Minnesota Conference by Harrison Grant; H. F. Phelps

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 15, 1875

Minnesota Conference.

By Harrison Grant; H. F. Phelps

The fourteenth annual Conference of the Seventh-day Adventists of Minnesota was held as appointed in REVIEW, at Eagle Lake Station, Blue Earth Co., Minn., June 24–29, 1875. Eld. Grant in the chair. Opening prayer by Eld. Curtis. Delegates called, and 27 responded, representing 23 churches. One church not represented.

Churches and delegates as follows: Stewartsville, O. W. Pierce and Wm. Harper; Greenwood Prairie, Daniel McAlpine; Pine Island, H. F. Phelps; Medford, F. Duglas; Wells, C. Kelsey, D. P. Curtis; Riceland, Hans Rasmussen; Maiden Rock, A. M. Howard; Concord, A. H. Van Kirk; Otranto, L. E. Millne; Hutchinson, J. M. Comer, John Estas; Mankato, H. C. Bullus; Golden Gate, Jens Mortenson; Kenyon, J. W. Ellis; Tanhassen, R. S. Johnson; Chicago Lake and Cambridge, Charles Lee; State Center, C. Nelson; River Falls, John Olive; Lake City, Peter Lindblad; Grove Lake, R. Richardson and John Emmerson; Litchfield, Nels Swanson; West Union, T. S. McDonald; Sibley, Alfred King; Blue Earth City, Geo. M. Dimmick; (new churches) Kingston, North Kingston, W. H. Hall; Koronus, C. Black.

The church at Corinna was taken under the watchcare of the Conference.

Voted, That all brethren in good standing be invited to take part in the deliberations of this Conference.

The minutes of last Conference being next in order they were read. No objections being offered, they stood approved.

Voted, That the President appoint the committees.

The committees appointed were as follows:— Auditing Committee, John Emmerson, John Olive, Peter E. Hanson, T. S. McDonald, Jos. House, and Hans Rasmussen. Committee on Credentials and Licenses: D. P. Curtis, W. I. Gibson, Thomas Harlow. On Resolutions: A. H. VanKirk, H. F. Phelps, Chas. Lee. On Nominations: W. B. Hill, O. W. Pierce, R. S. Johnson.

Voted, To adjourn to call of Chair.

SECOND SESSION.

Report of Committee on Credentials and Licenses presented. It was accepted and the committee discharged. By motion, each was considered separately. The credentials of Brn. Stephen Pierce, Harrison Grant, and D. P. Curtis, were renewed.

Voted, That Brn. W. B. Hill, L. H. Ellis, and Geo. M. Dimmick, be ordained and receive credentials.

Voted, That the following receive licenses: F. W. Morse, C. Nelson, John T. Collins, H. F. Phelps, Daniel Call, Peter Lindblad, J. F. Butterfield and C. Larson. The names of Peter Errb, and L. H. Decker, referred to the Conference Committee.

It was suggested by Bro. Lee that Bro. Lindblad be ordained. Referred to Conference Committee.

After some remarks by Bro. White, he moved that Bro. Lee’s credentials be renewed. Carried. Bro. White also moved that Sister Julia Lee receive license. Carried. Adjourned to call of Chair.

THIRD SESSION.

Prayer by Bro. Lee.

Report of the standing of the Conference was then read, showing the following: No. of churches, 28; No. of members, 700; No. of ministers, 6; No. of licentiates, 9; amount of s. b., $2600.00. This report is not definite on membership and s. b., all reports from churches not being complete.

Report of Treasurer showed the amount of money received during the year to be, $2396.91 Pd. out, 1605.56 ——— On hand, $791.35

Report of Nominating Committee was received, and committee discharged. They reported as follows: For President, H. Grant; Executive Committee, H. Grant, I. Z. Lamb and Nels Swanson; Secretary, D. P. Curtis; Treasurer, W. I. Gibson. Thinking that our ministers should not be cumbered with the office, and that the secretary really ought to be one who was at home most of the time, Eld. Curtis thought he should be excused. It was moved to amend the report of the Committee by substituting the name of O. W. Pierce. Carried. The report was then adopted with the amendment, and the persons named elected to their respective offices.

Report of Committee on Resolutions was next in order. They submitted the following, which was adopted unanimously:—

Whereas, The resolutions passed at the Iowa Camp-meeting are in the main applicable to us, therefore,

Resolved, That we adopt them with such amendments only as will make them suitable to our situation.

Resolved, That, notwithstanding the very unfavorable circumstances under which we have labored on account of the inclement weather, we esteem it a privilege to express in this manner our gratitude to God for his great blessing bestowed upon us at this camp-meeting.

Resolved, That we thankfully recognize the fact that never before was there such evidence of the truthfulness of our position in reference to the fulfillment of prophecy as exists at the present time, the lapse of years adding elements of strength instead of weakness to the theory of present truth.

Resolved, That we see in the manner in which the truth is making its way among the people of foreign tongues, the unmistakable evidence of the hand of God which is carrying the message, in fulfillment of the prophecy, to nations, kindreds, tongues, and peoples.

Resolved, That we hail with joy the evidences of the prosperity of our cause upon the Pacific Coast, as manifested especially in the organization of the Pacific S. D. A. Publishing Association, and the establishment of The Signs of the Times in Oakland, California; and we recommend to our brethren, who are able, to take stock in that enterprise, and thus aid it to reach at once a self-supporting position.

Resolved, That we express our appreciation of the cheering reports received from Eld. J. N. Andrews, missionary to Europe, of the wonderful work of God in preserving and bringing to light the ancient Sabbath of the Lord in that part of the world; and we hereby extend our fraternal greeting to the Sabbath-keepers of Europe.

Resolved, That we tender our thanks to the General Conference for the help furnished us at this camp-meeting; to the Camp-meeting Committee for their efficient services during the meeting; and to the people of Eagle Lake for the candid hearing and the courtesy manifested toward us on this occasion.

Voted, That the Mankato church be allowed to retain their s. b. the coming year to assist in paying for their church.

By order of the Conference, the President appointed as Camp-meeting Committee, Peter E. Hanson, W. H. Hall, and Allen Moon.

Voted, That the East Hutchinson church be dropped from the records of the Conference. This was because of the Hutchinson and East Hutchinson churches being united.

The subject of Bro. Grant’s having some help in his labors came up, and it was voted to let him select such help as he desired and needed.

Bro. Wm. Hill, of Grove Lake, L. H. Ellis, of Medford, and Geo. M. Dimmick, of Blue Earth City, were set apart to the solemn work of the ministry.

Voted, That the doings of this Conference be published in the REVIEW.

Adjourned sine die. Harrison Grant, Pres. H. F. Phelps, Sec.

CONFERENCE DIRECTORY FOR MINNESOTA

THE PRESENT CONFERENCE YEAR.

PRESIDENT.

Harrison Grant, Medford, Minn.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

H. Grant, Medford, Minn. I. Z. Lamb, Pleasant Grove, Minn. Nels Swanson, Litchfield, Meeker Co., Minn.

TREASURER.

W. I. Gibson, Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minn.

SECRETARY.

O. W. Pierce, Stewartsville, Olm. Co., Minn.

CAMP-MEETING COMMITTEE.

P. E. Hanson, Litchfield, Meeker Co., Minn. W. H. Hall, Kingston, Minn. Allen Moon, Eagle Lake, Minn.