The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-01-28
Prayer Meeting Topic For the Week
Recinnina jan %. 1911

=
Beginning Jan. %, 1871.
roric-A missionary tourney around tae
world Missions in the United States
snorth and easfa. Edited BY Rev. Sher-
man II. Doyle. D. ..
The locations north and east In the
United States are rather indefinite, and
the topic should have included bound
airy lines. Does the north extend
from the Atlantic to the Pacific or to
the lakes, or to what limit does it ex.
tend from the coast? And what is in
cluded in the east-the entire east
ern boundary, including the southern
states On the coast?' AID II so where
does the south begin when that section
is studied or the west when it alone
is the topic: No information having
been given. each one will be compelled
TO make his own boundaries. The au-
thor of these topics will take the Mis-
sissippi river, the center between the
east aud west, that between the north
including the entire country below that
lire as south. and the entire section
west Of the Mississippi and north of
the Mason and Dixon's line as west,
including Alaska. This leaves the
north and east to include the section
from the Atlantic to the Mississippi
and from the northern boundary east
Of the Mississippi as far south as the
Mason and Dixon's line. These seem
to be the only sensible divisions OF
north and east, the south alone and the
west alone.
In this section north and east SO de-
fined 1t may seem to many that there
is no missionary work to be done, but
the opposite is the case. One would
think that all people in this section
were Christianized or had Christian OPP
pprtunities, but when we look over the
field from three standpoints we shall
find that there is much need Of mis-
sionary work. These three viewpoints
churches. 90 the organization of
churches in sections recently builded
and g, the work among the foreign
population.
1. The support of weak churches.
many Of which are old. In these old
churches the young people have left
the country for the city, and many
historic churches with only a few old
people left to support them have died
or are about dead. 1t is said that in New
England the farms in some sections
have been almost deserted, and the
few people remaining, being no longer
able to support the churches. have al
| lowed them to die. The buildings are
| in a deplorable condition, and the peo-
pie are even worse spiritually. The
| Sabbath day is practically forgotten,
| and work is done on that day Just as
on other days. New England, the for,
| Puritans. Does not such a condi.
ton demand the missionary to re
vive the old time religion? One de,
nomination alone in Pennsylvania aids
1913 churches. The same denomination
assists in paying 1877 ordained minis,
tiers In the same great state Besides
1t has many evangelists In the state
going from place to place, and the 137
ministers In many cases have two
three and even four churches under
their care.
Considering the origin Of New Eng
land, the case there is the saddest OF
all. Some one recently eaid land II
was not meant facetiouslyl. "The little
brown men OF Korea had better come
to New England and do missionary
work among the descendants OF the
Puritansr'
| The missionary work is required fol
| the organization OF churches In new
! towns and villages. This section has
especial demands upon it along this
line. Railroads cover it as q network
What is even more, the trolley cars
have gone almost everywhere. As a
result new settlements are springina
up on all sides. Towns Of 500, 1000
| 1000 and 1900 dot the country other
wise not inhabited. Here Is where
we need organized church union. The
| f1rst church organized should have the
field. or religious census of the
towns should be taken, and the de
nomination having the largest number
Of adherents should have the only
church But. alas. how long it takes Us
to learn from experience.
When will we get over such foolish
system? One church in town will
be strong, be able to select one Of the
finest Of ministers. pay him living
| salary regardless OF hard times OF
high prices, and also to keep him
| II it likes him, for where another
church wants him so much az to pay
him higher salary or other allure
ments the one church will be able te
/ step mp and say. I'VE can and will dc
for you as much as any other church
and besides, we love you. and the Lord
Is blessing rou in your work here. Z
That will end the matter, and he will
/ -.-.,aar.Hs. &c sx-airisSare T., citu