WISCONSIN CONFERENCE AND CAMP-MEETING by W. S. Shreve; S. D. Hartwell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 16, 1901

WISCONSIN CONFERENCE AND CAMP-MEETING.

By W. S. Shreve; S. D. Hartwell

The thirty-first annual session of the Wisconsin Conference convened at Grand Rapids, June 12–23, 1901, with the president, Elder W. S. Shreve, in the chair. The attendance of Sabbath-keepers was larger than that of any other camp-meeting in the State for years. Elders Daniells and Prescott, Dr. Paulson, and others were present, and labored to make the meeting profitable to all. Sabbath, June 15, after listening to a stirring discourse on the “Hour of God’s Judgment Is Come,” by Elder Prescott, nearly the whole encampment made a movement indicative of a desire to take advance steps in the service of God. This spirit continued throughout the meetings, and on Sabbath, June 22, about forty were baptized in the Wisconsin River.

The annual reports did not show as great an amount of aggressive work done the past year as has been reported on some former occasions, yet the blessing of the Lord on the work was evidenced in the mention of considerable permanent advancement. Ten tents were in the field the last tent season, and from all of them, with one exception, fruit was manifest, adding to the numbers of the Conference. At Oneida, where Brother Matthew Hill, the Indian brother, has labored the past year, a company of twenty-five or thirty are ready for organization, and would have been organized and presented to the Conference had an ordained minister in the Oneida tongue been accessible. Brother Hill was ordained at this meeting, and will doubtless perfect the organization of the company of his people. Elder Reed will assist in labor in that field this season, as occasion may require. But one church was organized this year, although there are other companies which might have been organized had not sickness, and labor in other directions, made it impossible to reach them. These will receive attention at once.

In order to effect the thorough reorganization suggested by the last General Conference, it was necessary to hold ten business sessions of the Conference, and one each of the tract society and the Sabbath-school Association. These two organizations were discontinued as such, and their work became departments of the Conference. The executive board of the Conference was enlarged from five to seven members, composed of the following persons: Wm. Covert, President, F. F. Petersen, A. G. Westphal, H. W. Reed, N. P. Nielsen, S. D. Hartwell, and J. H. Bramhall. Other officers are as follows: Secretary and Treasurer of the Conference, R. T. Dowsett; Secretary and Treasurer of the Sabbath-school Department, Lottie Farrell; Secretary and Treasurer of the Tract Department, S. D. Hartwell. M. N. Campbell was selected as State Canvassing Agent. A school board of seven members was elected, and provision made for the annual election of three members, each to serve two years, with a business manager to be elected annually.

It was voted to pay to the General Conference a “second tithe” to assist in the mission work of that body. It was also voted to pay the expenses of a laborer to go into some field outside of the United States, and to pay the wages of the same for a year. Sister Anna Nelson, of Pine River, was selected to go to the Society Islands with Elder Cady; and at a subsequent meeting, Sister Ida Thompson was asked for, to go to Brazil, and the brethren and sisters present voted that the Conference bear the expense and pay her salary while there.

Sixteen persons were granted ministerial credentials, ten were granted ministerial license, and forty-four were given missionary credentials. A number of the latter are church school teachers and medical missionaries. The canvassing work received attention from all the laborers from abroad, and several meetings were held in which instruction in this branch was given by Brethren Reavis, Moody, and Campbell. About twenty-five canvassers were enlisted in the work, and will devote their time to it in the future. A recommendation was passed asking the Lake Union Conference to hold a canvassers’ institute at Milwaukee, at such time as the executive board of the Union Conference should think advisable, and it was voted to encourage all who can attend to do so.

The meetings were fairly well attended by people from the city, and an interest was manifested on the part of several to learn more concerning the way of salvation. One laborer was left to look after the interest there.

A good spirit prevailed, and hopes are entertained for the advancement of the work.

W. S. Shreve, Pres., S. D. Hartwell, Sec.