The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1908-10-15

erected more than twenty Ave years
asn, and is at present In O sdilapidated
condition. have had some repairs
made so as TO prevent the complete
destruction OF the property In view
OF the fact that the Norwegian Meth
odist Episcopal church has a splendid
property and a large and increasing
congregation in the town of Hinsboro,
and also in confederation of the fur
ther fact that fully 90 per cent of the
citizens are scandinavian, I9recom-
mend that the conference take action
looking toward the sale OF our prop
erty.
At Mimic we have a church, but are
practically without members. Else
where the Presbyterian church has a
similar condition. I hope that some
adjustment can be made whereby one
Protestant church will be left to adj
minister to the srirituai needs OF
those who are Of Protestant faith.
Scarcity Of men and money demand
that this be done.
Peopie Contribute Literally.
In the matter of pastoral support I
heartily endorse the efforts OF my
predecessor, who faithfully presented
the claims OF. the pastors, and was so
successful that found but few ap-
pointments where an advance In sal
ary could be made. Our people are
responding generously in the giving OF
their means to the. support of the min
istry and TO the benevolent enter
prises of the church estimated on
the basis of membership. approx
r.f.v
this year in the district, exclusive OF
what has been given toward payment
OF church debts and expended on Inn
provements.
our greatest financial problem has
been where churches adopted the
bond system as the method for
raising and paying the pastors sal
ary. Several charges welcomed this
supposed panacea for I'll financial Ills.
Stewards were enthusiastic and pa
tors drew their checks, All went wen
SO long as the necessary funds were
to the credit OF the church, but the
plan has proven conducive to lax -
nancial methods on the part OF the
stewards and resulted in overdrawn
accounts Churches have, ais d re-
suit, In several instances been paying
from 5 to IL per cent on amounts
ranging from $500 to 5000. The. harm
ful efEects are n.usterfuIly realized
where there has been q change OF pas
tors During the year several debts
thus Incurred have been paid. As a
matter Of honor no pastor should
knowingly leave such heritage to
his successor. as that which almost
invariably follows the use OF the
bond system. The disciplinary
plan where operated gii-es the best
results.
AIT Aneta We have $4,000 worth OF
property. The Indebtedness amounts
to $1,000 About $500 OF this amount
Ii siibscribed. III we are to meet the
needs of Aneta charge and develop our
work as we should, Finley must be
made the head or circuit TIE
church at Finley agrees to purchase
or build d parsonag &c costing $4,000 and
to give $500 year toward pastoral
support. Ours is the only Americas
congregation In the. town and the
d resident pastor Finley is eighteen
miles from Aneta, the present head OF
the circuit Our 4 people ut Anefa
concede the wisdom Of the proposed
change and believe that IT, will also
help them in the solution OF some
problems
Bathgate has spent $3.50 on church
pnopertv At i Neche an the same cir
cult the church has been seated with
pewssat q cost Of $425 d
AT Boweaspont building fnnd has
been somewhat Increased. Crop col-