The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1917-02-22
WEATHER KEEPS
D0WNATTENDANCE
SERVICES AT CONGREGATIONAL
CHURCH YESTERDAY VERY
INTERESTING.
PLAN OF WORK CONTEMPLATED
WILL CELEBRATE THREE HUN
DREDETH ANNIVERSARY OF
PILGRIMS LANDING.

PILGRIMS LANDING.
The Congregational conference held
in Sank Centre Wednesday, for the
purpose of meeting DR.. Scudder, who
explained the working out of the Ter
centenary program for the next three
years, was opened at 3 p. M, by Rev.
Merrill of Fergus Falls, superintend-
ent of the northern district. After
prayer by Rev. Grose of Swanville, DR..
Scudder was introduced and he fully
explained the program object.
The audience was very small owing
to the inclement weather. There were
also very few ministers and dele
gates on hand on account of the lrregu-
lar train service. Nevertheless the few
felt repaid for coming as DR.. Scudder
had real ideas and he gave them in
way that made his audience feel his
own forcefulness and efficiency sup
porting the stupendous plan. He &c
man that puts his shoulder to the
wheel with his brother; he has a defl-
mite purpose in life, of service to his
God. his church and his fellow man.
The ladies of the church served sup
per at 600 which was attended by
any interested in the work. In the
evening another meeting was held
with a gratifying attendance. The
lecture was on the same order as that
of the afternoon.
DR.. Scudder's lecture of the after.
noon is outlined below:
He first explained the celebration
which will take place in Boston In
1920. as a commemoration of the three
hundredth anniversary of the landing
of the Pilgrims. He pointed out that
it seemed out of place not to have
celebration that was the outcome OF
definite campaign. Therefore, the
church has planned four-year cam
paign Zone of which has already pass
ed) with five definite aims. First:
Take the Pilgrim principles and with
definite study for four years try to
understand them. Second: Launch a
campaign to reach and bring into the
church 100000 new members. Third:
Get Missionary recruits. Fourth: Try
to bring giving to the $2,OOO,OOU
mark. Fifth: Establish great men,
orial fund for retired ministers.
On these five points DR.. Scudder
enlarged and spoke at length. He said
the aims given were the weak points
in Congregationalism The chief prob
lem is how to launch the program IN
the local church. First Of all, in fact
DIR. Scudder's watchword was "Organ-
ization." He claimed that too many
churches have ideals and not organiza-
ton; that they have the power but not
machinery to utilize the power. What
the church needs" he declared, rs
efficient organization by depart
ments." There should be a board OF
trustees, a church committee, a COM
mittee on evangelism, one on religious
education, on social service and on
missions. If there are not enough
members to enable the church to have
so many comInittees, combine them
or else appoint one member to take
care of a department.
The speaker claimed that religious
education should be Sunday School
in reality, not in name only. It should
be school for young or old, with a
definite course of study. Here Mr.
Merrill gave an illustration which had
come under his observation. He told
of a Sunday school which has board
of education, with nine members, all
intelligent and educated men. This
board, not only elects the superintend-
emit, but the teachers and retains the
right to dismiss them if they are not
ND to standard. The board also plans
the curriculum and provides the equip
ment. The plan has been great sue
cess and the growth Of the school mas
been trebeled.
DR.. Scudder said that the Pilgrim
rr;nciples had a certain spirit and at
titude of democracy and during the
intervening years before 1927. the ann
If the church viii be to study them, de-
fne them. emphasize them in settle
ment of problems and apply them IN
modern terms. He said the nun s"r'
should teach more Congrerationallsm.
He also laid great stress on the neces-
sitv of democracy.
The secretary enlarged on the mem
hcvsh;p increase plan which has TOT rs
~cal 500 900 new members. ihls
seems ike q stupendous undertaking
for ;t roeans over 100000 year. Ine
methods that should be used are m
SEPARATION, education, evangelism, ana
conservation.
Rev. Merrill spoke briefly but IN 2
,aanrer that ahowed he Was full ct his