Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1886-11-05
The SIXTH ANNUAL MEETING
OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CON-
EDUCATIONAL CHURCHES AT CHI
CAQO. OCT 13-2O 1886


CAGo, OCT. 1920, 1886.
BY Rev. NJ. c. Stcbbns
Among the prominent topics that came
before the council were the work and
needs of the various benevolent societies.
Secretary Rev. James Powell spoke in
behalf of the American Missionary socie-
ty, whose work is among the colored peo-
pie of the South, the Chinese in the West
and the Indians in the Northwest. This
association began its work in 1860. Dur
| ing the interval it has received and dis
bursed 81, 137, S61 SO. 1t now has invest
ed in church and mssion-home buildings
81 100000. Its colleges and training
schools chartered between 1866 and 1869
are Fisk, Berea, Hampton, Atlanta, Tai
ladega, Straight and Tongaloo. The
yearly average of missionaries and teach
ers employed is 1872; the yearly average
of pupils enrolled is 17,2l0; the yearly
average attendance in Sunday schools is
l0,549. In 1871 there were connected
with its churches ,053 members; since
then the average additions per year have
been 722, or a total of l0,S4l. In the por-
ton of its field at the South is pOpula-
ton of IL, 324 .942 whites, 6,039, G57 color
ed in the territories 100000 Indians, and
churches, with membership of 1872;
Sunday schools with 13,527 scholars, 426
missionaries and teachers. The commit
tee to whom this paper was referred re-
ported the following resolutions, which
were adopted:
Resol,ed, That the council recommend that
the churches contribute the coming year the
sum OF S3jO,OOO to the work of the 4. NJ. A.
Resoired, That the council advise the officers
of the A. NJ. A. and the trustees of its charter.
ed institutions of learning to put forth every
effort to secure the speedy endowment of
these institutions in order to assure their ex
istcnce and permanent usefulness, and thus
make il possible for the association to extend
its work.
The work and need of the American
Board was presented by Secretary Rev
y. G.. Clark, ID. ID. A brief summary
may he thus given: This board has -
mission stations. Its mission churches
number 100000 souls, and to them the
gospel is preached in over twenty differ
emf languages. There are in the field l20
ordained evangelists, Is teachers. In adj
dition, % women are employed-S7 as
teachers and Is as Bible readers and
evangeiSts. The board suStains % high
schools with over 1000 pupils $50 com
mon schools with 5000 pupils. 1t has
charge of ten weekly newspapers and
ment in many fields is due to the Wo-
mans Board of Missions, which has con-
tributed over Sl50,00O during the past
year. The board now calls for at least
30 ordained missionaries.
An exceedingly able and pertinent pa
per was presented to the council by Rev.
O.. X. Leavitt, ID. D., of Cleveland, Ohio,
upon the question, "Would the interests
of the churches be subserved by a relax
alton in the customary tests requisite to
obtain admission to memberships" DIR.
LeaVitt. after giving very full and can
did presentation of the claims set forth
by those who favor such relaxation. put
before the council so clear and convinc-
ing an exhibit of the gospel teachings
bearing upon the question, and so forci-
bly, showed the historical results of re-
taxation, on the one hand, and of ton
ing upon the other, as to carry the coun-
ell with him in his conclusion that this is
no time to clover the bars The subse-
quent discussion though animated and
able upon both sides, did not materially
change the impression left by DR.. Lea
Wits paper.
The evening session of Thursday was
mainly occupied by the paper of Rev. II.
a. Stmson, ID. d., of st. Louis, successor
w 'ilN i"'O wv - p''uCili ~ ~
His theme was, "The Future of Congre
gationalism." He claimed that the
prophecy of its future is in its past. This
had been CalviniStic, identified with prac-
teal life, seeking to build up the moral
individual: it had been Catholic, making
all people the subjects of its Catholic la
bOrs its gospel was for all the world.
The Congregationalism of the future will
be superstructure built on an historical
religion. 1t would look to the scriptures
to settle any and every discussion as to
its creed.
The work and need of the American
Home Missionary society was presented
by Rev Josiah Strong, ID. d., of Cincn-
natl, Ohio. He said that the superintend-
ents appointed three years ago, to under
take the most urgent and laborious work
of evangeliZation among our immigrant
populations. have found it absolutely
necessary to raise up ministry from
among that class. Scandinavian and
German churches have been organized,
for which there must be Scandinavian