The 1888 General Conference Session in

Minneapolis
The 27th General Conference session was held in the
Seventh-day Adventist Church in Minneapolis,
Minnesota, from October 17 to November 4, 1888. This
session was notable because of debates about the
theology of salvation. An important outcome was a
new emphasis on righteousness by faith in Christ.
The Session
A photo taken of the 1888 session attendees at the Seventh-day Adventist
Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, probably near the close of the session in
early November.
The General Conference Daily Bulletin from October 19, 1888, announcing the
commencement of the 1888 session.
Notice in the Adventist Review of the first day of proceedings.
The Lord in His great mercy sent a most precious message to His people through
Elders Waggoner and Jones. This message was to bring more prominently before the
world the uplifted Saviour, the sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. It presented
justification through faith in the Surety; it invited the people to receive the righteousness
of Christ, which is made manifest in obedience to all the commandments of God. Many
had lost sight of Jesus. They needed to have their eyes directed to His divine person,
His merits, and His changeless love for the human family. All power is given into His
hands, that He may dispense rich gifts unto men, imparting the priceless gift of His own
righteousness to the helpless human agent. This is the message that God commanded
to be given to the world. It is the third angels message, which is to be proclaimed with a
loud voice, and attended with the outpouring of His Spirit in a large measure.

~Ellen G. White in 1888: The EGW 1888 Materials, pg. 1336
Important Participants
George Ide Butler (1834-1918)
Butler was the president of the General Conference at the start of the session, but was
absent due to illness. Ole Olsen replaced him as president during the session.

Stephen Nelson Haskell (1833-1922)
Haskell was a delegate from California and the presiding officer at the
session.


Alonzo Trevier Jones (1850-1923)
Jones was a delegate from California. He was a minister, political activist and coeditor of
Signs of the Times at the times of the conference. Along with Waggoner, he gave
memorable talks on the righteousness by faith in Christ.

Let the law take care of itself. We have been at work on the law
until we get as dry as the hills of Gilboa, without dew or rain. Let us
trust in the merits of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

~Ellen G. White in 1888: The EGW 1888 Materials, pg. 557



Robert Meade Kilgore (1839-1912)
Kilgore was a delegate representing the General Conference. He was an
active participant in the proceedings.

Ole Andres Olsen (1845-1915)
Olsen was elected president of the General Conference during the session
on October 17.

William Warren Prescott (1855-1944)
Prescott was a delegate from Michigan. He was appointed education secretary at the
session. After the session he would take E.J. Waggoners place as a prominent
proponent of righteousness by faith.


Asa Robinson (1850-1949)
Robinson was a delegate from New England. He led and participated in
several committees at the session.

Uriah Smith (1832-1903)
Smith was editor of the Adventist Review at the time of the session. He was
presiding secretary of the session.

Ellet J. Waggoner (1855-1916)
Waggoner was a delegate from California. He was a physician, minister, and coeditor of
Signs of the Times at the time of the conference. Along with Jones, he gave
memorable talks on righteousness by faith in Christ.


An unwillingness to yield up preconceived opinions, and to accept this truth,
lay at the foundation of a large share of the opposition manifested at
Minneapolis against the Lord's message through Brethren Waggoner and
Jones. By exciting that opposition, Satan succeeded in shutting away from
our people, in a great measure, the special power of the Holy Spirit that God
longed to impart to them. The enemy prevented them from obtaining that
efficiency which might have been theirs in carrying the truth to the world, as
the apostles proclaimed it after the day of Pentecost. The light that is to
lighten the whole earth with its glory was resisted, and by the action of our
own brethren has been in a great degree kept away from the world.

~Ellen G. White in 1888: The Ellen G. White 1888 Materials, pg. 1575

Ellen White (1827-1915)
White spoke several times at the session and had strong words of counsel and
reproof for the participants. She also endorsed the message of righteousness by
faith in Christ given by Jones and Waggoner.

William Clarence White (1854-1937)
White was a delegate from California and Foreign Mission Secretary at the time of
the session. White, son of Ellen White, was an active participant in the
proceedings.

Controversies at the Session
Daniel 7:24
Is the tenth horn the Huns or the Alemanni?

Galatians 3:24
Is Paul referring to the Ten Commandments or the ceremonial
laws?


There are some differences of views on some subjects, but is this a
reason for sharp, hard feelings? Shall envy and evil surmisings and
imaginings, evil suspicion, hatred, and jealousies become enthroned
in the heart? All these things are evil and only evil. Our help is in
God alone. Let us spend much time in prayer and in searching the
Scriptures with a right spirit--anxious to learn and willing to be
corrected or undeceived on any point where we may be in error. If
Jesus is in our midst and our hearts are melted into tenderness by
His love we shall have one of the best conferences we have ever
attended.

~Ellen White in Selected Messages, Volume 3, 166

Arianism
Was Christ God and did He possess everlasting life?



Sunday Laws
How should Seventh-day Adventists relate to them?


Righteousness by Faith
Should Adventists primarily emphasize the law as a means of salvation or
the righteousness by faith in Christ?

Group Pictures from the Years leading up to
1888
California Camp Meeting in 1886
Pacific Press Employees in 1886
Moss Camp Meeting in June 1887
Reno, Nevada, Camp Meeting on June 14, 1888