p. 16 | Minnesota by Geo. M. Brown

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 17, 1916

Minnesota

By Geo. M. Brown

MINNEAPOLIS, being the metropolis of the Northwest and the headquarters of the Northern Union and Minnesota Conferences, is an important center in the great advent movement. As a result of city-wide evangelistic efforts conducted by Elder O. O. Bernstein and associated workers, many new members were added to the church, and a large number of persons in different parts of the city became interested in our work. Elder Bernstein having accepted a call to labor in Lincoln, Nebr., I was asked to serve as pastor of the church here, and came to the city in April, 1915.

In reviewing the work of the past year it has been encouraging to note the progress made, and I esteem it a privilege to pass on to the readers of the REVIEW a few facts gleaned from the records of the church for 1915. We have received sixty-three new members. The tithe is the largest ever paid in a single year, being $5,100.42. The Sabbath school offerings were $1,099.05, a notable increase over all previous years, due no doubt to the fact that the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering was made a special feature. The total gifts to missions were $1,839.14, a gain of $300 over 1914.

The Young People's Missionary Volunteer Society has grown in numbers and has increased its activities, having given special attention to the circulation of our good literature among foreign-speaking people. A church school with an enrolment of forty, under the direction of two teachers, has been in operation, and the home missionary work has received its share of attention, a small amount of literature having been used by the members of the church. For our local work we used $1,456.13. This and the items already mentioned make a total of $8,395.73 that the Minneapolis church contributed to the various departments of the cause in 1915.

For some time there has been a sentiment in favor of changing our church and conference offices, which for more than thirty years have been on the corner of Lake Street and Fourth Avenue, South. The increasing street car traffic on the two lines passing the church greatly disturbs our services, and we do not have room to add to our church for the accommodation of the Sabbath school and the church school, so it has been thought that we should move to a quieter place where lots would not cost so much and more room could be secured. The conference and the church were joint owners of the property, and a committee representing the interests of both was chosen to make a sale. This has been done, $15,500 cash being the price received. Two fine lots providing ample room for the church and school have been purchased. They are on the corner of Twenty-seventh Street and Stevens Avenue, within two blocks of one main street car line and three blocks from another. Work on our new building will begin as soon as the weather will permit.

The passing of the old Minneapolis church is an event of more than local interest, for it has a place in our denominational history. The General Conference was held in this church in 1889, when the message of righteousness by faith came with such convincing power to this denomination. In the basement of the church, educational work was done by Profs. C. C. Lewis and E. A. Sutherland, which led to the call for a college and resulted in the erection of Union College, at College View, Nebr.

While a feeling of sadness steals over us as we plan to leave the place hallowed by so many memories of past triumphs in the work of God, we recognize that our great Captain is leading us on to greater fields of usefulness and grander victories, and with grateful and courageous hearts we follow, ever seeking to manifest the faith which characterized the pioneers in this movement.

Brethren, pray for the work in Minneapolis. GEO. M. BROWN.