Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1906-08-04
The $. 8. Conference at Mitchell

| The following communication was re-
ceived a day or two ago from Hot Springs
with request that it be given space in
the CHRONICLE:
Mr.. VIM. S. Rowden of this city has
! but recently returned from the State
Conference at Mitchell Mr. Rowden
reports an excellent conference. Ex-
cept for Two men detained at home the
whole force of the Society's missionaries
were present as well as some of the
! wives
Amongst the helpful and interesting
speakers from outside were two gentleo
men from Philadelphia, Rev. Willis d..
Skillman, ID. d., of Tabor Presbyterian
church and w. L. DeGroff, Supt of the
American Sunday School Union for Eas-
tern Pennsylvania and General Field
Agent, and +. G.. Ensign ofChcago Dr.
Skillman though the busy pastor of a
church of 1900 members is an enthusias-
tic friend of the Union having with essed
much of its helpful and practical work
He has not only furnished funds by
means of which the society has planted
more than fifty Sunday Schools, many
now churches, but gives half of each
summers vacation to work with the
missionaries of this society amongst the
families and in the neighborhood of
these schools. One has but to come in
to touch with DR.. Skillman TO recognize
his common sense, living piety. A
| Young Mems Bible class in his own
church from nine to three hundred
seventeen years continual pastorate in
one church, seven services each Sunday,
a preaching service on Wednesday
night, 1000 calls per year bespeak his
helpfulness in the field with the mis-
sionary.
w. l.. DeGrof with his years of ex-
perence in mission work east and west,
in the mountains, amongst miners, cow
boys and plainsmen brought much of
inspiration to the conference.
f. q. Ensign who has seen the WORK
of the Union develope in this North
west District in SO years from seven
missionaries to more than 125 under his
superintendency brought his usual in
spiration to the conference as he told of
his triumph of faith and the increase of
sympathy and support from the thinking
business public who are turning as
never before to this great undenomina-
tonal agent of the denominations as the
one satisfactory means of effectively
! reaching the rural districts.
Reverends Surbeck, Wilkinson, Bow
dish and Burton of the Presbyterian,
Methodist, Congregational and Baptist
churches of Mitchell rendered valuable
assistance and brought through helpful
addresses much inspiration to the Con-
ference.
Rev. F. P. Leach of Sioux Falls made
practical suggestions as to how the State
Sunday School Association and the Am
erican Sunday School Union, though
doing distinctive work may work to-
gether to greater mutual helpfulness.
The Right Rev. Bishop Hare of Sioux
Falls in his accustomed spirit of broth
erliness spoke on topics of vital interest
to the missionary and reiterated his
feeling of kinship and keen interest in
| this work in behalf of the unreached.
The day sessions of the conference
were held in the Presbyterian church.
On Wednesday evening the several
churches of the city were thrown open
and the missionaries drew from their
| varied experiences for the instruction
and entertainment of the several con.
gregations. Thursday evenings session
was popular meeting at the new City
Hall and drew out an appreciative audi
ence.
The conference beginning Wednesday,
the 25th and closing Friday, the 9th
was indeed a success.
During 1905 the American Sunday
School Union planted in the United
States 264l Sunday Schools with l04 ,903
members. From this work came 70
churches, AGA Young Peoples Societies
and more than II 900 conversions-a
gift to the various denominations
Twelve missionaries are now employed
in this state in an endeavor to reach
and provide Bible instruction for more
than $4,000 unreached children. During
the past two years no less than Is towns
have been opened to Sunday School in
South Dakota by this Society.