Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1886-05-22
The Ministerial Meeting.

The ministerial meeting of the Meth
odst Episcopal church for the Black
Hills convened III Custer City, May IS,
at 8 o'clock p. m, and after song service
conducted by the Rev. JAS. Williams,
listened TO lecture by this reporter on
Joshua, the son of Nun" He may not
commend it, and don't wish to depreciate
it, and can therefore only say the people
listened to the lecture with commend
able patience.
On Wednesday morning the meeting
was called to order by Superintendent
Williams, who conducted the devotional
exercises. On motion of the superin.
tendent, Rev. DR.. Wilson, post chaplain
at Fort Meade, was unanimously elected
chairman. w. ID. Atwater was elected
secretary.
Two Congregational ministers, Rev
w. II. Atkinson, and Rev. w. ID. Stew
enson beng present, were unanimously
invited to share in the deliberations and
be perfectly at home with their Method
ist brethren. This invitation was ac-
cepted in the cordial spirit in which it
was extended. Their presence added
much to the interest of the occasion.
A committee, consisting of Revs. JAS
Williams, w. ID. Atwater, and J. g.
Bartholomew was raised to consider the
feasibility Of establishing an educational
institution, and to gather facts as base
of future action.
Rev. o. +. Murray, on behalf fofa COM
mittee in charge of the erection Of
monument over the grave OF the first
protestant minister in the Black Hills,
Rev Henry Smith, who was killed by
the Indians, reported the willingness of
the Congregational brethren to co oper.
ate in the enterprise.
A thoughtful and seaching paper on
"The Preacher as a Witness" was then
read by Rev. II. A. James. The topic
proved fruitful theme and elected
remarks from all ministers present.
On Wednesday afternoon after usual
opening exercises, Rev. w. d. Atwater
read paper on money and Novels"
After this prayer meeting was held,
and this was followed by very ex-
celent paper on the question, what
is Salvation ?" answering it with singu-
lar clearness, fulness and force. Vari-
ous parties made remarks in harmony
with the views of the essayist.
Especially interesting observations on
the disintegrating nature of sin were
made by Chaplain Wilson.
Rey. c. III. Frady spoke on "The
Pastors relation to the Sunday School,"
On Wednesday evening a Missionary
| meeting was held. 1t was presided
over by Rev. w ID. Stevenson, and was
addressed by Chaplain Wilson and Rev.
o. +. Murray, both of whom felicitously
handled the subject assigned them, the
former speaking on behalf of Home
Missions, and the latter of our foreign
work The exercises were interpersed
with excellent singing, the chairman
threw in, at intervals, brief but appro-
pirate suggestions, and at late hour
the audience dispersed, feeling that the
evening had been well spent.
On Thursday morning Rev. j. G.
Bartholomew read a paper on the polity
of the NJ. +. church. The paper made a
comparison of the politics Of the Episco-
pal, Presbyterian and Methodist bodies
showing the points of agreement and
divergence. While suggesting improve
ments, the essayist made fine showing
for the polity even as it is. Its publica-
ton was requested.
At this point Rev. Jas. Williams read
a sad letter from Rev. S. A. Thomson,
pastor at Deadwood, who is now visiting
his family in Texas. His son, lad of
Is years, and Of excellent promise, had
been drowned while. bathing, at Fort
Worth, where he was being educated
The sympathy OF all was deeply moved