The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-06-22
WORK Off A SISTERHOOD ORGANI-
ZATEON MEETS WITH GENERAL
APPROVAL.
AID FOR POOR MINISTERS ).
How to- Provide 1t Problem That
COnfrOnts the Conference.-The
Cigar Movement Continues.

poor ministers and ministers widows
was taken up. The committee report
proposed that the ministers be instruct
ed to see that each congregation take
up a collection annually before May
1 for that cause.
Rev. A. Wright, of Rushford, Mimi,
objected to this proposition. He pro-
posed that the ministers assess them
selves at the rate of One-half Of one
per cent of their annual income He
also pointed out that the ministers
might as well save few thousand
dollars a year by smoking less cigars
than usual. The matter was tempOrar-
lily disposed of by the appointment of
a committee to report at the present
meeting, the committee consisting of:
Halle Steensland, Of Madison, Wis. !;
Rev. A. Wright, of Rushford, Mimi,
and Rev. r. Anderson, of La Crosse,
Wis.
Rev. N. E. Giere, of Black River
Falls, Wis. suddenly took the Speakers
to task because they did not always
weigh their words carefully enough.
The newspaper reporters, he said,
would pounce upon unfortunate express
s1ons Of individuals and scatter them
broadcast throughout the country as
the sentiment of the annual conference
of the United church. Mr.. Giere sing
led out the little anti-cigar speech Of
Rev. A. Wright as highly misleading
AS a matter of fact, the ministers of
the United church were not addicted
to cigar smoking
President Hoyme stopped this Cigar
discussion" and also gave as his opln-
ion that the reporters present were
fully capable of telling the difference
between the expressions of individuals
and the fixed policy of the United
church, and that they would formula te
their reports accordingly.
The president did admit, however,
that he had heard of a paper stating
that the meeting was against prayer
meetings, while, as a matter of fact.
only one or two speakers had said that
they were not so very strongly in favor
OF prayer meetings. By way of expla-
nation, and in order to do justice to
the reporters present, a Minneapolis
daily, which is not represented at the
meeting, has treated the latter in o
shabby manner, by means Of garbled
and misleading reports. % u-fs 1-.5 Isl
pIoRNSNl4Ofl cdQfo1llS tSOfIlS DISCUS
sion Saturday on account-Of the alleged
ambiguity of "a certain expression,
church order" was adopted without
opposition.
The children's home at Beloft. To-.
formerly belonged to the Augustana
synod, one of the constituent parts OF
the United church. Rev E. T. Qvam,
of cheyenne, N. D., who formerly be-
longed to the AuguStana synod, pro-
posed that the name of the institution
be changed to "Augustana Children's
Home, but he was beaten, the name
being changed to THE United Church
Children's Home" by a vote of 1919 to
133
The adoption of rules of management
Of this institution consumed the re-
mainder of the forenoon session.
The first part Of the afternoon SEES
sion was devoted to the discussion Of
the question of establishing deacon
esses' homes. Rev. j. L. Kildahl in
troduced the subject by an account of
this work among the Norweg'ians in
Chicago. So far the home had been a
private affair, but the speaker was in
favor Of connecting it officially with the
United church.
Rev. o. Guldseth, of Chicago, admit
ted that the sisters of mercy were lust
~ loved and looked up to by the Cath
ol1cs. Nor would it be amiss could the
United church extend temporal aid to
the needy. Thousands of Chicagoans
could brook no religious talk, but if a
Christian could extend to them help
ing hand when they were sick and
needy they were made SO thankful and
happy that their hearts could often be
reached afterwards with the word of
salvation.
Rev. J. M Eggen also admitted that
the Lutheran church was far behind
the Catholic church in regard to works
of mercy. He thought the Chicago
home ought to be literally supported by
the United church.
Adolf Larson, of Chicago thought the
work done by deaconesses' homes
would give greater returns to the
church for the money invested than
any other branch of missionary work.
Vice President T. H. Dahl and Rev.
N. Arvesen, of Avendal Mimi, favored
the home, and the discussion closed
with the adoption Of the following reso-
luton by Rev. G. Rasmussen, of Min
neapolis:
The conference desires to encourage
the churches to aid the deaconesses'
home in Chicago, provided it's constitu-
ton be so amended that two-t thirds Of
the members of the board of directors
shall be members of the United
church"
Rev. G. Rasmussen stated that eff
forts had been made to induce Prof
Boeckman to return to Norway for
good but that he had decided to remain
as president of the seminary of the
United church. In view Of this fact, the
speaker proposed that the chair ap-
point a committee of one to draft a
resolution Of thanks to Prof. Boeck-
man.
Prof. Boecknan rose and said that he
had simply followed what he looked
upon as a calling of God and that he,
on that account, did not deserve any
special thanks.
Rev. N Arvesen held that it was a
mockery to thank a man for obeying
what he considers to be the will Of
God, and Rev. Rasmussen's motion was
tabled.
Then came the sensation Of the day.
1t had been "a matter of unfaVOrable
comment that the Minneapolis Journal
ings of the conference. Now the thing
was publicly exploded by Rev. H c.
Holm, of Eagle Grove To-, who read
the following from the Journal:
"a motion on reports of the prayer
meetings was opposed by Rev. Messrs.
Kildahl and Anderson. Rev Mr. Boi
said: L am not in favor of prayer
meetings. 1t Is form of Methodism.
The reporting of them gives sister con-
gregations chance to misjudge
Others "
Rev. Mr.. Holm thought the United
church could not afford to let this pass
unnoticed, and suggested that a COM
mittee Of three be appointed to refute
the above statements in the Journal.
To Prof E. G. Lund, Rev. J. Sovde and
Rev. o. G. Belsheim was assigned the
ticklish task.
Rev Kildahl was elected to fill
vacancy caused by the resignation of
Rev r Anderson from the committee