The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1911-12-15

F, stir up the enthusiasm of the boys
in the Sunday school work.
Canvass of the City.
Theodore Williams reported for
| the committee on evangelism. 1T was
planned to get the names and num-
bers of people in the churches and
to try to have a thorough canvass
made among other church people
to enthuse them and try to make
them efficient church workers again,
if they were once.
| President c. H. Cooper reported
| for the committee on missions that
the blanks that had been secured
from the churches had not been
! used by the expert as expected, but
! would be kept for the use of the
committee. No definite plans had
| been made for the future, but there
was a good deal of interest in the
different churches in the work, but
as to just how to carry it on the
committee was little at sea.
Hugh Jones reported for the COM
mittee on Bible study that the
blanks had been forwarded to State
Secretary A. M. Locker.
Rev. T. R. Paden reported for the
committee on community extension,
that it felt that the work had just
begun. The pastors of the city had
asked the convention to take up the
isolated church problem. There are
eleven points near Mankato where
there are church people, but not
enough to organize separate church
es, and the committee was asked to
find some plan to supply these fields
with service. The committee felt
that the immediate need was to in
terest them in the mems movement
and to find key men, and it had
done so, and the material is at
hand to try to stimulate interest.
There are half a dozen points close
| to Mankato not ministered to, and
| this furnishes permanent missionary
work for the churches. No plan has
| been agreed upon, but some churches
, might take some of these points,
and the others might be taken by
! the federated churches. A small
| federation committee of workable
size was needed, and might do a
great deal of good. There are also
other fields further out, such as
Lake Washington, Bradley's crossing,
Traverse The difficulty is to find
the right men to go out and supply
these points. During the convention
the committe made only one Spe-
cialty, to try to pledge church men,
bers to give their time to the con-
vention, in the hope that they would
definitely consecrate themselves 10
some form of Christian service.
Recording Secretary Deerhake pre-
scented report of the convention
and said that 40 different men from
Mankato churches had attended it
and 100 from out of town, the latter
representing more than twenty-five
cities and towns.
More Work for Churches.
Executive Secretary c. B. Osgood
reported that the convention was I:
splendid success in many ways, but
showed where a little more ought
to be done for church work. The
only danger now is that of falling
back on the old plan. More money
is needed at once. The treasurer
ought to have 500 in his hands.
There is splendid opportunity for
Mankato men to carry on the work
for Christ.
Mr.. Palmer said that in the minds
of all the thought was What
next?" If a stop was made now
they would soon be back on the old
plane. There was no machinery
to push the work with. All realized
very keenly that there was work
to be done here by the Christian
men, but there was no way of all
going at it. No one man or church
could do it. Denominational lines
are growing less each year. There
is chance for the churches OF
lMankato to cooperate. The time has
fully come to work shoulder to
shoulder, form an organization and
clean up what ought to be cleaned
up
Rev. Mr.. 0sgood took the floor
again and spoke on the federation
of the churches. He presented the
plan that had been drawn up by
Rev. Mr.. Heermance and which is
found at the beginning of this story.
Mr.. Osgood said that the city de.
mand such an organization as this,
with no church restrictions or draw.
ing of lines, but a coming together
for the common purpose of further.
ing those things that are thought
best. He threw the matter open for
discussion.
Rev. Mr. Paden moved that the
plan of federation be adopted.
Rev. F. b. Cowgirl hoped it would
be adopted and carried out earnest
ly, because what was done in Man.
lkato would have a great deal to do
with what would be done in the
other towns around.
After considerable favorable dis
cussion, the motion was carried
unanimously.
Referred to Churches.
Rev. Mr.. Osgood moved that the
matter be referred to the different
churches for immediate action and
that the delegates from the various
churches meet at the Y. M. c.. A.