Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1909-10-14
PRESBYTERIAN SYNOD

The Synod of the Presbyterian OF
South Dakota held its annual session
in Sioux Falls. The gathering was
we'll attended and most enthusiastic
meeting Of the faithful workers of that
organization. A great deaf Of work
was accomplished. In q way the meet
ing was a celebration Of the twenty
fifth anniversary of the Presbyterian
Synod. Perhaps the most interesting
paper read at this gathering was the
one by DR.. Carson, state clerk, who
gave a brief account of the church in
the state for the last quarter of GEN
fury.
DR.. Carson said among other things,
1.-The first church organization among
white people was ct Canton in 1872
and the second at Dell Rapids in the
same year.
six years later the churches at
Madison and Flandreau were organic
ed. All are yet in existence, except the
Canton church.
THE Ascension church at Sisseton,
was the first Indian church to be Or
ganized, in August of 1868. There were
half dozen Indian churches before
the first white organization.
''The Synod was organized Oct g.,
1884, in Huron, with a total of Il min
listers, ten Of whom still remain on the
roll. OF 70 churches, Sc yet remain
on the roll. The number of communi-
cants was 2,351. Only one church was
then self-supporting (Huron). Now
one-fourth are self-supporting.
There were then Al church build
ings, and manses. Tod<y there are
Ill church buildings and So manses.
REV. Geo. F. LeClair was the first
settled minister and Rev. Walter s.
Peterson, the second among the white
people.
REV. j. P. Williamson and the mis-
sionaries to the Indians, with the In
dian ministers were really the first
ministers in point Of time.
Three hundred minister have been
on the roll in the past.
1.-THE growth of the church has
steadily increased except during the
year 1892, a year of crop failure. The
number of ministers now enrolled is
nearly double that of Is years ago
churches more than doubled and near
ly through the number of communi-
cants.
pierre university was the first Pres
byterian educational institution. In
situations at Scotland and Groton,
with Pierre university were later
merged into the present institution,
Huron college"
Of those present at the organization
of the Synod twenty-five years ago,
three were present yeste V'ay after
noon. These were DR.. Carson of Hur-
on, DR.. Williams Of Greenwood, the
latter twenty-five years a missionary
to the Dakota Indians, and Rev. John
Eastman, Dakota Indian minister
CONGREGATIONAL ATWAKONDA
The 10Th annual meeting of the
Yankton Association of Congregation
al churches came to a close Wednes-
session Of two days.
Rev. G.. E. Brown was chosen mod
orator and Rev. E. l.. Smith of Mevk-
ling, scribe Mr.. Douglas, registrar,
read the minutes of the last meeting
and the following nominating commit
tee was appointed: j. A. Derome,
Centeryille. A. w. Cook and E. L..
Smith, Mrs. F. v. Stevens was appoint
ed chairman of the business committee
Mr.. Douglas spoke on the new consti-
tuition and bylaws adopted by the
state association as the Sioux Falls
meeting last May, and mentioned the
changes introduced, the chief of which
are the following: The new name OF
the body is the Congregational Con-
ference OF South Dakota" The work
of the denomination is now simplified
by being unified under these four
heads:
+ l. Department of state missions for
the home work.
2. Department of benevofence for
the foreign work and systematic CIV
ing.
8. Ministerial relief.
4. Christian education.
The association unanimously endors-
ed the new constitution. The report
of the registrar, T. o. Douglas, showed
good balance on the right side of the
ledger Mr.. Douglas having served the
term of one year for which he had
been appointed to fill a vacancy, and
refused to serve any longer, and J. A.
Derome was appointed in his place for
three years. Rev. F. H. Mey-
ers of Yankton, delivered the associa-
ton sermon on How to Fin. God'',
Dean Sterling, of Vermillion. delivered
forceful and brilliant talk on 'The
Study Of religion as whole" DR..
Warren, of Yankton college was at his
best and delivered telling address on
the necessity of Judicial Reform"
Springfield was selected as the next
place Of meeting.
Chance For Scholarship