South Dakota by N. M. Jorgensen

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 15, 1907

South Dakota

By N. M. Jorgensen

The twenty-eighth annual session of the South Dakota Conference of Seventh-day Adventists was held in connection with the camp-meeting at Sioux Falls, S. D., June 13-23, 1907.

We had an ideal place for camp-meeting—a nice grove and high grounds. The first meeting was called Thursday, June 13, at 2:30 P. M., Elder E. G. Hayes in the chair.

A standing committee of fifteen was elected to nominate the different sub-committees. These were elected at the second meeting, and began work at once. Two churches, with seven and twenty-two members respectively, were heartily welcomed into the conference.

In his annual address, the president, Elder Hayes, stated that we believe in sharing the blessings that God gives us, with the foreign mission fields, which are in needy circumstances. He then read a list of appropriations to fields outside of our home conference the past year. The total of these appropriations amounted to $12,231.02.

To carry on the work of collecting means for the $150,000 fund, our State was divided into three districts, with Elders Neilsen, Christian, and Clark in charge; and $3,267.14 has been collected already.

The work in our home field has been blessed. There were four tents in the field last season—two English, one Danish-Norwegian, and one Swedish. Some precious souls have been gathered out from the world.

The following resolutions were adopted:—

Whereas, The Lord has granted his blessings to rest upon the work of our conference the past year, by bringing into the truth many precious souls, and by increasing the spirit of consecration among our own people, and with an increase of tithes and offerings; and in view of the need of means in foreign fields,—

1. Resolved, That we express our appreciation of these blessings, (a) by the following amendment to the constitution: In addition to the first tithe paid to the Northern Union Conference, a second tithe shall be paid to the General Conference for the propagation of the message in foreign fields; (b) by continuing the support of Elder Perry in Peru for another year; (c) by continuing for another year the support of Elder Scholl in the German work in Pittsburg, Pa.; (d) by continuing the support of Elder Smith in Korea for the ensuing year, and further, that we give five hundred dollars to the Manitoba Conference, and that we give $12.50 a week toward the support of a laborer in Alberta.

2. Resolved, That in view of the need of trained canvassers, one or more institutes be held the coming year at such time and place as shall be decided by the conference committee.

3. Resolved, That our local church elders be requested to seek out such in their company as are especially adapted to this branch of the Lord's work, and in counsel with the State agent plan with them to enter into active service, and also, that we encourage the brethren in our churches to assist such workers in every way possible.

4. Resolved, That we recommend our church librarians to procure a copy of “The Missionary Idea,” and with the church study it carefully and seek to arouse a special interest in missionary work.

In view of the great need of more thoroughly qualified and trained librarians, and to assist the churches in leading out in missionary work in the distribution of tracts, the use of the Family Bible Teacher, taking subscriptions for papers, and the sale of our forty-per-cent books,—

5. Resolved, That a suitable person be selected and supported by the conference for this work, whose duty shall be to visit churches and by actual canvassing and house-to-house work, as well as by oral instruction, train suitable persons for this work.

6. Resolved, (a) That we more fully organize the medical missionary work in the conference; (b) that we give it the same fostering care as the other departments of the conference; (c) that we invite the doctors and graduate nurses of good standing who are engaged in this line of work, to unite with this department for mutual encouragement, and furtherance of health reform, medical missionary work, and the promulgation of the gospel; (d) that we heartily welcome the sanitarium at Chamberlain, S. D., to our conference.

Ministerial credentials were granted to J. W. Christian, E. G. Hayes, Valentine Leer, C. M. Clark, N. P. Neilsen, N. M. Jorgensen, R. E. Harter, and Conrad Reiswig. Ministerial licenses were granted to N. J. Ronlund, W. L. Manful, C. P. Farnsworth, and R. B. Thurber.

Missionary credentials were given to Adolph Christensen, Bertha E. Jorgensen, Milla M. Johnson, Geo. W. Miller, F. R. Isaac, Florence Miller, Daniel Wall, Christian Reiswig, Grace Isaac, J. H. Schmidt, H. L. Stanberg, and Conrad Reimche.

Officers for the ensuing year are as follows: President, J. W. Christian; Vice-president, E. G. Hayes; Secretary, N. M. Jorgensen; Treasurer and Transportation Agent, F. R. Isaac; Business Agent, C. M. Clark; Tract Society Secretary, F. R. Isaac; Assistant Secretary, Grace Isaac; Field Secretary, Geo. W. Miller; Educational Secretary, Daniel Wall; Medical Secretary, Dr. C. P. Farnsworth; Religious Liberty Secretary, R. E. Harter; Sabbath-school and Corresponding Secretary, Florence Miller. Conference committee: J. W. Christian, E. G. Hayes, Valentine Leer, C. M. Clark, N. P. Neilsen, C. P. Farnsworth, and Wm. Reiner. School Board: J. W. Christian, F. Knecht, M. K. Thrall, Albert Tucker, Alfred Jensen, and C. M. Clark.

Teachers' credentials were given to M. J. Low, Lizzie Manussen, Erma Lewis, and Nellie Weller.

N. M. JORGENSEN, Secretary.