Norwich bulletin., 1909-02-08
BIG CONVENTION
OF CoNGREGATIoNALIsTs
To Be Held at New London Next
Mountaineering County in Five
Districts.

In the First and Second churches Of
New London on Monday, Feb. Is, a re-
markable convention of Congregation
al churches and people will be held.
1t is part Of q concerted movement by
the Congregational Missionary socie-
ties, both home and foreign, known as
the joint missionary campaign for our
country and the world. The campaign
opened at st. Johnsbury, VT, Tuesday,
Jan. 26, and is to be carried on
throughout the entire country by
large force of able speakers.
The missionary work Of the Con-
gregattonal churches Is carried on
through the agency Of several special
lied organizations. The American
board specializes upon foreign mis-
sions, conducting missions entirely
outside the territory of the United
States. The Home Missionary society
specializes upon the line of pastoral
and evangelistic work In organized
Congregational churches throughout
the United States. The specially of
work by church and school for the
backward people in this country be-
longing to eight races. The speciality
of the Church Building society Is to
help struggling churches, by loan or
grant, to reach self support through
housing their congregations and min
listers. The Education society has for
its special mission to sustain schools
of the higher grade in regions not
otherwise provided with them, and
assist promising students for the min
istry who could not otherwise get the
necessary training. The Sunday School
and Publishing society finds its spe-
cial missionary service establishing
and maintaining Sunday schools where
rs 81 L. -,
ton. While the board of ministerial
relief has its specialized mission in
caring for the unfortunate and depen-
dent in the families Of disabled Con-
gregational ministers.
The figure set for the financial goal
Of this joint missionary campaign Is
100000, all subscriptions conditioned
on the round sum Of $500 900 being Sc
cured. Out Of this will first be paid
the $273,094.S4 debts Of the American
board, the Congreg ational Home Mis-
sionary society and the American Mis-
sionary association. Then the balance
Of $226,904.16 Is to be distributed
among all seven missionary societies
upon the ratios determined by the APP
portionment plan. This will put each
Of the societies in position and sufTi-
GENTLY in funds to go forward with its
special line Of work in full and contin-
ued cooperation with the other socie-
ties on the apportionment plan basis,
and give all the societies insurance
against future debts.
The Plan of Campaign.
Arrangements arc now well matured
to carry on this campaign through the
whole country from New England to
the Pacific coast. Five districts have
been mapped out:
The New England, with headquarters
at Boston.
The Middle, with headquarters at
Chicago.
The Central West with headquarters
at Chicago.
The Western. with headquarters at
Omaha.
The Pacific, with headquarters at
San Francisco.
To bring it as nearly as possible to
every Congregationalist's door, II is
planned to have a day of meetings
simultaneously in the five districts at
about 200 convenient centers.
Character of the Meetings.
These meetings are designed to be
educational, stimulating and agrees
sive upon practical missionary lines.
No public appeals for money or col
lections viii be made at any of the
meetings. All soliciting OF subscrip-
lions will be from individuals rather
than church treasures, so that the
regular flow Of missionary giving IN
the churches may not be disturbed.
One session at each center will be
devoted to conference with pastor and
delegates from churches with refer
ence to the apportionment plan in the
local church. So far as possible II
will be arranged to hold the evening
session in connection with a supper.
so as 70 have the advantage of a thor
oughly social atmosphere to help on
the campaign.
The meetings in each district will be
in charge OF q group Of speakers
representing the American board, the
Congregational Home Missionary So
ciety, the American Missionary asso-
cia ton and so far as possible the other
four societies. these groups TO include
leading pastors. laymen missionary
superintendents and secretaries.