Omaha daily bee., 1899-10-18
EXTENSION OF CHURCH WORK
Preaching the Word of God in the Mission
ary Fields,
ADDRESSES BY THREE EPISCOPAL BISHOPS
Conditions in the Dn1otns set Forth
by Bishop EdsnII-Bishop Mills
paugh Speaks on Foreign
work.

An interesting meeting Of the women con-
nected with the missionary work OF the
Episcopal church in the diocese OF Nebraska
was held at Trinity cathedral Tuesday after
noon. Reports were submitted from a num-
Der OF the Missions nearly all of which
showed better condition Of affairs than has
prevailed for a long time After the close
of the meeting those present were given
rare treat by being permitted to listen
TO ten minute addresses by Bishops Edsall
OF North Dakota, Millspaugh of Kansas and
Morrison OF Iowa.
The address of Bishop Edsal gave an
idea Of conditions as they exist in the ex-
treme north. He referred to Bishop Clark
sons early work in the Dakotas when the
country was practically a wilderness, set
Elements being few and far between. In
the work there Bishop Clarkson was fol-
lowed by Bishop Millspaugh, who also had
much to do with establishing churches and
missions in towns and hamlets that have
since become prosperous cities. Both of
these eminent Christian workers travelled
from place to place on horseback and in
stages, ministering to the spiritual wants
of the people. To give an idea of the early
work the speaker referred to Bishop Mills
paugh'S first visit to Grand Forks which
Is now a city of from 900 to 10 900 inhab-
itants. This visit was many years ago and
at the time the town consisted of only
few dozen houses. The bishop reached there
according to appointment but no provi-
sions had been made for a meeting. A boy
was hired and given a bell. Out onto the
streets he went and, marching up and down
and ringing his bell, he cried: Episcopal
meeting tonight" That night large
meeting was held and much good resulted.
As an illustration of what can be accom-
OliShp1 by h. r1 bp nit tod "
ton, N. d.. few years ago when he was
there he found a church. 1t was without
a rector and also without a congregation.
By hard work he gathered in the few COM
munioants, arranged for services, and now
1t is one of the most prosperous church or
gani2ations in the state, notwithstanding
the fact that at one time there was talk of
selling the building to some other denomna-
ton
With the return of prosperity Bishop
Edsall assured the members of the cOngre-
CATION that large number of the churches
are prospecting and rapidly gaining strength.
In support of this he cited Wlliston, where
few months ago there were but five COM
municants Since then the church has been
improved and services are held regularly.
Work among the Indians at Standing Rock
was discussed, the speaker saying that much
success is being attained At this agency
there is a church, but no rector Thomas
Ashley is the lay reader, and Mrs. Thunder
the head of the auxiliary organization. 1t
was stated that the church building is so
open that the wind whistles through it,
blowing in rain in summer and snow in
winter.
At the close of Bishop Edsall's address,
Dean Fair proposed that a collection be
taken up to assist in making repairs on this
church. The congregation responded, and
nearly enough money to put the building in
habitable condition was raised.
Bishop Millspaugh spoke on the work In
foreign lands. He referred to the fact that
only few years ago there were but three
communicates in China, and that now there
are 10000, and as many more who have eX-
pressed a desire to become Christians. In
Africa there are eighty church workers and
sixty in Japan. The speaker advocated for
eign missions and their liberal support de-
rlaring that they have always been the very
foundation stone of Christian religion and
In proof of the statement, he advanced the
argument that had not England sent mis-
sionaries to this country, churches would
not exist today in Nebraska.
The. last speaker was Bishop Morrison
Of Iowa. who contended that there is a
great necessity for work at home. In Iowa
he said that there are twenty self support
Ing parishes. seventy-tive others where serv-
ices are held and thirty-two towns in which
there are no church organizations. The
problem of pushing the church work he
urged is one that must be met by paying
living salaries to priests in small churches
and missions. He spoke feelingly of the
fact that In many Of the small parishes
priests and rectors are paid only from $500
to 5000, and out of this small sum they must
support their families and keep up appear
ances. This method of paying the workers
the speaker looked upon as being very dis
couraging to young men who are deSirous
OF entering the ministry