The 1901 General Conference Session
At nine o'clock Tuesday morning, with the president of the General Conference, G. A. Irwin, in the chair, the thirty-fourth session of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists was called to order. J. N. Loughborough read Psalm 106, and S. N. Haskell led in prayer. President Irwin then opened the way for business.5BIO 79.1
The first item was the roll call of delegates. Four newly organized local conferences were admitted to the General Conference—Queensland and South Australia in Australia, and Cumberland and Ontario in North America. The president gave his address and reviewed the progress of the work over the preceding two years of his administration. He concluded with a declaration that undoubtedly was tempered by some of the things he had heard the day before in the special meeting in the college library:5BIO 79.2
Ours is a momentous time, and this is a momentous occasion. The wisdom of no human agent is sufficient for the planning and devising that needs to be done.—The General Conference Bulletin, 1901, 23.5BIO 79.3
His address completed and his office surrendered, the work of the church was now in the hands of the delegates. As chairman, Elder Irwin declared: “The conference is now formally opened. What is your pleasure?”— Ibid.5BIO 79.4
Ellen White, seated in the audience, arose and went to the front. She ascended the steps to the speaker's platform and approached the desk. The floor was granted to her. She first pointed out the privilege of the Advent people to stand high above the world, sanctified by the truth and having a close connection with Heaven. Then she turned to the immediate situation. The following statements have been gleaned from her address:5BIO 79.5
Every soul in every conference, in every part of the Lord's vineyard, has the privilege of knowing the truth. But truth is not truth to those who do not practice it. Truth is only truth to you when you live it in the daily life, showing the world what those people must be who are at last saved.... Why, I ask you, are men who have not brought self into subjection allowed to stand in important positions of truth and handle sacred things? ...5BIO 79.6
The principles of heaven are to be carried out in every family, in the discipline of every church, in every establishment, in every institution, in every school, and in everything that shall be managed. You have no right to manage, unless you manage in God's order. Are you under the control of God? Do you see your responsibility to Him? ...5BIO 80.1
Oh, my very soul is drawn out in these things! Men who have not learned to submit themselves to the control and discipline of God are not competent to train the youth, to deal with human minds. It is just as much an impossibility for them to do this work as it would be for them to make a world.5BIO 80.2
That these men should stand in a sacred place, to be as the voice of God to the people, as we once believed the General Conference to be—that is past. What we want now is a reorganization. We want to begin at the foundation, and to build upon a different principle....5BIO 80.3
Here are men who are standing at the head of our various institutions, of the educational interests, and of the conferences in different localities and in different States. All these are to stand as representative men, to have a voice in molding and fashioning the plans that shall be carried out. There are to be more than one or two or three men to consider the whole vast field. The work is great, and there is no one human mind that can plan for the work which needs to be done....5BIO 80.4
According to the light that has been given me—and just how it is to be accomplished I cannot say—greater strength must be brought into the managing force of the conference....5BIO 80.5
God wants you to be converted, and may He help, that this work may go forward. He is a power for His people when they come into order. There must be a renovation, a reorganization; a power and strength must be brought into the committees that are necessary....5BIO 80.6
If we will take hold of the Master, take hold of all the power He has given us, the salvation of God will be revealed.—The General Conference Bulletin, 1901, 24-26.5BIO 80.7
Thus Ellen White gave what was in reality the keynote address. She spoke for an hour. The very serious nature of the situation that had developed she fearlessly and clearly delineated. Help from God was promised if they would take hold of Him. There must be a change. It was one of the most solemn messages ever delivered to the church in a General Conference assembly.5BIO 80.8