The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1910-05-27
CONGREGATIONAL CONFERENCE

lCrlleln annual conference OF the Con-
~sregatiOnal church Of South Dakota.
Representatives Of practically every
church in the state were here and the
meeting brought about two hundred
church people to the city. The ad-
dress of welcome was delivered by
Governor Wesley. Besides the talks
by ministers and resident members
of the state, addresses were given by
Robert p. Herrick, of Minneapolis;
Mrs. S. r. Hurlburt Of Chicago: W.
w. Newell and A. n. Hitchcock Of
Chicago.
Among the leaders of church work
in the state were present: II. X. Wa
rem of Yankton College; n. C. Hirshey
Of Redfield, president of the con err
en2e: F. V. Stevens of Yankton. mod
orator. Rev. w. II. Thrall of Huron,
superintendent of the home missions
work in South Dakota read a full and
superintendent of the home mission
most interesting report OF the work
done during the year. The following
is IN abstract from the same.
I'VE have a list of fifty churches
which have called for more or less OF
care from the Conference Superinton-
dent directly or indirectly on this ona
question Of change of pastors AMI |
might enumerate thirteen or fourteen
more where this question has come up
and which have called for personal
visits or correspondence; but a
change has finally been avoided or
postponed for the future.
In some cases the question OF the
continuance of the church in active
work has been brought to a focus
The Conference superintendent has
also been asked 10 advise On various
other matters of church interest and
prOgress-church or parsonage bui d.
ing. evangelism and the like. Per-
haps this will be sufficiently sugges-
tive to make it clear that the reSpOn-
sibilities are not entirely a sine u"e
outside of relationship to the Home
Missionary churches.
Twenty-siy Home Missionary
churches have changed pastors dur
ing the year or are now changing
The fact that churches have come
10 ~solf-supnOrt continuously for four
years past at the rate of more than
one a month with an added eight this
wear accounts for the reduction is II
force. though Of course the BUDGET FOR
our newly opened fields involves in
creased expense pro rata. The siren
uOusnees of the new work t. criel
determining aspect, IS appealing 10
our lavmen more ard more. One NO
man gave $500 this year because OF
this phase of the work.
The close Of the Home Missionary
fiscal year shows that the churches
and friends of South Dakota have con
trihuted to the CONGREGATIONAL Hon
Missionary Society s2,715.15 against
s3.2G5 of the proceeding year. The
National Society has assured us o.
$4,000 plus with a possible $500 more
avG The present budget calls for ST.
SEQ so we must call for large inte"-
est to be shown in the work of nd
vidual givers, as we'll as by our
churches.
The record of Home Missionar
churches organized has not been SO
remarkable as the SUNDAY School rec
ord. hut we feel that what has been
done has been a work Of considerable
permarence and importance.
Quoting from the annual Of Rev. G.
r. Green. the registrar Of the confer
ence, DR.. Tbrall said:
Il viii not attempt at this time t0
state the results Of the Years WO'k in
detail. Mr.. Green's report has shown
that here has been q splendid increaso
all along the line. The report shows
a net increase Of I churches, AZ
church members, 1.247 Sunday school
members. an increase in benev lences
of SA.5O7. Of home EXPENSES sf3.479, Of
value of church property s77,795."
In closing DR.. Thrall said.
"Our state is mOving forward with
leaps and bounds. Towns are being
born by the score in different parts
Of the great reaches west Of the Mis-
souri, river. The question is not where
are we needed, but where is the great
est need. what points are most stra e
cic. how can the work he so grO1ped
50 10 be worked most ecOnOmicaly
how can the expenditures Of money
and personalities involved in the fay
reaches of time before us he made
most economical and effective. We
seek so TO labor that the ages shall
our labor to have been wise
and worth while in our day. Pastors
and lavmen, your elected representa-
tivpS under the new conference or
ganizatiOn have this year given much
p~atience. and ANXIOUS thought TO this
great work, but we look with earnest
eynectancv for the futre to reveal re-
suits in Sunday school and church en-
ternrises which will more than war
rant the sacrifice and now as we be-
gin a new year and gather ourselves
together as for a mighty effort to do a
work worthy of the wisdom and pow
err ~vouchsafed BY the Master Himself
for those who wait upon Him. may
there not be a season for a new gath
ering together for prayer that from
end to end in this great new common
wealth. there shall be a renewing or
strength more than human and added
power to bring thirgs TO pass in the
Masters name. for in Him alone is
strength and wisdom equal to doing
well the task which is upon US
DR.. Thrall paid a warm tribute 10
the pastors, workers and members.
and the general constituency or the
denomination for their help n CO.
operation in the work of the wear.
The report was received with much
~h1@ MN