S everçtty-D ay /W u erçtist Y E A R B 0 0 K OF STATISTICS FOR 1889, COMPRISING "F11 K Classified Business Proceedings of the General Conference, the International Tract Society, the International Sabbath-school Association, the American Health and Temperance Association, Denominational Publishing Houses, Colleges, Etc., SUPPLEMENTED WITH A DEPARTMENT ©F GENERAL INF0RMATION, JNTERSl'KKSEl) WITH I-RACTICAI. COMMENTS ON THE Proposed Religious Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. I I v I v U 8 T R A T R D , REVIEW & HERALD PUBLISHING CO., INTRODUCTORY Sketch oe Seventh-day Adventists and Their Work. Since the year 1840, the name “ Adventist” has been known to the world as designating one who believes that the second advent of the Lord Jesus Christ to this world, is near at hand. The agitation of this question, though commencing some years before, began to attract widespread attention at the time above mentioned, and was soon nicknamed “ Millerism,” from the chief leader in the movement, Mr. William Miller, of Low Hampton, N. Y. Multitudes are still living who have personal recollections of the movement, and all others of ordinary information have more or less knowledge of it. The idea generally? entertained in the world at large, is that the movement of 1844 proved an utter failure ; and many query on what ground any one can now call himself an Adventist, and especially on what ground Seventh-day Adventists, whose work has now far outgrown in its proportions the original movement, base their views. * Previous to 1844, there were no Seventh-day Adventists, al­ though some who have since become, and are now, members of the denomination, -were in the movement with which William Miller was connected. Seventh-day Adventists are the ones who believe that the time, as then computed, was correct; and that the 2300 prophetic days of Dan. 8 : 13, 14, ended in 1844 ; but they do not believe that the 2300 days, or any other known period, reaches to the coming of Christ. They set no definite time for the Saviour to appear, yet by the fast-fulfilling prophetic word, they are confident of the nearness of his second advent, and thus take the name, “ Adventists.” The first part of the denomina­ tional name (officially adopted in 1860) is derived from their cus­ tom of observing the seventh day of the week as the Sabbath, in commemoration of God’s creative work. Among the earliest converts to this doctrine, three deserve special mention, — Captain Joseph Bates, James White, and J. N. Andrews, all of whom, now deceased, were earnest and efficient workers in the cause of Sabbath reform. Captain Bates was con­ nected with the work from 1845-72 ; James White, from 1846-81; J. N. Andrews, 1847-83. The latter was the author of the * Theological points involved in this inquiry are briefly explained in Sections IX. and X. of “Fundamental Principles of Seventh-day Adventists.” See pages 148,149. [3] 4 “ History of the Sabbath,” “ The Sanctuary,’' “ The Three Mes­ sages,” and other important works. Eld. James White was the founder of the Seventh-day Adventist publishing work, and its principal manager to the time of his decease. He was for many years president of their five leading organizations ; namely, the General Conference, the Central Publishing Association (Review and Herald), the Health Reform Institute (Sanitarium), the Gen­ eral (International) Tract and Missionary Society, and the Edu­ cational Society (Battle Creek College). ORGANIZATION. Seventh-day Adventists aim to maintain as simple an organi­ zation as possible without falling short of, or going beyond, what the Scriptures warrant. The growth of denominational work may be briefly summed up as follows : — The first church or company of Seventh-day Adventists that had an existence in America, was at Washington, X. II., in 1844, when, through the efforts of a Seventh-day Baptist lady who had accepted the doctrine of the second advent, nearly all the mem­ bers of a church of Adventists began the observance of the seventh day. At the present time, there are 891 organized churches, whose worship is maintained with only occasional pastoral aid, thus leaving the ministers free to labor among those who have never heard the doctrine. The first State Conference (represented by delegates from the churches) was organized in 1861. The present number of organ­ ized Conferences, home and foreign, is thirty-one, having a mem­ bership of about 20,000, besides over 5,000 isolated believers in various parts of the world. The first General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists (repre­ sented by delegates from the State Conferences) convened in 1862. Its 'twenty-seventh annual session was held at Minneapolis, Minn., Oct. 17 to Nov. 4. 1888. An executive committee of seven is annually elected to carry out the plans of the body, and to direct the affairs of the denomination in all parts of the world when the Conference is not in session. In 1887 the General Con­ ference Association of the Seventh-day Adventists (the financial arm of the General Conference) was organized and incorporated by law, for the purpose of holding church, school, publishing, and other property, in all countries of the world. Valuation of property now owned by the Association, $60,000. The first foreign mission was established in Switzerland, by J. N. Andrews, in 1874, under the direction of the General Conference. Missions and Conferences outside of the United States now number ten, embracing England, Australia, New 5 Zealand and other Pacific Islands, South Africa, Denmark, Nor­ way, Sweden, Russia, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Holland, Belgium, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, etc. Foreign missions are supported by weekly free-will offerings, Christmas donations, and other contributions, the amount received for the eight months ending June 30, 1888, being about $40,000. The first course of tent lectures was given in 1854, in Battle Creek, Mich. During the summer of 1888, about one hundred tents were in use, principally in the United States. The first camp-meeting was held in 1868, in Michigan. In the various Conferences, about forty camp-meetings of a quiet, orderly, and devotional character, are now conducted each year. The first Vigilant Missionary Society was organized in 1869, at South Lancaster, Mass., its object being to circulate religious literature, and do missionary work by correspondence, visiting, etc. There are now among Seventh-day Adventists about 1,000 of these societies. The first State Tract and Missionary Society was organized in New England, in 1870. There are now thirty-three such organi­ zations, home and foreign. Each State or country is divided into districts, and each district composed of local societies (referred to above), with a total reporting membership of 15,000. The first meeting of the General (now International) Tract and Missionary Society (represented by delegates from the State Socie­ ties) convened in 1876. The thirteenth annual session was held in October, 1888. The organization of the International Society was designed to systematize and facilitate the circulation of reading matter in all parts of the world, and to encourage other missionary effort, such as visiting, correspondence, holding Bible readings, etc. During 1888, in round numbers, 55,000 letters were written, 150,000 visits made, 39,000 Bible readings given, 30,000 subscriptions obtained for periodicals, 1,500,000 periodi­ cals distributed free, $90,000 worth of book publications sold, and 30,500,000 pages given away. Since the organization of the Society, over $250,000 have been expended in gratuitous work of this character. The first public speaker who advocated the Seventh-day Sab­ bath (Christ, the prophets, apostles, Waldenses, and Seventh-day Baptists excepted), was T. M. Preble, in 1844. About four hundred ordained ministers and those licensed to preach, are now engaged in this work. The first plan adopted for the support of the ministry was irregular and often unequal, though bearing the name of 1 ‘ System­ atic Benevolence. ” For nearly a quarter of a century the exercise of benevolence was recommended ; but during only the last ten years has it been really systematic. Each Conference now sup- 6 OVTROOUCTORX. ports its laborers from a fund maintained by the tithing system,— a plan of scriptural origin. By this system an opportunity is given every one to contribute one tenth of his income ; and although the payment of the tithe is not compulsory, Seventh-day Advent­ ists, with few exceptions, have adopted this method of supporting the ministry, thereby avoiding the necessity for church festivals, socials, etc. The amount of tithes paid by the denomination for the year ending June 30, 1888, was over $160,000. The first permanent paper, the Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, which has been edited by Uriah Smith for the last thirty- three years, was started in 1850. Regular periodicals now issued number twenty-six, — fourteen in English, four in Danish, four in Swedish, two in German, one in French, and one in Dutch, be­ sides occasional issues in other languages. The first publishing institution, the Central Seventh-day Ad­ ventist Publishing Association, was organized in 1860. Seven publishing houses are now in operation, — three in America, three in Europe, and one in Australia. — besides several partly-equipped offices for local convenience. Total valuation of publishing prop­ erty, $600,000. Number of employees, 475. Weight of publi­ cations sent out in 1888, over 400 tons. The first pamphlet (a work on the Sabbath question, by T. M. Preble), was issued in 1845. The tract and pamphlet list for 1889, embraces 110 publications in English, and 215 in foreign languages. The first doctrinal book, ‘-Time and Prophecy,” by Uriah Smith, was published in 1853. The present number of bound books on various subjects is seventy-seven, — fifty in English and twenty-seven in foreign languages. /A The first permanent health and temperance publication, the / Health Reformer (now Goad Health), wars started in 1866. Two I monthly health and temperance journals are now issued regularly \ in English, two in Danish, and two in Swedish. Departments in \cther periodicals are also devoted to these questions. The first meeting of the General (now international) Sabbath- school Association was held in 1878. The number of State associations at that time was twelve, embracing 177 schools, with a membership of 5,851. There are now thirty-one active State and foreign associations, composed of 990 schools, whose membership numbers 26,510. The school organizations are sup­ ported by free-will class offerings, which for the year ending June 30, 1888, amounted to nearly $17,000. Of this, over $10,000 were donated to foreign missions. The first meeting of the American Health and Temperance Association convened in 1879. This organization, of which J. H. Kellogg, M. D., is the president, now has subsidiary State societies 7 and local clubs in nearly all parts of the United States. Its aim is to elevate mankind physically, mentally, and morally, by free- \ ing him from intemperate habits, especially the use of alcoholic \ drinks and tobacco. Devotees of these twin evils are not fellow- shiped in the church. Prior to the organization of the American Health and Temperance Association, through the earnest efforts of Captain Joseph Bates, Mr. and Mrs. White, and others, the prin­ ciples of prohibition were firmly laid in the foundation on which the denominational structure has been reared. It is worthy of mention that Captain Bates, who was afterward a pioneer in the cause of Sabbath reform, assisted in the organization of the first J/ * total- abstinence society in the world, at Fairhaven, Mass., in 1826. The first health institution, the Health Reform Institute (now Medical and Surgical Sanitarium), was founded in 1866. Under the medical direction of J. H. Kellogg, M. D., it has become the largest Sanitarium in the world, having successfully treated over 10,000 patients. Average number of patients and helpers, 500. There are also two smaller institutions of this character. Total valuation of Sanitarium property, $325,000. The first educational institution, The Seventh-day Adventist Educational Society (Battle Creek College), was incorporated in 1874. Two departments are maintained,— Collegiate and Pre­ paratory. The Collegiate embraces four courses of instruction,— Theological, Classical, Scientific, and English. The Preparatory comprises a complete graded school. Five branches of Manual Training are also maintained, besides a regular course of instruc­ tion in the Gymnasium. There are now two colleges of this char­ acter, and one academy, controlled by the denomination, besides four preparatory Conference schools in different parts of the United States. Total number of teachers, sixty-two; students, 1,000. Valuation of school property, $150,000. The first “ Year Book of Seventh-day Adventists, ” a small pamphlet of seventy-two pages, was issued in 1883, since which time the constant growth of denominational work has each year rendered the publication of a larger work necessary. The present issue is replete with valuable information, both general and denominational in character; and special care has been taken to arrange the matter for convenient reference. While the Year Book is designed for use principally by Seventh-day Adventists, it is also desired that copies be placed in the hands of thousands of other persons who might be interested in the history and work of the denomination whose only creed is the Bible, and whose chief peculiarity consists in uniting with the faith of Jesus, the keeping of the commandments of God, including the fourth, to which the candid attention of all is respectfully invited. Committee. CONTENTS. WORKER’S DIRECTORY. HEALTH INSTITUTIONS. General List, pp. 11-22; Home Officers and Physicians, 44. and Foreign Tract Society Secre­ taries and Depositories, 22; State GENERAL CONFERENCE PRO- Canvassing Agents, 22; Home and CEEDINGS. Foreign Conference Secretaries. 22; City Mission Superintendents. 23, Preliminary. —Delegates, 45 ; Con­ ferences Admitted, 46 ; Committees 24; Home and Foreign Sabbath- school Association Secretaries, 24; Appointed for the Sessiou, 46. Health and Temperance Society Reports of Committees. — On Cre­ Secretaries, 24. dentials of Delegates, 46; On Mis­ GENERAL ORGANIZATIONS, OF­ sionary Ship, 47 ; On Resolutions, FICERS, ETC. 47-53; On Education of Foreign Laborers, 53, 54; On City Mis­ General Conference, 25; General sions, 54-56; On Finances, 56- Conference Association, 25; In­ 58; On Bible Study, 58; On Dis­ ternational Tract Society, 26; In­ tribution of Labor, 58-61; On ternational Sabbath-school Asso­ Nominations, 62; On Credentials ciation, 26; American Health and of Ministers, 62. Temperance Association, 26. CONFERENCES, TRACT SOCIETIES, Amendments. — Constitution of the SABBATH-SCHOOL ASSOCIA­ General Conference, 62; Constitu­ TIONS, HEALTH AND TEM­ tion of the General Conference PERANCE SOCIETIES. OFFI­ Association, 63. CERS, AND LABORERS. Reports for the Year from American. —Arkansas, California, Home and Foreign Fields.— Canada, 27; Colorado, Dakota, General Southern Field, 63; Home Illinois, 28; Indiana, Iowa, 29; Mission Secretary’s City Mission Kansas, Maine, Michigan, 30; Min­ Statistics, 64-66; General Con­ nesota, Missouri, 31; New En­ ference Secretary’s Statistics of gland, Nebraska, New York, 32; Home and Foreign Conferences, North Pacific, Ohio, 33; Pennsyl­ 67; Treasurer’s Financial State­ vania, Tennessee, Texas, 34; Up­ ment of the General Conference, per Columbia, Vermont, Virginia, General Conference Association, West Virginia, 35; Wisconsin, 36. and Missions, 68, 69; Educational Foreign. — Australia, Central Eu­ Secretary, 70-72; Foreign Mis­ rope, Norway, 37; Denmark, Swe­ sion Secretary, 72-78. den, 38. INTERNATIONAL TRACT SOCIETY MISSION FIELDS. PROCEEDINGS. American and Foreign ; their La­ Introductory. —Delegates, 79 ; So­ borers, etc., 39. cieties Admitted, 83; Committees PUBLISHING HOUSES. Appointed for the Session, 83. American and Foreign; their Of­ Reports for the Year.—Secre­ ficers and Editors, 40, 41. tary’s Annual Summary of Mis­ EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. sionary Labor and Statistics, 80, Officers and Teachers, 42, 43. 81; Financial Statement, 82. 18] cow tm s. 9 Reports op Committees.— On Man­ FOREIGN PUBLISHING HOUSES. ual for Book-keeping, Pass-Books, Central European and Scandina­ Report Blanks, etc., 83, 84 ; On vian, 111 ; Australian and .British, Resolutions and Plans, 84-89 ; To 112; Illustration of Each, 113. Examine New Books, 89-91; On Nominations, 91. BATTLE CREEK COLLEGE PRO­ Amendments to the Constitu­ CEEDINGS. tion, 91. Financial Statement, 114; Com­ INTERNATIONAL SABBATH- mittees Appointed, and their Re­ SCHOOL ASSOCIATION PRO­ ports, 116 ; Sketch of the College, CEEDINGS. 116; Illustration of Growth, 115. Opening. — Delegates, 92; Associa­ HEALDSBÜRG COLLEGE PRO­ tions Admitted, 92; Topics for CEEDINGS. Consideration, 93 ; Committees Appointed for the Session, 93. Financial Statement, 117 ; Report of Committees and Sketch of Col­ Reports op Committees. — On Res­ lege, 118; Illustration of Growth, olutions, 93-95 ; On Nominations, 119. 95. Reports for the Tear.— Finan­ SOUTH LANCASTER ACADEMY. cial Statement of the Association, Committees and their Reports, 120, 96; Statistical Summary, etc., 96, 122; Sketch and Illustration, 121, 97. 122. Amendments to the Constitu­ tion, 96. PREPARATORY SCHOOLS. AMERICAN HEALTH AND TEM­ Milton, Oregon; East Portland, PERANCE ASSOCIATION Oregon ; Minneapolis, Minn. ; Bat­ PROCEEDINGS. tle Creek, Mich. ; Ottawa, Kan. ; 122: Illustration, 123. Annual Summary, 98, 99 ; Com­ mittees Appointed for the Session, HEALTH INSTITUTIONS AND SAN­ 100; Report of Committee on ITARY REFORM. Resolutions, 100, 101 ; Report of Medical and Surgical Sanitarium, Committee on Nominations, 101 ; Rural Health Retreat, Mount Ver­ Amendment to the Constitution, non Sanitarium, Sketch and Illus­ 101. trations, 124-128. CENTRAL SEVENTH-DAY ADVENT­ IST PUBLISHING ASSOCIA­ CONSTITUTIONS AND BY-LAWS. TION PROCEEDINGS. General Conference Association, Financial Statement of the Asso- 129-131; General Conference and ciation, 103; Committees Ap­ State Conference, 132-135; Inter­ pointed, 104; Report of Com­ national Tract Society and State mittees on Resolutions and Nom­ Tract Society, 136-139; Interna­ inations, 104; Sketch of the As­ tional Sabbath-school Association sociation, 104, 105; Illustration and State Sabbath-school Associa­ of Growth, 103. tion, 140-142; American Health and Temperance Association, 143- PACIFIC PRESS PUBLISHING COM­ 145; Regulations for Canvassers. PANY PROCEEDINGS. 146. Balance Sheet, 106; Committees Appointed, 108; Committee on FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF Resolutions, 108; Committee on SEVENTH-DAY ADVENT­ ISTS. Nominations, 109; Sketch of the Progress, 109 ; Illustration of Embracing Twenty-eight Specifica­ Growth, 107. tions, 147-151. 10 GENERAL INFORMATION. GENERAL INFORMATION. Beginning and Close of Sabbaths Fallible Churches Take Notice, in 1889, 152; Postal Guide, 153- 179; Interest Laws and Rules, 157; Proposed Amendments to the 180; Stick to the Test, ISO; Se­ Constitution of the United States, cret Societies in the United States, 158; An “ Independent ” Cluster, 180; The Schools, the Saloons, and the Voters, 181; A New Gos­ 158; The Blair Religious Amend­ pel, 1S1; Facts Concerning Man­ ment, 159, 160; The Blair Sunday- kind, 1S2; Drinks of all Nations, Rest Bill, 161-164; No Discrimi­ 18 2; United States Presidents nation Wanted, 104; ‘‘The Pow­ and Vice-Presidents, 183; ers that Be,” 165; Monopoly. 166; Not an American Institution, 183; Religions of the World, 167'; How­ Senator Riddleberger Opposes the to Fill the Churches, 167; The Sunday-Rest Bill, 183; Generals Calendar, 168; Those Sunday Pa­ of the United States, 183; Stand­ pers, 168; Lightning Calculators, ard and Local Time, 184, Wind and 169; Bibles and the Bible, 170: Weather Signals, 184; Strikes in About Our Company, 171; Chief 1888, .184; The Two Laws, 185; Countries of the World, 172; Pop-1 Battle on the Sabbath Question, illations of Foreign Cities, 172; 185; Hit ’em when They Do n’t Sunday-Law Manufacturing Co., Know It, 185; Which of the Two? 173; Population of Cities in the 186, 187; Other Sensible People, United States, 174; Fourth Cent­ 188, 189; Pennsylvania’s “ Ship ury Parallel, 175; Area and Pop­ of [Church and] State,” 190; A ulation of States and Territories, Good Example, 190. 176; Sinful and Tyrannical, 176; “ Old-Style Depravity,77 177; A PUBLISHER’S DEPARTMENT. Word from the "Workingmen, 177; Review and Herald, 191-200; Pa­ Sunday-school Statistics, 178; Sev­ cific Press, 201-204; Good Health en Times in a Day, 178; “ Devout Publishing Co., 205, 206; Fireside and Honorable,” 179; Logic, 179. Teacher Co., 207, 208.