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Minnesota Conference

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 16, 1902

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 79, No. 50.

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Minnesota Conference

By Fred Johnson; H. F. Phelps

Devotion and Business Combined

The forty-second annual conference of the Seventh-day Adventists of Minnesota was held at Anoka, November 19-30. The first five days were devoted to a consideration of the following themes: our spiritual needs, church organization, qualifications and duties of church officers, and church discipline. These subjects had been previously assigned to different speakers. It can truly be said that this was a spiritual, devotional conference,—spiritual needs and business combined. The business sessions were characterized by the gentle, molding influence of the Holy Spirit. Such expressions as, “These are good meetings,” “Excellent,” “The best conference I ever attended,” were frequently heard.
Thirty churches were represented by fifty-three delegates. As a question of privilege, the licentiates acted as delegates. All members in good standing were invited to enter into a careful and prayerful consideration of all business that should come before the conference, and to take part in the discussion of the same. Elder C. W. Flaiz was present during the business portion of the conference, and occupied the chair.
The usual working committees were selected by a committee of eleven men, six of whom were lay members, chosen from the floor, acting with the conference committee. Ten business sessions were held, at the second of which the committee already mentioned rendered its report, which was as follows:—
Committee on Credentials: C. L. Emmerson, H. S. Shaw, Fred Johnson, A. D. Ewert, and George Budd.
Committee on Nominations: E. W. Catlin, John F. Anderson, A. Mead, C. M. Chapman, and Gust Freeman.
Committee on Plans: F. A. Detamore, C. M. Everest, P. A. Hanson, Ella E. Merickel, and O. O. Bernstein.
This report of the committee was confirmed by the conference.
The Committee on Nominations rendered their report after much prayerful consideration, stating that the result of their work was as much of a surprise to themselves as it possibly could be to others. The Spirit of God was present, and the election of the following conference officers was unanimous:—
President, Fred Johnson; Vice-President, F. A. Detamore; Treasurer, C. M. Everest; Secretary, H. F. Phelps; Executive Committee, Fred Johnson, F. A. Detamore, C. M. Everest, O. O. Bernstein, and E. W. Catlin; State Canvassing Agent, F. A. Detamore; Assistant, V. W. Ruble; State Sabbath-school Secretary, Ella E. Merickel; Educational Secretary, E. W. Catlin; Transportation Agent, C. M. Everest.
The following persons received credentials, as recommended by the committee: F. Phelps, A. Mead, A. J. Stone, H. Rein, W. W. Stebbins, O. O. Bernstein, C. Christenson, A. W. Kuehl, J. F. Bogue, H. S. Shaw, Fred Johnson, and L. Emmerson. Ministerial license is given to John F. Anderson, Charles Bock, E. W. Catlin, F. A. Detamore, Francis, E. H. Huntley, P. A. Hanson, Moon, J. O. Peet, W. W. Ruble, S. E. Nelson, George Budd, and A. D. Ewert. Missionary license was given to Mrs. H. Huntley, Ella E. Merickel, Lena Nichols, F. E. Rew, H. E. Shelstad, Gust Freeman, James Bellinger, James M. Matt, E. M. Chapman, C. M. Everest, William Asp, Amos Ritchey, and W. H. Wild. Some of these are to work as self-supporting missionaries.
The Committee on Plans presented quite a list of recommendations, the first of which suggested returning thanks to God for the numerous blessings received since our last conference; especially that death had not been permitted to enter our ranks. This was adopted by all the congregation rising to their feet, and engaging in a moment of silent prayer, then singing, “Praise God, from whom all blessings flow.”
One recommendation counseled all our experienced laborers to hold themselves in readiness to enter distant fields whenever the providence of God should direct. The Committee on Nominations departed from the usual plan, and presented a recommendation to the effect that four men should at once go to some other field, and that this conference should support them for one year. This also called for volunteers. Brother A. W. Kuehl, in response to a call already received, said that he would go to South Africa. He also read a letter from his wife, saying that she would stand by his side, Brother Arthur Moon expressed his convictions that South America was yet to be his field of labor. Brother Hyatt offered himself for the Gold Coast of Africa. Brother A. Mead responded to a call from North Dakota.
Among the recommendations tending to advance the work in the home field may be mentioned the following:—
That the conference take immediate steps to raise eight thousand dollars for an industrial school. (Nearly fifteen hundred dollars was pledged at this meeting.)
That our young people be encouraged to secure an education to enter the work.
That earnest, consecrated persons be encouraged to devote themselves to the various departments of work, especially that of the gospel ministry.
That the same instructions given at this conference pertaining to organization, etc., be given at the general meeting of the winter, and in the churches.
That proper persons be encouraged to attend the Scandinavian Bible Training School at Minneapolis the coming winter, conducted by Elder Lewis Johnson.
That scattered Sabbath keepers in good standing be invited to unite with the church nearest to them.
That the canvassing work be encouraged.
That the sending in of quarterly reports be encouraged.
That we labor for the furtherance of the Sabbath-school work.
That we encourage the circulation of the special issue of the Scandinavian paper.
That efforts be made to get the light of truth before the thousands of Finns and Bohemians in this State. (At this point a letter from Elder John Hoffman, our missionary in Finland, was read, which emphasized the need of this work.)
That teachers for church schools attend our State institute, hold certificates, and be acquainted with the system of grading.
That the medical missionary work be encouraged, and that all our people be expected to inform themselves, and so become workers in their own homes and among their neighbors, and scatter health and temperance literature.
That faithful instruction be given in regard to the tithing system.
That a proper person be sent to Alberta to labor in the interest of religious liberty.
That our next State conference be held in connection with the spring camp meeting, and that the questions of the time for future sessions of the conference and the location of the industrial school be decided at that time.
Four hundred dollars of the tithe fund was voted to Manitoba.
FRED JOHNSON, President,
H. F. PHELPS, Secretary.