The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1899-06-01
CONNECTICUT CONGREGATIONS
ALISTS.
Rev. A. G. Upton Talks to the Home
Missionary Society in Hartford
at its Annual Meeting

Hartford. Conn May 30 The
congregational Home Missionary
Society is in session here, holding lis
73i annual meeting. The session
will close Thursday evening, Ma, 25 h.
IDAHO
The report Of Rev AUGUSTUS G
Upton, Weiser Idaho, Supcriutend-
emit is rs 70 lows
Contributions fro "A this district
have been Sl5l 10.
Thirteen missionaries have been
employed duling the whole or part Of
the year, in connection with the
twenty-four chuicles aud stations
Fifteen Sunday Schools report II
membership Of $40
Superintendent Upton remarks /:
Idaho rejoices il missionary auton-
omy. During the eleven years Of in.
teiligent and kindly administration
by Superintendent Hawkes., the sla'c
was content to form one field with
Utah; but when new superinlendent
was 20 he appointed, it was felt that
the present and prospective growth
OF tile state made it desirable that l.
should have a uperinlendent Of its
own A method being found TO az
complish this without Increased draft
upon the home missionary treasusy
The request of the stale was granted
Idaho is an immense state, one
third larger than all New England with
which it bars a fav,ral compan-
ion in every element Of natural re-
sources and climate But it lacks
almost entirely the New England type
of people Puritan ideas and con.
ylctlons are not prevalent nor well
come.
In Southern Idaho, the pan handle
is still, in missionary matters, assoc
ciated with Washing ton. We have
six churches and most of these
churches have from one to several
out stations One church is the onl,
religious organization in county as
large rs some Eastern states. Five
OF the six churches have settled pas
tors; one is supplied by lincentiate
A fact of importance is that each
one Of these churches while in itself
weak, is relatively strong and is n
leading influence in the community
in which it is placed Each one is
absolutely vital to Western civilation
BY the aid OF the Building Society
three of our churches own parsonages,
fourth is about to build, after see
ing its pastor move three times in
one year. and the pastor Of the fifth
church owns his home
Congregaionalism in part and
Christianity in particular has every
thing to contend with in Idaho In
addition to all the inlidelitv and
general wickedness of western com
munities, it has to resist an ag-
gressive and calculating Mormonism.
which is pushing for control of the
state. Mormon home missionary
works is outslripping Congregational
perhaps all the denominations com
bned. Our cry is ''No new work, y
their cry is "New work every where. ~
The religious destilution of the state
gives them great advantage. There
are only about one. hundred churches
in Idaho, even it we include the more
than thirty Catholic Vo sunnlv
this destitution our denomination is
doing less than any other; and this
not for lack of enterprise or oppor-
tunitv. Fields are open to us and
people are beseeching us to enter
them Alasl Congregatonahsls
know why we do not.
The present is the dawn of the
day in Idaho. 1t has been Il state
OF slow development, hut is now re-
ceivlng more attention, and there is
valuable and increasing immgra-
ton. The Railway Aye accredts.
for the coming year, more miles of
railroad construction to Idaho than
to any other state. New mining
camps are being opened, new towns
built They ask us for the bread of
life; shall we give them stone?
They ask for the school and the
church; shall we leave them to the
saloons, the Mormons, and the devil?
a.. %.