Manuscripts and Memories of Minneapolis

O. A. Olsen to W. C. White & EGW, Jun. 15, 1892

O.A. Olsen to W. C. White E. G. White
June 15, 1892

We arrived at Des Moines Tuesday morning, June 7th, the day of the opening of the regular camp-meeting. We found that they were not looking for a very large meeting. The spring had been very backward, and there had been much rain, which had belated the farmers in getting in their crops; so much so that a great deal of corn remained unplanted. But to the surprise of all the brethren they came in in large numbers, many more than they had been expecting. Bro. Jones arrived there at the same time I did, while Bro. Prescott was there the day previous. As soon as we got on the ground Bro. Morrison and the leading brethren of the Conference just gave us the freedom of the camp, as we might say, and wanted that we should take charge of the preaching and the religious exercises, and wanted us to be free in every respect. I was very glad to see this spirit manifested. Well, the meeting went on. Bro. Jones and Prof. Prescott were very free, and no man could try harder than Bro. Morrison did to make it pleasant, and to make the work easy, and to second the efforts put forth for the congregation. While Bro. Morrison has not come out with a formal confession in reference to his attitude at Minneapolis, yet he seems to do as much as any man can do to forward these very principles that have been the subject of consideration. How he feels down deep in his heart I can not say. His talks were good, and his testimonies in the meetings were good, and supported every effort that was made and every position that was taken. Bro. Jones and Bro. Prescott did not mince things a particle. I never saw either of them more free than they were on the Iowa camp-ground. The congregation just drank it in like the most precious morsels they bad ever received. In his prayers Bro. Morrison was very tender, and seemed to have power with God. I was indeed very thankful to see it. But there were a number of others of the ministry of whom I was very much perplexed, and there were other leading brethren in the Conference who, while they made no opposition, did not drink in the spirit that was prevailing. I could see no reason to criticise the attitude of Bro. Morrison. I only wished that according to appearance, all the other leading brethren would have taken the position that he did. I of course can not read the heart. The Lord knows that. MMM 197.1

On Sabbath we had a remarkable day. On Friday while business meeting was going on in the tent and delegates and others were there, Bro. Jones invited all who felt a special burden to seek the Lord, to meet him in another tent. He had a three-hours’ meeting, and the Lord blessed us there very much. Sabbath forenoon I spoke and referred to some things I had presented before. The remarkable manner in which the providence of god was going out before us everywhere, and the unmistakable evidence of the message rising and going with strength; and then dwelt largely upon circumstances and different things that would hinder the blessing of God to our individual hearts, and also collectively. Took up Isaiah 58, and showed how while they made a profession and while they fasted and afflicted their souls, yet they did not have a connection with God. They sought their own labors and their own pleasures, and that they cherished strife and wickedness in their hearts. We followed this discourse by sailing for sinners, for backsliders, and for unconverted professors, to come forward and seek the Lord. A large number responded. Then we took the young people to another tent, while we kept the older people right there. The meeting continued without interruption until three O’clock in the afternoon. The Lord gave us a decided victory. This was the forenoon meeting that continued until 3.00 o’clock. Of course it demoralized the dinner hour somewhat, but we thought that was of minor consequence. Our first business was to seek God and have his blessing, and this we did, and his blessing we received. At 4:00 o’clock Bro. Jones spoke, and then we had& general social meeting following that. We found the advantage of this course in this way, that by making the special effort in the forenoon we could have the privilege to get in a discourse after the effort to further develop the labor that was being done. We did the same thing at Minneapolis. In the social meeting that followed the discourse we had 253 testimonies in thirty-five minutes, with six songs during the time, and the ministers that were leading the meeting made remarks at different times. It hardly seems possible, yet those that kept tally said it was true. The testimonies were that of praise and exultation In God for the wonderful deliverance they had experienced. It was indeed a feast of fat things. Iowa never had such a meeting before. It was the unanimous testimony that it was the best meeting they had ever attended. In this way you can see that the Lord wrought for us mightily. To his name by all the praise. MMM 198.1

But as I have already intimated, there were some of the ministers, and some of the leading brethren that came along as it were only by the force of circumstances. We had ministers’ meetings every day. We tried to present these things very plainly. There was considerable perplexity over who should be president of the Conference and who members of the Committee, as Bro Morrison withdrew and would under no consideration let his name be used. The General Conference had not been able to send a man, and indeed we hardly knew whether they wanted one or not. But the committee on nominations certainly did not do themselves justice. I had to leave Sunday night to come here to look after some matters of business before going to the Wisconsin meeting. The election had not take place. The last meeting I had while there was with some of the ministers and leading brethren and the nominating committee. The nomination stool like this: for President, Eld. C. A. Washburn; members of the committee, J. M. Willoughby, C. F. Stevens, Matthew Larson, L. P. Jacobson. The weakest committee that Iowa has ever had by a great deal, and it seemed to me that it was almost the weakest they could possibly get up. While C. A. Washburn is not the man for President, yet I will not say so much about that. Washburn and Stevens are the best men they have on the committee. Willoughby, Larson, and Jacobson are weakness. Willoughby and Larson are not in the light where the Lord wants them to be. Jacob son is a good brother, but not the man to lead out in such a Conference as Iowa. Whether this ticket will be elected or not I do not know, but I rather think it will be. But whether this ticket is elected or not I feel greatly relieved over Iowa. My brother, E. G. Olsen, had been suggested for a possible candidate for the presidency. It had not entered my mind to place him in nomination for that position. I never suggested. Be is needed in the Scandinavian work, and we have planned his work that way. When his name was suggested there I said nothing. I said that if they should elect him he would be a good man for them; the Lord would bless in the work. But some of them did not feel free to present his name, and I told the brethren that if there was a unanimous sentiment in favor of having him then I should have no objection; but with the sentiment that was prevailing I should decidedly object to his going in as President. I could see that if they would surround him with such a committee as they were selecting they would tie his hands, and he could not do what he otherwise would like to do. And that would only reflect upon myself and the General Conference, and I did not want it. If there had been a unanimous sentiment, and they would place beside him such men as would be a help to him, then with the assistance I might have rendered him by advice and counsel, I am certain he would have been a great blessing to the Iowa Conference. But I have no evidence that they would make any such move. But I have this comfort, that even if they go on and elect this committee, and all that, the interest in Iowa can not be held back. The Lord is at work there. The people are stirred up. They will make such demands upon the ministry of Iowa as they never have before; and as I told the nominating committee, if they give them such a committee for next year when they meet in Conference a year from now there will be a demand for different kind of men than they were giving them now. So on MMM 198.2