The Oskaloosa herald., 1909-10-21
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST.

Mrs. "A. NJ. f1aSSdIu,' VI LES 49,
a former Oskaloosa lady, was one OF
the speakers before the international
Centennial Celebrations of the Disci-
ples of Christ ,(Christian, churches)'
neld in I'ittsburg last week. Ad-
dressing the great convention on FRO
gress and Achievements OF Hun
dred Years. Mrs. Haggard in part
said: 1868
The nineteenth century opened
with two hundred million soldiers OF
the cross and closed with force fiVe
hundred million strong. This is the
century in which Voltaire had predict
ed the blotting out OF the Christian
name and faith. Like falling body
under the law of momentum, the past
century has established ratio OF IN
crease " itch should give to Christian
ity the power, of an avalanche TO over
whelm the non-Christian world. The
taking of the world for Christ is no
longer far away dream. The record
OF the past one hundred years points
TO time not far distant for the full
our LorG.ot Ii the mlllenial victory
should demand two more centuries,
the last one hundred years is the first
polished gem, in the triple crown oil
the ages. In the brief span OF one
century what changes have been
wrought in this old world of ours. It's
distances have been measured, its
vast regions eXplored,even to the spot
above which our pole star stands
The earth has been bounu together by
highways on sea and land, and men
are able to travel to it's ends with the
swiftness of the winds; thoughts dart
across continents with lightning
speed: and the people of God are CIV
en- free access to every land and
cline.
With this marvellous century for
our field of operation, what have we
as a people done In scanning the
mountain peaks OF nineteenth century
achievements it may seem to some
that we are lost in the shadows. To
others born in the days when We were
ii
thousand or less, our one and one
fourth million looms large. But what
are We before the nOn-Christian
world which we had planned to unite,
and which still has hundreds of times
our following? Are we not lost in
mountain shadows? From whence
came We, and whittier do We go?
What have We done?
We nave outgrown our religious
ineighbors, who We're old when we
were born. This is significant, be-
cause growth is one IF the measures
OF progress and achievement. From
1850 to the present, five Of the strong
est leaders of American denomination
al Professionalism increased less than
fiye-fold (4,S32). In the same time
We lacked but a hairs breadth (9.92)
OF a ten-fold increase. 1t took our
Methodist brethren of all kinGs just
one hundred and twenty years tC do
what we have done in one hundred.
If growth in numbers, and ratios OF i'll
crease. are approximate measures of
We u!iSui pdSSCu.
Starting with one man hundred
years ago we now have 1l,700 church
es enrolling 1,335,000 members and
ministered to by $500 preachers and
evangelists. 5000 Bible schools en-
rolling a little short of 100000 pu-
pills. Church property to the value OF
$50 900, 900. Six great National Mis-
sionary Societies, together with many
state organizations which receive as
voluntary offerings from our people
yearly S1,500000. These missionary
efforts have now belted the globe with
chapels, schools, colleges, asylums,
hospitals and homes.
Our missionaries stand so far out
on the frontier in that land known as
the Roof of the world, that they must
needs send a messenger 500 miles to
post letter or receive the incoming
mail. They do not enjoy a daily pa
per and four deliveries OF mail each
day.
I'VE own or control twenty-seven
colleges and universities with very
creditable buildings, equipment and
scholarship. Their $2.000.O00 of pro-
ductive endowment will soon be multi
piled many fold"