The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-20
HOME MISSIONS WEEK
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION BEGUN
BY PRESBYTERIANS.
Reports on Work Among Freedmen
Discussed in the General Assem-
bIy-WOmen's Society.

NEW YORK, May 19-The devotional ex-
ercises at the opening of to-day's session
OF the Presbyterian General Assembly
were conducted by the Rev Dr. Moffatt.
of Washington. Pa. The Rev. DR.. Van
Dyke, the moderator, presided at the bust
ness session.
To-day marked the beginning of the
centennial celebration of the Presbyterian
home missions, which is being held in con-
nection with the General Assembly. The
Rev. DR.. S. \. 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 that the year just
closed has been one of activity and sue
cess The growth of the work has been nor
NAL and healthy. More money was received
during the year than for any similar period
in the last eight years. Attention is directed
10 the good work done by the schools. Near
~ eleven thousand pupus have come under
Presbyterian instruction. The number of
ministers in the field has increased from 2O1
to 2O9. and the number of churches and
missions from 342 to S5S. The treasurer's
report shows cash on hand. March 81, 1901.
year ended March 81. 1902. were S1S5,SO4
After all expenditures. including salaries,
printing interest and investments were de-
Quoted, there remained a balance of $1,057
The report does not include in any way the
SSS.274 contributed by churches and schools
Tor self-support. A detailed report, by syn
DDS. accompanied the statement of the
board
The Rev. Dr. e P. Cowan. corresponding
secretary and treasurer of the board for
freedmen, next took the platform. He said
that the PRESBYTERIAN Church would have to
bestir itself and do its share of the work
among the freedmen II the day was TO be
ushered in when the freedmen could take
their stand not only as political, but spir-
itUal equals of the whites.
The Rev. John y. McGOnagle. of ST. Au-
gustine. Fla. also made an appeal for the
freedmen's missions. He commenced by
saying that the negro was not religious by
nature He was only emotional and super
stitious. The average colored preacher in
the South, he said, was Ignorant. "They
play upon the emotions of their people"
he said. by preaching about paradise of
laziness as a reward for the good, and a
hell for the wicked. On week days they set
examples which will lead those that follow
TO eternal perdition. Mr.. MacGonagle said
the best negro. ethically in the South,
was the Roman Catholic or Presbyterian.
He offered an amendment 10 the report OF
the standing committee recommending that
the contributions OF the church to the freed
mems work be increased 80 per cent during
the coming year.
The Rev. Levi ]. Milton, a negro preacher
OF Charlotte y. c, next spoke. He made
plea for the work among his race
The report OF the freedmens board with
the Rev. DR.. MacGonagle's comment was
accepted and adopted
The Rev. DIR. X. A Mckinney, or Steu-
benviIe. o.. presented the report of the
Board OF Education. The Rev T.. &. Dodge
secretary OF the board. pleaded that the
church should maintain the high standard
of education in the Presbyterian Church
He was followed by the Rev. j. II. Hat
field. Of Pontiac, H.. who said that the
lack of candidates was due TO a lack OF
piety and prayer and the great restlesSneSs
that pervades the age.
DR. Hatfield said he had heard that in
some Chicago saloons they conducted kin
dergartens where children We're fed candy
containing spirits. so as to teach the chill
dren the taste of liquor. What is the
church DOING" he asked. Ito give the
young people the taste of the church,"
DR. Van Dyke, the moderator. closed the
discussion by saying that IL was the duty
OF the minister 10 find out candidate for
the ministry from his flock. The man whC
finishes his ministry" he said, without
getting other men into the ministry has not
had fun ministry
The report of the Board OF Education
with recommendations. was then adopted
and the Assembly adjourned.
The centennial celebration OF the Presby
TODAY The Rev. DIT Wilson Phramer. al
East Orange. y. j.. presided The prnci
pal speakers were the Rev. Drs. Henry c