The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1909-10-14
PRESBYTERIAN SYNOD

The Synod OF the Pres byterian OF
South Dakota held it's nnua session
in Sioux Falls. The gathering was
| well attended and a most enthusiastic
meeting of the faithful workers of that
organization. A great dear of work
was accomplished. In a 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 DIR. Carson, state clerk, who
gave a brief account Of the church in
the state for the last quarter of a gen
fury.
DR.. Carson said among other things,
"the first church organization among
white people was at Canton in 1872
and the second at Dell Rapids in the
same year.
six years later the churches at
| Madison and Flandreau were organiZ-
ed. All are yet in existence, except the
Canton church.
THE Ascension church at Sisseton,
was the first Indian church to be or
gained, in August of 1868. There were
a half dozen Indian churches before
| thC lloL nilIIC vi 6diildlioh. -
"The Synod was organized Oct. 9,
1884, in Huron, with a total of Il min
listers, ten of whom still remain on the
roll. OF rs churches, Sc yet remain
on the roll. The number of communi-
cants was 1851. Only one church was
then self-supporting (Huron). Now
one-fourth are self-supporting.
There were then Al church build
ings, and 2 manses. ToC~Y there are
Ill church buildings and SO manses.
Rev. Geo. +. 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.
"The growth of the church has
steadily increased except during the
year 1892, a year CT crop failure. The
number of ministers now enrolled is
nearly double that of % years ago
churches more than doubled and near
ly through the number of commGni-
cants.
pierre university was the first Pres
byterian educational Institution. In
stitutions 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 yesteNay 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, a Dakota Indian minister.
CONGREGATI0NALS ATWAKONDA
The goth annual meeting of the
Yankton Association of Congregation
al churches came to a close Wednes-
day evening after a very successful
session of two days
Rev. G. E. Brown was chosen mod
orator and Rev. f. l.. Smith of Mevk-
ling. scribe. Mr.. Douglas, registrar,
read the minutes of the last meeting
and the following nominating commit
tee vas appointed: j. A.. Derome,
C~enterville. A. w. Cook and f. l..
Smith, Mrs. +. v. Stevens was appoint
ed chairman of the business committee
Mr.. Douglas spoke OIL 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:
1. Department of state missions for
the home work..
2. Department Of benevo>ence for
the foreign work and systematic CIV
ing.
8. Ministerial relief.
A. Christian education.
The association unanimously endors-
ed the new constitution. The report
of the registrar, T. o. Douglas, showed
a 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
a forcefui and brilliant talk On "The
Study of religion as g whole DIR.
Warren, of Yankton college was at his
hest and delivered a telling address on
the necessity of Judicial Reform.
Springfield was selected as the next
place of meeting.