The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-06-08
HOME MISSION WORK
REPORT SUBMITTED TO THE LU-
THERAN CHURCH GENERAL SYNOD.
All Obligations Met by the Board De-
spite the business Depression
Other Religious Bodies.

HAGERSTOWN. Md, June 7.-Devotional
services at the opening of the second days
business session Of the General Lutheran
Synod were conducted by Rev. w. f. ST.
mon, of Springfield, o. The entire morning
was consumed by the reading or the report
OF the board of home missions and the dis
cussion of resolutions commencing the home
mission work. One Of the principal speakers
was Mayor Charles A. Schleren, OF Brook
lyn, ~. Y, delegate from New York and
New Jersey Synod, who spoke on the neg
lected field in large cities, of the limited
number OF churches of his faith in his city
and who recommended the establishment Of
fifteen missions in the greater New York
circle. There was animated discussion
on the wisdom of choosing a self-deniaI
week for home missions.
The report or home missions says:
whilst banks have suspended, manufac-
lures ceased operations, mercantile and in
dustrial enterprises been driven into bank
ruptcy and thousands of wage earners de-
tbnmseI1a oe tne d d9pporrHlny 10 secure Tor
board has been able to meet all its obliga-
tions with its usual promptness. and that
than for the preceding biennium The bal
ance IN the hands OF the treasurer on the
Slst of March. 1892 was 3d. lS. To this
amount was added during the two years
S0.2So.H making available for the work of
the board sss, Your attention is called
to several facts:
'First-By a comparison of the whole
amount of receipts of those of the previous
5iennium. it will be found that there has
been an advance OF S,429.Sl. Under the cir
cumstances, this is q very satisfactory and
encouraging showing.
'-Second-The amount from the synods
which is credited on the apportionment is
$5.074.92 larger than for the preceding two
years. In this amount are included the con-
tributions or the Sunday schools and the So
clety or CHRISTIAN Endeavor While we note
this gratifying progress in the growth of
the be benevolence Of our churches; it must
on apportionment OF over $4,000 for the two
years.
''Third-The Woman's Missionary Society
has given to the board the sum of s1O,600.50
This was an increase of $449W over the pre-
eeding biennium. BY this amount eight
bor Mich; Council Bluffs, Ia; Denver, Col;
Los Angeles Sacramento, San Jose. River
sanitation of the active and devoted women
or our church, which is scarcely sixteen
years old; has made remarkable progress in
numerical strength, in benevolent giving, in
missionary activity and in enlarging the
scope CT its blessed ministry.
Throughout the past two years the aux
iliary societies, with warm hearts, and
busy, hands, and open purses, have minis
tered TO the comfort and usefulness of many
especially in the Western States. Individual
giftS-the amount contributed by individu-
ais and not credited on the apportionment..
the amount given VEN in the form former bienniuH
The amount received from Sunday schools
me an 1wo OF mas sboe t5e Over t
preceding two years. The missions on the
o during the Sienngm aid Which M b with ho
or part OF the time since April /, 1898. num-
bered 1so, They were distributed over the
q; Colorado, 5; Connecticut l; District OF
Columbia 2: Illinois, 3; Indiana. 3; Iowa, Z;
Miehsan Maaaa II ssour NeDraasay ssayland i Kew
Jersey, 1: New Mexico, e New York, y:
Ohio. 13; Pennsylvania. ~: Tennessee, /;
]. As TO Synods-Alegheny. 5; Central lli-
nois 3; Central Pennsylvania; l; California.
Z; East Ohio 3; East Pennsylvania, 1s
"In order 10 carry out the work now on
hand efficiently and without hindrance, and
take up a limited amount of new work
will necessitate the expenditure of about
100000 during the two years upon which
we have entered. The New England States
have. within the last few years, come under
our notice a mission field of much inn
portance and of increasing magnitude. The
large towns and great cities OF the Empire
pOrtunitieS 10 prosecute the Work In them
with every prospect OF RI rich success; The
Brooklyn. Jersey City and Newark. pre-
sents a field of surprising importance and
sons should be planted in the midst OF the
immense population among which is large
peTcentsge OF OF our own people More pr nn than
| sylvania as in any other State. III we pass
| westward in the great belt of States lying
| between the Ohio and Mississippi. includ-
| ing Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Michigan.
| we find STORES of cities and towns that pre-
| sent excellent opportunities for engaging
much more largely in home mission work
| than We have eve- been able to do. 1t is
| said that Michigan alone has 5000 Luther
| ans, the most OF whom are Germans, who
| are doing very little 10 retain their chill
| dren, who are gradually drifting from the
| church OF their fathers, because OF their
| hostility 10 introduction of the English
language into the services of the churches"
4 resolution recommending that the Sun
| ,iay preceding Lutheran Sunday be set
| apart as home missionary sunday. and that
| the week following be 'self-denial week.
/ for the sake OF missions, was passed. al
/ though IL met with adverse comment self
| denial week was compared with fast days,
/ Phariseeism and Catholicism. The synod
| decided on an annual apportionment or $i5.-
| coo among local synods as the assessment
| for home mission work. The report of the
| Woman's Home and Foreign Missionary So
| ciety was adopted.
| The synod listened 10 greetings from the
/ Woman's Home and Foreign Missionary So
! cIety through its president, Mrs. a. v.