Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-10-22
CONGREGATIONAL
CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS.
By Frederic ]. Haskin.

and a half members. 1t sustains nearly
5000 churches and chapels, and its SUM-
day schools are attended by over a mil
lion and a half people. Next to the United
States. the denomination is strongest in
England and Wales, although it has con-
siderable strength in Scotland and is to be
found in all English-speaking countries.
The Congregational Church In the United
States numbers about 10000 members, &C.
cupying 66f6 churches and chapels and
employing nearly 1000 ministers. 1t is
strongest in the eastern states and has
little representation in the south. al
though recently an increased interest is
being developed in several southern
states.
New England is generally supposed to
be the center of the Congregational
Church, but this is hardly true now.
Brooklyn Is the greatest stronghold. No
less than twenty-six Congregational
of these claims membership of con-
siderably over 5000 and two others ap-
proximately that number.
Congregationalists claim for their
church two distinguishing traits-a high
regard to edu-
Two Main Traits cation and
Claimed by Church. MOST of IL. New
England colleges are due to Congrega-
tionalist inspiration. Among the best
known Of these are Yale University.
Dartmouth, Williamstown, Wellesley,
Smith. Amherst, Bowdoin and Mt Hol-
yoke colleges. Fisk University in Ten
nessee, Colorado College, Fargo College
of North Dakota, Oberlin College in
Ohio, Wheaton College in Illinois, Olvet
College in Michigan, Washburn College
in Kansas, Berea College in Kentucky.
Pacific University In Oregon are only
few of the best known among the Con-
gregational educational institutions scat
tered over the country: number of the
colleges in the south are devoted to
negro education.
While all of these institutions were
founded by Congregationalism they are
strictly non-sectarian and undenomina-
tional in character. The breadth of re-
hgious liberty characteristic of the de-
nomination is recognized even in the
theological schools of this church. Nine
of these are scattered over the country
and in each of them large proportion
or students from other denominations
were awarded degrees. Only about half
OF the students graduating from Yale
Divinity School last year were Congre-
gationalists The other graduates in
cluded Methodists. Presbyterians. Bap-
denominations
The first foreign missionary society
In this country was founded by Con-
gregationalists. 1t was known as the
American Board of Commissioners for
Foreign Missions. under which name it
still conducts the great foreign mis-
sionary work of the Congregational
Church. 1t was founded in 1910
through the influence of Williams Col
lege. Hampton Institute. the most
famous school for Indians and negroes
in the world. was founded chiefly
through the influence of Dr. Armstrong,
formerly Congregational missionary
to Hawaii.
Congregational missionary work il
divided into three branches. Each of
these is con-
Three Branches trolled. a n i
of Mission Work. o n.,cs oy an
arate organization. The first is the old
American Board, of Commissioners for
Foreign Missions This board now con-
tributes over a million dollars annually
to the work of the twenty mission GEN.
ters which are being supported in ten
different countries. The interest in
Christianity developed by the recent
conference of religions hold in japan,
the awakenings demonstrated in China,
India and Turkey and the present sit
uation in Albania have called forth In
creased effort from the board within
the past year. In about two-thirds of
the territory covered. either actual or
threatened war has disturbed the coun-
try, and yet the missionary work has
a
regular missionary stations have been
maintained throughout the year, with
nearly $500 outstations. These have
been under the direction Of 612 Amer
board and assisted by more than 5000
native workers.
The Congrega tional Home Missionary
Society Is the second organization sus-
tanned by the denomination FOR mission
airy work. This was founded in 1926.
and its work consists Of planting Con-
gregationalist churches in new fields and
in promulgating the gospel in ever; pos
sible place without regard to the grown
of it's own denomination. The society
has expended over $26.OU,VU during lts
existence and has planted fully YOUR
fifths of the Congregational churches now
established in this country. 1t mas near
ly 1000 missionaries upon its roll and
last year took charge of nearly 5000
preaching stations. About one-HIth OF
the services conducted by these mission
aries are in foreign languages, including
twenty-five different tongues. One work
of this society Is the issuance Of leaflets
bearing upon all phases of home mission
effort. These are sent free upon appn-
cation to the headquarters OF the socleW
at 2S7 Fourth avenue, New York. sets
of lantern slides designed to help pastors
and others interested in home mission
.. I'VE Asen prepared and Will also
he loaned free Of charge when needed.
The third missionary organization of
the Congregationalists in this country is
known as The
Reaches More Than American Mis-