Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-10-18
Congrsgaiions|isis, Hear
flomlAlI Sections.
Reports Of Work and Needs Of
Various Localities.
Rev. Charles nafbutt Of Maine One
Of the Speakers.

iopStoH wv. SCCllcIS vi thC
United States came in for searching
criticism as to it's methods of carry
ing on home missionary work in the
sessions today of the Congregational
Home Missionary Society which con-
tributed some of the more interesting
and important of the sessions of the
14th triennial meeting of the National
Council of Congregational churches
in the United States. The leaders
of local missionary work in every
section and department made their
reports and wide variety of topics
developed while many new and valu-
able suggestions for the extension and
broadening of the work were brought
out.
Tonight the challenge of the modern
city to the missionary was ably and
eloquently treated by Rev. Henry
Stiles Bradley. d. D., of Worcester
and Rev. Charles Stelzle. superintend-
ent of the church and labor depart
ments of the Board of Home Missions
of the Presbyterian church.
Boston, Oct. 17.-After a Sunday of
special services and sermons by many
of the visiting clergymen, the Con-
gregationalists resumed their conven-
ton labors today with half dozen
interesting meetings on the schedule
Home missions took the field at an
early day meeting in fremont Temple.
where the current outlook for Western
Congrega tionalism was discussed by
four district superintendent. the
speakers being Rev. w. H. Thrall of
South Dakota: Rev. A. H. Armstrong
of Missouri; Rev. w. W. Scudder of
Washington, and Rev. w. D. B. Gray,
of Wyoming; w. G.. Green of Milford
Conn.,. and Rev. C. c. Merrill of
Winchendon, Mass, also spoke briefly
The annual business meeting followed.
and at noon Associate Secretary W. F..
Lougee spoke to a large audience on
Home Mission Finances"
Rev. w. H. Thrall. superintendent of
the Home Missionary Society for South
Dakota, in his address at the forenoon
session. considered 1.-The Westward Flow
of Population
The current of population today" he
said, determines VIII t the character Of
our states will be hereafter. Twenty or
80 years ago the first pioneer over-ran
Eastern Dakota. Today the settler of
the second generation is present buying
land at high prices and bringing a high
tide of commercialism. Sons of minis
ters and consecrated laymen are lost in
the surf of commercialism in the great
sea of humanity. They push out as did
the Pilgrims but not to seek a place
where to worship God according to their
own consciences, but for dollars bank
accounts and real estate. Someone must
be on hand to remind them of things
they know, but have nearly forgotten.
I'm the second generation the Russian.
the German, the Bohemian and the Sean
dinavian often take the place of sub
stantial American pioneers and their
coming frequently seems to overshadow
the best of our community life. In one
town of 200. as American families have
moved out in the restless Westward
movement, foreign families have moved
in to such an extent as to almost elimi-
nate the work of the American church.
The pioneer men and women need a man
of God who can take pot luck with them.
We should act in this opening Of
strategic century in way commensu-
rate with our mighty responsibility.
Under the head of THE Cheering Out
look for observation-disclosures Corpora
tion,' at the Congregational Home Mis-
sionary Society session in the late after
noon. Judge Alfred Colt of New London,
Ct, gave report on the Colorado inves-
tigation. He said:
1T was found II per cent of the Home
Missionary grants went to fields where
there is but one church and that 77.S per
cent. goes to the largest nine cities and
towns, 35.6 per cent. if this to the largest
two cities. SO that 1873 per cent. is expend-
ed in the center of population and in
places where there is no rivalry of de-
nomination, while but H. per cent. is
left of the balance of the state. There
are 1873 places with populations of $50 to
1900 without any Protestant church 100 of
them without a Catholic, and 42S COM
munities large enough to have post
office without a single church. Indeed.
there are whole counties with almost no
churches. Two or three denominations
have. in theory and practice. persistentlv
advocated and illustrated cooperative
principles. But because of the over en-
phasis on religious non-essentials and the
consequent iulSHSe observation-disclosures zeal,
several large denominations, as we'll as
a host of lesser sects. have shown these
ideals slight courtesy if not open hostiI-
ity."
Judge Colt was followed by Rev. J.
Brownlesu Worries. secretary of the
Board of Domestic Missions of the Re-
formed church in America. who explain
ed THE Plan of Cooperation Adopted
by the Home Missions Council"
1.-THE Eastern Tasks and the Eastern
Outlook" were considered by speakers
during the afternoon. Rev. F. Enrich,
d. D.. secretary for Massachusetts. TAX
ing up the topic THE Fusing of Peo-
pies" and Rev. Charles Harbutt. secre-
tary of the Maine Missionary Society.
the "Reshaping of Effort"
An interesting session developed when
half dozen speakers discussed the va
rious tasks in many places, short adj
dresses bringing out the accomplishments
in different lines. Rev. jill Head. D.
D., superintendent of the New Mexico
and Arizona department. spoke of the
Mexican outlook
The work among the miners in Penn
sylvania was told by Miss Miriam L.