The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-10-15
EVANGELICAL COUNCIL.
Interesting Papers Read at the
Conference Today.
Second Day Proves to Be AS in
teresting AS the First.

The sessions of the convention of
the ministers of the Mankato district
of the Evangelical Association con-
tinue today with undated interest.
The preaching service last night was
largely attended. Rev. A. Sahr, of
Sleepy Eye, preached an eloquent SER
mon upon the text, "What Shall l do
With Jesus?" The preacher, with
much freedom, dwelt upon the i'm
portance of making a decision
whether we will accept love and serve
Christ. Without Christ there is no
salvation. Rev. D. Groenig, of Pipe
stone, in his closing remarks said the
question of the text is the most i'm
portant question, the burning ques-
tion of the ages. He eXorted all pres
emit to decide for Christ. The church
choir sang a most pleasing selection.
This mornings session was opened
by Rev. George Hielscher, presiding
elder of the St. Paul district. Rev.
Hielscher is brother of DR.. Hielscher
of this city, and an energetic and
| very successful minister of the Min
nesota conference. Rev. @. W..
| Sydow, of Waseca. is also in atten-
dance.
The committee of devotion report
ed that tonight the meeting will be
in the interest of the young people.
Rev. M. Gagstetter, Of Wells, Rev.
j. Gralben, of Sherburne and 81.
Planticow, of Blue Earth City, will
speak. Especially good music has
been prepared for the occasion.
The essay read by Rev. W. f.
Tesch, Of Blue Earth, upon "The
Temptation OF Christ, was very in
structive. Rev. d. Groenig, Of Pipe
stone, read strong paper having as
it's theme, "The New Birth" Re-
generation is the work of the triune
God in the human soul. 1t is
not a mere resolution to a.serve
God nor a reformation, but COM
plete transformation. From the side
of man genuine repentance and faith
in Christ must precede the new birth.
1t is believed by this body of christian
workers that many churches are
growing lax and Indifferent in regard
to this fundamental truth of the
bible and holy religion. The regen-
Grafton of the individual is the basis
| of the regeneration of society.
If the church would lay due
stress upon the necessity of the
divine change of heart she would con.
tribute the greater part in the solu.
tion of all social problems. n.
"Being Filled with the Spirit" was
the subject of an essay by Rev. A. II
Bauman, of Blue Earth City. The
church needs the fullness of the Holy
Ghost to fulfill her great mission
in the world. In this power of Goo
!, the authority and usefulness of the
church is vested.
The fore Moons session closed with
an exercise on l. John 3, 6, by Rev. G
, Britzins.
: A clear exposition of the. question
y "Have the many church denomina
= tions been called into existence by Di
vine Providence" by Rev. ]. Graeben
of Sherburn. The author believes tina
: God only instituted directly on
church the church of Christ, tn
church of the Apostles. From thi
church many branches have emanate
some in concordance with the will G
God as the times demanded them. !
must be admitted that. with some d.
nomin ations God has very little to dt
God permitted the institution Q
many so-called religious organization
and may override them to the good {
/ mankind. 1t is presumption for an
8 church to say"We are the church,"
she Catholic or Protestant, theret
condemning all others who have M
= the same creed and belong to tt
9 same church organization. In essel
!. tials the living churches are the san
= and in the non-essentials they diffe