Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1892-12-22
THE LAYMEN,s CONGRESS.
Representatives of the Different, Protest.
ant Denominations Hold q ConSerspee.

Representatives of the Different; Protest.
ant Denominations Hold q ConEersree.
The laymen's congress held in
Huron last week and attended by
many of the leading churchmcn of
South Dakota, was a gathering whose
influence will be felt in all depart
ments of church work in this state.
From the address Of welcome by f.
III. Kent, an ardent Presbyterian, to
the closing speech of Prof. George l..
Pinkham, a leading Quaker, there
breathed the gentle spirit OF tolcra-
tion. Every mans belief was
respected; no one was condemned
for any conviction which he honestly
held. 1t seemed as though each
speaker had learned to read correctly
the seventh verse of Prov. XIII, and
Rom. X, 1913: with the heart man
belieyeth unto righteousness. ;
There is no distinction between Jew
and Greek, for the same Lord is Lord
Of all. So For whatsoever shall
call upon the name of the Lord shall
be saved" This was the text of all
WHO spoke. The condition of church
membership as suggested in tie dis
c~uSsiOns may be summed up in the
significant words of Talmage, which
he uttered expressive of his creed:
''The GLORIOUS Lord: to trust him,
love him and obey him is all that is
required"
No speaker advocated the immedi-
ate organic union of the dcnomina-
lions. Some hoped and believed that
this would come, possibly within the
memory of the present generation.
But whatever the diverse views in
reference to the organic union, there
vas a oneness Of feeling that there
should be a deeper, a more vital spir-
itual union-a union so binding that
every christian will rejoice when a
sinner is converted, no matter into
what particular church he maychoose
to make the declaration of his pur-
pose. With proper instructions,
every church organization was left TO
work according to its own methods,
but the churches were recommended
to work in cooperation and never in
competition.
The following was-ananimously
adopted:
Whereas: 1t is apparent to Chris
tians of all denominations that the
funds Of the church might be ex-
pended in a more economical manner
and much Of the waste incident to
UNCONVENTIONAL zeal be saved by
united action in the establishment Of
churches only where needed: and,
Whereas: 1t Is the belief of this
laymen's congress that in some of the
smaller towns there are too many
churches, which, by constant appeals
for money, places the church in the
light of a mendicant and brings
religion into disrepute; be it
Resolved, That an advisory COM
mittee Of seven laymen be appointed
who shall cooperate with those hav-
ing charge Of the mission work in
South Dakota in the matter of the
establishment Of churches and in the
economy Of financial arrangements in
many of smaller towns, and said
committee is further empowered if
they deem it eXpedient, to confer on
these subjects with the home mission
boards; that while this laymen'S
congress views with gratitude to God
the spirit Of brOtherly love m%anifeStly
growing among the different denomi
nations, and for all the tender, hearty
congratulations TO those who pray
and work, to this end we also most
earnestly urge the encouragement Of
every effort to foster and promote a
closer fellowship between all Chris
tians in their endcavOr to extend the
kingdom Of Christ. ...