WISCONSIN CONFERENCE by O. A. Olsen; A. S. Osborn

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 13, 1876

WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

By O. A. Olsen; A. S. Osborn

This Conference held its sixth annual session at Sparta, Monroe Co., Wis., in connection with the camp-meeting, June 15-19, 1876.

FIRST SESSION.

The Conference convened at 9 o’clock A. M., June 16, the President, O. A. Olsen, in the chair; prayer by Bro. U. Smith. Credentials were called for, when it was found that twenty-nine churches were represented by delegates and one by letter; eight were not represented.

Minutes of last Conference were read and approved. Applications from new churches for admittance into the Conference

were received, as follows: Fish Creek, Sturgeon Bay, Fort Howard, Hixton, and La Grange. The Ashwaubenon church desired to disband and unite with the Fort Howard church. Their request was granted.

On motion, Bro. and sister White, and Bro. U. Smith, were invited to participate in the deliberations of the Conference.

Voted, That the Chair appoint the usual committees.

The committees appointed were as follows:—Nominating Committee, John Atkinson, I. Sanborn, and S. S. Smith. Auditing Committee, A. Patton, O. Burr, E. O. Hammond, O. A. Hegg, Eli Osborn, and A. Tenney. On Credentials and Licenses, J. G. Matteson, H. W. Decker, John Atkinson. On Resolutions, U. Smith, J. G. Matteson, and I. Sanborn.

Adjourned to call of Chair.

SECOND SESSION.

Conference called at 5 o’clock P. M., June 18; prayer by Eld. Matteson. Five additional churches were represented by delegates.

Committee on Nominations reported as follows:—For President, H. W. Decker, Fort Howard, Wis., Executive Committee, H. W. Decker, Geo. C. Tenney, and O. A. Olsen; Secretary, A. S. Osborn, Bloomington, Grant Co., Wis.; Treasurer, Wm. Kerr, Monroe, Green Co., Wis.

The report was accepted, and the persons named were unanimously elected.

Committee on Credentials and Licenses reported to renew credentials of Isaac Sanborn, H. W. Decker, John Atkinson, John G. Matteson, and O. A. Olsen; Geo. C. Tenney was recommended for ordination and credentials. The following were reported to receive license: Andrew Johnson, O. A. Hegg, S. S. Smith, Andrew D. Olsen, E. M. Crandall, and J. P. Jesperson.

Report of Committee on Resolutions called for, which is as follows:—

Resolved, That we feel thankful for the aid rendered us in this camp-meeting by the General Conference, and for the goodness of God in granting life and strength to Bro. and sister White to help and encourage us in the work.

Resolved, That although the constant wet weather has made our stay on this camp-ground unpleasant, and hindered the outside attendance, yet we feel well paid for coming here, on account of the nearness of the Lord, and the cheering influence of his Spirit in our meetings, which lift us above all earthly troubles.

Resolved, That the rapid extension of the work of spreading the truth in this and other countries is a matter of great encouragement to us, and that we hail it with joy as the strongest evidence of the nearness of the advent of our Lord.

Report accepted and adopted.

Eld. White introduced the following resolutions, which were unanimously adopted:—

Resolved, That it is the sense of this Conference that ministers laboring in this Conference should counsel with the Executive Committee in all important labor, such as tent-meetings and taking journeys of considerable length; and in case they neglect to seek and follow the counsel of the Committee, we recommend that the Auditing Committee do not take into the account their traveling expenses or their time of labor.

Resolved, That in the opinion of this Conference, the Camp-meeting Committee should feel free to hire help to fit up the camp-ground, and that they should also feel free to call on young brethren to go of errands and do general service during the time of camp-meeting.

Resolved, That the accounts of the Camp-meeting Committee be audited by a committee of three appointed by the Conference.

Voted, That we have a camp-meeting committee composed of brethren outside of the ministry, to advise and counsel with the Executive Committee.

Adjourned to call of the Chair.

THIRD SESSION.

Conference convened at 9 A. M., June 19; prayer by Bro. White.

The Lyons church requested the name of their church changed to Baraboo; the Plum Creek church requested their name changed to Whitehall.

The Fremont church wished to retain a part of their Systematic Benevolence for the coming year, to assist in completing their house of worship. On motion being made, they were allowed to retain all of their S. B. for the coming year; and Bro. White donated ten dollars toward the completion of the house.

The following churches requested the Conference to send an American laborer among them: Neenah, La Grange, Fish Lake, and Whitehall.

Committee on Licenses further reported that they recommend Bro. C. W. Olds to receive ordination and credentials; also Bro. T. D. Waller, of Victory, and Rufus Baker, of Mackford, to receive license.

Report accepted and committee discharged.

Adjourned to call of the Chair. After adjourning, all assembled in the large tent to witness one of the most solemn and impressive scenes it is ever our privilege to enjoy, the ordination of Brn. Tenney and Olds.

FOURTH SESSION.

Called at 8 P. M., June 19; prayer by Bro. Decker. The following-named persons were appointed by the Chair as a Camp-meeting Committee: N. M. Jordan, T. B. Snow, and E. O. Hammond.

Voted, That the President act as delegate to attend the General Conference.

The treasurer’s report being called for, was given as follows:—

Cash on hand at beginning of the year, $66.63

Rec’d during the year, $2906.95

Total, $2973.58

Paid out on orders to date, $1667.90

On hand to balance, $1305.68

Total, $2973.58

The Secretary’s report is incomplete, as there were five churches not represented. The following is as near as we can give the report:—No. of members for Conference year 1875, 933; No. of members for Conference year 1876, 1048; S. B. for 1875, $3,422.00; S. B. for 1876, $3,863.35; No. of ordained ministers in Conference, 8; No. of licensed ministers, 8.

On motion, $200 were voted to the General Conference fund.

FIFTH SESSION.

Met June 20, 3:30 A. M.; prayer by Bro. Matteson.

On motion being made that the proceedings of this Conference be published in REVIEW AND HERALD, the secretary was instructed to furnish a copy of the same for publication.

Voted, To renew credentials of Bro. D. Downer.

Voted, That the subject of S. B. be referred to the Executive Committee, with the request that they take measures for the collection of arrearages, and for united action by all in this Conference in coming up to the figures adopted.

At the close of the session, Eld. White made a few remarks which were full of instruction and encouragement to all.

On motion, Adjourned.

O. A. OLSEN, Pres.

A. S. OSBORN, Sec.