The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1910-10-14
he Women's Christian

w
Temperance Union. ..
/ ''The Federation of -Women's clubs
have just concluded a very successful
yearly meeting in st. Peter, and next
come the Presbyterians with the Wom-
! ems Missionary societies, to Mankato.
They did not come to spy out the land,
Tor they knew it to. be good land--a
land flowing with milk and honey. Our
part OF the state is this year veri-
able Garden of Eden, watered by album
dant rains. favored by sunny. harvest
weather. and unsisited by early frost,
SO that the land once dotted with In
dian teepes, is covered thickly for hun
! dreds of miles with the tents of the
corn, and stacks of hay and grain.
Mankato the Central Gem
Perhaps our visitors may think we
have little of interest in our great rural
( presbytery. We have no beautiful.
large cities. Mankato being the only
one, | think. to have arrived at the Dig
nifty OF street cars. but we have long
string of lovely small towns. like St.
Peter, Sleepy Eye, Springfield, New Ulm,
Redwood Falls, Blue Earth. Worthineton.
Luverne, Pipestone, Winnebago, Tracy
and Marshall, like a string of beads
with Mankato as the central gem.
when one of these little cities. cam
like st. Peter, furnish five governors to
our state, and all others their quota of
great and useful citizens we are not
without cause for local pride. When
our contributions for missions are
gathered iii we illustrate the old saving
/ that 'AIony Mickle mak's a Muckle,'
and we are hopeful that the time is not
lar distant when these small and strug-
Cling churches and societies, shall have
! fuller purses. and when some, at least,
of these small towns shall sit as queen
ly cities on the prairie
will the spiritual interests of the
state keep pace with its material
growth. The scriptures maiestically de-
clare that the cattle on thousand
hills are the Lord's-so are the cattle
on the prairies. no less.
The treasures of the hills are his.
the vast mineral resources of our mag
niticent state of varied interests. so are
the forests his, and as his stewards we
should carefully conserve, not reckless
/ ly destroy them
The sea Is his. lie made it, How
proud we are of Superior. our great in
land sea, around whose shores have
grown up vast maritime, manufacturing
and commercial interests. How proud
too. OF the lovely city OF Duluth. the
/ guardian of the sea. with her great and
generous millionaires, and devoted
/ Christian workers.
/ Referring to the Twin Cities.
And what shall | say of our regal
twin cities. so often the center of at
! traction for the eyes of the whole ma y
ton, even the world. Young giants. of
great young state. Those of us but
little past middle age have witnessed the
marvellous growth of these cities, from
their beginning attracting to themselves
many from sister states. The words.
first in war, first in peace and first in
the hearts of their countrymen,' might
with but little modification be applied
to them.
! IF the work for the Lord could re-
ceive one tenth of all this increase from
hills, forest, sea, city and country. it
would only be rendering unto God the
things that are God's,' but alas, so
many of Gods children care more for
their individual interests and pleasure
than for their fellow beings SO many
have never had an arrest of thought
along these lines.
TO those of us who do. in some
measure, care for the Lords work. and
recognize our responsibilities, is given
the task of awakening the Indifferent
of questioning our own hearts as to our
motives and actions, and of helping
bring to the fold of Christ those for
whom he died.
rs our battle line waverino? or are
we as churches advancing on the enc
my! We are met in this Synodical
gathering to take stock of our progress
to look our mistakes and trials square
ly IN the face, to encourage one another
As we think OF the great gifts to
missions, recently, we are glad and graf
flied. 1t means much, not only to Tur-
key, but to the world that the munifi
cent gifts to the college in Constants
nople, by Mr.. Kennedy and others will
enable that school to enlarge and
strengthen its work. Surely God is
|, touching the hearts and consciences OF
many men and women of wealth
Space forbids anything like extended
mention of great gifts to, and work for
missions. My present task is to well
come the hosts of smaller givers many
of whom have given through sacrifice
and he who noted the giving of the
widows mite, still keeps watch over
his treasury and sees the hearts OF
the givers.
I've believe that our battle line i.
not wavering, that there is increased in
terest i'll missionary work. and work for
. humanity. that promises to keep in
creasing pace with the material inter
ests. Let us not forget that in return
ing are found these words. For the
Lord thy God giveth thee power to gel
wealth, and he.addeth no sorrow there
! to-
Again we bid you welcome to the
best we have in Mankato presbytery