The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-05-27
HOME MISSION WORK
REPORT MADE TO PREsBYTERIAN
 GENERAL ASSEMBLY,.
For the First Tisue fn Ten Years a Debt of More than Forty-seven
 Thousnna fs Re-

Aho141W8 fS Ne~
 ported.
 Kansas City, Mo, May 26.--Every field of home missionary work was con- sidered today by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America.
 The reports were submitted on the progress of the missionary efforts of the church among iaboring men, immi- grants. the Indians and all other class es at home which the church Is trying to reach.- and a general discussion or the subject of home missions fol- lowed.
 The Board for the first time in ten years reported a debt of more than $41'- 900. It was expected that this was due to the assumption of the work or the Cumberland branch of the church It was shown that during the last year there had been an increase of $Zo,OUV fin the gifts of churches and individuals for home missionary work. The imam clal panic is believed to have been re- sponsible for the fact that the in- creased gifts did not largely exceed the increased appropriations The Board repuorted It's unsuccessful effort to find any one able and willing 10 superintend the work of evangelization among the immigrants. Persuaded however, of the need of an immigration department in the church the Boaro has organized 1t, electing as superin- tendent the Rev. Chas. Stelzle, who will conduct the immigration depart ment co-ordinateIy with the department of church and labor. but separate from it. The immigration department Will inquire into the religious and social life in the lands whence immigrants come.
 The General Assembly took another department of the educational worK or the church when the colleges of the church were considered. The Generai Assembly, through its Committee on Colleges, expressed it's gratitude to John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Car negie for their generosity In gifts 10 the Presbyterian colleges.
 The report of the Board of Missions set forth that the receipts from living sources last year was the largest In its history.
 There has been some falling off in legacies." the report said, but the gifts from the churches and individu. aIs are larger than ever. before, ana the treasury of the Womens' Board has exceeded any former year by apout $15, 900. This. in q year Of unsettleu. financial conditions, is a matter or pIo- found thanksgiving to the head or the church.
 
 wear has been tentative. Tn two direc- tions the work assumed by request or the general assembly has devolved up- on the Board important new plans ana reorganization. The evangelistic work carried on in nearly all the missionary presbyteries has not only shown gooo results. but has given distinctive prom lea of stiu better things when the or ranfzation of the work shall have been better effected, and when experiences shall have guided to the wisest plans and the best methods. The work Tn the Cumberland branch of our church has been rendered peculiarly oinchlt by the suits of the anti -unionlsts m so many of the courts In the oouth These suits are still in process, ana the uncertainty which prevails as 70 the issue has interfered seriously With our work in nearly the entire field NotVithstanding, much has been ac- cornnlfshed by the organization Of pres byteries, the gathering together or scattered congregations, and the dulck- ening of religious interest by eVangelS istIc services very widely held. Those most conVersant with the South and Southwest are persuaded that rapid progress can be made as soon as pend ing ecclesiastical questions are settled, and that our church in that vast and rapidly developing region has an op- portunity of unsurpassed promise
 "The Indian work. which is varied and, extensive, meets with many limi- tations and difficulties by reason of va rious local conditions.
 "The development of the department of church and labor mas attracted the attention both of other denominations and of the public press. The reception accorded our ministers in the shop meetings Is not without significance. Nvr FN- ton of both the character of the min" jster IS a man and of the nature of the Gospel which he breaches. The fact that working men will attend con- ference of employers and employees un- der the auspices of the church proves their confidence in us. Reports from our ministers indica.e that the work ing men are responding to their ap- peal.
 "The womens' Board has done faith full service at home and on the field
 'eThe total number of missionaries at work was 1880, missionary teachers 442. The additions on confession or faith was 7496. on certificates 54e1, making the total membership 64329. The churches organized were 115, and the church debts cancelled aggregated sf24s0o. The Sunday School organ ized were. 296. making the number 1 f.6sS, with a membership of 92,5l9
 "The receipts were S9S9.285, and the expenditures $1,O3s,s4s. being $75.155 in excess of the previous year. For the first time in ten years there is de- felt, amounting to $47,717. and this in the face of the fact that the receipts on current work account was the larg- est in the history of the Board.
 ''We take up the work of the new year with deep sense of responsibll- ity but with large expectations. We cannot stop. Tn all directions the de- mands are loud and the opportunity