The Scandinavian Union Conference by L. R. CONRADI

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 13, 1916

The Scandinavian Union Conference

By L. R. CONRADI

L. R. CONRADI

NONE of our other European unions suffers so little from the present terrible struggle as the Scandinavian. All our workers and our people could thus devote their full attention to the furtherance of the cause of God. Under such favorable conditions, it was possible to have a full delegation from all the fields except Finland, two being present from that conference. There were, altogether, thirty-four delegates in attendance. The meeting was held in our hall, Akersgaden 74, Christiania, May 8-14. The East Norway Conference and the union divided the time between them.

Last year was in every respect the best year the union ever enjoyed. There were added 555 members, bringing the membership to 4,203. The tithe amounted to $47,671; gifts to missions, $17,000. Our canvassers had also their most successful year, the sales amounting to $120,000.

As the delegates met here from Iceland, Lapland, and the Faroe Islands, one was naturally reminded of a line of our good missionary hymn, “From Greenland’s icy mountains.” Brother Lörntz, from the Abyssinian Mission, also attended this meeting.

The business proceedings were characterized by a spirit of harmony, and all seemed rejoiced over the good reports of progress which came from every field. In the Faroe Islands there is not only a faithful canvasser selling our literature, but a company of six has been raised up as a beacon light. Being so near to Iceland, these islands were joined to that mission.

Elder Olaf Olsen brought good tidings from the work in Iceland. There are now seventy-seven members composing that mission. Finland was the only field where no conference could be held the last two years, but Elder Carlsson reported a membership of nearly 500.

Though this union has the smallest population of any in Europe, yet its territory is so extended that it seemed necessary to increase its organizations and to make still further divisions. Norway had hitherto had but two conferences, the East and the West Norway Conferences; but at this time the northern portion was cut off, and from Jan. 1, 1917, it will be known as the North Norway Conference. With a population of 500,000 it has a membership of 210. Elder Bergersen will move to Trondheim, the largest town, and take the presidency. The East Norway Conference has a population of about 1,200,000, and a membership of 652. Elder Tobiassen, one of its promising young ministers, was chosen to fill the vacancy caused by Elder Bergersen’s removal to the north. Southern Sweden, which has been hitherto a mission field and has about 200 members, will also be organized into a conference. The union district comprising eastern Denmark will be divided, one part to be known as the East Denmark Conference, and the other as the West Denmark Conference. Thus from Jan. 1, 1917, this union will have eight conferences and two mission fields.

Among the resolutions passed, it was decided in future to hold the union conference meeting every four years, and the local conferences every two years, but there will be a short annual general meeting in each field. Special attention was given to the young people’s work and the missionary societies. Elder Raft was unanimously reelected president of the union, and has a strong staff of workers associated with him.

Our institutional reports were also very favorable indeed. Great improvements have been made at the Skodsborg Sanitarium, but the outlay has so improved the attendance that there were about 1,200 patients last year, and excellent results were attained. The Scandinavian publishing house has now a capital of $25,000, and the property held by the three Norway conferences will at the present rate be cleared from debt within two years. Quite an addition has been built, but the sale of part of the lots and the renting of the remaining portion have brought in more than the outlay. Successful treatment-rooms have been installed in one part of the building, while the other part suffices for the publishing work. Our schools at Skodsborg and Nyhyttan were well attended, and our Swedish institutions had a fair year.

There were about 500 of our people in attendance on Sabbath and Sunday. As our own hall was too small to contain so many, a large hall in the city was hired for these two days. We had excellent meetings on the Sabbath. After the morning service, Brethren A. Wasli and L. J. Stene were ordained to the ministry. Prospects were never brighter in the Scandinavian Union than they are at present.