Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1905-11-13
THE GROWTH OF MISSIONS.

THE GROWTH OF MISSIONS.
The missionary activity of the Pro-
testant Episcopal church is being given
tremendous uplift by the new ar
rangement for missionary conferences
held annually in different sections of
the country known as departments. "
There are eight of these departments,
whose comparatively limited area
makes practicable the presence of
many clergymen and laymen who
could never attend the national mis-
sionary councils, the last of which
was held in Washington in 1903.
At these conferences emphasis is
laid upon the educational value of the
occasion, rather than it's legislative
responsibilities. Each conference of.
fers an opportunity for acquiring in.
formation about different mission
fields, for discussing various plans for
the doing of missionary work in the
field and for developing support for
that work in the home parish. More.
over, each conference gives the Board
of Missions an opportunity for placing
before the church in the department
its plans for the year and of inviting
from the department conferences sug
gestions which may tend to the i'm
provement of such plans.
This diocese is in the Sixth depart
ment, which includes the diocess OF
Duluth, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska
Missouri and West Missouri, North
and South Dakota, Kansas, Salina
Colorado, Laramie and Montana
Clerical and lay delegates from al
these trans-Mississippi dioceses met
last month in Denver for their third
annual conference, and the bishops Of
all the dioceses we're present save
one; a very notable meeting, from
which the delegates returned with
new ideas and new aspirations.
The work of foreign and domestic
missions is interesting larger mum
Der in and out of the church every
year. People who scoffed, people who
were Indifferent, people who didn't be
lieve in foreign missions, people who
thought missionary work should begin
at home, but who never offered to be.
gin any of it themselves, or help others
to begin it; these are getting beauti
fully less. The people who scoffed can
scott no longer before convincing proof
Of the value of missions, viewed from
an entirely utilitarian point. People
who were Indifferent, who contributed
a dollar simply because some friend
asked for it, are taking an interest in
the wonders that have been accom-
plished with that dollar. People who
didn't believe in foreign missions have
come to acknowledge their altruistic
value while yet questioning their sue
cess in the making of converts. Peo-
pie who thought missionary work
should begin at home are pointed to
the work of the church among the col
ored people; among the Indians under
the sanity Hare; to the work in the
missionary districts of Arizona, Lara
mic, North Dakota, Salt Lake, Boise
and other western points; to the work
Of Bishop Rowe and his staff in Alaska,
or Of Bishop Brent in the Philippines,
or Bishop Restarick in Honolulu; all
going on nobly and uninterruptedly
with that in China, Japan or Africa.
Since Dewey sailed into Manila bay
the term "at home covers a pretty
wide field, and missions that might
once have been foreign, are now do
nestle. + ..5.-. -.
This deepening interest in the mis-
sionary life Of the church finds express
sion in steady and gratifying in
crease in the receipts of the Board of
Missions. The total for the last fiscal
year was $1,677,43S, an amount much
larger than ever before. The greatest
gain Is found in the offerings OF con-
gregations, which have actually
doubled and the number Of congrega-
lions making contributions has more
than doubled. Il IL therefore evident
that the gain in offerings represents
q healthy growth, to be mainly credit
ed 70 the lately adopted apportionment
plan Il
Those who In previous years have
given little Or nothing are now taking
a share In missionary enterprise. This