Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-20
HOME MISSIONS CENTENNIAL
Celebration Being Held in Connection with
Presbyterian General Assembly.
BOARD OF EDUCATION MAKES A REPORT
Cumberland Pr-esbyterians Resume
Business Session at Springfield,
Mo-, and Decide to Abandon
Orphans Home.

Home.
NEW YORK. May ls.-At the business
session today OF the Presbyterian general
assembly Rev. DR.. Van Dyke, the moder-
atOr. presided. %
Today marked the beginning Of the cen
tennial celebration Of the Presbyterian
home missions, which is being held in con-
nection with the general assembly. Rev.
DR.. Samuel A. Martin, president Of Wilson
college, Chambersburg, Pa, chairman Of
the standing committee on Freedmen's mis-
sions, presented the thirty-seventh annual
report OF the board of missions for Freed
men.
The report says the year just closed has
been one OF activity n sucoess; the
growth Of the work hsH been normal and
healthy. More money was received during
the year than for any similar period in
the last eight years, Attention is directed
to the. good work lone by the schools.
Nearly II, 900 pupils have cou1e under Pres
byterian instruction, The number Of min
isters on the field has Increased from 2ol
to 200 and the number OF churches and
missions from S42 to 353.
The treasurer's report shows cash on
hand March 81, 1901. 1899. Receipts from
all sources during the year ended March 81.
1902, we're S1S5. s04. After all expenditures,
including salaries, printing, interest and in
vestments, were deducted there remained
a balance Of s1.O57,
The report does not include In any way
the SSs, 1854 contributed by churches and
schools for self-support.
A detailed report by synods accompanied
the statement OF the board.
Report of Board for freedmen,
Rev, DR., p, p, CowAn, secretary aud
treasurer Of the Board for Freedmen, next
took the platform, He said that the
Presbyterian church would have to bestlr
itself and do its share among the Freed
men IL the day was to be. ushered In when
the Freedmen could take their stand. not
only as political. but spiritual equals Of the
whites.
Rev. John MacGonigie of st. Augustine,
Fla, also made an appeal for the Freed
mems missions, He commenced by saying
that the negro was not religious by nature.
He was only emotional and superstitious
The average colored preacher in the south.
he said, was ignorant G-f
They play upon the emotions OF their
people on sundays,ri he said. "by preaching
about a paradise of lazfness as a reward
for the good, and a hell for the wicked. On
week days they set examples which will
lead those that follow them to eternal per-
dition." ~ -.
Mr., MaeGonigie offered. an amendment to
the report OF the standing committee rec
ommending that the contributions of the
church to the Freedmenis work be increased
50 per cent during the coming year.
The report OF the Freedmen's board, with
Rev. Mr.. MacGonigle's comment, was ac-
cepted and adopted.
Rev. DR.. A. Mckinley OF steubenville, O.,
presented the report OF the board OF educa-
ton.
Good Financial showing.
The board announces that IL has met
all the financial engagements Of the year
without incuring any debt. but, has. q
somewhat diminished balance IN. the hands
OF the treasurer. The receipts from the
churches. Sabbath schools and. young
peoples societies amounted to s44.17O u
compared with S45, $40 last year. Only the
fact that the number OF candidates en-
rolled for the year was abnormally small
made It possible to carry out the purpose
to make a better provision for them thar
In recent. years. s1eo being given to stu.
dents in the collegiate and seminary
courses and 500 to students in the prepare.
tory course. This Is the highest rate pale
since 1894.
The number OF candidates under. the carr
OF the board during the year was 572. Tn,
income was scarcely suficfenkte provide FOL
them and the repoYt,potnts out that If there
should be an increase OF say 100 next yeai
there would be nr little anxiety with regart
to the 10000 which, would be needed for
the emergency. ~
No Addition to- Reserve Fund.
There were received by iegacies during tn,
year 81. 47s. The amount paid to candidates
this year is $50. $50. as compared with SIC, So
last year. Under the circumstances It haI
not been possible to make any additions u
the reserve fund,
The number of new Recommendation
acted fsvorably upon is 140. as compare
with l27 accepted last year. The numbe,
Of renewed recommendations for this year 1
4S2. as compared with 4T3 during the pre-
vious year. The decrease in the number o
candidates continues. although APPARENT,
at a less rapid rate. The board believes tn
Publication Of views that the church has to
many ministers already. fortified by stats
tics tending to show that there are a larg
number OF capable ministers upon the rol
Deyonu EXISTING opportunities lot service
have made considerable impression, an
they must be reckoned with as among tn
causes which discourage. young men from
devoting their lives to work in the sacrer
once.
We ave given much consideration {
this subject. Not a few appear to be o
the opinion that we cannot expect younI
men TO ofer their services until the un
pleasant features attending service in tn
ministry are removed or ameliorated. w
believe there is room for great improve
ment in the church's management OF II
affairs and trust that with persevering yea
Il will continue TO seek TO remove all de
fects- from its system, but the ways o
the faithful. minister can never be mad
We have little confidence in the suppose
divine call OF any man who does not fee
prepared TO face them.
Urged Upon Assembly.
The following measures are urged upo
the attention of the general assembly;
A. Praytrful EFFORT to promote a geners
revival OF religion.
B. The enlistment Of ministerial inhu
ence.
c. Prayer in the closet, prayer in tn
family and prayer in social meetings, 1
addition to the more formal prayers In III
great congregation.
TIL candidates under the care OF III
board during the year were distributed g
IN