Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-11-26
upwards, and then only 62-a Of our
membership in these cities.

uPWdIuS, dHd LAca OuIy y 80 " tot41
membership in these cities.
"other religious people had in 1890
large percentage of their church
property in cities Catholics 80 per
cent; M. E. So per cent; Regular Bap-
fists North, 4S per cent; Lutheran,
40 3-5 per cent; Protestant Episcopal,
81 per cent; Congregational, AZ per
cent; Presbyterian North, 531-3
per cent. But these people had been
longer established in cities, which will
explain why they had more church
property there. The church property
we possess indicate, in measure at
least. our wealth.
''3. Is our wealth consecrated to
Christ? In the year ending in Octo-
Der, 1899, we expended for missions
OF all kinds. $685., 2s5; educational and
other benevolences, s12S.232; local
church work, s4,775,00e; grand total,
Sc, 470, sgt, or about S. per member.
Nearly Is per cent. of this was for
missions, education and benevolences
outside work. Over 8 per cent. was
for missions of all kinds. We give
about so cents per member for mis-
sions, about 10 cents. per member for
education and benevolence and tbeut
$40 per member for local church
work These figures tell whether or
not our wealth is conseerated. Our
material equipment is used for Gods
glory, for the salvation of ourselves
and others through Christ. Are we
worthy stewards of the manifold bless
irgs with which the Giver of all things
has so generously enriched us? Our
material equipment, valuable as it is,
will not suffice. Our mission never
could be fulfilled with this alone
Intellectual Equipment.
Il. Our colleges, 43 of all grades.
These rank well among the colleges OF
the country.
From the first our people have been
believers in education. The relation
Of education and Christianity is vital.
Our people must be mentally equipped
fol fulfilling our great mission. In
the past our colleges have made a
wonderful history, in view of all cir
cumstances. They have prepared our
men for successful work in the minis
try and in other professions They
have successful present, and they
promise larger and better for the flu
ture We cannot value too highly the
work of our colleges.
Six Thousand Ministers.
90 Our ministers. We have always
believed that sdtlfa ministry should be
an educated ministry.
Ministers must have something to
tell the people and must know how to
tell it. Must, be equipped. The
WHCh ilC lCdld lOW
sweetly the nightingale sang, said:
oh, that l had that bird; surely it is
a rare dish But when he had taken it
and eaten it he was heard to say,
'Voxet praetesea nihil.' Now I see
thou are mere voice and nothing else
Such is the minister without the train
ing to enable him to present to men
the truth in an effective manner. He
is mere voice and nothing else Our
n.en who preach we have always de-
ma nded should be trained for their
work, and the training has included
earnestness as well as possession of
truth. Once upon a time an obscure
man arose and addressed the French
convention, Miribeau, the giant genius
Of the revolution, was present, and re-
marked That man will yet act
great part and on being asked for an
explanation, he said: He speaks as
one who believes every word he says
The power of our ministry depends
largely upon Notwithstanding our
hearts feel what we ourselves feel.
Our ministers to-day are surcharged,
as it were, with the truth, and then
presenting it with earnI -7egs. bring
conviction and thus leaa ifiGn to Christ.
They have a message-something to
say, and then say it as though they
themselves believed it. Thus we have
an equipped ministry. What a mighty
army of coasecrated and well equipped