p. 23 | MINNESOTA CONFERENCE by Harrison Grant; D. P. Curtis

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 12, 1877

MINNESOTA CONFERENCE.

By Harrison Grant; D. P. Curtis

The sixteenth annual session of the Minnesota Conference convened, according to appointment, at Hutchinson, McLeod Co., June 21, 1877. The President, Eld. H. Grant, called the meeting to order. Opened with prayer. There being a vacancy in the office of secretary, by reason of the death of Bro. O. W. Pierce, D. P. Curtis was appointed to that office.

Upon call for credentials of delegates, forty responded, representing thirty-two churches. Some five or six churches were not represented.

On motion, The Chair appointed the usual committees, as follows: On Nominations, John Olive, John Emerson, R. S. Johnson. On Credentials and Licenses, Stephen Pierce, D. P. Curtis, H. W. Babcock. On Resolutions, D. P. Curtis, O. H. Pratt, N. Battin. Auditing Committee, B. F. Lee, Wm. Harper, John Curtis, Jos. L. House, J. M. Little, Henry Young.

Adjourned to call of Chair.

SECOND SESSION, JUNE 25.

President in the chair. Prayer by Eld. Hill.

The list of delegates was read and corrected.

The new churches of Artichoke, Geneva, Grand Meadow, Joy, Lake Johanna, Sauk Rapids, New Auburn, and Wrightstown, numbering in the aggregate 85 members, with S. B. pledges to the amount of $147.54, applied for admittance, and were received with their delegates.

Two companies, one, of 18 members, at Milford, Ia., raised up by Bro. F. W. Morse, and the other, also of 18 members, at Beaver Creek, Rock Co., Minn., raised up by Brn. S. Fulton and W. B. Hill, were taken under the watchcare of the Conference.

The Nominating Committee submitted their report, which was adopted, as follows: For President, Harrison Grant; Executive Committee, Harrison Grant, W. H. Hall, Calvin Kelsey; Secretary, D. P. Curtis; Treasurer, W. I. Gibson.

Voted, That hereafter, the treasurer keep an account of his expenses in time and money, and that such account be audited and paid, the same as other accounts.

Voted, That the treasurer be authorized to deposit money in bank, if he shall think best to do so, at the risk of the Conference.

Voted, That the Executive Committee be instructed to appoint a Camp-meeting Committee, at their discretion.

The report of the Executive Committee, in the matter of the Mankato church building, which was referred to them at the last session, was presented, and, after some discussion, was recommitted, with instructions to exercise their discretion in the matter during the coming year, and report their action at the next annual session of the Conference.

The Committee on Credentials and Licenses reported, recommending, 1. That credentials be renewed to Elds. Stephen Pierce, Harrison Grant, H. W. Babcock, D. P. Curtis, G. M. Dimmick, L. H. Ellis, Wm. B. Hill, C. Nelson, N. Battin, Peter Lindblad, and John Fulton; 2. That Bro. John I. Collins be ordained, and receive credentials at this meeting; 3. That licenses be granted to Brn. Samuel Fulton, M. S. Spicer, John E. Norstrom, H. E. Hanson, John E. Moore, E. H. Pullen, Lewes Kiallberg, John W. Moore, Elbra Durfee, Warren Walker, E. A. Curtis, F. W. Morse, D. C. Burch; 4. That the applications of Brn. Jas. S. Brower, W. T. Henton, and B. F. Link, be referred to the Executive Committee.

Report adopted by items.

Moved, That this Conference lend its credit to the Health Institute at Battle Creek, to the amount of $100, to aid Bro. Battin in recovering his health. Pending the motion, adjourned to call of Chair.

THIRD SESSION.

Conference convened at 5½ P. M., June 25, upon the adjournment of the T. and M. Society.

The motion pending was amended so as to read, “Lend its credit to the amount that may be needed, in the judgment of the Executive Committee,” and passed.

The treasurer reported as follows:—

Received during year, $2763.00

Paid out, 1990.11

Remaining in treasury, $772.89

Report approved.

A communication was presented from the Maiden Rock church, and referred to a committee, composed of Brn. W. H. Hall, W. I. Gibson, and R. S. Johnson. A petition was presented from the River Falls church, asking to be released from this Conference, that it might join the Wisconsin Conference, which was referred to the same committee, with instructions to report as soon as practicable.

The financial and statistical report of the secretary for the last Conference year was presented and read. Being incomplete, it was accepted and laid on the table.

The following resolution was presented, and, after some discussion, adopted:—

Resolved, That the several churches of this Conference be requested to present to the next annual session a full written report of their condition, stating when they were organized, by whom organized, what was their number at their organization, what is their present number, the names of their officers—elder or leader, clerk, and treasurer—the amount paid during the year for the support of the cause, and any other items that may show the progress of the cause in the church, and that these letters be read before the Conference, as a part of the business thereof.

The Committee on Resolutions presented their report, as follows:—

Resolved, 1. That in the death of Bro. O. W. Pierce, our Conference has sustained the loss of a lover of the cause of present truth,—one who was, in his sphere, a faithful and consistent worker; and that we hereby extend our sympathy to father Pierce in the loss of his only son, and also to sister Pierce, in her loss of a faithful and devoted husband.

2. That we approve the recommendation of the General Conference Committee in relation to regular quarterly meetings in all the churches on the first Sabbath and first-day in January, April, July, and October, of each year, as presented in the REVIEW of June 7; and that we recommend the adoption of the plan by all of our churches.

3. That we believe the tithing system, as taught in the Scriptures and practiced by the ancient people of God, to be the only God-ordained system of raising means to carry on all the operations of the people of God, and that if this system could be universally adopted by the churches, our treasuries would be constantly supplied with ample means to carry forward the work of the Lord in all its branches.

4. That we feel a deep and abiding interest in and sympathy with our Scandinavian brethren, and will aid them by our prayers, and such ministerial help as we may be able to afford them.

5. That we clearly recognize the hand of God in the establishment and prosperity of the cause of present truth in Europe; that we hail its advancement with unfeigned delight; and that we pledge ourselves to sustain our faithful missionaries by our earnest prayers, and their work by our means.

6. That the Sabbath-school is an efficient help in carrying forward the work in which we are engaged; and that we recommend to all the churches that they make an earnest effort to gather all the children of Sabbath-keepers, and others, if they are able, into it.

7. That we recommend to the churches, as far as they are able, to procure the Progressive Bible Lessons, by Bro. G. H. Bell, published at the REVIEW Office, and use them in the Sabbath-school.

8. That we request Bro. Wm. B. Hill to present at our next Conference, a discourse upon the subject of Bible study in the Sabbath-school.

9. That in the manifestations of the divine presence in this meeting, carried on without any help from abroad, we recognize the fulfillment of the promises of God to those who rely upon him, and also a fresh evidence that ours is the work of the Lord, and that he is leading out in and directing it.

10. That the proceedings of this meeting be forwarded to the REVIEW Office for publication.

The first resolution was adopted without remark. The second elicited discussion, pending which the committee to which were referred the Maiden Rock and River Falls matters, returned, and presented their report.

In the matter of the Maiden Rock church, the committee found no jurisdiction in the matter, and returned the same back to the Conference, and asked to be discharged. In the matter of the petition of the River Falls church, the committee reported that, from all the evidence obtained from Bro. Olive and Bro. McMillen, this church is in a state of trial, and the petition cannot be granted.

Report received and adopted, and the committee discharged.

Adjourned to close of evening service.

FOURTH SESSION, 9:30 P. M.

Prayer by Eld. Babcock. Discussion of the second resolution resumed. After remarks by many of the brethren, the resolution was unanimously adopted. The remainder of the resolutions were in turn adopted unanimously.

Voted, To grant a license to Bro. J. S. Brower, whose application had been previously referred to the Executive Committee; also to Brn. A. Mead and C. Kelsey.

By request, the name of the Koronas church was changed to Manannah.

The brethren present raised, by voluntary contribution, the sum of $78 to start the tents. Minutes were read and approved and the Conference adjourned.

HARRISON GRANT, Pres.

D. P. CURTIS, Sec.