The San Francisco call., 1898-07-08
CHURCHMEN
 IN COUNCIL CongregationaIists Meet
 at Portland. NOBLE ELECTED MODERATOR OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES SUBMIT REPORTS. British and United States Flags Are Draped Side by Side
 in the Meeting Place.
NOBLE ELECTED MODERATOR
OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES
 SUBMIT REPORTS.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

PORTLAND, Or, July 7.-The Tenth Triennial National Council of the Con- gregational churches of the United States met at Il o'clock this morning 15O delegates being present. The in- tertor of the First Congregations Church, where the council holds its ses- sions, Is generously decorated with flowers and the American and British flags are draped together about the pulpit and the front of the gallery.
 When bulletin was read in the council this morning, announcing the exchange of Lieutenant Hobson and his men, the entire body arose and cheer after cheer was given for the Merri- mac crew.
 In the absence of the retiring mod orator, Hon. Nelson Dingley of Maine Arthur H. Wellman of Massachusetts assistant chairman of the provisiona committee, called the body to order.
 The election of moderator was ther taken up, and Dr. F. A. Noble of Chi cago was chosen on the first ballot The vote was as follows: pr. F. A Noble of Chicago, 72; Dr. A. H. Brad ford of Montclair, N. J., 65.
 O. V. Coffin of Connecticut and Rev George c. Adams of San Francisco were elected assistant moderators
 At the afternoon session the moder- ator appointed committees on business credentials and finance. Rev. A. w Alderman of the First Church of Port land, in a brief address, welcomed the delegates to this city. The remainder of the afternoon session was occupied with reading and discussion of reports of standing committees.
 The report of the treasurer, Mir. Sam uel B. Forbes, of Hartford. Conn.,, showed receipts of $42, 731 and disburse- ments of $40, ,169, the balance on hand being S2561. There is $1749 in the se- curity fund.
 The secretary, the Rev. H. A. HaZen. D. D., of Boston, presented his report, which was in part as follows:
 We represent to-day 5614 churches, a gain in three years of 273. or 91 each year. The number of new churches was $50, twice as many; but the gain has been re- duced by PIT. which have ceased to be or to be reported. Our total membership stands at 625 .S64 Of this number 329 ,295 are in the East. 220.242 in the interior and Y. .327 in the West. The additions, on con- fessions made a total of 98,564, and are grouped-37 O1S in the East 43, ,345 in the in- terfor and IS 151 in the West. The remov- als by death were 24, ,61@15. $50 in the East, TBS in the interior and 1766 in the West. The infant baptisms show a gain of near ly 2OO0. being in total 36.366-17 261 in the East. 132 224 in the interior and 5S41 in the West The churches report member ship in Young Peoples societies of 216,- O48. a gain of 31 300. These members are distributed-104. .257 in the East. 7s56S in the interior and 32 .21S in the West Our Sunday-school total stands at 64,769 a gain of only 7769, as against 57,OO0 the previous triennium. Of the missions Sun-
 
 our benevolence also, the balance is on the wrong side. The total the three years Is s6 761 .S3O. a falling off of $4S2. .752. The East gave s4 .9O9. .937 the interior $1,434 ,621 and the West S416 .260. The East and West show a small gain of about S2OOOO each a falling off comes in the interior of S523,- T54 Our Home expenses reach S2O Z32. .55! in the East S11 649 .645. the interior S6,461,- 27O and the West s2. .112.s40. These sums are less than in the last report-in the East s52s- -55s. in the interior S20O5S5 and fir the West sZ3s 038 Of 1866 ministers serv- ing churches only 151 are not reported as pastors.