The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-09-29


while all the CONGREGATIONAL churches
In the country averaged 46 cents. We
hope to do better next year we are
to receive $4,000 this year from the
parent society, which Is nearly $1,000
more than last year
What shall / say about the problem
Of men? We have ordained one lone
i graduate from our seminaries this
year. Not a single graduate from our
Congregational seminaries this year
has been obtained. What have we
done for men then? Thirty three men
have been secured and two women.
Five of these have fallen out by the
way and sixteen others leaving us;
fourteen stronger than a year ago.
You ask where did we get them all.
You had better ask where did we not
get them from. Most everywhere. ami
they are very good and efficient work
ers for the most part.
Fourteen students have been help
Ing us during the year who have not
previously worked with us. One of
these students expects to remain out
for the year. Only five of these are
from the seminaries. The others are
college graduates, college students,
Moody Institute men, and some of
them in their college work, and three
not even in college. Eight men have
been ordained, viz: Messrs. Steele,
Cass, Dunn, Nickerson, Pollard, Pratt
Davisson and Kelley. Fifteen pastors
have changed fields during the year.
Who has not changed2 Bro. Phillips
has not and our splendid brother and
coworker, Rev. John Edward Jones,
for some mysterious reason has not
caused his name this year to be In
scribed in this roll of honor
How about vacant churches? Every
church has been supplied during the
year with the exception OF two or three
isolated ones that we have either left
to sister denomination to supply or
in one case the church was so weak
that it could not expect regular minis
trations. One field was six months I'M
supplied and one other three months.
Fifteen new churches in all, Bordu-
lac, Crystal Spring, Stanton, Medora, |
Mott, Emerson, Palermo Shell, Stady, |
North Prairie, Powers Lake, Fair !
view, FIT. Clark, Killbourn and Regent |
with forty-six members.
Churches dedicated: Tolna, Lawton, |
Scranton, Haynes, Marmarth, Rocky |
Butte, Buford, Gascoyne and Hurds- |
field have churches ready to dedicate, |
and Medora and Hebron are building. |
Others are also in sight.
Evangelistic work always presents |
a great problem. How can we get men |
Inverted to God, is the burning |
question. How interest the boys ana
girls in. the things of the kingdom, and |
keep them interested? To such ques-
tons as these the only reply is that
both our pastors and our churches
should always be interested and keep
this problem before them. Meetings
having this special purpose before
them should be held whenever it can
be done wisely. Pastors can help each
other. Efficient help can be brought
In from the outside In this way the
best results can be secured. We really
have had a good year in this respect.
The large part of our pastors have
held such meetings some time during
the year with usually good results |
May we have many more such meet
ings the coming year with much great
err results for building up the kingdom
Of our blessed Lord and Master in the
hearts of men.
1t has been true in the history of the
past that times of financial distress
have also been times of religious awak-
ening. If our short crops in the state
this year can be the means of leading
men to think of spiritual things and
to give themselves to Gods service 1t
will prove to be one Of the best things
that ever happened to us and this com
ng year will be the best that we have
ever had.
Another serious problem has been the
smallness of the salaries of our pastors
and the constantly increasing cost of
living. 1t is, hard for them to get on
lnder the circumstances. 1t is one of
he ways that they are called to en-
lure hardness like good soldiers of the
ross. l had hoped that there might be
decided increase in the salaries this
FEAR, but that is out of the question
lnder the circumstances. But for every
me thus making sacrifice that he may
preach the glorious gospel to lost men,
giving the highest gift that it. is pos
'ible to make in Gods service, giving
mes self good measure, pressed down,
'haken together, running over, shall be
poured back into his bosom. ,
A year ago you most kindly endorsed
he work at Grand Forks Since then
We have done the very best that we
could with it, but it has had its diff
'ulties all of the time. Rev. Mr.. Feb
andt after most faithful work closed
lis pastorate March 1. Under the ef-
icient lead of DR.. Stearns of the uni
,erstty services were continued till
Tune Is. Two different men were called
0 take the work, but at the last mo-
nent they decided not to come Then
young man visited the field in
August, but decided not to remain. He
lad been very anxious to take the
york, but because the church was not
rected decided he did not want to lead
he enterprise while the building was
'oing on. The building society has
'oted us a generous grant and loan.
We have one of the finest lots in the
ity. We have splendid plan drawn
We are all ready to say the word to