p. 16 | The Norway Conference by C. B. Jensen

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 23, 1902

The Norway Conference

By C. B. Jensen

OUR sixteenth annual meeting in Norway was held in Bethel, Christiania, June 10–15, 1902. At the opening meeting thirteen of the twenty-one churches were represented by delegates. When it is remembered that almost as much time is needed to sail from the northern part of Norway to Christiania as to go from Christiania to New York City, one may see that it would be next to an impossibility for the northern churches to be fully represented. As the larger number of our brethren live in the southern part of Norway, these annual conferences are generally held there for the accommodation of the majority. A number of the northern churches sent telegrams to us, expressive of their interest in, and prayers in behalf of, our deliberations, that God might give wisdom in all that should be done.

The president, Elder O. A. Johnson, briefly reviewed the work of the year, and heartily thanked the brethren for the cordial manner in which they had responded to the needs of the cause. They had been asked to assist in raising money at three different times, besides the regular annual offering, thus paying the conference and tract society debts to the publishing house.

In view of the custom now gaining recognition at all our general meetings, it was voted that a large committee be chosen to act as a committee of counsel, as follows: H. Hansen, N. P. Nelson, Z. Sherrig, H. J. Hansen, C. B. Jensen, O. J. Olsen, O. A. Johnson, John Lorntz, A. Sewaldsen, Z. Johansen, H. Angel, E. Iversen, A. O. Narem, H. M. Lund, and J. Badendich.

The following subcommittees were chosen:—

On Resolutions: N. P. Nelson, H. Hansen, Z. Sherrig, Z. Johansen, John Lorntz.

On Credentials: O. A. Johnson, A. G. Daniells, H. J. Hansen, A. O. Narem, C. B. Jensen.

On Nominations: A. Sewaldsen, E. Iversen, J. Badendich, L. R. Conradi, S. M. Scheen.

Opportunity was given our local ministers and church-school teachers to relate their experiences in the field during the past year. These were of a varied nature, indicating that the enemy of all righteousness is not asleep here in Norway. One minister had been threatened with death by shooting, if he did not leave the town; another had been imprisoned four days, with nothing but bread to eat and water to drink, because he had baptized a convert under age, whose father objected; one of the church-school teachers related a touching incident of how his pupils, instead

of playing during the recess hour, had spent the time in prayer in a secluded place, asking God’s blessing upon them and upon their teacher. These experiences were listened to with interest and sympathy on the part of the congregation, as one could see from the tears in many eyes.

The following resolutions were passed:—

“Whereas, Our ministers are few, and rarely have an opportunity of visiting our isolated brethren and sisters, and,—

“Whereas, In the past the Sabbath school has proved to be a great blessing to old and young, therefore,—

“1. Resolved, That we encourage our isolated brethren and sisters to devote some time every Sabbath to a thorough study of the Sabbath-school lesson, that they may, through this branch of the work, be partakers of the blessing and light God is willing to bestow upon his people. And, further,—

“We Recommend, That at the same time, these brethren and sisters take up a collection, and at the end of each quarter forward the money to the conference treasurer.

“Whereas, The quarterly reports from our Sabbath schools and churches are quite incomplete, therefore,—

“2. Resolved, That we encourage our secretaries in the various churches and Sabbath schools to be more prompt in filling out and sending in said reports.

“Whereas, Evangelists’ Sendebud [Gospel Messenger] has not the circulation among our own church members that it ought to have, and thus comes out with an annual deficit, therefore,—

“3. Resolved, That we attempt to increase its circulation (a) by visiting every family among us that does not take the paper; (b) by soliciting subscriptions among outsiders; (c) by requesting that our ministers, and others who have the ability, write short, pithy articles for the paper.

“Whereas, The Lord has richly blessed us in all branches of the work during the past year, therefore,—

“4. Resolved, That we express our deep gratitude and thankfulness for all his goodness toward us.

“Whereas, We gratefully acknowledge the help rendered us by our brethren in America and in other lands, during the time of our financial difficulty, therefore,—

“5. Resolved, That we hereby express our heartfelt thanks for their tendered sympathy.

“Whereas, Our hearts are to-day full of gratitude to God for his wonderful deliverance in our time of great need here in Norway, and as our brethren in America and other parts of the world so nobly came to our rescue, not only with their counsel, but with what money we needed to pay the banks, and thus saved the cause of God from the reproach of our enemies, therefore,—

“6. Resolved, That we ask our brethren who are present from America, to carry our sincere thanks to our beloved brethren beyond the great Atlantic for all the help and encouragement they have sent us in our time of need.

“Whereas, During the past year our church schools have proved themselves to be a great blessing, therefore,—

“7. Resolved, That our churches be encouraged to lay plans whereby more church schools may be established.

“Whereas, Many of our tracts are out of date, and a number are also out of print, therefore,—

“8. Resolved, That Z. Sherrig, O. A. Johnson, H. M. Lund, S. M. Scheen, and John Lorntz be a committee to look over and revise our tracts, and recommend which of the old, as well as what new books and tracts, should be printed.

“Whereas, Our canvassers are suffering from the financial crisis that has visited our land, and the opposition to their work has become more intense, so that it is difficult for them to make their work self-supporting, therefore,—

“9. Resolved, That the conference committee appoint a day on which a collection in behalf of this branch of the work may be taken up.

“Whereas, Other conferences pay their own president, as they do their other missionary workers, from nine tenths of all their tithe, and pay one tenth of their tithe (as well as their Sabbath-school donations and week-of-prayer offerings) for use in the mission field, therefore,—

“10. Resolved, That we adopt the same attitude toward the Scandinavian Union Conference, and accept the usual custom of paying the conference president from the nine tenths of the tithe, and that, in harmony with the advice of the visiting brethren, we ask the European General Conference for an appropriation large enough to cover the deficit that will be occasioned in our conference treasury by this additional expense.”

Resolutions five and six seemed to touch a responsive cord in the hearts of the people, and many touchingly related how this experience, more than anything else, had led them to realize that this is indeed the work of God. The lesson has been a bitter one, but through the help of the Lord, it will be productive of great good to the cause of truth in Norway.

The philanthropic work received its share of attention. This branch of the third angel’s message is now represented in three centers,—by our water-cure establishment in Christiania, which is under the direct supervision of the Norway Conference, and by treatment rooms in Bergen and in Hamar, both of which are private, self-supporting undertakings, operated in harmony with the light God has been pleased to give us as a people.

The following persons were chosen as the board for the Norwegian Philanthropic Society: President, O. A. Johnson; Vice-President, O. J. Olsen; Secretary and Treasurer, John Lorntz; other members, H. J. Hansen, C. B. Jensen, L. Halvorsen, Johanne Christensen.

The treasurer’s report showed that during the past year the income of the conference had exceeded its expenses by kroner 713.07; and the book mission which operates the publishing house, had a gain of kroner 2,733.11 for the year. Considering the money stringency, this is a very encouraging showing.

About seventy have accepted the truth during the year.

Ministerial credentials were granted to O. A. Johnson, H. Hansen, N. P. Nelson, A. Sewaldsen, and O. J. Olsen. Missionary licenses were given to Z. Sherrig, E. Iversen, Lina Lind, Julia Lyche, and Johanne Bjorkelund.

The conference officers for the year are as follows: President, O. A. Johnson; Secretary, C. B. Jensen; other members of the committee, N. P. Nelson, Z. Sherrig, H. Hansen, O. J. Olsen, A. Sewaldsen; conference Treasurer and Treasurer and Manager of Book Mission, A. C. Christensen; Canvassing Agent, Z. Sherrig; Sabbath-school and Missionary Secretary, Johanne Christensen.

All certainly appreciated the help rendered by the visiting brethren—L. R. Conradi, A. G. Daniells, N. P. Nelson, C. W. Flaiz, H. W. Cottrell, Dr. Carl Ottosen, and H. Shultz. Their advice was timely, and their suggestions helpful.

At the close of the meeting, the brethren and sisters all went home happy in the Lord, and of good courage to carry forward the work he has committed to his people in these days.

C. B. JENSEN, Secretary.