The Worthington advance., 1878-10-10
EAILURE or TIE CHURCH. PLAN.


The ADVANCE, for year or so past,
has pronounced the plan Of choosing
Indian agents by the churches fail
ure. It was soon found that church
member or church appointee was
more easily duped and tempted than
an outside politician, and that when
they got started once, they stole with a
greed and recklessness which excited
at once the admiration and the amuse-
ment of the old style of Indian agents.
We have therefore previously declared
ourself in favor of the old style of thief.
We are glad therefore to see that the
missions themselves are in favor of a.
bandoning the plan. At the recent
meeting Of the American Board of
Missions held at Milwaukee, the follow
ing memorial from the Dakota mission
was read:
The Dakota mission respectfully me-
| morialize the board regarding points
affecting the successful working of
missions among the Indians. First,
we ask tie board to testify against any
| monopoly of missionary rights eStab-
lishcd by the civil authority, favoring
some and excluding others from GER
| tain fields.
Second-,Nhile we recognize the ad-
vantages that have resulted to the In
dian service from the plan of giving to
religious bodies the selection of Indian
agents, we are constrained to say it
should be abandoned. Its special use-
fulness is now past, and its cOntinu-
ance is to risk otaium and damage to
| the Christian church, entailing pOliti-
cal responsibilities which is burden
some and dangerous, and not in accord
| with the genius of our constitution.
| 1'hird-The true civil rs we'll as spir-
itual regeneration of the Indian tribes
is by the power of the Gospel, and now
is the time to push forward mission
| work among them. BY vote of the Da-
kota mission. September 20, 1878, refer
red to committee on Indian affairs.
SOUTHERN MINNESOTA RAILWAE
La Crosse Chronicle, ID.
Although Mr.. Van IIorne's resigna-
ton rs manager of the Southern Mime
sofa railway was made public some
time since. it WAS not known outside
of the immediate circle Of those inter-
estod in the working of the board of tli-
| rectOrs, who his successor would be.
| \ meeting Of the board or directors
was held III New York in the early part
of last month, at which Manager Van
I.orne rendered his resignation, which
was accepted, and the vice president
and secretary Of the company, Mr.. p.
NJ. Meyers, WAS elected acting mana
ger. Mr.. J. NJ. Egan the assistant
| manager under Mr.. Van IIorne's al.
ministration, was promoted to the ST.
perintendency, and the Office of assis-
tant manager abolished. Mr.. Meyers
will take up lis residence in this city
in u week or two, while Mr.. Van Horne
is busily engaged in getting ready to
move to Chicago, whittier he will 20
during the present or early in the fol.
lowing week. There will be no change
in the operating policy Of the road, that
adopted by Mr.. Van Horne having
proved to be the best that the company
! have ever followed, Mr. Egan will re.
tain c',:rgc of the engineering depart.
mcnt Of the road, for, which he l,,s
proved himself so eminently qualified.
The officers of the company are: Pres.
dent. W. G. Van Horne; vice presi.
dent, secretary, and acting manager
z. NJ. Meyers; superintendent, J. NJ.
Egan. The Southern Minnesota Ex
tension company, which is identical
| with the railway company, is oflicered
as follows: President, j. G. Easton
vice president, W. G. Van Horne
secretary, j. X. Brown; treasurer, IL
e. Hangar. There is u little confusion,
in tie minds Of these who are no,
aware Of the fact, us to the difference
between the Southern Minnesota Rail
road company and the Southern Mime
sofa Railway company. The former
company ceased to exist in February
1877, when the road was, by order Of
the courts, taken out Of the hands o
the receiver and sold; and in the fol
lowing Marcl, the Southern Minnesot:
Hallway company was organized, under
which name it. is now hoine o,Nnr.t oil