The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-10-01

countcrsign OF tho Sunday school army
from ocean to ocean, "SutIcr the little
children to come unto Me, and forbid
them not, for such Is tho kingdom OF
heaven"
Sccond-0ur Sunday schools are grow.
ing. We have now nearly 100000 OIL.
GERS and teachers in our Sunday schools.
Allowing three feet for each soldier
when marching they will make n column
four abreast and forty-eight miles long.
On q forced march it will require thirty
hours for these 800 regiments to pass in
review, and II the entire Methodist
Episcopal division OF tho Sunday school
army OF the United States Is to pass in
review, four abreast, 1t will take eight
days OF forced marching OF q column 3Sl
miles long. The Protestant Sunday
school army OF the United States Is
0,l13,000 strong and our Methods Epis-
copal division contains 100000 adults
and children, or thrce-clevcntlis OF tho
| whole belonging TO u one single branch
OF the Methodist family.
Third-0ur converts are increasing.
During the year 1889, according to tho
statistics given by tho New York Indie.
pendent, whose Methodist editor, DR..
II. X. Carol, Is tho United States ccnsu
agcnt in church statistics, the Catholics
gained in communicates 27S,000, while
tho Methodist family gained 20S,0 900
communicates, or 10000 more new
Methodists than there were new Catho-
lies.
Our Methodist Episcopal church well
comes at her affairs 5000 every Sabbath
who join the church rs converts, Il
whole brigade of rebels who join our
division OF Gods army each week; n
whole Pentceost emptied into our
church records every seven days for
five years, and every year sees the mum.
Der increase.
Fourth-Our church buildings 10
crease. The statistics given by DR..
Carol show that there were 4,03l new
churches built by the Methodist family
during 1850, or eleven churches y day
for the entire ycnr and sixteen churches
to spare. For five years past one branch
OF this Methodist family has built more
than three churches Il day; and yet we
have yer 5000 Methodist Episcopal
congregations without the shelter OF 4
church building, and over 5000 Sunday
schools without Il home roof.
Fifth-Our collections for church OK
tension are increasing. In 1870 our
collections amounted to little 4 less than
$4,000. In 1850 our collections were u
little less than $4,000. In 1890 our
collections were a little less than Sl43,-
900, while III receipts from all sources
for that year were over SON, 200. In the
twenty-five years OF its work the board
has collected and disburscd over 81 ,000,-
600 and aided 1900 churches, or an
average OF 800 churches Il year. In
1870 we aided 573 churches, and during
the decade we shall doubtlessly plant
not less than 5000 new churches, while
rs many more will be built without Il
dollar OF aid from Jul treasury.
SiXth-Onr needs are increasing. We
have raised in the last seven years
nearly Il quarter OF II million dollars
morethan during tho seven years just
preceding this period. Seven years ago
we had SlG0,0O0in our treasury. To-day
we have applications on file properly
recommended by conference boards
asking for $l55,00O more than We have
cash in the trcasurer's hands,
Seventh-The general committee last
year asked the West Virginia confer
enc 10 raise $1,000, and the conference
did raise sos. This year the amount
asked is $500, and the board is author
lied to donate this entire sum to needy
churches in this conference and to add
$500 additional as q premium if the
conference raises its entire apportion-
ment. We want to aid fifty churches
annually in this rapidly developing
State. The wonderful growth OF your
mines and railways makes our utmost
endeavor imperative. The Chesapeake
& Ohio on the south is making large
additions to its business, and must
stretch Its branches. The wonderful
growth OF the Baltimore & Ohio system
brings us many new emergencies. Its
enormous traffic must cause it to en-
pend large sums OF money in West Eir.
ginia in the next two years, rs its swift
limited trains and heavy laden ireights
tax its facilities more and more. Its
Blue Line trains between Washington
and New York are the swiitest and per-
haps the finest in the country that are
free from extra fare. These "Bluc
Streak" trains must extend to Lake
Michigan and the Mississippi during
the next two years, and in so doing a
great enlargement OF men and tracks
will come all along the lines. New
branches, new mines. new towns, new
emiSration-all means new prosperity
and new churches. Let us pull togeth-
or and do Il best.