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Les diagrammes suivants illuatrent fa methods. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 HOME MISSIONS Presbyterian Church in Canada ("Western Section) 1900 = 1901 Toronto : Thk Arbuthnot Prkss. All contributions should be sent to Rev. Robt» H» Warden, D* D., Presbyterian Church Offices, Tor- onto, from whom additional copies of this leaflet can be had gratuitously, in quantities for distribution, if application is made prior to 28th December. The type is being kept standing till that date. m of ti( cc ot th ki so re! an Tl wi cej in at re^ ] 1 HOME MISSIONS (Western Section) Presbyterian Church in Canada. At Its March meeting the Home Mission Com- mittee found Itself face to face with a deficit ot |i6,ooo on the year's work ; to meet obh^a- tions the Church was asked for a special collection and |8,ooo was realized. To wipe out the balance, |8,ooo was taken out of the reserve fund. Financial feats of that kind can scarcely be repeated; the Church soon tires of special collections; nor is a reserve fund like the widow's cruse of oil and barrel of meal, you can soon exhaust it. The revenue of the committee should keep pace with the demands on it, else extension must cease. This the Church does not want ; and, m the interest of religion and patriotism, such a policy would prove disastrous. Moral, a larirer revenue. ^ But why the deficit ? Two principal causes. The coiitrihutioiis from Britain fell off about |5,ooo, and in the spring of 1899, 42 new mis- sions were started, involving an additional ex- penditure of about 1 10,500. In a new and growing country, with a strong, steady stream of settlers flowing in, there must be extension, and the Church owes it to the State which protects her ; to herself, organized to edify and evangelize; to her members who are going to develop the resources of the Far West and the New North; and to her Lord Who has placed this responsibility upon her, to lengthen her cords and strengthen her stakes. Are not railway companies extendiiig their lines and improving their equipment ? Manu- facturers enlarging their factories and increasing their output ? Banks augmenting their capital and starting new branches, (banks have in eighteen years increased, west of Lake Superior, from eight to nearly one hundred)? Loan com- panies, insurance companies and the rest ex- tending their operations ? And Provincial, Do- minion and Imperial governments entering on enlarged enterprises? And shall the Church alone stand still ? Che Change in 25 'tears* The Church exists to preach the Gospel to the poor ; and the following figures show that the money spent on the Home Mission depart- ment of that work yields encouraging returns. " In 1875 there were 132 missions and 86 aug- mented congregations in the Western Section of the Church. Since 1875, 641 new missions have been organized, making a total of 859 ; of this number, 93 have gone to strengthen other con- gregations, 162 are now on the augmented list, 386 on the Home Mission list, and 218 have become self-sustaining congregations." These congregations support colleges, missions and the benevolent schemes of the Church con- scientiously and liberally. present Strength. The extent of the present work, a few figures will help to show. The missions last spring numbered 386 with over 1,100 separate statlons^ Connected with these were 11,743 families, 4,544 single persons, not belonging to these families and 13,538 communicants. The returns which are very far from being complete, show that 1652 communicants were added to the rolls This means that one-eighth of the families, and one-fifth of the single persons in the Church are under the charge of the Home Mission Com- mittee, and that one-ninth, if not one-eighth of the accessions to the membership are in con- nection with these missions. .To all lovers and supporters of ^ome Missions this record should give satisfaction, ^ "How much of the salaries of their mis- sionaries do these people pay?" About five- eighths, and the Home Mission Committee about three-eighths, i.e., for every $60 the Home Mission pays, the people pay |;ioo. Con- sidering what has to be contributed for Church and Manse building, and that these people in very many cases are poor, and beginning life, this liberality is commendable. Che Record of Last Xean Tlie record for the past year was encouraging In Ontario and Quebec eight missions beianie augmented charges, and, in Western Canada, twenty. In Western Canada, eight more passed at once from the mission stage to the self-supporting. Thirty-six congregations were' thus handed over to the Church. In the whol^ Western vSection, 6i Churches and Maiises were built. Fifty-two new missions have been or- ganized and a number of stations started which go to strengthen missions and congregations previously existing. Wherever practicable, by a rearrangement of stations or a union, the work of consolidation is going on; some missions have disappeared, and stations have been merged in other fields, but, travelling has been reduced and grants saved. The number of missions is, however, steadily increasing year by year, and the revenue should keep step. Reports as to increase in membership are very incomplete, arising largely from lack of supply in many missions during winter, but also, in part, be- cause not a few of the missionaries do not realize the value of statistics, or are "absent- minded beggars." At least, 2,000 connnuni- cants were added to the communion rolls. But the picture is not all bright. From every direction comes the complaint of lack of supply. In the presbytery of Kingston, the more distant missions had to be content with three Sabbath's supply at Christmas. In Barrie presbytery, three fields vacant ; North Bay, four ; Algoma, four ; Western Canada, twenty-seven ; while a large number had only partial supply. How long shall a church possessing ample reserves confess herself unable to cure this clamant, long-standing scandal ? Even for the past sum- mer supply was inadequate, and the committee was compelled to appeal to British churches to come to the rescue. Details* It may be of interest to examine the situation a little more in detail, glancing at the work in several .sections. province of Quebec* The presbyteries of Quebec and Montreal have 24 missions and 56 stations, l^ie outlook here '"wn? ""^'\f o'^ ^^^^ ^^^"^ «^' ^^P«^ts cheerful. - ^flo'^Ti,' ^^^''"'^"' forests." - Pulpwood," f.rtnHn'l ^rl^^^^«» '^^^^1 Capital," - Manu- h^ard ^T?." T.^ "'"'^'^^ ^f»tres," are the words heard. The Roman Catholic church is doinir nTnv nf r^ ^""t ^^^T ^"^ ^^^^ Protestants, too many of whom have become disheartened in the struggle, pulled up stakes and moved west • but many settlements are left like rocky islands in a hostile sea and they must be encouraged and helped. The work of French Evangelization IS maintained to give the Word of God to Quebec, and to help to enlighten people who fror.\?c' '^ ,^^^j^"^^«'' fo^ that work W pay trom I35 000 to 140,000 annually ; the Church will not begrudge the fo,ooo required to provide Chr?J^ ""^'i"^?.'' ''' Q^^^^ec with a pure Gospel. Lhristians, hold your own. Ontario* Several features here arrest attention. In the lumbering districts of this Province, are said to ^LIT,'^^''' ^"f^^^"^' f^^^i"^' heaving, haul- mg and driving logs and square timber during winter and early summer. Some attention has been paid o them in the past, but under a spec! lal committee more adequate provision is at tempted this year. The lork requires young s3m"offer"^^^^^^^' ^^^^^^^ ^'^"' ^"' '^'y TinTnf.-c^'"'''^-''^ /"""""^^ ^^ Muskoka and the t^-efnffifTr^' /'''"' y^^"" ^^ y^^"^' ^^ the beau, ties of the district are coming to be known • un- less cared for, much as muscle and nerve may gain by the outing, the spirit will be apt to lose 8 tone. A child, who was preparing to go north, is said to have been heard praying the morning of her departure, " and now goodbye, God, for there wont be any more prayers till we return from Muskoka. " The committee is making more adequate provision for this class. The Ontario (Government is pursuing a more aggressive policy in the New North. Large sums have been voted for colonization roads ; exploration parties are out to locate and report on the farming and mineral lands in the district, and on its forests and waterpower. Large con- cessions have been made to capitalists who have engaged to build railways, open up mines, erect smelters, build mills and bring in settlers. I' ree grants of land, on liberal conditions, are to l>e made to members of the contingents who went to South Africa who were residents of Ontario at the time of their enlistment. When volun- teers have " died on the field of honor, " the father or nearest heir can claim the grant. Ev- ery effort is thus made to break up the silent solitude of the roomy, resourceful northland, and make it the seat of varied industries and the home of a progressive and prosperous population. This is not the dream of the rom- ancist, a fair beginning has already been made. Of the changed conditions the Church is bound to take note, and provide ordinances for the set- tlers on their arrival. Except in new Ontario, Home Mission work in this province consists largely in fostering ex- isting missions and nursing them to the con- gregational state. Five presbyteries have no missions, and several have only one or two. Bruce, that had her quiver full of them, is now childless. Unless care is taken, the sympathy of missionless presbyteries is apt to dry up, and presbyteries, people and Church will be the losers. The principal mission presbyteries in the provmce are Ottaw:., I . ,ark and Renfrew KiilKSton, liarrie. Norll, Hay, Akroiua 1(^1 jmssjon work been vigorously^ 'pro^ecu e.l tV « the dawn of settlement in Onta/io, how differei.t ,",. rV„ ^>'' ;«'"'9"K tl>e Ottawa, in Central wl fn \J" /'"■' ^'■"J''-'"'" P«^""'«'la .-m.I clear west to Windsor ; let ns strengthen the things that remain, and enter hopefully where new doors are opening. ^ ^ ^^^ ]iy the bye ! a curious but well authenticated foniLT'f'V''"'" N' ^- V"*""": 'iwo stations forming a charge, agreed to pay their student respectively, $2 and $4 a'^^iek as saLary.' The treasurer of station A, in settling, gave the ^-.udent not I52, but #47, telling hini the treas! «.''n''f°^i''f,"°"-i' "■""'<' P'^y tl>e balance. He scouted the idea, a.ul pai „ ■ ^tg'"a has grown so as to require two new presbyteries. This would give the Terntones i5ve presbyteries, and they Ixnect a 1884 that there was only one presbytery west of Lake Superior; M^hat hath God wroughf Tn these sixteen mter.-ening years ! The efectio" bicIuse^o?th^'''7 '^ 1^1P^"°^ ^-^^ P°'tPO"^d oecause ot the sparse settlement in that tiart of Ontario, and the unlikelihood that any strength would be soon developed. Mining lumbering raihvay building, f,.ani„g have refenX Z"*^' population to that distrii, so tlia?anot er^rls bytery IS already talked of. Between Ft wll mlinr'^of''' P'lf"'^ there is room ?or ha^f-t mil ion of settlers, and the railwav now anSdiirct.^^ "'''''' ^° "P- "P-^-^' -w Railwaj>8 in the ^est. Railways are the j^Ioneers of settlement • thev bTd teo,/''""^'/'"' precede the 1" Wer, an^ ooen un tT T^ T"^^' '''^ "<='■ t^^-^ts they open up. Ihe line between Port Arthur and Winnipeg by way of Ft. Frances and the RaTi^v River, IS being pushed forward fron- both em"s and will be completed next autumn. ' of the .^n?^ r ^""^j'^"' is only a continuation ot the .same line ; it opens up the Daunhii, Valley, and will reach Prince Albert in the "^T lLJ^, '''"'"'^' "'^ GilbeA Plaint bee'-i b„m iniiipegos^is, branch lines have beea bi lit, opening up farming districts and developing lumbering and fishing irdustries 1 i; 7 b c< V R Vi w m so th Pi IT ands. Nine thouofliiH f-oii„- t -^^iiy thous- a home here and ^i? ^'^S' ^^"^ '^'^^ fo"nr.z^t-fQHi-' nor are they to be so easily assimilated. They may, if they come in large numbers, seriously modify the Canadian type of character, and be a 14 disturbing factor in social, religious and national ind il^.VrinTlZ''' *^ ^""'^'^ State: frequently W oS-w^orld^p ^judlcts an'^d'^ antT Ttlnf "'^"•Jl^ •P"""'^^! iss..es and prevented ours Tetl,^'"S ^r"- Th4 U. S.^da^ger is number 1 P>-^°''' '^'"^ ^ considerable cr"Ss our P. """'' • ""''' whatever the M^sZi^toTfT^^ ""«!" '''^^itate to send contingents to S. Africa or elsewhere. I,^„^*i '^ P*^"?'*^ '"■e taking root and are habuf "InTT^ ^'r '"■<= «i«P°e fr^ their flamts, and food and clothing cost little r^lt t^ !?^' .^'^f ^^^^-^ forefathers held it m te th?f 1° ^"""^ ,*"?* "°t to smoke, because not that which goeth into the man defileth the man but that which Cometh out of the man an,l drink goeth in while smoke cometh out ' Bu^ & Wt °f "^f 'hat belief, and eveo' nm" home ic i 1 ^'' '^'^^^'^'^o. Attached to every «Trtr aii-d^i^l^'at U?e%£-^^^^^ vet ahc;<-iif Ki,f fi 1 l^'^^^- i^team mills are go o It to service, and men, in slack times fin!f employment on the railway, in the saw miTu for sittiiig-room, kitchen and bedroom and as If tjhe numerous familv did not fin the "r-^ sumcieutly, sitting hens find acJommodatCfn miLTr^oTy/geilf^Lt'^T^/^^^^^^^^^^ pungent smells and strange odors national 1 States, Not un- nd aiiti- ■e vented anger is iderable ver the to send md are n their httle. it quite use not leman, m, and t. But 'y man every )lanted are in leared, for the lis are Girls s, find I'-niills ' help ^hters, irvest. lorses, mient y roof serves tid, as house ion in The odors 15 that greet the nostrils are difficult to define or count, but one soon gets used to them. (How nmch better were our forefathers one hundred and fifty years since ! ) Those who have spent a few years in the country are changing rapidly and adopting Canadian habits. Girls at seVvice have quick eyes and soon learn our ways, return home and effect a revolution in domestic affairs and the revolution will spread These people adhere to the Greek and Roman Catholic churches mostly, although many belong to the I^utheran and Reformed churches The gulf between the different denominations Prn^? T^ ''''??• ^^'^ Oalicians associate Protestantism with Nihilism. At the college conference in Winnipeg, and at the meetings of the Synods' Home Mission Committees the evangelization of these strangers within our gates was discussed, and it was resolved the Word of God should form a part of the course of instruction. The Church and Manse Board has voted ^200 to help finish and furnish each school house, the people them- selves are asked to get out logs and erect the body of the building, and the committee will turnish salaries. Five teachers have already been secured, and more are in si^rht Last summer a medical missionary was stationed at vSifton, and he has rendered good service in caring for the sick and breaking down preju- dices He IS 111 urgent need of a building and appliances for hospital work. "" Last season two Bohemian students did dutv ^^IZ^ f^^''V\ f^^ll«y-^«"^itrymen; theaccount given of the first service among thr . people in their own language, after an absence of fifteen i-.^^[i T t^^^^^ "^tive country, was affecting in the extreme. The Roman Catholic Church opposes the establishment of schools unless she i6 is given control, and is provided withnrovinri.l these foS.rMl^i';^^ En"l'^J.'''*''S'\'f ^° englfeb-Spcahttig Settlers. I/ackof men and means nrevenf^ ih^ n nr:ie:?1^,l[;Toted^ B --- to follow, if settlers are Tot spe;di1vVn ''"S I'p. Early habits socini n,?^ ^PeedHy followed environment in^' worfl ^"""P constraint, church attendance ad T "T^ *° "^^ ^'*^ Removal to a dkt^nt^ .''''"''''^ membership. sundersodal ies brearm?f "' "^"" P^°^'"^^' creates new condition. ,5 ""'.T ^-''^^'^i'^tions, make a new start t?r,;,r' "• ^"^ '*'^'?^f-h we were, to set up God's altar here. We have our church built, we are obliged to your Coni- % Diigh 19 'mittee for a iiiishionary ; we shall do our best for him, and hope soon to support hmi our- selves ' A missionary was sent to a new settlement from the United States. They 'If /^,\,^1^ Americans who hail from the I nited btates. Not a house in district could be secured for service One man took a Bible, wrenched the heart out of it, tore it in bits, threw it to the winds and told the missionary this was their estimate of the Bible and of religion bunday schools were started, people visited with tracts ; services started timidly, prejudices disappeared, not a house in settlement now but is open tor service The Gospel is God's power to save. At the close of a service r.t a railway camp, a German fastened himself on the missionary, and took him to his shack. "Me glad you came to visit us Me used to drink hard, but God change my heart four, five year since. Much drink, much bad here. Mates ask me drink ; laugh at me because I don't. Me pray Lord Tesus, help me keep away from drink to-day ; He do it. But me get desperate, temptation too strong. Me pray, ' Lord, send a minister, me cannot hold out much longer'. And He send vou • there is a God, He hear prayer, He hear me, me so glad, me serve Him better now. Che f tuanctal Situation deserves serious consideration. The Irish Church for several years past gave generous help • they are trving to raise $500,000 ot a Century Fund, and only one half is yet sub- scribed Till this is out of the way nothing can be done to get congregations to help, so says the Convener of the Colonial Committee. In the Glasgow Herald, a member of the Colonial Committee of the Church of Scotland is reported 20 to have said that "he was surprised that an country it bem^^ well known that there were hundreds of wealthy business men in Toronto who could easdy. pay for a nnssionary for thei? own churches. They knew perfectly well hat some of these wealUiy Canadian clufrcTes had offered extra lar^e salaries to some of the best preachers in the Church of Scotland. It was a disgrace that they could not support their own churchS ^""^'. "^ /^^^'^^ '^^^' fashionalTle churches were, to a large extent, reduced to ?helr f.i?^"^;'' ''^^'? Pai^^ enormous salarfes to then minister and enormous sums for music The people of Canada ought distinctly to support their own missions." If such viewLre he d in British churches, our church should set her house in order ; self-respect demands that ' we support our own work. This is a time of unexampled prosperity for overitf' "tI'^' i'^" are making money hand over fist. The bountiful harvest, the indus- trial and commercial activity, the large exports and imports, the increase in deposits w^ith banks fh. ^^%^«vernment, the demand for labor, and the higher prices paid workmen all tell the n^ff -l f- ,^0"t of our abundance shall we not iWitnH ^^^ ^^""'"''^ "^^^^^ ^« Pl'-^^^t Christian institutions in the newer parts of our own land ? Revenue Needed* Jn^Tf^^'^t''^^'''^'^''''^ ^^ the year ^4,000 s needed, ze., $14,000 more than the receipts of ^tZl^.fl.J'^ other words congregations should give an increase of from 20 to 25 per cent on last year's contributions if work is to be main- tained and extended. Unless care is taker there is danger of a repetition of the deficit of last year. 21 The Centurv T'lind, the Indian Famine Fund, the ratriotic I'und, the Ottawa Fire and other si)ecial ai)peals will all tend to divert attention from the ordinary schemes which are more prosaic. The short crop in the West this year is also a disturbing element. lUit we have faith in the people if ministers and sessions will give them the facts. 8uggc9ttori8« I. Are there not many members of the Church who could give I250 a year to support a missionary ? That, with the givings of the people among whom he labored, would main- tain him for twelve months. Quite a number are doing that now, but too few. A Nova Scotian Senator was appealed to and sent a draft saying, ' ' I wish you to cover with this as large a multitude of vsins as you can." The answer was, " Spread it as thinly as I can, it will not cover more than the sins of one year." The reply, " That means that I give $250 to cover the sins of this year ; you will get the money for I have been there and know the need." He is the only $250 Senator. One mend^er of the Dominion House and one of the Ontario House keep him company. An address on Home Missions was delivered in the American Presbyterian Church, Montreal. At the close a member of the congregation asked the speaker to call at his office Monday. ' ' Did I understand you to say on Sunday that $250 w^ould support a missionary ?" " Yes. " " But a man cannot possibly live on #250 ?' ' " But the people will do their part, and the contributions of the mission and I250 will support him." " I understand ; put me down for $250 and my wife for $250 more. " " Thank you very much ; is this for one year, or how long?" "How long? as long as we live." " Let me cordially 22 thank you, and express the hoi)e that \'()it may hve a lon^r while." " Well, 1 am not Roin^ to die to ^ret rid of paying $500 a year for a work that means so much for the future of Canada. My son is up-stairs and wishes to see you. ' ' The son was seen, asked some questions similar to those of the father, and beciuue responsible for I500 a year. Wolfville, N.vS., Montreal, Boston, U.vS., Ottawa, Carlton Place, Toronto, and Hespeler have members who ^dve such special help, but they can almost be counted on the fingen^ of two hands. There are a hundred members of the Church who could ^ive ^250 or more and not miss it. And when ^250 would be excessive |;r25, ^loo, I50, ^25, or $10 could be given. A congregation in Toronto was ad- dressed, and, at the close, an accountant cajme up and pledged himself and wife for $250. A congregation in Chatham was appealed to ; a few of its members consulted each other on Monday afternoon, and pledged themselves, some for $50, some for |i25 each a year, and arranged to support two missionaries apart from congregational contributions. Are there not many other towns who could do likewise ? 2. Are there not many strong congregations who could give special help? Truro, New Glasgow, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Hamilton, St. Thomas, Gait, or at least several congrega- tions in them deserve special mention ; but not more than a couple of dozen all told give this special help. Ontario and Quebec could furnish at least 100 congregations that could give #250 or more ; and, were pastors and sessions to take the initiative, the thing could easilv be ^lone. Is there not some danger of our forgetting God as a people ? Of our spiritualitv being drowned in worldliness ? It is said that" the annual sale of Bibles ir ihe United vStates has fallen off 400,000 it; fl^-e veiirs, and the revenue decreased 1 1 1 1 23 nearly one half. Neglect our trust, iis they did, ;ui(l our religious life nuist decluie too. St. Helens is a small conj