-tries other than their homelands, whose children must proceed overseas for further education while the parents remain in the mission field:

We recommend, That the division committees be authorized to make educational grants to missionaries on the following con-ditions:

1, (a) That the student on whose behalf the grant is made must have completed the secondary school work offered in the division where his parents labor (provided suitable denominational educational facilities are available in the field), or has reached the age of eighteen,

may (b) That the grant/be continued for a maximum period

of four years or until the student finishes his college course, except as provided in Section 5.

1674

October 22, 1940

2. That the student receiving a grant must be a de-pendent of a missionary and must attend one of our denomination-al colleges or training schools, grants being made only for the period the student is actually attending school.

3. That the grant be not available to students whose parents have returned home permanently.

4, (a) That the maximum amount to be granted to each student for the first year may be 4100, and for each succeeding year c?100 for girls and $75 for boys, provided the student is taking full school work and resides in the school home.

(b) That students residing outside the school home may receive as a maximum of $50 per year for the first year,and 07.50 per year for each succeeding year.

(c) That all grants made are payable to the school concerned by the division employing the parents of the student, the money being sent forward in nine equal payments,

5. That these grants are to be made available to child-ren of missionaries who attend one of our secondary schools or liberal arts colleges in the homeland, or during their first year's training in one of our nurses' training schools or the College of Medical Evangelists.

6. That in cases of special need, division committees be authorized to make available educational grants within the provisions outlined above to children whose parents are on fur-lough.

7, That division committees be authorized to grant to children above eighteen years of age who continue full time work in one of our boarding schools within the field, an educational allowance equal to the child .allOwance.

A final report from the Finance Committee was submitted and adopted as follows:

HARVEST INGATHERING FUNDS:

We recommend, 1. (a) That in the North American Divis-ion all funds received in the Harvest Ingathering Campaign above the present basic goals, be divided on the following basis: 40 per cent to missions and 60 per cent to the respective union conferences.

(b) That no comeback be deduced or paid on the amount received in excess of the basic goals.

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October 22, 1940

(c) That all funds raised in the Ingathering Cam-paign be applied on the Forty-cent-a-Week Fund.

(d) That this plan become effective January 1,1941.

We recommend, 2. That the Home Officers of the General Conference advise with the present editorial committee of the Harvest Ingathering magazine regarding material and illustrations to be used in next year's campaign.

RENT SUBSIDIES FOR MISSIONARIES ON FURLOUGH:

We recommend, That when missionaries on furlough are authorized by their division committees to locate in cities where rents are high and where conference or institutional workers are granted rent subsidies, such missionaries if under heavy expense for rent be granted assistance, the amount of such assistance to be determined by the General Conference Committee, and not to exceed the amount granted to conference or institutional workers in the same locality.

REHABILITATION ALLOWANCE:

We recommend, That the following paragraph be added to the present policy relating to Rehabilitation Allowance:

A missionary receiving a rehabilitation allowance is re-sponsible for paying the ocean freight on his goods. The Gener-al Conference will meet the inland freight and other expense in-cident to moving the missionary's goods from his mission station to the port of shipment and from the port of entry in the home-land to such destination as his division committee may authorize. The General Conference does not assume responsibility for duty or .-customs charges, nor does it meet the cost of shipments sent by express or by other expensive means of transportation. How-ever, when a missionary elects to ship his goods in some other way than by freight, an amount equivalent to the cost of freight will be allowed. The responsibility of the General Conference is limited to 2,000pounds in the case of families and to 750 pounds in the case of single workers. Missionaries should se-cure from transportation companies receipts for amounts paid for shipping their goods, these receipts to dhow the weight of the shipment and the rate charged per hundred pounds. Such receipts should accompany the worker's report of expense.

OUTFITTING ALLOWANCE:

We recommend, That the policy relating to Outfitting Allowances be revised to read as follows:

The General Conference will pay freight on the goods of missionary appointees from their home to the port of shipment up to and not exceeding 2,000 pounds in the case of families,

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October 22, 1940

and up to and not exceeding 750 pounds in the case of single workers. This port may or may not be the one from which the appointee sails, depending upon the distance the port of em-barkation may be from the home of the missionary. In some cases it is cheaper to send the goods from a port nearer the home of the missionary than the port from which he sails. Missionaries should take from the railroad company a receipt for freight paid, and this receipt should show the weight of the shipment and the rate charged. This receipt should be attached to the expense re-port submitted by the missionary upon his arrival in the mis-sion field.

In addition to paying the freight to the port, as above mentioned, an allowance is made to missionary appointees for the purpose of assisting them in paying ocean freight, excess freight from the missionary's home to the port of embarkation, expenses in packing goods, carting and transfers of freight, and every-thing of that character, to the port of disembarkation. When the goods of the missionary have passed customs at the port of disembarkation, the mission field will be responsible for moving the worker's goods to his station. If not used for paying freight and other incidental expenses connected with moving of freight, this allowance may be used by the missionary for the purpose of purchasing new goods in the field.

Allowances to all fields are as follows:

Single workers for full term, 450, otherwise 0100, and 750 pounds of freight to port.

Families without children, $300 and 2,000 lbs. freight to port.

Families with one child, $325 and 2,000 lbs. freight to port.

Families with two or more children, $350 and 2,000 lbs. freight to port.

ELEMENTARY CHURCH SCHOOL TEACHERS' SALARIES:

WHEREAS, The elementary church school teachers' subsidy plan, including the minimum wage scale, has brought great en-couragement to the teachers in service and has aroused new in-terest in the teaching work among many young men and women in our academies and colleges; and

WHEREAS, The present minimum wage rate for elementary teachers has already been exceeded by practically all our ele-mentary schools; and

WHEREAS, The current economic circumstances of these teachers call for substantial improvement,

We recommend, That the minimum wage of our elementary church school teachers be increased from $12.50 to $13.50 a

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October 22, 1940

week, beginning with the school year opening September 1, 1941.

(KEEPING AND PRESERVING SERVICE RECORDS

-Inasmuch ashere has been a lack of-desirable informa-tIon-in-ouroffices regarding the service periods of conference

-Warkari, -institutional employees, and colporteur an& _ .

WHEREAS, SubhanformatioOf kept in permanent form wauld--be very helpful committees and boards considering ap-plications for Sustentation benefits, as well as for general purposes, ,t4

We--recommend., 1. That conference secretary-treasurers incorporate in the Conference Executive Committee minutes the complete annual audit sheet listing all workers, time, salary, and expense.

2. That institutional treasurers be responsible for a permanent record of all employees in their respective institu-tions showing the period of service rendered by each employee.

3. That a copy of the annual colporteur summary giving the name of each colporteur and time served as prepared by the Book and Bible House and field missionary secretary be filed with the conference secretary-treasurer who shall keep a perma-nent record of the same.

4. That a copy of the summary as prepared by the union field missionary secretary be filed with the union conference Secretary-treasurer who shall preserve these for permanent re-cord.

CHURCH FUNDS:

WHEREAS, There is a lack of uniformity in the field of handling certain church funds, such as Dorcas Society, Mission-ary: Sabbath school and Missionary Volunteer expense funds, etc„

We recommend,l.That the Minority Committee give further study to this matter, with a view of placing before the next General Conference a uniform plan.

2. That sufficient latitude be given in the present policy, where local conditions seem to make it more practical and efficient, for such funds to be handled by the respective auxiliaries; but, that a record of all receipts of such funds be regularly reported to the church treasurers for their records,

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October 22, 1940

MINISTERIAL INTERNSHIP ALLOTMENTS:

We recommend, That provision be made for ninety-one mints terial internships in the North American Division for the year 1941, and that allotment be made as follows:

1. That seventy-one internships be assigned to the several unions as follows:

Atlantic 7 Canadian 5 Central 6 Columbia 10 Lake 8 Northern 5 North Pacific 7 Pacific 13 Southern 5 Southwestern 5

71

2. That ten colored internships be distributed by the Minority Committee in counsel with the various union conferences.

3. That ten internships be assigned to the Bureau of Home Missions for distribution by the Minority Committee in coun-sel with the various union conferences.

MINISTERIAL INTERNSHIP PLAN DATE FOR BEGINNING INTERNSHIPS:

We recommend, That paragraph 3, under "IV.Methods of Procedure," on page 65 of the 1939 edition of the General Con-ference Working Policy, be amended to read as follows:

At the General Conference office the internship appli-cations are handled by a standing committee on appointees and internships, The approval of this committee becomes authoriza-tion for payment of the General Conference portion of the in-tern's salary, which begins at such time as the committee de-termines. It is understood that as a general rule, the General Conference portion of the intern's salary will be paid only for the time of the intern's salary occurring after the date of the action by the Internship Committee. For example, if a young person is placed under employment by a conference in ministerial or Bible work, and later application for internship is made and is accepted by the Internship Committee, such time of employment shall be counted as a part of the internship period, but the payment of the General Conference portion of the salary shall cover only the remaining part of the internship period. However, in exceptional cases where unfortunate delays occur in handling the application of the intern, the General Conference Internship Committee may set the date for the beginning of the internship before the date of its action.

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1941 MISSIONS EXTENSION:

WHEREAS, During the past twenty years a total of nearly one and a half million dollars has, under the blessing of God, been provided in North America for the extension of medical, educational, and publishing work through the Missions Extension plan,

We recommend, 1. That for 1941 the Missions Extension educa- goal be 570,000, to be allocated to new work in medical,

tional, and publishing lines, as follows:

Publishing: E.G.Vhite books: Initial expense for foreign languages in overseas divisions to be distributed by the General Con- ference Committee S2 500 00

Press and type for printing plant at Malamulo Mission 1 500 00

Literature for officials of foreign governments 500 00

4 500 00

Medical: Complete new hospital in Nigeria 2 340 00 Manila Sanitarium equipment 2 500 00 Tanganyika hospital building and equipment 5 000 00

9 840 00

Educational: School equipment in Hamadan, Iran 500 00 Additional land and two cottages for teachers, Costa Rica 3 000 00 Colombia-Venezuela school building & land 12 500 00 Dining hall-service building, Manchuria training institute 2 000 00 Zambesi Union Training School building, Lower Gwelo 1 800 00 Dormitory for girls' schooi,Bethel Training School 7 000 00 Antillian Union school building and equipment, Santa Clara, Cuba 12 500 00 East Brazil Union Academy, Workship 600 00 East Brazil Union Academy,Boys Dormitory 1 800 00

41 700 00 Specials: Assam mission station 7 200 00 Two mission stations and equipment,Congo 6 200 00 Equipment for new workers to Lhassa 560 00

13 960 00

Total, $70,000100

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October 22, 1940

2. That the date for receiving this offering be April 19, 1941.

3. That, as in former years, we again call upon all our workers and lay forces to contribute one day's salary or income to the Missions Extension Offering.

4. That the week immediately preceding the date of the offering be known as Literature Big Week, and that all our peo-ple be urged to sell or use literature especially prepared for the occasion, donating the profits to the Missions Extension Fund.

AUTOMOBILE POLICY:

We recommend, That the Present automobile expense policy remain unchanged, it being understood that depreciation and all allowances other than insurance) be included in the mileage rate as set within the policy. Any arrangement whereby a certain por-tion of this rate shall be applied for depreciation shall be left to the discretion of each union or local conference administra-tion.

APPRECIATION:

The following resolutions of appreciation were unani-mously adopted:

Resolved, 1. That the Secretary be asked to convey to the Civic authorities of St. Paul our appreciation of the kind-ness and courtesy shown in making available to us the accommoda-tion in the City Auditorium for our Council meetings.

2. That the Secretary be asked to convey to the manage-ment of the Hotel Lowry our appreciation for their kindness and courtesy to our delegates and for their cooperation in providing suitable accommodation for our committees and meetings.

3. That C.B.Haynes be asked to convey to the Press of St. Paul and Minneapolis our appreciation for the publicity given in connection with our Autumn Council.

4. That the Secretary be asked to convey to the North-ern Union Committee and the Minnesota Conference Committee our appreciation for their helpful cooperation and many courtesies extended to make our Autumn Council in St. Paul enjoyable and successful.

The Binds," was Montgomery.

J.L. W.G.

Council adjourned sine die. "Blest Be the Tie that sung, and the benediction was pronounced by O.

MeElhany, E.D.Dick, Secretary. Turner, Chairmen. E,Zeidler,Recording Secty.

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FOUR HUNDRED SEVENTY-THIRD MEETING


St. Paul, Minn., October 23, 1940, 8:30 A.M.

An executive meeting of the General Conference Committee was called in the Spanish Room of the Hotel Lowry, at 8:30 A.M., Wednesday, October 23, 1940.

MEMBERS PRESENT:

J.L.McElhany, L.H.Christian, W.G.Turner, W.H.Branson, E.D.Dick, A.W.Cormack, H.T.Elliott, W.E,Nelson, W.H.Williams, W.A.Spicer, G.W.Wells, F.C.Gilbert, Meade MacGuire, E.E.Andross, G.W.Schubert, H.L.Rudy, T.J.Michael, N.F.Brewer, V.T.Armstrong, F.A.Mote, G.A.Roberts, W.C.Raley, C.P.Crager, H.M.Blunden, L.V. Finster, W.E.Read, N.P.Neilsen, H.O.Olson, J.F.Wright, W.P. Elliott, 0.Montgomery, Dr. W.A.Ruble, jv.V.Tucker, M.C.Taft, R. Ruhling, L.Halswick, H.D.Casebeer, H.A.Morrison, W,H.Teesdale, J.E.Weaver, Steen Rasmussen) W.A.Butier, W.H.Bergherm, Dr. H.M. Igaiton, M.A.Hollister, C.E.Weaks, J.J.Strahle, E.E.Franklin, C.S,Longacre, H.H.Votaw, J.A.Stevens, S.A.Weilman, A.W.Peterson, C.L.Bond, D.A.Ochs, M.L.Rice, W.B.Ochs, J.F.Piper, H.J.Detwiler, J.J,Nethery, E.H.Oswald, E.L.Neff, Glenn Calkins, J.K.Jones, R.L.Benton.

OTHERS PRESENT:

The General Conference auditors, many of the local con-ference presidents, and a number of other union and local con-ference representatives were also present.

Prayer by C.B.Haynes.

L.R.REISWIG--KANSAS H.N.BRESEE--OKLAHOMA:

VOTED, To pass on to the Southwestern Union and the Oklahoma Conference the call from the Central Union for L.R. Reiswig to connect with the work in the Kansas Conference; and to pass on to the Central Bnion and the Kansas Conference the call from the Southwestern Union for H.N.Bresee to connect with the Oklahoma Cqnference.

V.A.LaGRONE--SOUTH CARIBBEAN CONFERENCE:

VOTED, To request the Southwestern Union and the Texico Conference to release V,A.LaGrone to connect with the Inter-American Division for the presidency of the South Caribbean Conference.

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October 23, 1940

C.A.REEVES--BRITISH COLUMBIA:

VOTED, To request the Northern European Division and the British Union Conference to release C.A.Reeves to connect with the Canadian Union, for work in British Columbia, it being understood that this is for the duration of the present war only.

W.A.SCHARFFENBERG--CENTRAL UNION;

VOTED, To pass on to W.A.Scharffenberg, returned from China, the invitation to connect with the staff of the Central Union Conference.

E.R.COLSON--ATLANTIC UNION COLLEGE:

VOTED, To pass on to E.R.Coison, returned from the Northern European Division, the call to connect with Atlantic Union College as business manager.

H.A.PECKHAM--NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND:

VOTED, To pass on to the North Pacific Union and the Oregon Conference the call from the Atlantic Union for H.A. Peckham to connect with the Northern New England Conference.

APPOINTMENTS AND ITINERARIES:

VOTED, That we approve of the following appointments and itineraries:

J.E.Weaver to attend a teachers' institute at Keene, Texas, November 21-24.

W.A.Butler, lay preachers' council in Denver, November 29 to December 1.

M.A.Hollister, Melrose Sanitarium for Week of Prayer, December 7-14; and Greater New York Academy, Week of Prayer, December 16-21.

A.W.Peterson, Missionary Volunteer rally in Illinois, October 26.

D.A.Ochs to Union College for Week of Prayer, immediate-ly following this meeting.

C.E.Weaks, meetings of Southern Union field missionary secretaries at Collegedale and Atlanta, November 22-26.

L.H.Christian, Iowa, October 24-27; and Salt Lake City and Reno en route to appointments in the Northwest.

H.T.Eillott to Detroit for Sabbath, October 26.

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October 23, 1940

F.C.Gilbert, one week in Idaho, one week in Montana, and two weeks in the Upper Columbia Conference.

L.Halswick to assist in the dedication of the Ukrainian church in Alberta, November 1-3.

C.B.Haynes, appointments in the Lake Union as may be arranged, until the latter part of November.

W.E.Howell, meeting of Curriculum Committee at Hinsdale, October 24,25, and Berrien Springs en route to Washington.

Meade MacGuire, North Pacific Union, November and Decem-ber; and Pacific Union, January, February and March.

G.E.Nord, North Pacific Union, November 8 to December 5; Canadian Union for month of January.

C.A.Reeves, Week of Prayer at Broadview immediately fol-lowing this meeting; and Washington Missionary College the first week in November.

R.Ruhling, Idaho for last half of November, and Northern Union for appointments in North Dakota during the month of Decem-ber.

A.W.apalding, Madison College) six weeks beginning January 4.

G.W.Schubert, Week of Prayer at North Pacific Union, six weeks in March

Dr. H.M.Walton, Madison College supporting workers, November 7-10.

G.W.Wells, Kansas for two weeks beginning November 22, and following that, two weeks in Colorado.

R.H.Wentland, on furlough from the Far Eastern Division, approximately two months in Montana, assisting in institutes and special meetings.

That we approve of a trip made by C,S.Longaere from St. Paul to Des Moines, Iowa, and return, the week end of Octo-ber 19.

That we approve of a trip made by E.R.Colson from St. Paul to Oak Park Academy, and return, the week end of October 19e

Lodi, December 4-10; and April.

for a convention of self-

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October 23, 1940

MISSIONARY VOLUNTEER REGIONAL MEETINGS:

VOTED, That the Missionary Volunteer Department be authorized to hold a series of regional meetings for their union and local Missionary Volunteer secretaries: for the area of the Pacific and North Pacific Unions, November 16-20; the Lake, Northern, Central and Southwestern Unions, December 2-6; the Southern, Columbia and Atlantic Unions, December 18-22.

/DANIEL AND REVELATION":

Consideration was given to the question of the revision and republication of the book "Daniel and Revelation," which was allowed to go out of print some years ago, It was reported that there is a large demand from the field for its republication in subscription book form.

While it was agreed that we ought to have a book for circulation at the present time on the prophecies of Daniel and the Revelation, there was quite a difference of opinion as to the advisability of attempting to reviee this book, After discussion of the arguments offered in favor of, and opposed to the republication of the book, it was

VOTED, To refer the matter to the officers of the General Conference and the heads of the three publishing houses for further studyy

Adjourned, with the closing prayer by F.H.Robbins.

J.L.McElhany, Chairman. E.D.Dick, Secretary. E.Zeidier, Recording Secretary.

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AUTUMN COUNCIL OF THE GENERAL CONFERENCE COMMITTEE … · Book and Bible Houses, evangelistic agencies 1670 Bresee, H.N., to Oklahoma 1681 Budget for 1941 1656 Call to world-wide

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