The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-10-04

- a net luCIbdbG VI IIB II hEEo DlNAai~
bership Of 210. We would here call at
tention OF the pastors to The effort of
the commission Of evangelism to bring
about a spirit or revival and the par
to obtain an increase Of 10 per
cent in membership during the coming
DIR. Randall is leading the hosts
to victory. AS the political turmoil
subsidies, let us humble ourselves before
o as never before, and waiting upo
Him for the baptism OF the Holy
Spirit, look for and work for, the saliva
ton OF souls.
Sunday Schools and EpwOrth Leagues
our Sunday schools are doing com
mendable work. The graded essen
are used in many Of the schools on the
district. With few exceptions all
literature used in our Sunday schools
is from our publishing house. The
work OF teacher training is being un-
dertaken very generally. The most
notable case to my knowledge being on
the Wheatland charge, where Mrs.
Sage, the pastors wife, has conducted
a class in the country church, as well
as In the town, each week. Nineteen
graduates were awarded diplomas at
the last State Sunday School onvep
ton. Fargo First church still con
tinues to merit the title Of the largest
in the state, and has an eroll-
ment of 891 in all departments. At
the rally day service which was held
Sunday, Sept. 30 when about fifty pupils
were being promoted to higher grades,
the superintendent called on me to adj
dress the boys and girls. He ANNOUNCE
ed, most of these boys and girls are
of the church." With a corps
of officers and teachers numbering 100,
all imbued with the spirit of such d
leader as l.. Bishop, the work of the
Sunday school will not be Of a super
fetal character. On decision day at
Casselton in the Union Sunday school
e~ighty-ive cards were signed.
The missionary work OF the church is
hnlnR cared for In most Of mr. Sunday
while Broadway Sunday school
Is supporting a native Pastor in India
at a cost of 500. We are not doing our
best work when we depend on the
inspiration. We must Plan for our WI
district Institutes. The Sunday school
board stands ready to help us with
speakers.
The District Epworth League con
yention was held in Valley City during
the early part of July. TO the small
number In attendance it was most
helpful and profitable. AS a better
means of bringing the good things 90
our young people the District officens
plan to hold sub-district gatherings
during the winter. We have only IeUr
Junior leagues on the district. The
lack Of leadership is our great trouble
with this very useful department Of
religious education.
The womens' work continues to call
forth our admiration and words Of
praise. The WOman's Foreign Mission
airy Society is a surprise to us all. on
many of our charges, their clearings
reach a larger sum than our contribu-
lions to the parent board. The Wo-
mans Home Missionary society serves
with the same manifold agencies and
merits our hearty p While the
Ladies Aid societies demonstrate that
while their faith is great, their works
also must be commended. In many in
stances they are the great hhanciers
on 0htIrpb dphta and again nt fnpinant-
al expenses, and in some instances they
largely supplement the pastors salary.
Rev. Thomas Old, another CorinsTa
man, has been added to our working
force. He has served the Valley City
circuit which has been extended as far
north as Binford and surrounding coun-
try. He Is an acceptable preacher, a
good student, and an untiring pastor.
He will come up for admission.
While we maintain that the gospel
is the pancea for all the ills OF human
ity, and faith in Jesus Christ brings
pardon, and peace, and cleansing and
JOY, yet much may be lone by the
country pastor to lead the people to
recognize the large place the church
nay fill In their lives. Much Is being
published about the country life, but,tt
will require our pastors to give this
subject more careful attention and be
ready to readjust themselves. If the
country lad is not interested in and
affiliated with the Country church he
is not apt to be when he minSles with
the hustle and temptations of life in
town and city.
A church has been organized at
Caledonia, Trail county, and a graz
cious revival of religion under the
leadership of Evangelist j. NJ. Steward
and Brother Pardee. The section OF
country from Havana to Ludden pre-
sents great need; many scattered COM
igners; but we owe it to those people
to give them the gospel. This is where
an automobile could be used to good
purpose, but. we are in need OF miss
ionary to support.
Federation
Federation of churches seems to take
the best attention of some. l have had
two experiences of it on the district
this year. At Casselton during January
the Presbyterian and our church enter
ed into a contract to f~ederate. The
Methodist Sunday school, Epworth
League and Ladies Aid society have
lost their identity and services are
being held in the Presbyterian church.
Our church which was planted there by
Chaplain McCabe Is unused. A spirit
of friendship has been cultivated be-
tween these two churches in several
ways for years past, and as numbers
were depleted 1t seemed an easy matter
to come together. A similar effort was
made at Minor, but some persons who
were spiritually alive, desired to unite
with the Methodist church, and would
not consent to unite with a ted
church. If j could be made to see that
any spiritual h~elpfulness would accrue
from such union, / might be more favor
able to the movement. There is great
danger that in such communities there
will be descent to a lower level OF
christian activity and christian attain
ment. AT Lisbon a couple of years ago,
the Baptist and Presbyterian churches
federated, which has failed and dis-
solved.
B-enevoIencc
Much care has been given to the mat
ter of making the benevolent apportion-
meuts according to the newly adopted
plan, giving consideration to the mem
bership, property and ministerial sup
port, as factors. This is a much more
Equitable way. In a few instances the
sum may be larger a heretofore. but
1t is a just way to do 1t. The tithers
on some of our charges make the coll
lection of benevolence easy for the
crease. The continued wet weather has
detained all agricultural activities ard
1 fear the full amounts pledged may
not be collected before Conference
meets, but they may be RENTED to the
boards before the end of this month.
The duplex envelope has not been
generally ased. Only those churches on
the district are putting 1t TO the test
Church Periodicals
There are but few copies of Tbs
Northwestern Christian Advocate taken
In our families. h Epworth Herald tn
the same. We note that the book c6ns
cern is now offering this excellent PAPER
for 81 per year. Let us as individuals
make a close personal canvass. and by
public notice in our pulpits and local
papers bring it to the attention Of our
considerations that we may bring up
our share of the 100000 subscribers
called for. 1t will help you in all