St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-10-09
ALL FOR The PAGAN.
Beginning Of the Session Of
the Board Of Foreign
Missions.
They Meet Where Once They
Maintained a Small
Station.
What Has Been Done in a
Year Among the Unen-
lightened.
Reports on Finances and on
the Progress Of Prose-
lyting.

Back in the days when the mighty
Mississippi flowed over st. Anthony
falls unimpeded by the handiwork of
man, when the wild fowl fourished
where now is heard the busy whirr of
The electric motor on Washington ave-
que, when the smoke from the Indian
tepee rose in circles from the banks of
The streams and shores of the lakes now
bOulevarded and reserved for the pleas
ure of the man with coach and pair,
the American board of missions
maintained station for the civ
liking of the savage on the borders
Of that beautiful little sheet of water
now called Lake Harriet. Yesterday
began in Minneapolis, within whose
corporate limits is now included the site
of that little missionary station, the
Highty-frSt annual session of that same
missionary board which established that
station long before any one dreamed
that there would ever be a city here.
Nothing could be more significant of the
aims and enterprise of this board, or of
its accomplishments. Sending out its
agents to every corner of the globe, at
home and abroad, it payes the way for
the trader, the merchant, and finally
the busy city. Nor could any circum-
stance speak more plainly of the Won
derful development of America, the
home of this, the largest missionary Or
ganiZation in the world. That this au-
gnst body should to-day be meeting in a
city the foundations of which were laid
by it. is circumstance demanding more
than ordinary attention.
And when you stand within the doors
of Plymouth church. Minneapolis, look
ing by the mellow light, softeued still
more as it falls upon festoons of ever
green and clusters of rich-tinted
autumn leaves, you do not wonder at
the accomplishments of this organize
ton. Back there on the raised platform
sit over hundred men, members of the
corporate board. not one of whom
but bears the stamp of something
good deal above mediocrity. Some of
them are renowned great as preachers,
men who from the pulpit sway their
hearers by their eloquent words
as the oak is swayed by
the storm of November. some
of them have won fame and honor
as educators of mankind: some of them
have won golden opinions for the prod
ucts of their excursions into the paths
of literature; some have devoted them
selves successfully to the business of the
everyday world; all of them are men of
brain, of heart. of hand-brain to master
difficulties and to plan, heart overflow
ing with love for mankind, hand ever
ready to obey the promptingS OF the
other two. They are the men who de-
eide all questions affecting the board.
Down below there, on the floor of the
church, are men not Il whit less ener
getic or enthusiastic. They are honorary
members and delegates who can discuss
the matters which come before the
board, but do not vote. Their heads
have not grown so gray in the work of
casting upon the darkened heather the
rays of the sun Of Christianity. These
men, before this session is over, will be
called upon to decide questions of mo-
ment to all Congregationalists,w wherever
they may be. Well, they look to be
able to grapple with the most stupen-
called to decide Those spectators up
there in the gallery look as if they have
implicit confidence that all will be done
well.
Yesterdays session was not stirring
one. The questions which are expected
TO provoke stirring debate have not
come up. The session was important as
the precursor OF what would follow, but
not exciting.
Getting to Work.
The members of the board were
prompt in beginning business. AS soon
as 8 o'clock had arrived. Rev. DR.. R. S.
Storrs read short selection from the
Bible ana prayed eloquently for divine
guidance of the deliberation of the
board. Then arose c. F. Thwing,
Plymouth's popular pastor and
the only member of the board
in Minneapolis, to welcome the
the members of the board to the city
where 1t met sixteen years ago. With
words full of eloqueDce, and breathing
spirit of pride in the work of this
most extensive missionary body in
America, he reviewed the achievements
of the board in the distant lands of Asia
and Africa and in the forests of North
America; under the burning sun of the
tropics, and amid the SHOWS and glaciers
of the Arctics. He found much cause
for self-congratulation in the results of
the boards work, but added: when
we look upon these maps of the world
hanging about US, upon these black
spots marking the home of ig-
lay down his burden with
the words, l have done my best by my
fellow creatures?' He closed by bid
ding the delegates welcome to the me-
tropoliS of the Northwest, city not
even dreamed of when the American
board was already a strong body,in itself
evidence Of the increase of the field of
labor and of the noble missionary work
done in The past, since the board for
merly maintained a mission where Min
neapois now stands. Rev. Dr. Storrs
replied. In his frm, even. impressive
tones he thanked DR.. Thwing, and then
took occasion to say word as to what
this meeting would do, and how it would
do it.
ut has been said" said he. "that
this is critical meeting of the board.
Every meeting of the American board
is critical meeting. We have SO much
business. and of such an important nat
ure that its transaction is always a crit
ical undertaking. But we believe in a
full and free discussion of every cues
ton. That is the only way to settle i'm
portant questions. That is how we set
tie our social problems and gov
ornamental problems. That is the
way we of the American board settle
our questions. You have heard of the
man who was selling cement who said
that his cement would mend anything
from broken cup to the break of day.
We have cement thatsis every whit as
good. 1t is the cement of belief in our
work, honesty of purpose, determine
ton to do the best we can. Whatever
we do will be done as we believe to be
right. The several pieces of work will
be then cemented together into a solid,
indissoluble whole"
The following committees were then
announced by the venerable president:
On Business-Dr. Charles F. Thwing, Ed
ward A. Studley, Dr.. Charles r. Palmer, Will
lam E. HALE DR.. Henry Hopkins.
On Arrangements-Dr Smith Baker
Charles H. Bull. DR.. Michael Burnham, DR..
Washington GLADDEN.. Frank W. Carpenter.
On Nominations-Dr. James G. johnson,
David G. Bell, Edward d. Eaton. Franklin
Fairbanks, Horatio @. Butterfield.
Rev. DR.. II. A. Simpson, of st. Louis,
who ten years ago occupied the pastor
ate of Plymouth church, read the min
utes of last years, the eighteth annual,
meeting of the beard, of which he was
recording secretary. The minutes were