Conference in Denmark by C. C. Hansen

Seventh-Day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Thursday, June 24, 1880

FromAdvent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 56, No. 1

Conference in Denmark.

By C. C. Hansen

Our first Conference was held in Hellum. The first session commenced May 30, at 8 A. M. After prayer, nine brethren were received as delegates: from Hellum, two; Tylstrup, two; Dronninglund, two; Alstrup, two; Aarhus, one. These, with two preachers,—Matteson and Brorson,—made up the members of the Conference. All brethren present were invited to partake in the deliberations. Seven churches in Denmark united to form this Conference: Hellum, with thirteen members; Alstrup, seventeen members; Tylstrup, nine; Dronninglund, fourteen; Jested, six; Nortvig, seven; Uhe, ten. The scattered brethren near Aarhus also united with the Conference. No delegates were present from Uhe and Nortvig. Letters were read from Nortvig and Ringsted, Själland. The whole number of Sabbath-keepers in Denmark was shown to be one hundred and twenty; members of churches, ninety-one.

Bro. Matteson was unanimously elected chairman, and the following resolutions were adopted:—

Resolved, That each church can send one delegate to the Conference; a church of over ten members can send two; over twenty can send three, etc. Brethren in places where there is no church can unite with the Conference, and send a delegate.

Resolved, That the chairman shall choose a committee of three to present resolutions, three to attend to licenses, and five to decide upon the distribution of means.

These committees were then chosen, and the meeting adjourned till 1 P. M.

Second Meeting.

After prayer, the treasurer’s report was read. Received, Kr. 280.55 (about $75.00); paid out, Kr. 135.31; cash on hand, Kr. 145.24.

The following resolution was passed:—

Resolved, That the church in Tylstrup be dissolved, as the members have moved away, and that those members living near Alstrup unite with the Alstrup church, and the rest with the church in Hellum.

Our position in respect to diet was discussed freely, partly for the sake of our members, and partly because our opponents try to injure us by presenting us as extremists and fanatics. The following sentiments were unanimously adopted: The New Testament teaches that it is lawful to eat all kinds of food, but all food is not edifying (Danish translation). That which is not edifying, or suitable to build us up in health and strength, is not good for us. The best food is fruit and grains, which God in the beginning created for man to eat. The next best is the meat of those animals which in the Bible are denominated clean. We recognize, also, that our Saviour did not favor pork-eating, since he allowed two thousand of these animals to be suddenly destroyed, causing an immense loss to their owners, while he on other occasions was very economical, and told his disciples to gather up the fragments of the loaves and fishes. Mark 5:13; John 6:12.

The question of systematic benevolence was considered, and the following points agreed upon: We are situated here in such a manner, many being poor, wages low, taxes to church and State very oppressive, and interest on money only 4 per cent, that paying one-tenth would be no equality at all, and in most cases an impossibility. Some are sustained by the poor fund, and some would make a greater sacrifice in paying one-twentieth of their little income than others would make in paying one-fifth of theirs. The first-named would have much less left to sustain their families (and in many cases not sufficient) after they had paid a twentieth, than the last-named after they had paid one-fifth. If the heavy taxes to the government and State church were removed, the matter would stand differently. At present the laboring classes in cities can better furnish some help, than we can in the country. Yet we will cherish a spirit of benevolence, and try to sustain the mission as we are able.

Meeting adjourned till Monday morning.

Third Meeting, May 31.

After prayer, Bro. Brorson’s report was read. He has labored forty-eight weeks, and held, on an average, four meetings a week. He has traveled principally on foot, and visited families, and scattered books. Distributed and sold about fifty thousand pages of tracts and pamphlets, baptized twelve persons, received nineteen members into the several churches, while sixteen others have commenced to keep the Sabbath and follow the Lord. (In this country the law forbids all colportering.)

The following resolutions were presented:—

Resolved, That Bro. Brorson receive license as preacher, and that Bro. Kristensen be recommended to use his gift in preaching; that churches and scattered brethren send their S. B. to the Conference treasurer at the close of each quarter; that preachers be referred to the committee, when they need means, and that the committee be empowered to give orders on the treasury.

Resolved, That this Conference expresses its heartfelt thanks to our brethren in America for the help which Bro. Matteson has been enabled to bring us, not only at these meetings, but also by his former labors in Denmark, and the more so because we are not yet able to help sustain him, on account of scarcity of means; that, on account of the great need of proclaiming the truth in Denmark when Bro. M. went to Norway, we do hereby express our joy on account of the labors of Brn. Brorson and Jorgenson, and our gratitude to our brethren in America inasmuch as they have sustained them.

Resolved, That the Conference meet again next year about the middle of June.

The following committee was chosen for the coming Conference year: J. G. Matteson, C. G. Hansen, and J. P. Madsen. The two brethren last named were also chosen for secretary and treasurer. Meeting adjourned.

C. C. HANSEN, Sec.