error is yearly losing sway. A great number of our pastors and congregations have always been superior to it. Still the day has not yet come in which the balanced duty which God has appointed to the church is met by an equal balance of intelligent and conscientious zeal. Just now such balance meets special disturbance.

A LOW VOICE AMONG LOUDER

ONES.

A denominational duty, that has been only newly acknowledged, finds itself at a great disadvantage when a centennial year puts emphasis upon the claims of old and favorite boards. Any recent traveller among our synods will have met certain chief demands which are so large that, when they shall have been supplied, not much will be apt to remain for the young academies and colleges which are breaking through the newer soil of our church. In the midst of three authorized calls, for a million for one board, another million for another, and nearly another million for a third, the murmur of our frontier classes in Latin and the Scriptures can hardly be heard.

Yet have we a right to forget that, in this year also, the duty of our American church is one, and that the motives to it are at this moment just as large and imperative as God has made them? Shall we be counted rivals of other boards if we state the claims, not of our Board (for a board has no claim), but of Christ's work, as we are set to further it? Having no fear in that direction, we shall make statement of the truth as it is our office to see it.

Measuring the life of our church and nation by centuries, as we are at this time invited to do, there is not a duty conceivable by human forecast that takes precedence of that of incorporating Christianity into American education. The second centennial of Presbyterianism in this land will have its quality determined by no other element of denominational policy more largely than by the measure of care that shall have been taken in this one fundamental matter. Ac

cordingly there is no other direction of personal effort in which intelligent zeal may look for larger gratification. The establishment of a needed school of higher learning in the midst of a populous and foremost race, such as ours is sure to be, promises results which any thoughtful and devout soul may be satisfied. The immediate results in the minds and hearts of the successive classes; the secondary results which educated Christian men achieve in all relations of influence, and to the ends of the earth; the permanence and assured growth, beyond all definable limits, of the means and influence of an institution of learning that has been once established; the distinctness of the channel within which, for generations and ages, the definite yet expansive life of one institution flows on,-things like these bring the founder of a Christian school nearer than any other common man to the level of an enduring power of nature. His deed becomes the fountain of a perennial stream, and more. No natural stream blesses more than one continent. These waters enrich the world. Now the church has warrant enough for emphasizing the memory both of any affectionate follower of Christ and of any excellent "thing also that she hath done." It is therefore lawful to consider that when the intelligent and devoted deeds of this centennial year shall have fallen far back into the past, none of them shall be yielding a larger or surer revenue of glory to God and of satisfaction to his stewards than the establishment, in this nation, of the seats of learning that shall always be true to Christ.

"STABLISH, STRENGTHEN, SETTLE" THEM.

An excellent thing for Christian souls is this cumulative effect of grace (see 1 Peter 5:10). It is by a similar gradation that Christian institutions come to their kind of "perfection;" and they too, for the most part, "after that they have suffered awhile." The suffering, besides, is likely to be of the most trying sort. School and college builders must commonly be solicitors of subscrip

1887.]

No

tions-summarily called "beggars." conscious breadth of purpose can save them from being received, by three-quarters of those whom they solicit, as interested adventurers, men who have " axes to grind." In this work, not a few men have gone down to their graves, esteemed by their own generation to be, at best, hungry enthusiasts, for whose magnanimous wisdom and courage the generations following have found no praise too great. It is painful to think how in this very year of Presbyterian congratulations many a great soul, that has not money, is wearing itself down under the same sky and sunshine with many another soul that might, by a small investment from its great means, achieve three grand successes: the establishment of an institution; the deliverance of a struggling hero; and the development of a brother to share his entire triumph and reward.

The following, concerning one such opening for sympathetic help, was in type for the November issue, but was deferred for lack of room.

PIERRE UNIVERSITY.

In our June number was printed a considerable extract from a letter of President Blackburn, showing the rigid and successful economy that had been practiced in his last year's management of this institution. Under a similar personal strain Dr. Blackburn begins the work of the present year. The Board of Aid believes that there are good men and women in our church who will be glad to make some centennial gifts that will smooth his path and lighten his load. It has marked out as the special field open to appeals from that institution, New York, west of and including Rochester.

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we will advertise the success of that stayaway style of canvassing as effectually as we can; and will hope to see that method grow very common.

To encourage their giving, we will tell what we know about the college. It is under control of the Synod of Dakota. It has two buildings, beautifully located at the geographical centre of the synod. McCormick Hall, of brick, to which the estate of Mr. McCormick very liberally contributed, is a fine, commodious building worth $25,000, and clear of debt. But it greatly needs additions to its furniture and apparatus, which other donors ought to supply. Proper seats for the class-rooms are still lacking.

But the college needs, especially, the good beginning of an endowment. Last year it reported something over seventy students, including some in music only. The country is as yet too new to add enough to those numbers to sustain the teaching work by tuition fees; and the treasury of this Board is not competent to add enough to tuition fees to allow a maintenance to the teachers. And yet, the roll of students is already large enough to include four or five candidates for the ministry. Moreover, at this moment, so far in advance of the full development which a college is to have on that spot, Dr. Blackburn, with his associates in the classrooms, and by his public and private discussion of his great theme, is laying for our church's scheme of Christian education such wide foundations of general esteem as will underlie all the successes of future years. The value of this early work to the coming Presbyterian Church of southern Dakota cannot be reckoned. Yet he is once more compelled to write, in the tenor of the letter above referred to: "What is most pressing is need of funds for current expenses. There is not a dollar really in the treasury, and I am advancing sufficient to keep going until some aid comes." We bespeak, from the eastern field which has been named, centennial gifts that shall endow t.: chair of the president of Pierre University. Any desired information will be given in response to a letter to Dr. Blackburn or to this Board.

The foregoing is left unchanged, although the trustees and the Board have lately arranged for some canvassing of this district by Rev. H. P. Carson. His duties as pastor in Scotland, Dakota, will allow him no time for extensive work.

POYNETTE ACADEMY.

This school, located at Poynette, about thirty miles north of Madison, Wisconsin, has entered upon its third year. It began under the auspices of this Board; but its existence, with all the good it shall ever achieve, will be traceable directly to the devotion which Rev. William L. Green, D.D., Presbyterian pastor at Poynette, has shown to the purpose of combining with academic education the most thorough and constant instruction in the Bible. The Bible, accord

ingly, is a daily text-book throughout the

whole school course. The success with which this branch of study has been prosecuted under the care of skillful and devoted teachers, and the acceptance which it meets at the hands of all classes of parents, have been attested to us by the most competent and interesting testimony. The pupils, male and female, take part in some form of work, either agricultural or domestic. Thus the cost of board is brought very low and industrious habits are learned. Starting with nothing, Dr. Green has, in three years, built up a property of land and buildings worth (above all debts) some seven or eight thousand dollars. It has come together in small subscriptions from the neighboring farmers; in gifts of lumber from the neighboring lumber region; in hardware, glass and paint from Pittsburgh and Chicago; and in some very liberal donations of money from sympathizing friends. But there is still some debt on the land; a building that would accommodate forty boarding pupils is nearly enclosed, but must stand at that stage till more help comes. Meanwhile existing accommodations are crowded, without effort, by the daily students of the Scriptures, who

show the characteristic profit of that kind of study. The trustees lack nothing but five or six thousand dollars to expand and establish their work, to relieve of anxiety the cultivated and self-denying teachers, and to establish the foundations of an institution of the very best spiritual promise. Its future proportions are, under God, in the hands of the good men and women who believe in putting the word of God into the minds and hearts of the young.

Dr. Green has the certificate of the Board assigning the "West Side" of Chicago as the field of his canvass. We learn of one benefaction that awaits his school from another direction. The whole church has been asked for contributions to our Board's "Property Fund." If any donor will respond to that call, marking his donation as designed for Poynette Academy, we will see that it

reaches its destination.

Of course we will apply, with equal pleasure, any other gift similarly sent for any other of our institutions.

LOCAL CENTENNIAL GIFTS.

We are striving, as is manifest, to interest our whole church in her frontier schools; and all kinds of wisdom and duty, national, denominational and Christian, give backing to our appeal. But the first duty to the new schools and colleges is owed by the communities that are to enjoy advantage from them. For these communities to withhold their help would be a suicidal folly. We notice with interest, then, that many synods have asked for liberal centennial offerings from within their own bounds to their local institutions. Let them not fail to be made. A chief part of our argument for eastern giving has been the self-help of the West in founding the Christian schools of her growing commonwealths. It is selfhelp that commands helpers. Let all western Presbyterians do their best and strong walls will be sure to go up upon all their strong foundations.

MACEDONIAN CALLS UPON THE

BOARD.

The following communications, which are but a portion of the calls that are constantly coming to us, speak for themselves. There are thirteen of our great western states and territories from which such calls are coming. Will not the church enable us to answer them favorably?

FROM SEATTLE, WASHINGTON TERRITORY.

Will the Board be able to give us a Sabbathschool missionary for Washington Territory if we should ask for one this fall? We need one very much. Please reply immediately, as our presbytery, the Puget Sound Presbytery, is to meet October 11. Dr. Worden has been here and knows about this field.

Sincerely,

F. G. STRANGE, Minister of the Presbytery of Puget Sound.

FROM ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA. I hereby certify that the following action was taken by the Synod of Minnesota at its session at Stillwater, October 13-17, 1887 :

"That the synod earnestly recommend to the Sunday-schools under its charge to contribute one thousand dollars for the support of a Sabbath-school missionary within our bounds, to be appointed by the Board according to the action of the General Assembly, and we hereby recommend to the Board the appointment as such missionary of Mr. J. G. Gowlland, of Chatfield, Minnesota."

MAURICE D. EDWARDS, Stated Clerk of Synod of Minnesota.

FROM MERCED, CALIFORNIA.

I enclose herewith a copy of the action of our Presbytery of Stockton at its last meeting, and which I, as stated clerk, was directed to send to you. I wish the Board could be impressed, as we who live in this great San Joaquin valley are, with the necessity of occupying these new fields which are so rapidly being developed.

A new railroad is being built upon the west side of the valley, and several large tracts of land have been opened to settlement, and there is a rush to get them, and towns are springing up all along the line of the new railroad.

Stated Clerk of Presbytery of Stockton.

Action of the Presbytery of Stockton, taken at its meeting, October 5, 1887.

On account of the peculiar nature of the work demanded in that portion of the territory within our bounds familiarly known as the "West Side" of the San Joaquin, which is rapidly filling up with new settlers, we would urge the Board of Publication to send a Sabbath-school missionary into this field, with the hope that a home missionary may soon follow to gather the results of their labors into organized churches.

FROM GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA.

Our disappointment at not seeing you was very great, but we trust that next year, or at some other time, you will come through to our synod.

We are, indeed, very desirous of having one or two missionaries in this region. It will do us much good spiritually, and will help us denominationally. Other churches are "getting away" with us because they have more general laborers. We have now a colporteur who pays his own expenses from the profits on books he sells, but his sales are limited and his work circumscribed.

Yours,

H. G. MENDenhall,

FROM SOUTH DAKOTA.

On the day of the meeting of the Synod of Dakota, at Scotland, Dak. Ter., October 13, 1887, an informal meeting of members of synod was held, at which Dr. Worden presided, and some interesting facts were presented as to the needs and opportunities of the Sunday-school work in the southern half of the great territory of Dakota.

Dr. Worden stated that he observed from the minutes that there are in this synod thirty-six churches that have no Sunday-schools.

It was answered that this is caused by the existence of Union Sunday-schools, which are not reported in our minutes. The desire for Union Sunday-schools in small communities, and often in advance of the preaching of the gospel, is very marked, and almost universal in these regions. In some instances, Presbyterian Sunday-schools after being organized are changed into Union Sunday-schools by outside pressure against denominationalism.

In view of these facts, the conclusion arrived at by the meeting was that Sunday-schools should be organized wherever Providence opens the way. Presbyterian schools, if possible, and if that is not possible, then of some other evangelical denomination, and, if that fails, then, as a last resort, so-called Union schools.

Dr. Worden offered to supply any Presbyterian Sunday-school started on this plan with lesson leaves for one year after its organization.

"How many openings are there in this synod for new Sunday-schools if we should go wisely out into the school-houses and elsewhere?" The answer was made that in our presbytery alone (Aberdeen) there are probably at least one hundred such openings waiting and often earnestly calling for us to enter and occupy the field. In the Black Hills there are 45,000 people, and among them all only twenty Sundayschools.

In the Southern Dakota Presbytery and that of Central Dakota, it is estimated that there are somewhere from seventy to one hundred such openings for organizing Sunday-schools.

The Presbytery of Aberdeen claimed that their field demands a Sunday-school missionary the whole time.

It was suggested that if one man should be sent to the Black Hills, and another to the two presbyteries of Southern and Central Dakota, and one to the Presbytery of Aberdeen, it would be perhaps as much as this synod could expect from the Missionary Department of the Board of Publication at present.

And for three such men there are open and promising fields, as indicated above, within the bounds of the synod.

P. S. DAVIES, EDWIN BROWN, Committee.

The foregoing paper was read in synod and unanimously endorsed, and directed to be sent to the Board of Publication.

P. S. DAVIES.

EVERY CHURCH SCHOOL A MISSION SCHOOL.

There are many families in every neighbor. hood who, for various reasons, attend neither church nor Sabbath-school. Some of these families are alienated from the church and even from Christianity itself. They are infected with the corrupting taint of utter worldliness. Many are being poisoned with the literature of unbelief, and are in danger of passing from indifference to Christ to positive and hostile infidelity.

In our large towns and cities houses are constantly changing occupants. The stranger is ever within our gates. Many new residences are building. Men and women with immortal souls live, or are going to live, in these houses. With them come the children and youth. In many cases the parents are not acquainted with the ministers or church members of their new locality. Some of them have been confessors of Christ in may their former homes. If neglected now, these may drift away from the church and from Christ. Others are careless. They allow their children and young people to do as they choose on the Sabbath. But all would be pleased to have any one show a genuine interest in their offspring, for the worst desire their children to be better than themselves. Some would be willing to send their little ones to Sabbath-school, simply to have them cared for an hour or two by those whom they could trust. Others would be delighted to see their girls and boys in the enjoyment of Sabbath-school privileges, and would themselves be gratified to make the acquaintance of Christian people. Few, except for want of clothes, would absolutely refuse to send their children to the school.

There are in every community or neighborhood many young people who once attended Sabbath-school, but have drifted out of it. They have, perhaps, some grievance against some one in the school. Their teachers neglected to visit them when they were absent or sick, or the teachers themselves have moved away and the classes have been broken up. For such or similar causes these young people have left the school. They are hard to win back. But