The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1908-10-22
Affairs Of Congregational Church
in Wisconsin Placed Under
Charter of the State
SEWERS BOND WITH THE EAST
Rev. L. II. Keller Of Fond du Lac Will
Probably Be Chosen superinten-
dent of New Colporation-To
Have Complete Control Of State

The Wisconsin Association of Con
gregational churches, headed by
superintendent and designed to CON
duct the entire affairs of the church in
Wisconsin, has been incorporated in
! Madison.
The association, unique to Congrega
tionalism, was perfected about week
ago. Today efforts are being made to
induce the Rev. L. I'll. Keller, former
| ~ Of Pilgrim Congregational church in
Milwaukee, now of Fond du Lac, to
take up the superintendency. The
position will be the highest offered of
the entire state, control of the edu-
cational institutions conducted by the
church and the heading of all state
Sunday schools established on a mis-
sion basis.
This organization means that the
Congregational church in Wisconsin
sewers its dependency of controlling
eastern societies, with headquarters in
New York or Boston, and becomes an
entirely Independent institution. In
it's entirety the step taken means a
departure from all established customs
and an innovation in church control.
The new organization marks elimina-
tion of the Wisconsin Home Missionary
society Of the Congregational church.
This organization, independent since
1878, together with the "Congrega-
tional Convention, also independent
has been the controlling feature of all
dependent mission churches in the
past.
1t, too, has been an incorporation
with a legal right to hold monies and
transact business. By a process of
unifcation,' merging Of the Home
Missionary, society and the Congrega-
tional convention, the former organiza
tion has gone out Of existepce. It has to-
day merely legal existence. It has
today merely legal standing. When
| its charter shall have been transferred
to the new Wisconsin society Of Con
gregational churches it will lose even
that existence. The Congregational
convention is today represented in the
new organization.
| The Wisconsin Association of Con
gregational churches is the result of
| four years of constructive effort Four
| years ago Congregational ministers be-
gan to feel the need for central body
that might govern church affairs. The
Congregational convention, of the two
governing bodies at that time, took up
che question in convention in Madison.
! Early efforts toward Capitalization met
with opposition.
/ Among prime movers was JudsoD
Ellsworth, pastor Of Plymouth church,
! Milwaukee and the Rev e. T. Farrill
Of this city and others urged the
measure They drew up first plans
of organization and drafted the first
constitution Manday, Oct. 5, the
last amendment to this constitution
was presented and the entire plan
adopted unanimously By their action
the Congregational ministers and lay
men in Madison dissolved both the
Wisconsin Home Mission society and
the Congregational convention.
! The Wisconsin Home Mission society
has been in control of all dependent
churches Of Wisconsin since 1878. In
that year it became independent of the
National Mission society, Boston. It's
work was handling contributions from
weather. churches and distributing
them to dependent churches. Thus it
maintained many minor congregations,
paid salaries of their ministers and
otherwise aided in the conduct of their
affairs. Its control Of these affairs
was large one. The dependent
churches could not discharge a minis
/ ter nor could they conduct other fnan-
cial affairs without the consent of the
| Home Mission society.
The convention included many mem
bers, also members of the mission So
ciety. Tt acted Independently and
provided for, and other wise conducted
in a sense, all church affairs.
| Madison will probably be made the
/ headquarters cG the new organization.
In that city the new superintendent
will have his headquarters. He will
divide his work into three branches,
one of home missions, which shall care
fer the dependent churches Of the
/ the state; one on educational institu.
lions, which shall supply with funds
and otherwise aid the educational in
situations of Wisconsin,; and a third
on state Sunday schools, which shall
establish and maintain these schools in
various parts of the state.
The position of superintendent,
therefore, will be an important one. In
fact, it will be the highest in the CON
gregational church. Mr.. Keller has
been approached by committee and
offered 1t. He is at present in Fond
7u Lac where his church was destroyed
by fire. Whether or not he will accept
it is not known. Should he, he will net
only step into position of Importance.
but one of high salary. Ills duties will