The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-09-18
POINTING A WAY TO-
BETTER WORK
IN FIELD
Missionaries of the American
Sunday School Union See
New Possibilities
L1KEN CAMPAIGN TO
COMMERCIAL MOVE
Religion, Like Other Bodies,
Must Expend Cash to Main
tain Activities
LIKEN CAMPAIGN TO
MOVE

The conference of the northern dis
trict OF the American Sunday School
union opened Saturday evening with
q social meeting but the real work
was taken up this morning. The con-
ference Is being attended by every
missionary included within the dis
trict with the exception Of Rev. Mar
tin b. Lewis of Red Wing, Mimi.
Mr.. Lewis is a unique figure in mis-
slonary circles. For fifty-fve a
a member of the socieyt. he has or
ganized 1850 Sunday schools. He is
now 30 years of age and recently cele-
brated the sixty-third anniversary of
his marriage. He was a member of
the committee appointed by Governor
Pillsbury of Minnesota to carry food
to the districts that had been devas-
tated by grasshoppers. 1t was he
who originated the idea Of having a
special day of prayer for Kidding the
state Of the pest. A committee was
appointed by the conference this
morning to send a telegram to him
and also to the widow Of the late G.
W. Curran of Great Falls, Mont.
Occupied City Pulpits
Sunday the visiting missionaries
occupied the pulpits in many of the
local churches. Rev. John A. Ferris
spoke at the First Baptist church,
Rev. Geo. P. Williams spoke at the
Methodist church in the morning and
at the Presbyterian church in the
evening. Rev. w. W. Johnston occu-
pied the pulpit of the Presbyterian
church in the morning and of the
Methodist church in the evening. Rev.
Paul j. Gramness spoke at the Nor
wegian Methodist church. Rev. Geo.
w. Andrick conducted services at the
Swedish Lutheran church.
The Y. M. c. A. meeting in the aft
ernoon was addressed by Rev, A, B.
Gould and Rev. Joseph Wells. The
young peoples societies and the va
rious Sunday schools were also ad-
dressed by the visiting missionaries.
The conference was opened this
morning with a devotional hour led
by Rev. w. j. Smith of Brainerd, MINI.
The open conference proved very in
teresting. The discussion led by DR..
Williams of Philadelphia upon the
subject, Our Literature" vas most
helpful. Emphasis was laid upon the
importance Of placing union litera-
ture in the homes and schools opened
by the missionaries. The book de-
partment was discussed by several of
the missionaries. DR.. Williams ad-
vised the men present that plan were
in motion to give the country chill
dren a series of good inexpensive
books that would counteract the in
fluence of the cheap stuff now flood
ing the market and would serve to
create an appetite for other reading
Of a heavier character. From a large
experience in the book business, DIR.
Williams addressed himself to the
importance of distributing religious
reading.
Has Lived Through Years.
! Following the devotional hour, an
address was delivered by Rev. John
o. Ferris, district superintendent of
Minneapolis. Rev. Ferris spoke on
THE Society, the Work and the Fu-
ture." The address was directed es-
pecially to the young men Of the So
ciety. He spoke in part as follows:
1.-The society is national in scope
and none in it have personal knowl-
edge Of its organization. The society
was established in 1924. During all
these years it has had but n OBJ
ject-country evangelism. Since the
organization of this society, others
have been born, grown and several
died. Since 1924 new denominations
have been established. The home
and foreign missionary board and
Sunday school boards have been es-
tablished since then. International
Sunday School association. the Y. NJ.
c. A.. the Christian Endeavor society,
the I.aymen's Missionary movement,
all church brotherhoods have since
been born. Political organizations
have heen formed, presidents have
come and gone, but throughout, the
policy Of this society has remained
the same The policy has remained
! the same because the need has been
the same and VIC believe the Bible
alone Will meet this need.
Lfkensd Unto Commercial Rodics.
"Wc are in o missionary age. Com
mercisl bodies are willing to expend
vast sums tc introduce their products
in a new field. Religious bodies must
do likewise. The missionaries are
the salt Of the earth. After all. the
work is not above the workmen. The
societ. is Judged by its workmen.
There is always a place for men will
ing to work. There is a common
slogan: don't make excuses. make
good An opportunity is afforded to
preach the gospel, organize schools.
do personal work, teach, visit homes
and sell good literature. AS a dis
trict superintendent. I envy every
missionary in that he has an oppor-
tunity Of getting into personal touch
with the real need of the community.
I'VE exhort you to adorn your pro-
fession with Christian dignity. You
hold the future in your hands. Some
do not realize the Importance Of the
work. Those who do are acting
quickly. BY acting quickly. they are
serving future churches by giving
them q Christian citizenship.