HOME MISSIONS So the Lord gave "beauty for ashes," and we have faith to believe that eventually "the desert shall blossom as the rose." One man said: "There's my kids, one thing they've never heard is a minister; we'll be glad to have you come." UNIFORM DEGENERATION WITHOUT THE CHURCH. It has been demonstrated repeatedly that when the religious effort and influence of the Church is removed, these woodland communities deteriorate morally with great rapidity; but some of the sweetest, brightest and most promising little churches in Christendom are already the result of work among these people. When properly managed, the Adirondack church becomes the social center of the countryside. At one of our church socials recently a man and his wife and five children walked three miles at night through the woods 337 to attend, the father carrying his youngest child in a pack basket. Here are thousands of hard working, yes, and hard drinking lumbermen to be sought and won. Here nestling among mountains are hundreds of homes filled with children. Here are young people as bright and promising as earth affords, but to reach them means a strong, vigorous, consecrated ministry. Workers are scarce. As the train running into this region counts off the miles, every mile traversed means for a minister a decrease in salary, but an increase in opportunity. Some of our church members ride in on horseback, others row down the lake in boats to attend Sunday services. These people should be won to Christ. Let us all, as many as have this hope in us, set our hearts and hands to the task of saving this corner of the Empire State, these old-fashioned, real American people. G COAL AND MEN IN WEST VIRGINIA This synod has just closed its first year of self-support in home missions. The splendid success of this attempt to carry its own load has prepared for the enlargement of the synod's work in several directions. One large and increasing responsibility is that of the coal miner. The terrible catastrophe at Monongah several years ago called the attention of the entire world to this region. In the distress of that time a devoted ministry to the suffering was rendered by Mr. David mentioned below. The correspondent is pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Grafton, REV. DR. JOHN A. MCCLELLAND. RAFTON is the gateway to the great coal fields of the state. We have no mines of any importance within a radius of five miles from town, but here we have very large classification yards, where the coal trains are brought in from the surrounding mines. Three branch lines of the Baltimore and Ohio R. R. radiate from this point, and tap the immense fields of coal, much of which has never yet been disturbed. It is a sight worth seeing when the mines are working full, to see these yards, and the immense coal trains being made up for their destination to tide-water. The beginning of mining in this vicinity was carried on by the Scotch, who made it a point to bring their church with them into camp, and as soon as possible secure the nearest Presbyterian minister to preach for them. This condition has changed, and the mines are now worked largely by men who have come to America, but have left their church behind them, many of them seemingly glad of their emancipation. They are Italians, Poles, Slavs, Hungarians and others. Many of these people have become estranged from the Roman Church, and indeed are in many places as sheep without a shepherd. Many will go long distances to be married by a Protestant minister. Straws show which way the wind blows, and this is a straw indicating that many of these people are ready to turn away from a Church that has exploited them, but has not healed their heartaches. One of the great needs of the Grafton Presbytery at the present time is a consecrated Italian worker, one who can preach to these people in their own language. We are praying for such a worker, because the fields are white unto harvest. Too much cannot be said about the faithful work of Rev. W. O. David, who has done so much good work in and around Monongah. Mention should also be made of Mrs. Marion Brooks in her school work at Middleton. In the presence of such workers we stand with uncovered heads. People who have never seen or visited a modern coal town have little idea of such a place. In many cases they have water works, and the homes heated with gas and lighted with electricity. The accompanying illustration, for which I am indebted to Mr. A. B. Brooks, of the Geological Survey at Our State University, is a modern coal town. The town is Holden, and is located in Logan county. The U. S. Coal and Oil Co. has set an example here of what an interest they have in those who work for them. Labor troubles in this state are fortunately very rare between miners and operators. Nearly all the mines are worked on the open shop basis. These men, who continually face death for our comfort, need the sustaining strength of Him who tasted death for every man. He is setting before us the open door. May our beloved Church enter! Model coal town in Holden, Logan Co., West Va., where the U. S. Coal & Oil Co. has demonstrated their interest in the welfare and comfort of their employees. IN THE JULY MISSIONARY MEETING N some churches leaders may prefer to gather up final items of news from the General Assembly. A report of the Assembly's doings from the point of view of the Boards appears in the extended article in this number of the HERALD. Other churches will desire to confine their attention to the announced topic "Lumber and Mining Camp Evangelization." On this topic the following references may prove of value. First. The Conditions. In all the churches familiarity may well be had with general conditions throughout the country. Few appreciate the large numbers of men involved in logging and coal mining, not to speak of the army engaged in other sorts of mining. Upon these workmen a large fraction of our population depend for subsistence. 1. Lumber regions. The bibliography published in the June, 1910, HERALD, Home Mission Department, is of value. The Board publishes several leaflets which will be supplied on application, notably July, 1910, Home Mission Paragraphs (a few copies of which edition may still be had); July, 1911, Home Mission Paragraphs, just issued. Special reference is also made to the Government Reports. Write to Washington. Ask particularly for Bulletin Number 77, Bureau of Census, Department of Commerce and Labor. The Government publishes a wealth of official reports containing most valuable information not nearly availed of sufficiently by the studious public. See also, of course, articles from the South, Northwest and Pacific Coast region in this number of the HERALD. ALD. 2. Coal regions. A short article from WestVirginia appears in this number of the HERSee also article by Dr. Flack in July, 1910, HERALD, reporting conditions in Pennsylvania. Under this heading Government Reports are of the greatest value. Write particularly for Bulletin Number 90, Bureau of Labor, Department of Commerce and Labor. The Board's leaflets above referred to will be found of value. HOME MISSIONS The Government Reports may be effectively used by securing them early and putting a copy into the hands of intelligent members of the congregation with the request that they extract juicy bits from the statistical tables and the interestingly put discussions. Second. Your Nearest Field. Most of the churches will be amazed to discover how intimately they are associated with some portion of this field. The Adirondack and eastern Appalachian regions are full of lumber problems. The Central South, including the great Mississippi Valley, is producing larger lumber 339 values than any other section of the country. The Central Northwest is a field of very important operations. All the Pacific Coast region is now active in producing lumber. And coal mining is the immediate concern of the East, South, Central West and increasingly of the Far West. Other branches of mining are precipitating all manner of social and religious problems elsewhere. Each church may well think ahead and secure definite and intimate information about the social and religious conditions on the field lying nearest. It is always important to bring missions close home. C YOUNG PEOPLE'S DEPARTMENT ONFERENCES and Conventions for young people are numerous during the summer months. Of the former there are the following: Missionary Under the Young People's Movement: Asheville, N. C., June 30-July 9; Silver Bay, N. Y., July 11-20; Lake Geneva, Wis., July 21-30; Cascade, Colo., August 4-13. Three conferences are also held in Canada during the month of July. Under the Young People's Department of the Board of Publication and Sabbath School Work: Winona Lake, Ind., July 13-20; Pocono Pines, Pa., August 2-9; Hollister, Mo., August 14-21. The great International C. E. Convention will be held in Atlantic City, July 6-13, and most of the State C. E. conventions are now held during the three summer months. The denominational rallies have been revived. A number of states had given up this denominational feature of these gatherings, and this omission has been a distinctive loss to our work. We welcome the opportunity of strengthening the denominational tie. The literature we are able to provide seems to be quite in demand, and efforts are made to send to each convention a supply of samples of programs, field letters, mission study announcements, etc. Have you read the annual report of this Young People's Department, and did you notice that from young people's societies $30,955.96 was received during the fiscal year 1910-11, and from Sunday schools $48,964.27? Young women's organizations and mission bands gave $27,756.03, but our young people can do still better than this for home missions. "The Winning of the Oregon Country," by Rev. John T. Faris, for Intermediate Grades, will also be ready before the summer conferences are over, and the new book for Juniors, "Best Things in America," is surely most attractive in title and in contents. The subtopics for the chapters are: The Story Begins; Mr. and Mrs. Great Heart and the Little Great-Hearts; The "Mayflower" and the "Treasurer;" How America Grew and Still Grows; The Name we Bear; "1 Pledge Allegiance." Try as we may to place responsibility for the training of young people on the various organizations of the Church, or plan as we may for the "Religious Education of the Youth of the Church," we must recognize that without the influence and co-operation of parents and pastors, all other efforts are unavailable. In the United Free Church of Scotland a course of study in the Old and New Testament and Catechism is provided, the course being suited to senior, middle and junior grades. The local paper of a little inland village prints the list of those who took the recent "Welfare of Youth examinations, the report of which was submitted to General Assembly." The names and standing of those who won prizes and certificates are given. While we might not approve in this country of the prize system, still this custom makes the training of the young people a very definite part of the church life even in the rural villages of Scotland. The topic for the young people's meeting in July is "Ways of Serving Our Nation," Esther 4:1-17. This is an opportunity for a real home mission service, and as it is a consecration meeting, individual responsibility for our country and our denominational work would be a good theme for discussion. This should be an occasion for a special home mission offering. M. J. P. BIBLIOGRAPHY General interest in this topic is manifest in the lengthening list of periodical and book references. The subject is treated incidentally in much other current literature. The following have been selected from among many. References to earlier publications will be found in the Herald of May, 1910. Free Christianity at Berlin, Outl 96:254, O 1, '10. Summer among modernists. .B. W. Bacon INVITATIONS. Use Emblem Post Cards for sending invitations to stimulate attendance at the monthly concert of prayer for missions during the summer months when there is a tendency towards inactivity. They can be had from our literature department without other charge than postage HOME MISSIONS THE BOARD OF HOME MISSIONS OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN THE U. S. A. 341 Comparative Statement of Receipts for CURRENT WORK for the 2 Months ending May 31, 1910-11 86,431.28 CO-ORDINATING MISSIONARY COMMITTEES The following resolutions will be read with great interest by all who are studying the organization of our Presbyterian forces for the most effective missionary activity. The resolutions were heartily adopted at the Pre-Assembly Missionary Conference conducted on May seventeenth, Atlantic City, under the auspices of the Home and Foreign Mission Boards of our Church. They were drawn up and presented by Henry W. Jessup, Esquire, one of the speakers who led in the discussion. Mr. Jessup is a member of one of the Boards, and is a leader in the co-ordinating movement progressing in the New York Presbytery with much promise. Resolved. I. That our Church cannot fully realize nor adequately meet its entire missionary responsibility at home and abroad until every mem ber has been interested, informed and systematically enlisted in personal prayer, service and giving for missions. II. That a missionary committee in every church to serve as a direct wire for transmitting missionary needs and news is highly desirable, in direct and continuous connection with our great mission agencies at one end and with the individual church members at the other. III. That the simplification of methods of reaching the individual giver, the elimination of intermediate machinery of administration, and the removal of the competitive feature of the appeal to support our missionary agencies as shown today by the co-ordinating of our presbyterial agencies (as in Chicago, Newark, Huntingdon or New York) are heartily approved. |