The History of the General Conference of the Mennonites of North America (Volume 1 ) (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1898. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VII. School opened. Its early Career. Van der Smissen called. Fifth General Conference. Western Conference organ ized. School--later Career; Troubles arise; Change in Teachers; Financial Straits; Controversy over admission of women. Church Hymnal. Publication. Incorporation of School. First Graduates. Mission. In her process of development the Conference has now entered upon a new stage--the carrying on of a common work. From the opening of her school at Wadsworth dates the activity proper of the Conference. For all that had so far been done was chiefly preliminary and preparatory to the inauguration of their enterprise. The whole procedure may be compared to what occurs in the rise of a business enterprise. Suppose a company starts a manufactory. First of all a number of persons meet who discuss the feasibility of the project and make plans for it. By and by a company is formed. Plans for buildings and the like are adopted. General arrangements for the operation of the undertaking are made and finally a business manager is appointed. But in all this the company has not yet reached the point when the thing aimed at is accomplished. This it has reached only after the factory has been set in motion in accordance with given instructions. After that the company simply keeps a watchful eye on the work, receives reports, gives general instructions affecting the welfare of the undertaking, while the work itself is carried on through repreprsentatives. The Conference is, as it were, a company in which the individual church members are the responsible and interested shareholders, the various phases of activity of the Conference constituting the business carried on under the management of committees. From these committees the members receive reports as to t...