Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1912-08-23

been assigned. Doubtless the pros
pectors and mne n in each of
these believe their particular district
to be a second Goldfield or Cripple
! Creek"
Prominent Presbyterian clergy and
laity here are much concerned Over
Presbyterian figures for 1912, just
! issued, which show that more than
1000 churches that were reported by
the Presbyterian Northern body, i'm
mediately following the union of the
| Cumberland Presbyterian body, have
| disappeared, been lost. or at least are
not now claimed.
The number of churches in 1907,
when the Cumberland union first en-
tered the official lists. was 1902, the
decline being even more than 100.
Membership since the union, as CON-
| pared with the few years preceding
it, shows about the same state of
things. In 1907, as n result of the
| union, membership figures reported
were 1,341, 900 a gain Of 49,, 900. The
| very next year 41,Lvo of these were
lost, and it has been only the normal
gain per year that has carried the
membership figures UP to those of
1912, which are 1,3S0,0 0O.
The gain is, by the way, no larger
for the united body than it formerly
was for the single larger one. Last
! year it was 25,465, or not quite 2 per
cent.
Presbyterians also have gone back
to their previous normal figures, or
from 1853 following the Cumberland
union down to 292 last year. The
number of Presbyterian ministers is
now 9.274, whereas, following the
consolidation, the number was 9,O31.
Sunday school scholars increased
in numbers following the union Of
about 100000 and only an average in
crease preceding the union has o
carried the total to 1,232,S47. Bap-
tisms were not as many last year as
in 1907, the date of the union, by
1000, those on confession having fall
len off an even larger number, or
1000.
1t is a bit gratifying, however, to
note that financially, the total gifts
of Presbyterians, succeeding the I'm
ion, are somewhat more favorable.
The total gifts last year were $685.
1866. or only a small fraction be-
low 500 a member. OF this sum, $5.25
per minister was given to others, the
balance having been given to support
churches themselves. Presbyterians
contribute to II different general
funds or causes, each cause having a
yearly income exceeding $100, 1000.
Hilles is busy chasing rainbows, sc
is Woodrow Wilson, and it goes with
out saying that the Silent Clam of
Oyster Bay is miles ahead Of either
or both Of those sagacious political
prognosticators in that pleasant pas
time. Mr.. Wilson's claims that he
will surely carry Pennsylvania
which has always been regarded as a
rock-ribbed republican state, is fairly
we'll paralleled by Hille's prediction
that President Taft will have 1884
electoral votes; but the vitriolic
Theodore enthusiastically excels
both in his confident assertion that
he'll carry every state in the Union.
Mr.. Wilson's claim is based on the
statements of Mr.. Berry, the demo-
cratic candidate for state treasurer
of the Keystone state, and, therefore,,
he Princeton professor is to be eXcus-
ed on the fair plea that his prophecy
is based on the information of "a
prominent Pennsylvania" Hilles, the
new chairman of the republican party
may ask to be excused on the grounds
of brashness and an earnest effort
to make good in a position of whose
duties and responsibilities he is alb
solutely ignorant. The Silent Clam
needs NJ excuse, for he simply says
the other fellows are close relatives
of Ananias-and he let's it 80 at that.
In point of fact, it is far too early
for anything like an honest and fairly
dependable prediction to be made by
any national politician, however as
tute, for conditions in nearly every
state and territory are mighty onsar-
tain. Everywthere-and it is the self
same practical experience Of all our
political wiseacres-are the people
doing lots of talking and apparent
thinking On the various issues of the
day, evidently refusing to take for
gospel the advice or the statements
of their oldtime leaders and bosses.
They are reading the newspapers
more now than heretofore, and, al
though they are turning out in big
crowds to hear Roosevelt, ct al, they
remember that those crowds are no
criterion of success. Curiosity is
one thing, and a vote on election day
is quite another.
This campaign is undoubtedly
Of education. Tons OF literature are
beng franked through the mails to
U#M a#u .Wa EeHE.s aH##N ~