The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-02-20
SOME WARM DEBATE.
Admission of Churches Vexatious
Question for Swedish Lutherans.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS FINISHED
Large Attendance Upon the DevO-
tionaI Exercises% of the Min
nesOta Conference.

Special to The Journal
Red Wing, Mimi, Feb 20.-At the at.
ternoon session of the Swedish Lutheran
conference yesterday the list of officers
for the ensuing year was completed, there
being several Candidates for each office
The officers are as follows: President,
Rev. ]. Fremling. Of Hastings, Mimi;
vice president, Rev. L. G. Johnston, Of
st. Paul; secretary, Rev. G. A. Krantz.s Of
Duluth; treasurer, Rev. G. Rast, of Red
Wing.
A very lively discussion was precipitat-
ed by the application for admission to the
conference by a congregation in st. Louis
county. It appeared THAT several people
belonging to the church of Rev. Mr.
Krantz, of Duluth, had moved from the
city and upon the so-called tracts"
twenty or thirty miles away. They had
not severed their connections with Rev.
Mr.. krantz's church formally, however,
and had remained as members. But their
dues had laosed and they had otherwise
failed in their duty to the church. Now
they had started congregation of their
own and wanted to bc admitted to mem
bership without first 'ettling their ac-
count with the ole congregation.
Rev, Mr.. Krantz and Rev. P. G. Sjo-
blom the latter one Of the oldest and
most conservative members Of the con-
ference, did not believe it good policy to
admit such congregation. Rev. Mr.. Elm
quist and Rev. Mr.. Hanson, whose labors
are devoted to the people in that vicinity,
championed the cause of the new con-
gregation and after very heated discus
sion in which many participated, the con-
gregation was admitted to membership
Second Warm Debate.
Another tangle cania when the Scandi-
navia congregation, Of Manitoba, Canada,
requested membership in the conference.
The executive comm ittee had recopmend-
ed against its admission and delegates
began to ask the question why. 1t ap7
peared that large congregation. at the
place consisting or both Norwegians and
ISwedes had divided on account of troubles
in the church and a seeding faction had
built church few miles away. This
was the congregation asking for admis-
sion. BY vote 1t was decided to sustain
the report OF the executive committee. at
least for the present.
The following congregations were adj
mitted: Boehl, st. Louis county; Ward,
Todd county; Swan Lake, Stevens county;
Kensington, Douglas county: Pine Grove,
Pine county; Rock Greek, Pine county.
The reports OF the mission board were
submitted. very heated debate was
caused by motion to have two mission
aries In the twin cities instead of one,
devoted to rescue work. Dr.. Noreltus
PLEADED elOQuently Tor THIS, pointing out
how many young people Went astray who
came from the country districts. The
business session adjourned before final
action was taken.
Two Evening Sermons.
The evening services OF the conference
were attended by large assemblage of
people who crowded the Swedish Lutheran
church. There were also overflow meet
ings in other churches. The principal
speakers at tbQswedish church were Rev.
A. Magny OF Volga, Wis. and Rev. T. A.
Mattson Of Minneapolis.
After hymn by the congregation. Rev.
Mr.. Magny spoke from John Nv. 9-10,
Gods love manifested in his only begot-
ten son, Jesus Christ God created the
earth. the angels and man." he said. ITO
the man he gave his highest blessings
and for him the rest WAS created Man
fell into sin and became helpless, thus
bringing unhappiness to- himself and the
earth. II God had left. man In that CON
dition, what would have becomeof him?
The influence of sin in man, had to be
thrown of by divine means. This was the
only hope Of his salvation. Christ gave