Dakota Conference

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Michigan · Jul 23, 1901

Dakota Conference.

The Dakota Conference met on Seney Island, Sioux Falls, June 12–24. Considering that we had rainy weather during the greater part of the meeting, the attendance was good. The president’s address was hopeful and encouraging. He said that the Dakotas are an ever-broadening field, the country as a whole being new. The frontier, and the sparsely settled regions bordering thereon, are receiving from the East and from almost every country in the world many immigrants. The population of the Dakotas increased fully one third during the last three years. Therefore in Dakota we have the opportunity of preaching the Third Angel’s Message to persons of almost every nation.

Our finances are in good condition. The tithe for the past year was much more than for the year before, notwithstanding the crop failure in North Dakota. That our Conference is keeping pace with the onward moves that belong to the Third Angel’s Message is evidenced by the reorganization of the Conference in all its branches. The Tract and Missionary Society and the Sabbath-school Association were made departments of the Conference. The Sabbath-school work, the church school work, and the young people’s work were grouped into one department—the Sabbath- and Church-school Department.

The business of the Conference was brought before the delegations by an advisory committee of nineteen members. Fourteen of these were selected by the Conference from the floor, the other five were the Conference Committee. This Advisory Committee created six sub-committees. Forty-three recommendations and resolutions were brought in, all of which, except one, received favorable action by the Conference. Ten recommendations were made for the Missionary Department, covering tract work, the circulating of health literature, canvassers and their work, the sale of “Christ’s Object Lessons,” etc. Nine recommendations were made for the Sabbath-school, Church School, and Young People’s Department, covering their organization, selection of Sabbath-school teachers, Sabbath-school Institutes, etc. One man, a field secretary, was placed in charge of the department, as a Conference laborer, and asked to spend his whole time working for the same. Twenty-three recommendations were made for the Conference, covering reorganization, work for the churches, raising of funds for more extensive work on old lines, and the opening of new lines of work. The support of L. M. Crowther in Trinidad was continued. Four new churches were received,—three in North Dakota, and one in South Dakota.

We have in the Conference fifty-two churches,—thirty-three in South Dakota, and nineteen in North Dakota,—one thousand, eight hundred and twenty-four members, counting isolated Sabbath-keepers.

We begin the year with twenty-nine laborers,—ten ministers, seven licentiates, and twelve who have missionary license. Elder W. T. Millman, who has been our Conference president for three years, goes to his old home in Missouri. Elder N. W. Allee, of Tennessee, takes his place as president here. Two others of our laborers were called to labor in other fields—Elders H. R. Johnson and August Anderson. Their places are taken by O. P. Norderhus and A. E. Christian. Two of our brethren, Lars Nielson and August Anderson, were ordained to the gospel ministry by prayer and the laying on of hands.

We were favored with the following-named laborers and visitors from without our Conference: Luther Warren, N. P. Nelson and wife and his son, Dr. Nelson, from Europe, who is at present visiting with his parents; Drs. David Paulson and A. N. Loper; Elders C. W. Flaiz; Profs. M. W. Newton and C. C. Lewis; H. Shultz; O. E. Cummings, Canvassing Agent of the Northwestern Union Conference. We were glad to have with us Elder N. P. Nelson and his wife. Brother Nelson is president of the Nebraska Conference. He was president of the Dakota Conference for six years, from 1892-1898. These esteemed laborers hold no small place in the hearts of the brethren of the Dakota Conference.

Dr. Paulson made special and effective efforts among the young people. Professor Newton, with his stereopticon views, showed us through Union College, and many places of interest in our work in Europe. O. E. Cummings made special effort in behalf of the sale of books and literature on health questions. This effort was supported by an immediate canvass of the audience for the mid-summer number of Good Health, 4,250 copies of which were sold, more than a score taking one hundred copies or more each.

Luther Warren’s meeting with those who were brought into the truth under his labors in the Dakota Conference will long be remembered for its soul-inspiring influence, a veritable feast, a family reunion.

The future is bright for the Dakotas.