The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1904-04-01
Missionaries Of American Union Hold
Annual Gathering.
Attendance of Delegates From All
Sections of State.
Number Of Topics Discussed.--Sev-
eral Papers Read.
Visitors rendered An Elegant Repast
by Presbyterian Ladies.
From Saturdays Daily.


Missionaries of the American Sunday
School Union from various parts of the
state gathered at the Presbyterian
church late yesterday afternoon and
opened the fourth annual conference.
Those present were: F. A. Bartlett of
Minneapolis, state superintendent; ID. G.
Bell of Minneapolis, Hennepin county
treasurer, vice president of the Union;
Mrs. Post and Mrs. Kelsey of Minneap-
oils, financial missionaries; Mr. and Mrs.
M. B. Lewis of Red Wing; Mr.. and Mrs.
j. E. Robinson of Fairmont; Mr.. and
Mrs. j. E. Robinson of Fairmont; Mr..
and Mrs. G. R. G. Fisher of Northfeld;
Clearance Williams of Crookston; G. N.
McCombs of Hewitt; j. o. Ferris of
Brainerd; B. L. Weber of Marshall; j.
Y. Roberts of Worthington; c. N. Pad
don of Rochester; G. Sullivan of Winona
and Charles Duncan of Stewartville.
State Superintendent Bartlett called
the meeting to order and introduced D.
c. Bell, the senior vice president of the
Union, to- preside according to custom,
over the state conference. Mr.. Bell ac-
cepted the chair with few brief and APP
propriate remarks, commenting in gen
eral way on the vast amount of good
that the Union has already accomplished
and will accomplish in the future.
'Evangelistic Work" was the first sub
ject taken up, the discussion of this
topic being opened by Mr.. Weber. Sew
eral very interesting impromptu ad-
dresses on the same topic followed. The
next subject was that of "Organizing
Denominational Schools and Handing
Them Over to the Denominations" in
troduced by Mr.. Fisher, whose remarks
were followed with comments by nearly
all who were present. At this juncture,
Rev. J. K. Shellenberger, pastor of the
local Christian church, joined the assem-
blage and was very cordially received.
ing speech in regard to what he believed
to be the basis of unity. While churches
stood for unity in policy, missionaries of
the union stood for unity in purpose.
The next subject before the meeting was
"House to House Visitation" opened by
Mr. Paddon, whose address was sue
ceeded by an especially lively discussion.
Qualification of Men Required in the
Missionary Work" was next introduced
suggested by way of requisite qualities
by Mr.. Robinson. Among the things
were spirituality, tact and push. Mr..
Bell said many excellent things abou,
his faith in the Bible. He said he be-
heved not only that the Scriptures con-
tanned the Word of God but that they
were themselves the Word of God. The
afternoon session closed with brief re-
marks by Mr.. Bartlett.
In the evening several local church |
workers were seated with the missionar- |
les at the banquet tables in the church |
DN"NiiSht' eiC ioSoi iCoiuChtn
present were Secretary Gran of the Y
M. G. A; Mrs. Gran; DIR. Curran; Rev.
". E. Evans, pastor of the Welsh CAL |
whistle Methodist church, President c. !!
81. Cooper of the normal school; Mrs.
Cooper; DIR. Cowgirl, pastor of the Cen
tenary Methodist church; Rev. E. L.
Heermance, pastor of the Congregational
church; and Mr.. and Mrs. Thomas
Hughes.
An elegant repast was served by the
ladies of the Presbyterian churche and
most happy social time was enjoyed
in the course of the same
Supt. Bartlett also opened the evening
session, introducing Mr.. Bell as toast
master. Mr.. Bartlett paid high compli-
ment to the missionary work of Mr. Bell,
-