p. 108 | MINNESOTA CONFERENCE by William Morse

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 19, 1861

MINNESOTA CONFERENCE.

By William Morse

BRO. SMITH: It seems to be my duty to give you a brief report of the Conference held at Pleasant Grove, Olmsted Co., Minn., Feb. 2 and 3, 1861. At an early hour we found the house of worship quite well filled with brethren and sisters from different parts of our new State, many of them entire strangers to each other. Two came one hundred miles, walking over thirty miles of the distance.

In the commencement of our meeting the sweet Spirit of the Lord rested down upon us in such a manner that it was quite evident we were of one heart and mind, although strangers to each other. We were some disappointed in not meeting Bro. J. N. Andrews at this

Conference; but we soon found a letter from him which gave his reasons for not coming.

Our hearts were made glad in meeting Bro. Bostwick and Lashier, who were strong in the truth, by whom the word was spoken in the demonstration of the Spirit, and much to the comfort and edification of the hearers. We were much cheered and strengthened in hearing the testimonies from our brethren and sisters, some of whom we never saw before. Good union prevailed throughout the entire meeting. We have good evidence to believe that the cause of present truth is rising in this new State. To God be all the praise.

On first-day in the afternoon there being a Methodist appointment at the school-house that we occupied, we went to Bro. Harris' house, where we had our business meeting, which was one of deep interest. One of our number remarked that it was the most interesting meeting he ever attended of the kind. While giving a statement of the rise of the cause thus far in this new State, we were much affected, and indeed there were but a few dry eyes in the house. Nearly all were ready to pledge nobly to sustain the cause. The business proceedings were as follows:—

Organized by appointing Bro. J. Gibson, of Mantorville, to the Chair, and Bro. D. Edwards, Secretary. The following resolutions were adopted:—

Resolved, 1. That we send the tent out the coming season into new fields, as the lecturing brethren may deem duty.

Resolved, 2. That Bro. J. N. Andrews be and is hereby invited to labor in company with Bro. J. Bostwick and Bro. H. F. Lashier, with the tent in this State and Northern Iowa the coming season.

Resolved, 3. That Bro. W. Morse, of Deerfield, Steele Co., J. W. Stowell, of Mantorville, Dodge Co., Wm. Merry, of St. Charles, Winona Co., act as Committee to solicit and receive pledges from those in their localities for tent operations the coming season.

Resolved, 4. That Bro. and sister White be and are hereby invited to make us a visit when on their tour through Wisconsin, the coming spring, and that we will pay their expenses.

Resolved, 5. That Bro. W. Morse is hereby authorized to write out a full report of this Conference, together with the above resolutions, and forward them to the Review Office for publication.

Nearly all our brethren present pledged nobly for tent purposes. A part of said pledges are to be paid by the first of June next. We would say to those who were not there, to forward their pledges to either of the tent Committee soon, and help swell the figures to the three hundred dollars which we agreed to raise; and we would say to those who are against pledging, who say their right hand should not know what their left hand doth, that we hope that those dear preaching brethren will know of their right hand and their left hand both doing something to help forward the cause of present truth in this far-off land.

To Bro. and sister White I would say, that such was the anxiety for you to visit this State, that twenty-five dollars were pledged for paying your expenses by those at this meeting, fourteen dollars and fifty cents by the sisters. I would say that the cause in this State is young, and our numbers few and much scattered, and wherever there is a small church raised up D. P. Hall frequently makes his appearance, as he did at Pleasant Grove a few days before the Conference, with the no-Sabbath heresy and the blighting influence of the Age-to-come theory. He also dwells much upon spiritual gifts, &c. All things considered, we feel that you and sister White might do much good to visit us as soon as you can.

W. MORSE.

Deerfield, Steele Co., Minn.