The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1901-06-11
Trinity Tsked to Investigate
Gjertsen's Case.
STRONG APPEALS MADE
No Dissenting Voice Heard in the
Conferences Vote.
WHAT REV. MR.. GJERTsEN SAYS
the Premises and Is II 'NOn-
descript Body"
Special to The Journal.

Special to The Journal.
Willmar, Mimi, June 1.-THE matter
OF Trinity church Of Minneapolis and Rev.
NJ. Falk Gjertsen, was disposed of last
evening as far as the Free church con-
ference is concerned. The resolution be-
returned by the committee in some
what altered form, but practically con-
tanning the sentiments of the resolution
of last week. The resolution, adopted
without a dissenting vote, contains a re-
quest from the conference to Trinity
church of Minneapolis to cause an investi-
cation of the serious charges made against
| its pastor, to be made as soon as possible
and to take action in the matter in the
spirit of brotherly love and Gods word.
The resolution further solemnly asks Rev.
| M. Falk Gjertsen to facilitate, rather than
oppose, such investigation in order that
/ the suspicion cast on pastorand church by
the charges made and by the refusal to
investigate, and which has also reflected
unfavorably on sister churches, may be
removed.
The resolution found very little opposi
tion this time. The pressure brought to
! bear upon the meeting by the Christian
sentiment removed whatever doubt there
may have been in the minds of many as to
the wisdom of interfering in the affairs
of local church.
Rev. Messrs. o. Paulson, E. E. Gynild
and ]. S. Strand made strong appeals to
the meeting to redeem itself from the
charges of looseness and moral imbicility
that were sure to be made if this matter
was dropped, having once been taken in
hand by the conference.
Not one of the many members of the
minority of Trinity church present took
any part in the debate at any time. The
whole matter was managed by members
outside of Minneapolis and intimate
friends of Rev. Mr.. Gjertsen. Rev. Mr..
GyniId declared that Mr.. Gjertsen had
been a dear friend to him, but that could
not deter him from exercising proper dis
cipline
Free Church and Augsburg.
The question of the relation between the
Free church and Augsburg seminary
caused a little furry in the proceedings.
Rev. N. Halvorson of Wanamingo, Mimi,
moved that the board Of trustees of Augs-
burg seminary be asked to allow the an
nual conference to electfnew professors at
| the seminary in the future, the board af-
terwards sanctioning such election. Pro-
| fessor Ofstedal said that such requests
were "boyish," asking when the Free
church had ever suggested anything which
the board had not always recognized. He
declared that the board was ready to do
| anything the conference asked but it could
not change the laws of the state and give
| the election of teachers into the hands
of the conference Yet the board would
always be willing to act on suggestions
and nominations made by the conference.
This seemed to be satisfactory, and the
conference voted to appoint a committee
of three to meet with the board next year
| to discuss plans for establishing perma
nent relations between the church and the
| seminary This disposes of the matter
until the next conference, when this COM
mittee will report
sum of 81, 200 was raised yesterday
afternoon for the building fund of the
seminary. Professors ]. H. Blegen, H. N.
Hendrickson, ]. l. Nydahl, Wilhelm Pet
tersen and H. A. Urseth were elected to
spend their vacation in soliciting funds
| for the same purpose and to represent the
seminary among the churches.
The action Of the Lutheran board Of
missions of the Free church was approved
in sending P. Wien and two deaconesse es
to the mission field in Madagascar. Mr..
Wien was educated at Augsburg seminary,
the university of Louisiana and the Tuske-
gee Institute. He will attempt agricul-
tural beginnings according to civilized
methods among the Christian natives.
The two deaconesses will do hospital
work.
Papers and Discussions.
Most of the time to-day has been de-
voted to doctrinal discussions relating to
| article in the apostles creed. In this
discussion Professor G. Sverdrup of Augs-
1,x7 oIoI0
The Holy Spirit" In the afternoon Rev.
G. Oftedal of Buxton, N. D., read a pa
per on "The Holy Christian Church. and
Professor S. Oftedal on 1.-The Communion
OF Saints" Among those who took part
in the discussion of the morning were
Rev. Messrs o. Paulson of Blanchard
vile, Wis; ]. H. Brono of Fargo n. D.;
P. Nilsen Of Minneapolis, H. j. Villesoik
of Ironwood Mich; O.. o. Void Of Fer
S. Qanbeck Of Aneta, N. D., and G. Bles-
sum Of Clarissa, Mimi Rev. S. E. Kjelaas
of ThOrson, S. D., led the devotional ex-
ercises in the morning. The conference
will close this evening.
The conference has requested the home
missionary committee to take up at new
fields at st. Thomas, N. D.. and vicinity,
DEBORAH, Iowa; Ishpeming, Mich; Grand
Rapids, Wis, and vicinity; Grantsburg,
Wis, and vicinity; and Marshall, Ros-
seau and Beltrami counties, Minnesota
The sending Of a missionary preacher to
the Norwegian colonists in Natal South
Africa, was postponed owing to the dis
turbances Of the Boer war. The confer
ence decided to elect a superintendent of
home missions with a salary of $500 and
expenses. Rev. P. Nilsen Of Minneapolis
has been suggested as we'll fitted for the
place and may be elected. The commit
tee of home missions will spend $500 in
the work during the year.
WHAT GJERTsEN SAYS
Denies the Authority of the Confer