Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-26
HOME MISSION WORK
Theme of Discussion by the
Presbyterian Assembly.
EVERY FIELD CONSIDERED
Poor Financial Status Charged to the
Panic.
INTEREST IN IMMIGRANTS
Other Departments of Church Labor.
EVERY FIELD CONSIDERED
IN IMMIGRANTS
Other Departments of Church Labor.
Report of Board of Missions Sub
mitted at Kansas City Today.

! KANSAS CITY. Mo. May 26.--ENerS
! field of home missionary York was con-
sdered today by the general assembly
| of the Presbyterian Church in the
| United States of America. Reports
were submitted on the progress of the
missionary efforts of the church among
laborng men, Immigrants. the Indians.
! and all other classes at home which the
church is trying to reach. and a general
discussion Of the subject Ct home mis-
sions followed.
] The board. for the first time in ten
years. reported IA. debt OF more than
S47 900. but it was explained that this
was due to the assumption of the work
, of the Cumberland branch of the church.
1t was shown that during the last year
there had been an increase of about
S26Np0 in the gifts of churches and in
| dividuals for home missionary work.
! The financial panic is believed to have
been responsible for the .act that the
| increased gifts did not largely exceed
the increased appropriations.
| The board reported its unsuccessful
effort to find any one both able and
willing to superintend the work of
| evangelization among the immigrants.
/ Persuaded. however, of the need OF an
/ immigration department in the church.
the board has organized It. electing as
! superintendent the Rev. Charles Stels1e.
who will conduct the immigration de-
partment co-ordinately with the de-
partment of church and labor, but sepa-
| rated from it,
| The immigration Department.
| The immigration department will in
quire into the conditions of the social
and religious life in the lands whence
| immigrants come.
1t will also seek to secure either at
home abroad men and women fitted to
preach the gospel to their people. 1t will
be bureau of information for any 10
cality where there are foreigners. among
! whom the local churches desire to carry
on Christian work 1t will also endeavor
| to be bureau of education to secure as
| far possible or to prepare such itera-
| ture in the various foreign languages as
! will be source of supply to those doing
work among Indians in the various parts
of the country. During the past year the
| board has expended SIS. 900 on this depart
| ment This includes $1,000 spent under
| the supervision of the Woman's Board of
/ Home Missions. The department has
! training schools to prepare ministers. and
! especially for this kind of evangenstic
4 work.
The general assembly today took up
another department of the educational
| work of the church. when the colleges of
| the church were considered. The general
| assembly, through it's committee on COL
| leges. expressed its gratitude to John D.
| Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie for
| their generosity in gifts to the Presby
terrain colleges
Report of Board Of Missions.
The report of the board of missions set
| forth that the receipts from living sources
last year were the largest in its history.
There has been some falling off in
legaces," the report said. but the gifts
from the churches and individuals are
larger than ever before, and the treasury
of the woman's board has exceeded any
! former year by about $4,000. This. in
year of unsettled financial conditions. is
matter Of profound Thanksgiving to the
| head of the church.
I'm several respects the work of the
| year has been tentative. In two direc-
| tons the work assumed by request of the
general assembly has devoyed upon the
| board important new plans and reorgani-
cation. The evangeistic work carried on
| in nearly all the missionary presbyteries
has not only shown good results, but has
| given distinctive promise of still better
things when the organization of the work
| hall have been better effected. and when
| experience shall have guided to the wisest
| plans and the best methods.
| THE Indian work, which is varied and
4 extensive, meets with many limitations
and difficulties by reason of various local
| conditions.
| The development of the department of
| church and labor has attracted the atten-
| ton both of other denominations and of
| the public press. The reception accorded
our ministers in the shop meetings is not
| without significance. The working men
| have a new conception of both the char
| acter of the minister man and of the
| nature of the gospel which he breaches.
| The womens board has done faithful
| service at home and on the field.
| THE total number of missionaries at
| work was 1870. missionary teachers. 432.
| The additions on confession of faith were
| 1856, on certificates. 5.461. making the
| total membership 64,329 The churches
| organized were 10 and the church debts
| Cancelled aggregated $124300. The Sunday
schools organized were e!6 making the
number ,633 with a membership OF
92.519.
THE receipts were $3.50. 49,. and the ex-
penditureS 81. U3S 94S. being SOL in eX-
cess of the previous year. For the hrst
time in ten years there is d defc1t,
amounting TO s47.717. and this in the face
! of the fact that the receipts on current
| work account were the largest in the his
tory of the board.
| we take up the work of the new year
with deep sense of responsibility, put
with large expectations. We cannot stop.
In all directions the demands are loud
and the opportunity great.
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