The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1897-11-06
DAP1IsTS PROGRESSIVE
IN SOUTH OAkOTA.
" ace Of Financial Depression the
Church Has Steadily
Gone Ahead
MISSIONARY FUNDS
RAISED
Report of Secretary nnd snperin.
,eident Of Missions i. Htghly
Satisfactory to All Con.
Cerucd.

Huron, Nov. 2.-Dr. 4. II. Shanafelt
of this city. corresponding secretary
and superintendent of Baptist mis-
sions III South Dakota, has just com
pleted his annual report. and from it
IRE Cleaned some interesting facts
concerning that denomination in this
state. In spite of financial depression
and its attendant drawbacks, much
has been accomplished during the
year. both spiritually and materially.
At the opening of the year it was pro-
posed to raise among the churches for
missionary purposes 81, 100. and thus
secure from the Home Missionary So
cicty an appropriation of $4,000. BY
systematic effort the amount was
raised. Efforts of workers have been
directed more particularly to strength
ening churches already organized,
rather than to organization OF new
ones; for the same reason fewer
houses of worship have been built.
Two houses of worship have been
built, one at Bradley and one Mt Bur-
ton lin Miner county. Three new
churches We're also organized, n nj
Hayti, in Hamlin county and one at
Vernon and at Wilmot, in Roberts
county. The last two are in what Vas
formerly the Sisseton Indian reserva-
tion in the northeast corner of the
state. -Four theological students frcm
Chicago lahored in different parts of
the state during the summer, their cf-
forts resulting in the baptism Of thir-
~ converts and the organization of
one church; they also developed sew
cral out-stations. The total number of
baptisins in the state during the year
was 1875.
In the Black Hills the cause has
made encouraging progress. All the
churches except two have good houses
of worship, and at the late meeting of
the Black Hills association SIS bap-
tisms We're reported-the largest NUM-
her of any of the eight associations in
the state. At Deadwood there is u
flourishing Chinese school conducted
by the pastor of tine church and mem-
hers; there are forty or more students
in this school. Nine Chinese have
united with the church there: one has
returned to China and two others are
preparing to follow, their purpose be-
lng to do missionary work among their
own people. A smaller but equally
successful Chinese school is carried on
Nv 1VuN WY. |f -.F
Work among the Germans and Rus
slams has also been very success fail
There are now thirteen churches of
these nationalities in the state. The
number would be largely increased if
American plans of organization were
adopted. Each church has its central
headquarters with several outlay;ng
stations, and the number of NON
bers at these stations is often lar. e,
but they are held as stations until they
become self supporting, when they or
ganize as a separate church. At some
of: these stations chapels have been
built, and as n result each chn,c h
when organized has two or ttree
houses of worship, all under the par
eEt organization.
There are III South Dakota large
numbers of Swedcs, Danes and Nor
wegians, and among them numerous
churches have been organized. all be-
ing included in the Scandinavian Con-
ference of Association. Rev. JAG b
Olson of Lake Preston. is the Scnndi-
navian missionary, and he is nov com
pleting his thirteenth year of services
in this state.
During the year ~ missionaries have
been under appointment, labor ng in
various parts of the state, supplying
SO churches and So o~ut-stations. The
total number of Baptist churches is
104. having II total membership of
5,735: of these 1913 We're received by
baptism and 143 by letter and expert
cncc. The total amount raised by
churches and Sunday schools dur ng
the gear for church expenses was sa1,-
500.