id="Page_303" class="x-ebookmaker-pageno" title="[Pg 303]"/> family relations, on preaching and pastoral work. Then the general meeting opened with a hymn written for the occasion by the organist, a young Indian, and the singing was led by native young men. The topics at the conference were such as the education of children, the missionary cause; and the one that seemed to call out most discussion was, "How to secure the spiritual growth of the Church." The young men showed great interest in their Christian associations, and voted to affiliate with their kindred in the white communities, of whom they heard through the Rev. Mr. Williams, who represented the Christian association of the young men of Minneapolis. The Indian women, too, had their missionary meeting, and show the same traits and give evidence of the same activity and zeal that make their white sisters the main strength of the Christian Church.

So we bid all take heart, and go on upward—iyakaptapi. C. L. Hall.

INDIANS IN THE DAKOTA ASSOCIATION.

This is an ecclesiastical body of a hundred churches that has the opportunity to show the unity of the spirit in race fellowship. Besides the local German Association, one of the five belonging to it, the Indian Mission churches and pastors of the Santee Agency and of Fort Sully, with their superintendents, Revs. Alfred L. and Thomas M. Riggs, are among the members. At the recent annual meeting, held at Huron, September 17th to 20th, there were present the Riggs brothers, three lady missionaries, and two female and four male Indians. The service of Rev. A. L. Riggs, as moderator, was justly commended for its urbanity and promptness. At the meeting of the Woman's Missionary Society, held with the mixed assembly, the two Indian women, Estelle Ward and Ellen Spotted Bear, were brought forward, in their usual white woman's garb, to make talks, which were interpreted by Mrs. T. M. Riggs. During some discussion upon Indian work, the Riggs brothers supplemented their remarks by addresses from Frank Frazier and Stephen Yellow Hawk, a deacon and a pastor. At the Communion, on the Lord's Day, this deacon was associated with three white men in distributing the elements. At the final meeting, on Sunday night, with a crowded house, between the addresses of Rev. Drs. Jos. B. Clark and Jos. E. Roy were sandwiched two hymns, sung by the natives and their teachers, and also an address by the dignified pastor at the Santee Agency, Rev. Artemas Ehnamani, interpreted by Rev. A. L. Riggs. This, and the talks of the other Indians, reported their former condition as heathen and their coming to the light through their missionaries. Particularly touching was the allusion of Pastor Ehnamani to the sainted men, Drs. Williamson and Riggs. All showed the one spirit, that of the common Redeemer.

THE LAKE MOHONK CONFERENCE.

On the 6th, 7th and 8th of October the third annual meeting of the Lake Mohonk Conference was held. Hon. Albert K. Smiley and Mrs. Smiley, as usual, extended the hospitality of their magnificent mountain retreat to the friends of the Indian. The sessions of the conference were of great interest. Eminent men and women read historical and suggestive papers, and ably discussed the great questions of the Indian problem. The conference, after much earnest debate, were unanimous in recommending such legislation by Congress as will give allotments of land in severalty to the Indians—the sale of lands not required for occupancy, and funding of proceeds therefor for their benefit—the early discontinuance of rations and annuities, increased educational facilities, including industrial and especially agricultural, and the dispersion and diffusion of the Indians among the other people of the country, with all the rights and immunities of other citizens.

THIRTY-NINTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

GENERAL SURVEY.

This Association by its chartered rights is authorized to go anywhere that it finds people destitute of Gospel privileges. Limitation of means and coöperation with other societies may compel it to a narrower sphere than the demands call for; but this is the principle that underlies the Association's organization, and that has characterized all its historic development. The work is at present confined to this country. We have missions in sixteen States and three Territories. The combined population of these States and Territories is 17,459,610, and at least one-third of that number are the legitimate objects of this Association's care. By reason of the necessities of the people our work is both evangelistic and educational: the church and the school in their united aim securing the salvation of body, mind and soul; reaching home life, social life and business life; laying the only foundation on which can rest a progressive and enduring civilization. These mighty forces of Christianity—mother and daughter—in mutual helpfulness and in close proximity, are the agencies through which, with God's blessing, we hope to reach and save the people.

CHURCH WORK SOUTH.

STATISTICS.

In this department of our work we are permitted to report very decided growth. Heretofore, the average number of churches organized each year has been six. This year the number runs up to seventeen. This increase comes from the maturing of enterprises that have been nursed for a longer or shorter time, and also the fruiting of our school process and the enlarging of our mountain work. These new churches are at Pleasant View and Rockhold, Ky.; at Cedar Cliff, Melville and Johnson's, N. C.; at Jellico, Pleasant Hill, Robbins, Jonesboro, Grand View and Helenwood, Tenn.; at Rutland, Ga.; Ironton, Ala.; Greenville, Miss.; Abbeville, La.; and at Dallas and Austin, Tex. They have all been supplied with the ministry of the word, though several have been yoked two and two under one pastor. Eight of them have houses of worship, the others use school-houses or chapels of school buildings.

Of the 89 pastors who have ministered to our 112 churches, 30 were from the North and 59 were raised up in our own institutions at the South. The average membership of these churches is 61. Total additions for the year, 1,127, of which, on confession of faith, 883. Raised for church purposes, $12,394.78; for benevolence, $1,625.86.

The evangelist, Rev. J. C. Fields, accompanied by his wife, who aids him by song, has continued his service through the year. He has labored at Louisville; in our three churches at Nashville; at Meridian, Jackson and Greenville, Miss.; and at Athens, Tecumseh, Montgomery, Marion, Selma, Talladega, Birmingham, Ironton and Shelby Iron Works, Ala. As a result, between seven and eight hundred souls were hopefully led to Christ, and about one half of them gathered into our churches; while other denominations shared in the precious harvest. At several of the places visited, the religious interest assumed marvelous power.

At Marion there were 55 who professed Christ, the work spreading from our church into the State Normal school located there. Two-thirds of the converts were young men, ranging from fifteen to twenty years of age, who gave themselves earnestly to prayer and labor for the conversion of their