Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-02-18

church for Kansas, held at Bismarck. and
that of the Interstate Sunday School q.
sembly. held at Ottawa. The former bad
an estimated daily attendance OF 1000
persons and o largest attendance OF 1000.
At the latter, the largest attendance on
one day was 10000, and the estimated at
tendance during the entire session was
80. 900.
The following comparisons illustrates the
progress that has been made In this de-
partment. In 1863 the NJ. E. church re-
ported their number of Sunday schools In
the state as 100, and their number OF S.
S scholars as 1914. On June IA, 1856
childrens' day-the Sunday school of the
First NJ. E. church of Topeka had mem
bership attendance of 7S8, and, adding
4O9 visitors. total attendance of 1,196-
equal to one third of the whole number
of scholars in the NJ E. S. schools in 1863.
This school had in 1855 total average
attendance of $50. The Presbyterians
have over seventy Sunday schools with
membership ranging from 100 to 200 each,
and twelve schools ranging from 200 to
$50 each, and total reported membership
of over 10000 If figures were at hand
from other denominations, they would
doubtless show similar rate of growth.
UNCONVENTIONAL bigotry Is at the mini
mum point in Kansas. Bigotry is the pro-
duct Of ignorance-and dyspepsia. The
zealot who supposes that all virtue and
piety are in his own sect needs
to read, and to travel, and to
use aperients. The antecedents and
history of this state, and all her ira
ditions are favorable to the growth of
churches, but they are hostile to the de-
velopment of sectarian bigotry and intol-
erance. No sect holds in Kansas a smo-
nopoly of influence and popular conf
dence. no sect can ever secure such monop-
oily. Any denomination whose affairs are
judiciously and vigorously managed,
finds friends and adherents. 1t is fortu-
nate that this is the fact. All churches
are better than any church.
The highest degree of fraternity and
sympathy characterize. the various church
es and their ministers in their intercourse
with one another. The lion and the lamb
of Calvinism and Arminianism here lie
down together. l do not intimate an
opinion as to which is the lion and which
is the lamb-and the little child, mutual
good will, is leading them
If Seryetus and Calvin were in
Kansas, it is not probable that
they would be engaged in arrang-
ing for a conhagration. 1t is
more likely that they would be employed
as joint managers of Sunday school
assembly, or of Temperance union, or
possibly in settling the details of plan to
raise funds for hospital or an asylum.
Perhaps it may be said that We nave
gone to the extreme of personal indepen-
lence and intense individualism. If this
re so, cen our failing leans to virtues
side. 1t is fact that here you may ex-
press your mind freely on religious topics,
is on secular topics, with the assurance
hat your words will do as little harm and
IS little good, as in any other part of the
Globe.
We believe in belief. yet we also
believe in freedom Of belief, and Of I'M
eliefs, in freedom of discussion, in
freedom Of worship, and in the spiritual
responsibility of each man, not to the
state, nor to his neighbor. but before the
bar of own conscience, and the tribunal
Of his God. No mans creed is worth 80
much as the freedom to reject any mans
creed.
In no part of the country is the relation
existing between the churches and the
general community more friendly and
cordial than in this state. Spec
tally is there good understanding
between the churches and the
newspaper press. This amicabie relation
between the proprietors and editors OF
newspaper. and the churches and minis
ters, is creditable to the liberality and the
practical good sense of both parties. Ed
itors and clergymen are natural allies, de-
voting their labors to the welfare of the
community, and fighting their common
enemy, 1.-The devil"
As body, the ministers Of the several
denominations are regarded with respect
and confidence by the people, on account
of their qualifications, character and devo-
ton to their proper work.
If we should ever inscribe supplement
tary 5uotto ON our coat of-arms, and if the
clergy should be allowed to select the
legend, l believe it would be the golden
phrase that has come down to US from the
seventeenth century-''In necessariis uni
tas, in dubiis Liberals, in omnibus caritas"
In things essential, unity; in things
doubtful, liberty; ia all things charity.