Omaha daily bee., 1896-08-21
REPORT OF GENERAL SECRETARY.
Work that Was Accomplished During
Last Ncnr.

Last Year.
The report of Rev. J. A. Duff, the general
secretary, was presented and referred. The
document follows:
But for the fact that our constitution re-
quires the general committee to report 10
the institute each year, there would be
little necessity in so doing as an me data
general assembly, and this report mas
reached you through the columns OF the
Christian Union Herald. As this report Is
now published in the minutes of the general
assembly. and as 1t is thus easy OF access
report such matters as will refresh our
memories as to the present CONDITION OF our
work. From the reports submitted tnere
under UNCONVENTIONAL control, or to feel
that the church has not a right to. counsel
and direct their energies. The young
people know no sectionalism, and manifest
no objection to a liberal support of the
work planned by the general committee.
Unless the committee Is deceived in ref
erence TO the status of the work. we are
church and devotion to her interests. The
work has prospered along all lines, and the
reports show n larger membership and
larger contributions than any heretofore
given. The ~fifty-five Presbytcrial conven-
lions and rallies held during the year
general institute at Columbus, O., or were
helped by the spirit of that meeting; SO that
that they were the best that have been held
Four presbyteries, failed to place a re-
1OTI III Inp nHIllS II lnt tolllIllNltt. anu vi
the ffty-six reporting. ten held no con-
vention.
The authorized a change in
the blanks sent out, so that, we have no
items as to the manner in which the young
people raised their money, or as to the
number received into the church from the
societies. The reports last year showed
much confusion in the former items; and
as to the latter, the society and Sabbath
school are so intcr-related as to make re-
ports misleading.
THE STATISTICAL REPORT.
In submitting our statistical report to
you, we confess TO a measure of disnppoint-
ment in that the reports have been so
incomplete. Special effort was put forth
in order that we might have complete re-
turns from all our societies yet but 633
reported: As all the other statistics here,
With ,i bm NIT siu o concern tEa 30 only y, t these g o@ 0S8
bership of 1865, reporting to the, assembly,
reporting only organization and member
and had the average of the 633 been
maintained, our membership would be 35,
$40, and our contributions about $4,000. Of
the 6i reporting, i61 are Christian Union,
and 15S. Christian Endeavor, and eight, are
5siYnsa% se Their :. present pre- mem6ershiP is
a net gain Of 1893. They contributed to the
boards of the church SOL; to expenses OF
societies, s1o,125: to other purposes $1S,l74;
n total of SS5 ,3l0. This is an increase of
$3.50 over the amount contributed last
one of the features of the Columbus in
stitute was n conference on systematic
ghnTing, ana SO great was me interest IN
80 49, " N'N'> -
pointed to keep the subject before the
young people. Cards were printed and dis
tributed piedginG those who signed them to
try this method of giving. 1t seems from
the returns that the secretaries Of the
local societies have not made n careful
canvass of the results of this agitation, for
only 2 $50 are reported as m to the
1.-THE system. Two hundred and ten soci-
eties received the cards. and Isl have a
1.-THE ommitto The average contribution
per member last year was $l.12; this year,
Sl.2i, and this advance without the special
effort of a self-denial week,
JUNIOR WORK.
There Is nothing of special interest in
this line OF work. Rev. w. ] Wishart con-
tinues to serve as junior secretary, having
been reappointed thereto by the institute at
Vancement, the. work has not yet become
general. Difficulty has been experienced in
securing leaders who can and will give
sufficient time. thought and energy 10 i'm
Reports have been received from 23S soci-
etieS, having last year n membership OF
5.45l. while this year they report $500
Their contributions amounted TO 3, 1872.
lumbus institute. asking for more suitable
music for meetings OF children, the as.
sembly referred the request to the Board of
publication with instruction to issue such
helpful TO the needs Of junior societies.
PRAYER MEETING TOPICS HELPS
There has been no change in the arrange
mcnt OF topics for use in the prayer meet
ings. Those adopted by the Christian EN-
deavor societies have been used, except
change In the interest of our denomina-
tional work or polity. Mrs. Mary Clokey
Porter has for the greater part of the year
conducted the junior department. of The
Christian Union Herald, and continues her
helpful hints and suggestions, while Rev. j.
q. Kennedy, by ieappointment of the com