1889.]

visit I received nine new members at Las Conchas, a small village near Chaperito, and I may say the fruit of mission work by our people at Chaperito. More are now waiting to be received at Chaperito. During July I propose to get two or three of our evangelists to assist, and hold a series of meetings for two weeks at this point. We should have an evangelist settled at Chaperito to teach and establish the people. I find that on leaving Rome, for lack of instruction, the people easily become confused. Here there is a pressing need for a man to work in the field, and the people are calling for him. We should also have a school at this point and work these agencies, and with God's blessing the work will cover this whole district. From every quarter we have the most encouraging tokens for good. The school work at Golondrinas and Agua Negra is weaker this spring than I expected to see it; still we are not discouraged. One young man from Los Alamos school has decided for the ministry, and will do good work.

From Alliance, Neb., Rev. H. J. Brown writes:

Our work is going on slowly. The god of this world reigns supreme. The atmosphere is enervating to Christian growth. There are scorn and indifference to all religious influence among the most respectable, and absolute hatred among the base. Christian progress seems to be swallowed in the general swirl of self-seeking. One of our elders has moved away, which has discouraged us very much. Meanwhile the town is growing in population and resources, the railway is going on, the rainfall is increasing, and the whole country around is filling with good substantial farmers. We shall receive additions at our next communion. Our Sabbath-school would be overflowing if only we could have teachers. Our audiences are fitful with the weather, and they are mostly of the irreligious element. Our church edifice is not in a good location, the town having grown in another direction. Our services have gone on regularly morning and evening on Sabbaths, and our church bell is getting to be a familiar sound to the inhabitants. The United Presbyterians separated

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from us during the winter, and are carrying on independent services. They are intending to build a church and have a regular minister. This will be a Presbyterian locality, as they with us are all that are here.

From Ogden, Utah, Rev. J. McClain writes:

I am glad to be able to report good progress. In the first place, in the last two months the town has been filling up with strangers. The success of the Gentiles in Ogden has produced a revolution. The streets are now crowded, there is activity everywhere, and every day new ones are coming in. Within the last six days almost a million dollars worth of property has changed hands. The encouraging feature of it all is that those who are investing are coming here to stay and build up the town. As the result, our congregations are more than doubled and our working force greatly enlarged. We who have waited so long under such discouragements rejoice over these signs of prosperity. This year our membership will more than double itself and our contribution to the boards will be increased correspondingly. The indications are that the church will be able this year to do something toward my support. When my application was made out they could not foresee what was coming. I could not promise what I know they can and will raise. We will urge them to relieve you of every dollar they can. We are just about ready to begin our new church. We have sold the old church for $6000 and the school property for $2000, the church property to be given up the 1st of October and the school property at the end of the year. Where we expect to build is now about the centre of town and has become very valuable property. We could sell it for $10,000 any day. But of course we will hold on to it because of its location. We are not at all elated over our prosperity, but to see such changes in so short a time in Utah makes us all happy. The Lord has done great things for us here, whereof we are glad. The work is looking up all over the territory. But how much we need two more

ministers!

SYNOD OF NEBRASKA. Our work shows marks of encouraging prog

ress.

Attendance at our five presbyteries gave the assurance that our churches to a large extent are enjoying spiritual prosperity. Both the membership and the working forces have been enlarged by accessions from without. New churches have been coming forward. More ministers have been received. We are endeavoring to advance all along the line. During the quarter eight new churches have been formed, with an aggregate of 158 members, viz. Grandview, Presbytery of Omaha, with 11 members; Millington, Presbytery of Hastings, with 33 members; Lincoln 2d, Presbytery of Nebraska City, with 38 members; Driftwood, Presbytery of Hastings, with 14 members; Holstein, Presbytery of Hastings, with 17 members; Armada, Presbytery of Kearney, with 7 members; Clinton, Presbytery of Niobrara, with 24 members; Lebanon, Presbytery of Hastings, with 14 members.

Two of these churches, Driftwood and Lebanon, have never had any Presbyterian preaching until your missionary went to perfect the organization. The following ministers have been added to our force of active workers: Rev. Thomas G. Pearce, of Clarence, Iowa, has entered upon the work at Ord, and is encouraged by an ingathering of eighteen new members. Rev. Lester S. Boyce, of Almond, N. Y., has come to Beaver City, and has been kindly received by our people there. Rev. W. A. Smith, of Nevada, Iowa, is settled as pastor of the Ponca church, and is pushing forward his work with vigor. Rev. Matthias Wittenberger, from Kansas, has begun work among the German people at Blue Hill and vicinity. Rev. N. H. G. Fife, of Sterling, Ill., has accepted a call to the Fremont church, and is now arranging to move upon that field. Rev. Asa Leard, of Farmingdale, Ill., has accepted a call to the Knox church, Omaha, and will soon begin work. Rev. C. Van Oostenbrugge, of Troy, Mo., will return to our church and ac

cept a call to Lyons, left vacant by the resignation of Rev. S. B. McClelland. Prof. W. E. Andrews, of Hastings College, has been ordained to the full work of the ministry, and will labor among the vacant churches. Mr. L. V. Nash, Sabbath-school missionary, and a licentiate of the Presbytery of Kearney, has been ordained, and will continue his labors as heretofore. Mr. W. E. Bassett was licensed by the Presbytery of Niobrara, and is located at Norden, in Keya Paha county. Mr. George Bray, a licentiate of the Presbytery of Philadelphia North, is located at Shelton, and is hard at work. Of the students, Mr. James L. Countermine, of McCormick Seminary, is settled at Waterloo, and will soon be ordained by the Presbytery of Omaha. Rev. C. E. Bradt, of McCormick, is happily settled at the Lincoln Second church, which now numbers sixty-one members. Rev. John W. Hill, of Union Seminary, has recently come to Diller and Endicott, and has begun active work. Eight undergraduates are employed, and are now pushing the work in their respective fields. We are expecting Rev. Amos T. Fox, of Stewartstown, Pa., and hope to have him located permanently at Red Cloud. While we rejoice in the presence with us of these additional helpers, we want still more good men. We need them, and cannot get along well without them. Two new church buildings have been dedicated— Gandy and Westminster, Omaha. The latter cost $20,000. Two more buildings are ready for dedication. Rev. W. J. Palm has been installed at the West Hamilton Street church, Omaha; Rev. C. C. Hart at North Platte; Rev. Thomas K. Hunter at Nebraska City; Rev. John N. Mills at Beatrice, and Rev. John Gilmore at Minden.

New fields are calling for ministers, but we have not been able to find men willing to go to the remote frontier counties.

THOMAS L. SEXTON,

Synodical Missionary.

1889.]

SYNOD OF KANSAS.

Though the pressure of hard times still prevails, the present outlook for good crops is very encouraging. Timely rains have visited almost every portion of the state. Severe storms in one or two localities have damaged the prospect there, but not to any great extent. Pratt and Rice counties suffered most. During this quarter the presbyteries have rounded up the year's work and made their reports to General Assembly. All but two have sent me abstracts. These show both encouragement and discouragement. There has been a gain in membership in some of the presbyteries, while others have lost.

All along the line the financial reports are not encouraging. There has been a material retrenchment in congregational expenses, and much less put into expensive church buildings. The benevolent contributions, as far as reported, will not equal those of last year, generally from lack of ability.

Notwithstanding difficulties, our men have generally stood nobly with the people, and have shared their adversities without complaint. Several larger groupings have been made, to enable the churches to tide over and have occasional preaching.

Five of our churches are in such financial straits that I fear they will be driven to bankruptcy. These are Harper and Cimmaron in Larned, Clearwater in Emporia, Meriden in Topeka, and Russel in Solomon. The day of reckoning has been put off in some of these cases for a time, and good crops and reviving prosperity may save them.

The following men have been located: Rev. John B. Hill, Westminster and Oakland, Topeka; Rev. J. G. Venable, Highland Park, Topeka; Rev. W. I. Doole, Oak Street, Wichita; Rev. George S. Sweezy, Peabody: Rev. David Winters, First Church, Wichita; Rev. Rollin R. Marquis, Osage City; Rev. A. S. Parks, Delphos; Rev. E. L. Coombs, Quenemo; Rev. N. D. Nelson, Reece, Mt. Pleasant

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and Neal station, Greenwood county; Rev. H. W. Marshall, New Salem and Grand Summit, Cowley county; Rev. S. R. Anderson, Indianola and Clearwater; Rev. W. D. Patton, Florence, Cedar Point and Walton; Rev. J. W. Hanna, Clements and Melvern; Rev. David G. Richards, Westminster and Lebo; Rev. William Graham, Elmendaro and Madison and Olpe station; Rev. W. J. Hatfield; Rev. J. W. Talbot, Elk City and Caney; and Rev. E. S. Miller, Minneapolis.

Independence, Oswego and Pleasanton, selfsustaining, have each gotten a man. Rev. W.

S. Davis leaves Parsons for work in Chicago. Rev. John Wilson goes from Oberlin. He will probably go to Colby for the present. Rev. J. R. Cooper leaves Solomon and goes to Lake City, Col., for his health. Rev. John Stayt goes from Delphos to Washington Territory. He does not know where he will locate.

I have located the following middlers: Leigh R. Smith at Wilson and D. G. McKinnon at Ellsworth, in Solomon Presbytery; W. H. Loyd at Galva and Canton, in Larned Presbytery; and J. B. McCuish at Maple City and Arkansas City mission.

Arkansas City is growing rapidly owing to the opening of Oklahoma, and needs work there at once.

I have several other men now in view for vacancies, but they are not yet definitely fixed. We have about thirty little vacant fields, very difficult to arrange for because of poverty and lack of convenient grouping. I have not pushed the matter of organization much, but have organized two churches in Topeka and one in Larned, and have three others which I hope to report in due time.

I have preached 30 sermons and delivered 10 addresses; have held 52 business consultations, have written and dictated 504 letters, and have travelled 7188 miles. This quarter has been most exacting on time and strength.

S. B. FLEMING,

Synodical Missionary.