The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1910-05-27
CONGREGATIONAL CONFERENCE

kIcSdIlOId III " oOuNA bohola
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 Vessey. Besides the talks
by ministers and resident members
OF the state, addresses were given by
Robert P. Herrick, Of Minneapolis;
Mrs. S. E. Hurlburt Of Chicago; w.
w. Newell and A. N. Hitchcock OF
Chicago.
Among the leaders of church work
in the state were present: H. K. War
rem of Yankton College; N. C. Hirshey
of Redfield, president Of the confer
ence: F. V. Stevens of Yankton, mod
orator. Rev. w. H. Thrall Of Huron,
superintendent of the home missions
work in South Dakota read a full and
superintendent of the home mission
most interesting report or the work
done during the year. The following
is an abstract from the same.
I'VE have a list Of fifty churches
which have called for more or less OF
care from the Conference Super1nten-
dent directly or indirectly on this one
question of change of pastors and |
might enumerate thirteen or fourteen
more where this question has come up
and which nave 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 to advise on various
other matters of church interest and
progress-church or parsonage build
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 ue
outside of relationship to the Home
Missionary churches.
Twenty-siX Home Missionary
churches have changed pastors dur
ing the wear or are now changing
The fact that churches have com
to s~elf-suprort continuously for four
years past at tie rate Of more than
one a month with an added eight this
year accounts for the reduction is our
force. though of course the budget for
our newly opened fields involves In
creased expense pro rata. The siren
uOusness of the new work its crisis
determining aspect, is appealing TO
our laymen more and more. One Wo-
man CAV 500 this year because or
this phase of the work.
The close of the Home Missionary
fiscal year shows that the churches
and friends of South Dakota have con-
tributed to the CONGREGATIONAL Home
Missionary Society $3,715.15 against
So, 205 Of the proceeding year. The
National Society has assured us OF
50. 500 plus with a possible $500 more
and the present budget calls for $12,-
500 so we must call for large inter
est to be shown in the work OF indi-
yidual givers, as we'll as by our
churches.
The record of Home Missionary
churches organized has not been so
remarkable as the Sunday School rec
ord. but we feel that what has been
done has been a work of considerable
permanence and importance.
Quoting from the annual of Rev. 6.
e. Green. the registrar Of the confer
ence, DR.. Thrall said:
Il will not ATTEMPT at this time to
state the results of the years work in
detail. Mr.. Green's report has shown
that here has been a splendid increase
all along the line. The report shows
a net increase VI tDui D 70
) church members, 1.247 Sunday school
members, an increase in benev lences
of s4.5O7. of home EXPENSES s73.479, 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
! gic. how can the work be so grouped
so to be worked most economical y,
how can the expenditures OF money
? and personalities involved in the far
: reaches of time before us be made
most economical and effective. We
seek so to labor that the ages shall
pronounce our labor to have been wise
/, and worth while in our day. Pastors
and laymen, your elected representa-
tives under the new conference or
ganization nave this year given much
patience. and ANXIOUS thought to this
great work, but we look with earnest
exnectancv for the futre to reveal re-
! suits in Sunday school and church en-
terprises which will more h war
rant the sacrifice and now as We be-
: gin a new wear and gather ourselves
/, together as for a mighty effort to do a
work worthy Of tho wisdom and pow
er 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 Of
strength more than human and added
r power to bring things to pass In the
Masters name, for in Him acne is
strength and wisdom equal to doing
we'll the task which is upon us"
DR.. Thrall paid a warm tribute TO
the pastors. workers and members,
and the general constituency OF the
denomination for their helm and CO.