p. 11 | MINNESOTA CONFERENCE by Harrison Grant; D. P. Curtis

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 4, 1878

MINNESOTA CONFERENCE.

By Harrison Grant; D. P. Curtis

SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL SESSION.

The Conference convened at Hutchinson, June 19, 1878. Meeting called by the President, Eld. H. Grant. Prayer by Eld. Stephen Pierce.

Upon the call of the churches, the following responded by delegates; viz., Agency, Alton, Artichoke, Blue Earth City, Cambridge, Dodge Center, Grand Meadow, Geneva, Grove Lake, Golden Gate, Greenwood Prairie, Home, Hutchinson, Kenyon, Kingston, Litchfield, Lake Ellen, Lake City, Lake Johanna, Maiden Rock, Monticello, Mankannah, Mankato, Medford, New Auburn, Pine Island, Round Grove, Riceland, River Falls, Stewartsville, Steele Center, Sauk Rapids, Tenhassen, Wells, West Union, Wrightstown.

The following-named new churches, with an aggregate of 92 members, were admitted to the Conference; viz., Belleville, Eau Galle, Faribault, Granite Falls, Irving, Milford, Oak Spring, Trade Lake, Weston.

A company of nine, raised up by Brn. D. C. Burch and E. A. Curtis, at Union Lakes, Rice county, were received under the watch-care of the Conference. Eld. D. M. Canright and Bro. G. W. Stone were invited to participate in the deliberations of the Conference.

On motion, The chair was instructed to appoint the usual committees.

Adjourned to call of chair.

SECOND SESSION, JUNE 20.

Called to order by the president. Prayer was offered by Bro. L. H. Ellis.

The chair announced the appointment of the following committees; viz., Auditing Committee, B. F. Lee, Jos. L. House, J. M. Little, H. W. Norton, Hans Rasmussen, Wm. Harper, R. Richardson; Nominating Committee, John Emmerson, J. B. Edwards, Jos. L. House; on Resolutions, C. W. Stone, D. P. Curtis, A. H. Van Kirk.

The Stewartsville church asked to be allowed to retain a part of their S. B. to aid in building their meeting-house, and that the name of the church be changed to Pleasant Grove.

On motion, The name of the church was changed, and the other part of the request was referred to the Conference Committee.

Adjourned to call of chair.

THIRD SESSION, JUNE 23.

Conference convened at eight o'clock. After prayer by D. P. Curtis, calling the roll, and reading the minutes, the chair announced for the Committee on Credentials and Licenses, D. P. Curtis, L. H. Ellis, W. B. Hill.

The Sibley church, having become extinct by reason of removals, it was voted to drop the name of the church from the records.

On motion, Voted that the Conference Committee be instructed to send some competent laborer to visit those churches which have not reported during the year, to set them in order, as far as practicable. After some informal discussion in relation to the Mankato meeting-house, adjourned to call of chair.

FOURTH SESSION, JUNE 24.

Letters from the churches were presented and read. The secretary read the statistics of the churches, as far as reported. Whole number of churches, 43; No. reported, 33; losses during the year, 79; additions, 139; present number, 779; No. of Sabbath-school-scholars reported, 649.

The Nominating Committee reported, and the Conference elected Harrison Grant, president; D. P. Curtis, secretary; W. I. Gibson, treasurer; executive committee, H. Grant, W. H. Hall, Calvin Kelsey.

The Committee on Credentials and Licenses reported, recommending 1. That credentials be renewed to Elds. Stephen Pierce, H. W. Babcock, Harrison Grant, G. M. Dimmick, D. P. Curtis, C. Nelson, A. C. Spicer, Peter Lindblad, Wm. B. Hill, L. H. Ellis, John I. Collins, and Newton Battin; 2. That Brn. John W. Moore, Samuel Fulton, and John E. Norstrum be ordained and receive credentials at this meeting; 3. That a license be granted to Sr. Anna Fulton, Brn. W. Walker, A. H. Van Kirk, John M. Hopkins, D. C. Burch, A. Mead, J. H. Hackett, E. A. Curtis, H. E. Hanson, W. T. Hinton, Peter J. Peterson, Ernest E. Olive, Jas. S. Brower, John E. Moore, Calvin Kelsey, Jos. L. House, T. J. Cross, Peter Amundson, Geo. W. Stewart, E. H. Pullen, L. A. Curtis. 4; That the names of M. S. Spicer, M. W. Clark, Erick Peterson, Erick Linn, Lewis Nelson, and Louis Kallberg be referred to the Conference Committee. Report adopted.

The president then laid before the Conference the financial needs of the cause in the Conference, and proposed to take subscriptions to raise means to carry forward the work. The sum of $1500.00 was pledged, in sums of $5, $10, $15, $25, and about $50 paid in smaller sums. The subscription lists were directed to be placed in the hands of the several directors of the T. and M. society, the money to be paid by the subscribers to the librarians of the several church T. and M. societies, and by them forwarded (with the names of the persons paying) to the directors, and by them to the State treasurer. About $260 of the subscription was paid in. The remainder to be paid before the first of January, 1879.

Voted, To donate $100 to the General Conference.

A communication from the Scandinavian brethren of the Conference was presented and read, and on motion it was referred to the Committee on Resolutions.

Adjourned to call of chair.

FIFTH SESSION.

Conference called at 7:40 P. M. Prayer by D. P. Curtis. The Auditing Committee presented their report, which was read and approved. The report shows the names of 19 persons who have labored from 5 to 45 weeks. The aggregate expense was $412.96; time in weeks, 372. Allowed from $2 to $8 per week. Total amount allowed, $2531.55. The treasurer presented his report as follows:


Amount reported June 25, 1877	$72.80
Received after report	13.50
Total	$86.30
Paid out on the campground	$76.30
Received during the year	$3248.61
Paid out	$2168.88
Expenses	5.33
Church Record and S. B. Books	2.10
Total	$2176.31
Cash on hand	$1072.30

The report was approved.

The Committee on Resolutions reported as follows:—

We, the S. D. Adventists of Minnesota, believing that the Spirit of God has rested down upon our camp-meeting, and caused it to be the best ever witnessed in this Conference, therefore,

Resolved, That our lives for the future shall be spent more in accordance with his will, and that we will make greater efforts to grow in grace than ever before.

Resolved, That as the T. and M. society has proved to be of great value in creating an interest in “present truth,” and in opening up the way for the living messenger to declare the last notes of warning, and the impending judgments of God upon a wicked world, we therefore extend it our warmest sympathy and support in its future work.

Resolved, That we heartily unite in the effort initiated by the General Conference last March, to bring about uniformity in the manner of organizing and conducting our Sabbath-schools, and so make them an efficient means of strengthening and holding our children in the truth.

BY THE SCANDINAVIAN BRETHREN.

Whereas, In reviewing the earnest and sacrificing steps taken by our American brethren both of the General and the State Conference, to bring “present truth” before our Scandinavian people, we feel and realize to some extent the greatness of our obligations to them and to God. Remembering with sadness the course taken by some that were among us in the past, we are willing to forget the same, trust, however, learning the lesson that it is necessary to guard against everything that may have a tendency to the same result. Therefore,

Resolved, That we, the Scandinavian S. D. Adventists of the Minnesota Conference, hereby express our heartfelt thanks to our American brethren, who have exerted themselves in our behalf, making us partakers with them in the work of the last message to the world.

Resolved, That we as a people most heartily indorse and believe every point of the many kindred truths that are proclaimed in connection with the third angel’s message, the writings and testimonies of Sr. White not excepted.

Resolved, As we behold the onward progress of this work, and, as we believe in our very hearts that this is the work of God, preparing a people for his everlasting kingdom, we desire to bear that humble part in it, both in men and means, that will be pleasing in the sight of God.

Resolved, That we hereby express our sincere gratitude to the General Conference for sending Bro. J. P. Jasperson to Minnesota at this time, to look after the interests of the cause among our people.

A unanimous vote of thanks was given to the General Conference, and to Brn. Canright and Stone for their presence and efficient labors in our camp-meeting and Conference.

Report adopted.

The minutes were read and approved, and the secretary instructed to revise and forward them to the Review for publication. Adjourned sine die.

HARRISON GRANT, Pres. D. P. CURTIS, Sec.

CONFERENCE DIRECTORY

for Minnesota the Present Conference Year.

PRESIDENT.

HARRISON GRANT, Medford, Steele Co., Minn.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

HARRISON GRANT, Medford, Steele Co., Minn.

W. H. HALL, Kingston, Meeker Co., Minn.

C. KELSEY, Wells, Faribault Co., Minn.

SECRETARY.

D. P. CURTIS, Hutchinson, McLeod Co., Minn.

TREASURER.

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