Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1885-10-07
The Congregational Convention

church beginning Tuesday morning, Sep
TENDER 20, and closing Thursday evening,
October l, was one of the largest, most
important and successful religious gath
erings ever held in the state. The report
of the statistical clerk, the Rev. FL. A
Miner, showed that the convention was
composed of eight districts, comprisine
1872 churches; 1913 reported AS we'll sup
piled with pastors; 81 without. The
number OF ministerial members is 1872,
OF whom 100 are in the pastoral work
the others in mission, educational and
other work. Five have died during the
year; !, 1874 members have been added to
the churches, making the total member
ship 1886 The value of houses OF
worship is $673,575; of parsonages 500, :
523. besides eight houses of worship
owned in common with other denomina-
tons and twenty houses not reported.
The total amount given for mission work
was 1874, 255.
The convention was composed of some
very able men, representing different
departments in religious work. "Chris-
tianity and Socialism" was the subject
of q fine discourse Tuesday evening by
Rev. j. Ellsworth, of Milwaukee, followed
by addresses from Hon. E. d. HoltoD, of
Milwaukee, and Prof. A. o. Wright, OF
Madison. Wednesday morning "Tidings
from the Field" were given by a large
number OF members OF the convention,
and Rev p. Pinch, of Baraboo read an
able paper on cautions Concerning
Reform" in which he assumed that
special reforms seem to be necessary
to any progress, but held that
all special reforms are attended with
danger. He set forth the dangers likely
to arise in connection with the temper
ance reform. There was danger, he
said, of neglecting moral interests while
attending to the one reform in hand.
Rev. A. P. johnson, of Platteville, made
his report from the committee on temper
ance, and presented resolutions pledging
efforts towards prohibition, but without
counseling partisan action to that end.
The afternoon session was taken up with
an observance of the Thirteenth Ami
ve:sary of the Wisconsin Home Mission
airy Society. Addresses were delivered
by +. j. Lamb, of Madison; the Hon E.
I d. Holton, the Rev. G. H. Ide, of Mil
waukee, and others. Deep feeling was
manifested in the convection when the
Rev DR.. !de, during his address, present
ed to the Home Missionary society gold
watch belonging to lady of his church
who wished it appropriated to the cause
of home missions. The convention pur-
chased this souvenir at 81 80 and present,
ed the money to he missionary society.
The secretary's report showed that the
number Of churches added by the society
during the year was ffty-fve. Seven
churches have been self-supportng-
East Troy, Mukwonago, Genesee, Hay
ward, Prescott, Plymouth and Emerald
Grove. Four new churches have been
formed--Elroy, South Kaukauna Wash.
burn and second church at Eau Claire.
The money expended in the work was
1925, of which $1,072 was sent from
the women of the churches.
The society elected the following Off
GERS: President, Rev. c. 81. Richards;
secretary, Rev. G. T. Grassie; treasurer,
R. A. Mccullough.
Mrs. II. A. Miner. president, made the
opening address at the meeting of the
| Wisconsin Woman's Ii. M. Society. The
treasurer's report showed that ST. 200 had
been collected, or one-third more than
| the year previous. 1t is proposed for
the coming yearto assume the support of
Miss Adams, a missionary teacher at
| Austin, Texas. Addresses were made BY
Mrs. A. G.. Wright, Mrs Fl. M. Shelton,
of New York city, and Miss M. E
Adams, of Austin, Texas. At the even
ing session, the Rev. J. B. Clark, O.
BIO IN ho
the American Home Missionary Socie--
ty." The $4,000 raised by this organ
ization sixty years ago, when it was
formed, has beenincreased to $4,000
the past year, with the present certainty
that $500, 900 will be the sum next year.
From the beginning the society has
raised 1000, 900; it has now 900 men
+ in the missionary field and has planted
AGO churches, with 100000 members.
The Rev. G. 81. Taintor followed with
the subject of Church Building" This
branch Of the Cong regational Church has
planted 1900 churches and invested
81, 10000 The question of the New
West Educational commission was pre-.
sented by the Rev. g., r. Bliss, of Chica-
20, who spoke of its work in New Mexico
and Utah. Encouragement is given that
by the effort put forth through the means of
education, ignorance and superstition in
the former territory, and the great evil of
polygamy in the latter may be thoroughly
eradicated. In Utah alone the commls
sion has established twenty-seven schools
in twenty -four towns.
Thursday morning the report of the
Sunday School work.was read by Rev. G.
81. Ide. Rev. c. Hamlin, of Beloit,
read a paper on INSTRUMENTATION
Fellowship" and the Rev. VIM. G. Bray,
of Kenosha, spoke on Pastoral Rela
TONS"
At the eleventh annual meeting of the
Wisconsin Branch of the w. B. M. l..
held at the M. e. church, the delegates
were welcomed by Mrs. J. M. Campbell
and the President, Mrs. S. w. Eaton, of
Lancaster, delivered the annual address. /
In the afternoon the w. B. M. ].
occupied an hour Of the convention.
Mrs. Kellogg. its first president, gave
report of the society's ten years of work.
Mrs. Prof. Wilcox of Chicago, made an
earnest plea for the work of women in
behalf of women in heather lands.
VULo. +ho oOp 90 tio, d..