Second Session of the Northern Union Conference
By I. H. Evans
It was my privilege to attend the second session of the Northern Union Conference, which embraces the States of Iowa, Minnesota, North and South Dakota. This conference was held in Minneapolis from March 5 to 15. At the very first meeting nearly every worker in the union conference was present, and promptly and regularly attended nearly every meeting. The services began each time at the appointed hour, and closed according to the announced program. No apparent effort was made to accomplish this desirable end. From the first meeting, everything seemed to fall naturally into order and method. Not more marked was this systematic way of doing things than was the unity and harmony that prevailed in all the councils. Not a discordant note was sounded throughout the entire meeting. No delegate spoke on the negative side of any question, nor was there a negative vote observed during the entire meeting. Every delegate who spoke seemed anxious to lend his influence to carry out the plan suggested, and added his arguments in favor of the question under consideration. A large amount of business, some of which was far reaching in its results, was transacted. Resolutions were adopted, recommending that the union conference, together with each local conference in its territory, endeavor to raise a sum for foreign missions, which will average not less than ten cents a week for each church-member. In the discussion of these resolutions some of the delegates suggested that it should be fifteen cents instead of ten. Others took up the same idea, and it would have been voted had not the chairman thanked the delegates for their liberality, but suggested they had better adopt the ten-cent-a-week plan, and then endeavor, if possible, to make it fifteen cents a week by a volunteer movement. The conference also adopted a resolution recommending that each local conference in its territory pay a second tithe into the General Conference treasury for mission work. So unanimous was the sentiment on this question, that when the resolution was read, the question was called and unanimously passed without discussion. The union conference had a surplus tithe of nearly four thousand dollars, from which they donated two thousand five hundred dollars to the General Conference. Not only did the conference donate this larger portion of funds already on hand to the general work, but the delegates voted that the executive committee should from time to time donate to the General Conference any surplus of funds which the union conference might have to spare. The liberality of the union conference seemed equaled by the liberality of the local conferences in the union. The Iowa Conference released its president, Elder L. F. Starr, to take the presidency of the Chesapeake Conference. By previous arrangement the Lake Union Conference had kindly offered to release Elder M. N. Campbell, of the West Michigan Conference, to take the presidency of the Iowa Conference, providing Elder Starr should accept the call from the Chesapeake Conference. This whole arrangement was completed at this conference. The Iowa Conference also sent two bright young ordained ministers to join Elder Starr in his work in the Chesapeake Conference, and voted to support them for two years. They also agreed to supply this conference with a new tent. The Iowa Conference also released one of its ministers to take up work among the English-speaking people of North Dakota. South Dakota agreed to supply and support a man in the South for two years, and to give him a new tent. Minnesota agreed to support a man in the South for one year, while the conferences of Minnesota and South Dakota voted to furnish seven hundred dollars jointly to pay a German worker in Baltimore, Minnesota indirectly supplying the man. It was not because these conferences did not need these men that they were willing to let them go. They made these sacrifices that other fields which were represented to be in greater need than themselves might be supplied with men and means to carry on more aggressive work. The generosity of this union conference reminded me of the Macedonian churches, of whom Paul wrote, when he said, 'For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves.' Elder R. A. Underwood was elected president of the union conference for the coming term, with a good strong executive committee to assist him in the work. Brother C. M. Everest was elected treasurer, and Brother T. D. Gibson, secretary. Following the morning service of the last Sabbath of the meeting, four young men were ordained to the work of the gospel ministry. After the sermon Sunday night the session of the conference was closed by a spirited testimony meeting. It seemed that every one desired to speak, but time would not permit. About fifty bore their testimony while the rest of the congregation, by rising to their feet, expressed a desire to say a word to the glory of God. Thus closed one of the best meetings I have ever attended. The Lord surely was there, and it was a Bethel to us all; and we trust that the rich blessings of God will be with his work and workers in the Northern Union Conference during the coming years.
I. H. EVANS.