In Confirmation of Confidence
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which should be more in harmony with their manner of presenting
truth.
Formal Consideration of Proposed Changes
The General Conference for 1891 was held in Battle Creek March
5-25. Sunday forenoon, March 15, the committee of twenty-one
appointed at the preceding General Conference to consider the consol-
idation of the publishing interests, presented its report. The committee
spoke favorably of the objects to be gained by consolidation, but
advised that the Conference move cautiously. They then proposed
that the General Conference Association be reorganized, with a view
to its eventually securing control of all the publishing work of the
denomination.
In harmony with the advice of this committee, the General Con-
ference Association, intended at first as an agency for the holding of
church property, was reorganized with a board of twenty-one mem-
bers, and was given control of many lines of work, of which publishing
interests stood first.
A Special Committee Council
Early in the meeting an effort had been made by the officers of the
National Religious Liberty Association and the representatives of the
American Sentinel, to come to an agreement regarding policies and
plans. To this end a joint council was arranged to be held Saturday
night, March 7, after the regular meeting in the Tabernacle.
At this council meeting men with strong convictions and fixed
determination expressed their views and feelings very freely, and at
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last the representatives of the National Religious Liberty Association
voted that unless the policy of the American Sentinel was changed, the
Association would establish another periodical to be its organ. This
joint meeting continued until after one o’clock Sunday morning.
The Sabbath Service
Sabbath, March 7, was a day of deep solemnity. In the forenoon
Elder Haskell spoke on the world-wide proclamation of the gospel.
As in the apostolic age the gospel was proclaimed in its purity, with a