Document: “General Conference Proceedings: Seventeenth Meeting,” Daily Bulletin of the General Conference 5, no. 23 (March 5, 1893): 478. HTML, PDF.
Contents: The Committee on Resolutions’ report includes two resolutions that led to the creation of district conferences, now called union conferences.
The relevant part of the proceedings is highlighted.
[p. 478]
General Conference Proceedings.
Seventeenth Meeting.
At the close of the meeting of the Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association, Friday P. M. March 3, 1893 the Committee on Resolutions presented through Brother Allen Moon a further report as follows:—
Whereas, Steps have already been taken toward placing the publishing interests under the direction and control of the General Conference Association; therefore,
50. Resolved, That we recommend said Association to do its publishing under the name of the International Tract Society.
51. Resolved, That we recommend the formation of a legal organization as soon as consistent, in London, England, which may hold and control property in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
Whereas, In view of the growth and extension of the work in Europe and other parts of the world,
52. We recommend, That the arrangement of General Conference Districts be extended also to those fields, and that the Australian and New Zealand Conferences be known as District No. 7, and Europe as District No. 8.
53. We recommend, That the Presidents of the Conferences and the General Conference Districts in connection, with the General Conference Committee arrange for council meetings to be held the alternate year with the General Conference, and to be known as District Conferences, at which time ministerial institutes can be held, and plans for the work in the Districts, and such other questions considered and arranged as pertain to the development and advancement of the work within the limits of the District.
54. Resolved, That the General Conference Committee be authorized to appoint the necessary trustees for a legal corporation in the British Field.
55. Resolved, That Section 1 of Article 4 of the Constitution be so amended that the Executive Committee therein provided for shall consist of eleven members; and
56. Resolved, That five members of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum.
57. Resolved, That we esteem it a privilege and a duty to push the circulation of our pioneer papers in all proper fields.
58. Resolved, That we recommend State and Local Tract Societies, and individual missionary workers to give the circulation of these papers favorable and prompt consideration.
Whereas, In consideration of the important situation of Constantinople, in its relation to the Eastern World,
59. Resolved, That we recommend to the Foreign Mission Board, the selection of an American family of suitable experience and qualifications, to remove to Constantinople, there to labor in the establishment and furtherance of the Message, as the providence of God may open the way.
60. Resolved, That we commend to our people the plan of Christian Health Work which has been presented before this Conference, and that the Presidents of our State Conferences and those in charge of foreign fields, be requested to co-operate with the Seventh-day Adventist Medical Missionary and Benevolent Association in organizing this work everywhere among our people as rapidly as may be found possible and expedient.
61. Resolved, That we recommend that the Holland paper, the Bijbel Lezer, be published semi-monthly and that the Sabbath-school lessons for senior classes be published in it.
62. Resolved, That we recommend that the General Conference Committee appoint the editors of our various periodicals, as fast as they come under the control of the denomination as provided in a previous resolution.
63. Resolved, That we commend to all our people the work of the Haskell Home and the James White Memorial Home, and urge upon them the duty of remembering this charitable work in their liberalities, and that we also commend the plan of obtaining regular subscriptions to the maintenance funds of these Homes.
Whereas, The importance of medical missionary work is recognized by us as an important factor in carrying forward the third angel’s message and in fulfilling our duty as followers of Christ; and
Whereas, This work has received far too small an amount of attention in the past; and
Whereas, The Lord has spoken to us directly to the effect that a much larger number of persons be preparing themselves for this work,
64. Resolved, That we commend the efforts which have been made for the education of missionary physicians and nurses, and health missionaries, in the Sanitarium Medical Missionary school and in the. Training School which has recently been organized at the Rural Health Retreat, and that we commend this work to qualified persons among us as one which is worthy of their earnest consideration, and that the general officers of the several Conferences should co-operate with the Seventh-day Adventist Medical Missionary and Benevolent Association in its efforts to select proper persons for training in this work.