The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-02-24

preaching, conversing, with families and
individuals, ministering TO the sick and
afflicted, organizing churches, administer
Ing the sacraments, then passing on to
other fields. They were not allowed TO
accept any compensation from the people
whom they served. They received their
entire support from the societies employ
ing them. This system was necessarily
expensive; and under II "the condition of
the churches generally grew less and less
promising with the lapse of time"
. The American Home Missionary So-
ciety does not undervalue such timer
ant labors; but 1t employs them as pre-
limInary and preparatory TO Its main
work, which Is TO establish permanent
churches, provide them with permanent
ministry, and thus nourish them to per-
manent self-suppotrt. 1t enters into part
nership with each church in sustaining
it's minister, stipulating that ii shall bear
its full share of the burden-an annually
increasing share IL possible-still II can
bear the whole. Thus the outlay OF the
society diminishes as the strength and
efficiency OF the church increases until it
declares it's independence and its name Is
transferred from the roll OF the society's
benehciaries to that OF its patrons.
IT'S woMAN's DEPARTMENT.
The Christian women of Congregation
churc hes have always taken a warm in
their gifts have constituted no inconsid-
erable portion of its revenue. But, hither-
to, their organized efforts in behalf OF
this cause have teen mainly expended in
the preparation OF "missionary boxes"
for the families of missionaries.
In the hope of further developing, COM
bining, and utilizing the efforts OF wo-
men in behalf of this cause, the society,
in 1883, organized o woman's department,
with a secretary at the Bible house, who,
by printed documents, by correspond
ence, by conference at the Office of the
society, and by personal visits to the
friends OF home missions in different parts
OF the country, endeavors to encourage
and guide them in their work. A good
beginning has been made.
ITS cHILDREN's DEPARTMENT.
This quickened interest and organized
action among the women have awakened
a similar interest and led to correspond
ing action among the children. Home
missionary circles OF children have report
ed their organization to the society, and
have entered upon active service in behalf
of this cause. Many other organizations,
under various names, but having the same
object in view, are engaged in similar la
bors. In.the autumn of 1886 tbey.origi-
mated the cbildren's Bohemian fund, for
the support Of the Bohemian mission un-
der the superintendence OF Rev. III. A.
Schauffier.
ITS FOREIGN DEPARTMENT.
When the society was organized the
foreign-born element in our population
was very small, and was increasing by
the addition of only about 10, 900 immi-
grants annually. Most of these foreign
ers could be reached with religious IN
struction in the English language; but
for those who spoke with other tongues
A v m a
vide ministers OF their own nation, in
order that everyone might hear the gos-
pei in the language in which he was born.
But they were few and widely dispersed,
and not easily gathered into permanent
congregations. The laborers too were
few. An adequate number of educated
ministers, thoroughly evangelical in
their views, could not be obtained.
In 1853 the number of missionaries
preaching the foreign language had in
creased to II. But il afterward diminished,
and the average number from that date
to 1882 was only 40. What were these
among SO many?
These superintendents, each having
peculiar qualifications for the special
duties assigned him, were appointed to
take the oversight of separate depart
ments of this work. One resides at Cleve-
land, o., and has charge of the Slayonic
department. Another resides at Chicago,
H., and has charge of the German de-
partment. The third resides at Mime
apolis, Mimi, and has charge of the
scandinavian department. The work,
under their direction has made rapid prog
ress.
The difficulties in the way of obtaining
suitable laborers for this service con-
tinue; but several colleges and theologi-
cal seminaries, particularly those OF the
West, are cooperating heartily with the
conductors of the society in the endeavor
to solve this problem. In some of these
institutions new departments of instruc-
tion have been opened to qualify young
men for this service.
IT'S GROWTH AND FRUITS.
This society has extended its operations
into every State and organized territory
in the Union. More than half of the
churches organized have already been
brought TO self-support; and many of
them are among the largest and most in
fiuential churches in the denominations
TO which they belong. They stand at the
chief centers of influence in nearly every
State and territory from the Atlantic to
the Pacific coast. They stand, and at the
end of time will stand, as monuments OF
the missionary toll and sacrifice by
which their foundations were laid.
And the same may be said OF the
academies, colleges an theological semi
naries, that have been established in the
newer state and territories during the
last sixty years. Nearly all of those con-
nected with the denominations repre-
sented in this society are INDEBTED for
their existence and early nurture to its
missionaries. In its first year. one OF its
two missionaries in Illinois, was devising
plans which soon issued in the eustablish-
ment of Illinois college, and Jacksonville
Female Academy. In the year following
the first missionary who bore the society's
commission in southern Ohio was nurs-
ing an infant school, which inded was less
than all seeds, but when it was grown it
became a tree-two trees-Marietta college
and Marietta Female Seminary. A little
later one of these missionaries kneeled on
the snow at Charlottesville, Ind, and
dedicated the spot to God as the site
of Wabash College. Shortly after