Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1916-06-17
CHURCH VOTES
FOR MERGER
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FOR MERGER
Continued from Page One)
application. Following this, the presi.
dent read his annual address, dealing
with the condition of the United
! States during the past year, and the
! outlook and responsibilities lying be.
fore it. The status of the union ques.
ton was gone over in detail with
recommendation that it be submitted
to a referendum by the congregations
in the near future.
Reports Progress.
Mission work in this church has
made steady progress during the past
year, the presidents report showed
Especially gratifying is the condition
of the school work. DR.. Dahl urged
the necessity Of creating permanent
fund for the support OF the schools
under the jurisdiction of the church,
so that it can keep up with the needs
Of the times.
The charitable institutions Of the
church were said to be in good condl-
ton, but that additions were needed
in several instances. The hospital
and deaconess home in Chicago show
ed a net surplus for the year or
$l0,973.
Reformation Anniversary.
The president called attention to
the four hundredth anniversary of the
Reformation in 1917 and the resolu-
ton adopted by the English confer
ence at the meeting held at Northheld,
Mimi, which said:
"Resolved, That we encourage the
United Norwegian Lutheran church
to prepare special services, lectures
and newspaper articles, and in other
ways to cooperate in awakening IN
terest in and celebration Of the four
hundredth anniversary Of the kefor"
nation. it further
"Resolved, That a committee be ap-
pointed to procure legislation and TO
mold public sentiment favorable to
the granting Of half day week for
religious Instruction.
All congregations in the United
Lutheran church were urged to hold
Reformation festivals next year and
the whole denomination to plan for a
joint celebration.
Some of the problems of the rap
idly growing field of the church in
Canada were presented in the mes
sage. The growth of the church in
that part of America was regarded as
gratifying.
Five Ministers Die.
The president reported the deaths
of five ministers in the church since
the last annual meeting. In addition
to this, a telegram was received by
Dr.. Dahl from New York yesterday
telling of the demise OF Rev. A. w.
Hvistendahl at Providence, R. l., ear
ly in the morning.
The secretary's report shows that
the United Lutheran church is COM
posed of 1850 congregations, with
$50 ministers and LISP church struc-
lures. The total membership is 1885,
$50
The treasurer's report shows total
receipts of $5SS,51S for the year, with
balance in the treasury at the emu
of the year Of $27 ,SO2.20.
Last evenings session was devot-
ed to two mission lectures, one by
Rev. H. O. Shurson of Minneapolis,
and the other by Rev. E. n. Hermann,
the church's Jewish missionary in
Chicago. The work in the home mis-
sion field was presented in a clear
cut manner by these two men and
showed growth since the last conven-
ton.
At the opening services in the morn
ing, Rev. T. T. Heimark of Storey
City, Ia, preached the sermon and
Rev. G. Torvik, a missionary in Mad
agascar, ociated at the altar.
Mr.. Heimark's Sermon.
The Rev. Mr.. Heimark had selected
as his text for the opening sermon
Matthew alag: Therefore say unto
YOU that the Kingdom of God shall be
taken away from you and shall be
given to a nation bringing forth the
fruits thereof
The sermon was a strong plea Tor
a religion which dealt not merely with
outward forms and business activities
such as the erection of places OF wor-
ship and educational and charitable
institutions, but laid greater stress
upon a consecrated spiritual life. He
warned the pastors and assembled
delegates that if the spiritual fruits
were not in accordance with Scripture
there was a grave danger that the
Kingdom of God would be taken from
them even as it had been taken away
from those referred to in the text
and given to oilers. He said in part:
EAT the present time we have the
Kingdom of God. We have it in the
reality and in its workings. We have
| felt the spiritual forces of the King
dom of God. We have felt it in our
early youth. We have felt it in the
home. We have felt it in the hours
of Joy and we have felt it in the hours
of sorrow. We have felt it ofttimes on
| Sundays as we have been seated in
the house of God. There is some
thing which has lifted us up and
| drawn us. We have felt the King
dom of God working in the simple
majesty Of the beautiful liturgies and
| forms of the church of our fathers