The Danish Conference by Guy Dail

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Aug 17, 1905

The Danish Conference

By Guy Dail

GUY DAIL

THE European summer meetings began with the twenty-sixth annual session of the Danish Conference, which was held at Frederikshavn on the Baltic, June 14-20. To Seventh-day Adventists throughout the world, this place is well known, for it is near here that the Frydenstrand Sanitarium is located—the institution recently taken over by the Danish Conference from the Scandinavian Philanthropic Society.

Almost the first words spoken to us as we entered the city, were: “We are having a splendid meeting, the best we have had for years. There has not been the least friction in any of our conference proceedings, and a wonderful spirit of harmony and co-operation has been present with us. The people seem pleased with the policy adopted by the conference committee, and are only anxious that the Lord shall continue to bless our efforts. The sanitarium is full, and some of the very nicest people of Denmark are our guests. The most popular physician in his line, in all Denmark, with his family, is stopping with us. We are all of good courage.”

And now that the meeting has closed, we can state that the report as just given proved true, right up to the end. Indeed, each day revealed more evidences of the existence of a cordial spirit. Although all regretted very much the absence of the president, Elder P. A. Hansen, who is temporarily detained in Iowa by the serious condition of his wife's health, yet Elder J. C. Raft, the vice-president, took right hold, with the committee, and the measures considered elicited hearty and unanimous support.

Of the nineteen Danish churches, all but one were represented. Sixty-three delegates were in attendance, and over three hundred of our brethren came to the meeting, making this the largest gathering we have yet had in this field, and, so far as I can learn, this has been one of the very best conference sessions we have ever had in all Scandinavia.

Of the resolutions taken, we would refer to the following: an expression of gratitude to God for his care over the work the past year; a hearty invitation to return, and an expression of the deepest sympathy in his affliction, was voted the absent president; an approval of the conference committee's action in bringing about the transfer of the Frydenstrand Sanitarium; an acknowledgment of the value of Christian education, and the necessity of selling “Christ's Object Lessons” for the benefit of the school work, and the assistance of a school to be conducted the coming winter, when a special missionary course for the benefit of those wishing to engage in the work will be offered; and a vote to establish a permanent educational fund, from which means may be loaned deserving students, at the discretion of the conference committee.

Special attention was given to the First-day offering system. Sunday, Elder Conradi spoke of our mission work in Africa, but took up no collection; Monday, although the first day had passed, it was found agreeable to the delegates to cast their vote in favor of renewed faithfulness in the plan, by contributing to the First-day offering fund; about twenty-two kroner was collected as a beginning (3.70 kroner make $1). Last year (1904) the seven hundred and eighteen members of Denmark raised only about one hundred kroner First-day offerings, so they thought it was really time that this matter receive serious consideration, and that, too, in a practical manner.

A new legal constitution was adopted, which provides, among other things, for the operation of a depository and publishing house. Heretofore, the book business of Denmark has been conducted under a private name. This will now be changed, so that the conference shall own and conduct this business. The figures for the canvassing work were very encouraging. There was a time not long ago, when some felt that the day for selling our books in Denmark was past; there were too many difficulties to overcome, and our books were already quite largely circulated. Well, that year, 1902, the sales amounted to 12,200 kroner; the next year to 18,000 kroner; and in 1904 to 26,700 kroner.

Growth in membership is a factor dealt with. Although there had been sixty-six baptisms in the year, yet the net gain had been only twenty-one, making their membership seven hundred and eighteen. Some thought was given to the methods of our brethren working in the ministry. It was felt that more earnestness ought to be put into this branch, and that the proposed plan of assigning a worker a certain field, for which he must be held accountable, would work much better than to allow

too much liberty to travel here and there, without remaining long enough in any one place to bring an effort to a fruitful close. Such a system will be adopted the coming year.

The health and sanitarium work is prospering. The Skodsborg institution is full to overflowing, and is doing well. The efforts of Drs. Nelson and Ottosen, and their coworkers, have certainly been blessed of God. Both men have had to labor against great odds, but both rendered most cheering reports of the success the Lord has given the medical missionary department. The health paper has doubled its circulation in Denmark the past year, its list of subscribers in this field alone being fifteen thousand. The united manner in which the brethren have taken hold of the Frederikshavn Sanitarium, to place it on the right basis, is very encouraging.

The conference tithe for the year was 22,128.87 kroner, about two thousand kroner more than for 1903. The tithe report was read to a very interested and animated audience. Some churches which had a poorer showing than the previous year, may have been neglectful in sending their tithe into the treasury early enough; at any rate, the concern which the delegates manifested at unfavorable comparisons in the payment of tithe, was a very good sign to us that another year they would try to do still better.

The same officers were chosen as last year, with the exception that the conference treasurer was chosen as one member of the committee, and that there were two additional members added to the committee—Brethren Muderspach and Henriksen. The Danish Conference Committee now contains seven members.

One very interesting experience was that of the visit the delegates made to the Frydenstrand Sanitarium. They were delighted with the clean, well-furnished condition of the place, its airy rooms, and agreeable surroundings, overlooking, as it does, the sea on the one side, and stretches of meadow and forest on the other.

Sabbath, which was a day of great spiritual refreshing, eleven were baptized a little distance north of Frydenstrand. This was a season of rejoicing to all.

The meetings were held in one of the best halls in the town. More than eighteen kroner more than was required was donated for its rental. The labors of Brother O. A. Olsen, as well as of Brother Conradi and the local ministers, were blessed of God to the good of the congregation. Brother Conradi could not be present before Sabbath morning, but remained until Wednesday; Brother Olsen came Friday morning, and left Monday for the meeting in Sweden.

The day has seemed to dawn for the Danish Conference. Its financial troubles are now a matter of the past. The conference stands well. The institutions are in a place where they will pull out all right. We believe that the very near future will show a greater work in this

field than it has ever known. May God be with the work and with the workers, and may he bless every effort they make in the right direction. Brethren, do not forget the country of the Danes, with its two and one-half million people,—an educated, intelligent people,—a people under whose flag and protection modern missions were planted in far-off India,—a people who will yet, if thoroughly aroused, send forth many workers into the regions beyond.

Frederikshavn, Denmark.