South Dakota Conference and Camp-Meeting by C. A. Burman; N. M. Jorgensen

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 28, 1903

South Dakota Conference and Camp-Meeting

By C. A. Burman; N. M. Jorgensen

THE twenty-fourth annual session of the South Dakota Conference was held in connection with the yearly camp-meeting near Madison, on the bank of Lake Hermon, where nature had ample provision for both shade and windbreak in the beautiful natural grove. God verified his promise from the very first. He is a shield, and he will give grace and glory. It was realized that God will work in behalf of his people when they relate themselves to him in such a way that he can work for them.

The first meeting was called Thursday, June 11, 1903, at 9:15 A. M., with Elder C. A. Burman in the chair. After the opening exercises the delegates were seated, and as only a limited number responded, all the brethren present were invited to participate in the conference work.

After the reading of the minutes of the preceding conference, held Dec. 2-8, 1902, Elder Burman made some appropriate remarks on conference work. Elders Butler and Haskell spoke on the earlier times in the message. A committee of fifteen members was chosen to elect the working committees. Some of the resolutions accepted by the conference were as follows:—

“That all conference laborers send in a report every two weeks to the conference president, and also to The Dakota Worker.

“We recommend that a canvassers’ school be held at some central point in this State during the next winter.

“Whereas, God in his providence and by the leading of his Spirit has established our industrial school, and bestowed many precious blessings which have indicated his approval, therefore,—

“Resolved, That we express our heartfelt thanks for his goodness, and renew our consecration to him.

“Resolved, That we raise two thousand dollars by pledges, and by the sale of ‘Christ’s Object Lessons,’ for the enlargement and completion of our school at Elk Point.

“We recommend that the needs of our mission fields be kept before the Sabbath-school as an incentive to more liberal contributions.

“Whereas, The Spirit of God has indicated that health and temperance work is to be regarded as the right arm of the message, and,—

“Whereas, This branch of the message has not received the attention called for by the spirit of prophecy, and has no organized existence in our conference, therefore,—

“We recommend (1) that a Health and Temperance department be created, and a secretary be elected and placed in charge of the same; (2) that health and temperance institutes be provided for at the discretion of the conference committee and the secretary of the department; (3) that we urge the importance of scattering our health and temperance literature in every community.

“Whereas, The message from the Lord has come to us again and again that it is time to take our children out of the public schools, therefore,—

“Resolved, That all conference laborers, church elders and leaders be requested to urge upon our people the importance of establishing primary schools in the home churches.

“Whereas, The Lord has said that the sale of ‘Christ’s Object Lessons’ shall continue as long as there are schools to be helped, therefore,—

“Resolved, That a vigorous effort be made for the sale of that book by the laborers and lay members.

“Resolved, That we donate five hundred dollars of the tithe to pay the laborers in the Southern Union Conference.”

Elders Butler, Haskell, Flaiz, Johnson, and Warren were present, also Mrs. Haskell, and M. Bessie De Graw, who rendered efficient help on the educational day. Elder L. Warren rendered efficient help for the young people and children, and we were cheered to listen to Elders Butler and Haskell as they reviewed some of the earlier work in the message.

On the last Sabbath of the meeting a very impressive ordination service was celebrated, when Brethren F. L. Perry and Daniel Isaac were set apart to the gospel ministry.

Credentials were granted to six persons, ministerial licenses to five, and missionary licenses to five.

Officers for the year are as follows: President, C. A. Burman; Vice-President, E. G. Hayes; Secretary, N. M. Jorgensen; Treasurer, L. D. Randall; Conference Committee, C. A. Burman, E. G. Hayes, J. W. Beach, C. F. Betts, N. M. Jorgensen, D. Staats, Conrad Reiswig.

Tithe for the past year for the Northern Union Conference was $10.80 for each member.

Early Sunday morning, June 21, we gathered on the shore of Lake Hermon to celebrate the ordinance of baptism, and thirty-one were buried with Christ in baptism, and in the afternoon twenty-two

others, making a total of fifty-three who were baptized.

All felt grateful to God for his bountiful blessings, and as we left for our several homes, we consecrated ourselves anew to the great work of giving the gospel to the world in this generation.

C. A. BURMAN, President.

N. M. JORGENSEN, Secretary.