The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-02-21

participate. It was now proposed that
each congregation should have right to
send lay delegate to the district meet
ings, and also that the district meetings
should map out the work for the con-
ference meetings. $40 -
The conservative members of the con-
ference feared that such an arrangement
would virtually raise the districts to the
rank of small conferences and also make
the district meetings more Of a business
than devotional character. It was con-
tended that the present object of district
meetings was not for the transaction of
business, but purely for the extending Of
spiritual work. According to the proposed
change the district would be as inde-
pendent with reference to the conference
as the conference is with referenc to the
synod.
Afr a most heated debate, in which
all the leading delegates participated,
the proposition was voted down. So was
also motion that delegates to the con-
ference be elected by districts instead of
by congregations, as at present.
Foreign Mission Evening,
Foreign Missions" was the topic be-
fore the conference last evening and was
opened by j. Telleen, Phi. D., of Rock
Island, III, the field secretary for the
foreign mission board of the general coun-
Gil Rev. S. ]. KrOnberg of Melby MINI,
followed, urging Augustana synod to do
its utmost in this particular field of the
church. The next speaker was A. P.
Marten Of Fargo, and after him came c.
A. Hultkrans of St. Paul. Others who
spoke were DR.. Johnston of St. Paul, Rev.
E. M. Ericsson of Worthington, MINI,
and DR.. s. P. A. Lindahl of Rock Island .
An earnest prayer for the cause was said
by Rev. A. F. Tournell of Anoka, who also
pronounced the benediction An Offering
was taken for the work. ....
Changes in Constitution.
| One of the vexat1ous questions which
the conference has to deal Is the proposed
| changes In the constitution. A resolution
was Introduced to postpone action until
next fall and then hold special meeting
| to decide upon a revision. This was re-
cetyed with much opposition on account
! OF the expense and difficulties in the way
| of an extra session. It was feared a good
attendance could not be secured The
| conference has large and representative
attendance at the present meeting and
many were willing to extend the session
one day II necessary. A vote was taken
| on the resolution calling for postpone
ment and those against delay won by a
large majority.
DR.. DR.. Norsinius, who was one of the
leaders favoring the constitutional
( changes at a special meeting. then moved
that the whole matter go over until the
next annual conference Expressions OIL
| disapproval were heard from all parts
Of the church and the motion was lost
| by large vote.
The conference then took up the pro-
posed revision. Rev. Mr.. Cavallin thought
! the basis of representation at the con-
| ference should be changed inasmuch as
the annual meeting is getting to be toe
! large a body. But few congregations
can entertain the annual meeting because
! of it's size. It was voted, however, tc
make no change in the representation.
1t was proposed to change the time OF
| the annual meeting to June, but that was
| also lost.