Northern Union Conference by G. B. Thompson

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 2, 1916

Northern Union Conference

By G. B. Thompson

THE seventh biennial session of the Northern Union Conference was held in Minneapolis, Minn., Feb. 1–7, 1916, in the Pence Auditorium, the use of which, with light and heat, was given by the city without charge. The auditorium is centrally located, and although the weather was cold, it was kept quite comfortable, and was well adapted to our work.

The greater part of the workers from the different conferences were present, and entered most heartily into the business of the conference. The entertainment was arranged satisfactorily to all.

The first few days were devoted largely to institute work, which was attended by many marked evidences of the presence of the Lord. The evening and Sabbath services were well attended by the believers in Minneapolis and adjacent churches, who did all they could to contribute to the success of the meeting.

The reports rendered during the conference were all of the most encouraging character. I take the following extracts from the biennial address of the president, touching the progress of the work during the past two years:—

“The thing that has been paramount upon our hearts, and which we have endeavored to emphasize in our administration, has been the winning of souls to Christ, and the upbuilding and advancement of the kingdom of righteousness

in the earth. While we are in no sense satisfied with results, we do view with gratitude of heart and thankfulness to God the fact that 1,224 persons have been baptized by our ministers into the faith during the past two years. Nineteen churches, have been organized, and fifteen meetinghouses have been secured or erected, and dedicated.

“We have endeavored to work harmoniously with the plans of the North American Division, and to keep prominently before our constituency the needs of the work in regions beyond. Our efforts have been to see the Northern Union Conference meet its part of every goal set for the advancement of our work in all the earth. As a result of united efforts, our faithful people have paid a tithe of $268,584.76 during the biennial period, an increase of $36,779.88 over the two previous years.

“Our offerings on the Twenty-cent-a-week Fund have been $139,354.24, which is $8,165.20 in excess of the goal set for the union, and an increase over the last biennial period of $22,711.95. In addition to this, we have turned over from our treasury to the General Conference $2,000, and there has passed through our hands from the tithe of our local conferences to the North American Division $43,590.44, an increase of $20,905.28 over the previous two years.

“Our efforts to decrease our liabilities have been not in vain. Two years ago the total indebtedness reported was $121,400. Today it is reported to be approximately $76,000, a decrease of $45,400, and $36,000 more provided for—$20,000 in annuities, probably never to be called for, and $16,000 in pledges. Four years ago when we came to this union, we found it had assumed $10,000 of the liabilities of Union College. This obligation was paid last year. In the present effort to entirely free the college from debt we have been asked to contribute $8,000 more. We feel in sympathy with the effort, and provision has been made to turn over in the near future the sum suggested.

“Our book and periodical sales have been encouraging. Our total sales the last two years have amounted to $166,029.18, an increase over the previous biennial period of $53,155.13. While we feel thankful for what we have seen accomplished in this direction, we know this amount could have been greatly increased had the rank and file of our church members been more active in the home missionary work.

“Our educational and Young People’s Missionary Volunteer departments have shown an encouraging growth during the biennial period just closed. The attendance at Union College has increased, the work of our academies has been strengthened, and church schools have multiplied until today we have 1,300 of the children and youth of our union in our denominational schools. Our young people’s societies are alive and growing in earnestness and spiritual life, striving loyally to meet their proportion of every goal set by the General Department, and to win other young people to the acceptance of Christ in their lives.

“The Sabbath schools in the Northern Union have contributed their quota to the phenomenal growth of the Sabbath school department. We have today 156 organized Sabbath schools in our union, an increase of thirty-six schools over the last biennial period. The membership today is 8,716 compared with 7,310 two years ago, an increase of 1,406. The contributions the past two years have been $61,338.86, an increase of $18,795.87 over the corresponding period of 1912-13.

“The Danish-Norwegian Seminary is in our territory. The work of this institution during the past two years has been most gratifying. The attendance has increased each succeeding term, and the income has fully met the operating expense, so we can report today with gratitude and a degree of pride that our splendid record of freedom from debt of two years ago has not been marred during the biennial period just past. From this school we have been able to furnish some laborers for foreign fields, as well as strengthen our work in the homeland.”

Aside from the laborers present from the union, Brethren I. H. Evans, W. W. Eastman, H. H. Hall, and S. N. Curtiss, and the writer were present, and took part in the work of the conference.

Elder Charles Thompson was unanimously reelected president of the union, and W. H. Edwards secretary-treasurer and auditor. The others chosen to carry responsibility were practically the same as the past term. Brother E. M. Oberg was elected field secretary, to take the place of Brother Carl Weaks, who has accepted a call to labor in the Asiatic Division Conference. Brother Weaks’s labors have been greatly appreciated, and it is with a feeling of regret that the brethren see him leave the union, yet they are glad to contribute a strong worker to the needy unwarned millions in the regions beyond.

The laborers returned to their homes thankful for the blessings of the Lord, and determined to press the battle to the gate, and by earnest work and the aid of the Holy Spirit, to bring in a great harvest of souls. G. B. THOMPSON.