Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1908-05-29
CHURCH MUST MAKE
The NATION BETTER
Plea OF Retiring MODERATOR, DR..
Roberts, Before the Presby-
terrain General Assembly.
WOMEN ARE THE PILLARS.
Indifference of Men to Religion De,
plored-Statistics as to Growth
of the Church.

With officers and leading ministers
of the church in America, as well as
prominent laymen and foreign mis-
sionaries in attendance, the n hun
dred IL twentieth general assembly
of the Presbyterian Church in the Uni
ted States began its sessions in Con-
vcntion Hall at Kansas City. The
most important business of the first
day was the election of a moderator
to succeed Rev. William Henry Rob
crts. d. D., of Philadelphia.
The feature Of the morning session
was the opening ermOn by the retir-
ing moderator. 1t was largely a plea
for cooperation of the churches in
fighting the many influences opposed
to the Christian religion in this cOun-
try. Above every other nation Of mod
orn times, DR.. Roberts said, the United
States represents those widespread
movements which are lifting men out
of the of caste, which are
making the world a ncighbOrhoOd and
which seek the welfare not of a class
or classes, but of the whole people.
CHARACTERIZATION the Great Need.
The retiring moderator in his SER
mon said in part:
In this land to-day the churches con-
front conditions of n notable character.
The world which God made is in a sense
within our borders. Its multitudes are
touring into every corner of the country.
The populations of Europe, in particular,
ore accessible through US to the influences
~ th. ,,,,Nol -, I, "a rl L. ~ ~ Co
vast Is the movement that it can be said,
as vas said at Pentecost, that men out
Of every nation under heaven are in our
midst.
| Opposed to the Christian churches in
our country are to be found many evil
influences. There is the irreligion of the
average immigrant, the presence of an
inordinate commercial spirit, the Calico
like attitude of a majority of our politi-
cal leaders, who care for no religious opin-
ion whatever, but solely for self, and,
above all, the practical unbelief of the
majority of American men. We are a
| Christian nation only because three
fourths of our women are Christians. Ev-
| eryNhere there is the need, whether we
have regard to our native population or
4 the foreign immigrant, for persistent,
lnited evangelistic and educational work.
We must go forth everywhere under
| the influence of the "love divine, all love
excelling," under the influence of the love
| for the world of God the Father, and of
| the saving power of Jesus Christ, the only
| and all-suficient Divine Savior, proffering
into every creature that salvation which
is profitable both for the life that now is
and for the life that is to come. We
must increasingly strive to win America
for Christ, that we may thereby win the
world for Him.
Church Growth Recorded.
In connection with the opening Of
the general assembly, the Interior,
Chicago organ of the Presbyterian
Church. presents statistics Of the de-
nomination for the year. 1t is shown
| that the presbyteries have organized
1913 churches and dissolved 103. This
practically corresponds to last years
record. 1t appears that the ministry
has made Il net gain of seventy-siX
mel in the interesting commerce of
trading preachers with other denOm-
nations. C.
That the church has gone on grow
ing at about the usual rate is indicated
by the total of additions. The net total
church membership at present Is 1881
900, and that of Presbyterian Sunday
schools. 1,137,743. Gifts to foreign
missions aggregated S1,153,S52, to home
missions $1,4S2,49 to education $113.-
237, to Sabbath school work $173,413,
to church erection $1S4,G46 and to aid
for colleges $4S4,266. Congregational
expenses reached a total Of $15,936,29O.