Page images
PDF
EPUB
[graphic]

THE MAIN STREET OF AN OKLAHOMA TOWN ON AUGUST 6TH

O Churchmen realize what a great tide of American emigration is sweeping into the region somewhat in

The Growth of the Southwest

definitely called "The Southwest"? On a single day last month, when the editor happened to be in Houston, Texas, nearly 1,000 "home-seekers" passed through the city, by various railroad lines, on their way to other parts of the state to take up government land or purchase farms already held by private interests. Those 1,000 people were only a very small fraction of the multitude, estimated at fully 100,000 a month, that is pushing into this section. For some years we have been familiar with the wonderful growth and development of Oklahoma, though, perhaps, the spectacular "rushes" to secure claims upon newly-opened land have detracted from the real significance of what has been going on. People who think of the most recently admitted state of the Union as typical of frontier conditions are simply a decade or more behind the times. In the last fifteen years the population of Oklahoma has increased from about 275,000 (about 70,000 of these Indians) to a population of over 1,500,000. Prosperous towns are on every hand. Eighteen years ago Oklahoma City was scarcely more than

a spot on the prairie; to-day it is a bustling metropolis of 40,000 people. Five years ago the very name of Tulsa was hardly known; now it is a city of 15,000 people. At point after point, the virgin prairie of a few years ago is now the site of growing towns. Bishop Brooke has been struggling manfully to meet these changing conditions and this great influx of population. Comparatively few Church people have come in with the tide, yet the number of communi- . cants during Bishop Brooke's episcopate has increased from about 200 to close upon 2,700. From one point of view, the figures may seem trifling enough, but when it is remembered that our clergy in Oklahoma have never numbered more than twenty-four, while the Methodists alone can point to nearly 500 clergy and local preachers, the wonder is that so much has been accomplished for the Church.

[blocks in formation]
[graphic]

THE MAIN STREET OF THE SAME TOWN ON AUGUST 16TH OF THE SAME YEAR

[merged small][merged small][graphic][subsumed][subsumed]

ON NOVEMBER 6TH OF THE SAME YEAR THE MAIN STREET OF THE SAME TOWN

Southwest. The people settling there are Americans, chiefly from the states of the Mississippi valley. In many instances they are people who have once in the course of their lives moved into a new country, subdued its rudeness, and made prosperous farms which they are now able to sell at prices far in advance of the original outlay, while they in turn pass on to a new region, where land is cheap and where new communities are to be established and developed.

The Real Question at Issue

As an expression of national economics, this movement is suggestive; as a social study, it is highly interesting; but the real question at issue is, What is to be the moral and religious tone of these new communities? Shall the Church keep pace with this development and all this forward movement, or shall it lag behind? Must our frontier bishops stand by helpless because they have neither men nor money while they see thousands who need the Church's ministrations coming into their districts month by month? Conditions in these

newer communities should be much more favorable to the planting of churches and the creation of strong moral sentiment than was the case in the early days in the states from which most of these "home-seekers" are coming. In his suggestive study of "The Church and the Mining Camps" in this issue, Bishop Spalding makes the point that the second generation of mining camps begin their life on a higher moral plane simply because they are for the most part peopled by those who have been under the influence of Christian teaching in the older camps. This should be true of new communities settled by those who have known something of the refining and uplifting influences of the home mission campaign in the central West. While our strong eastern dioceses are endeavoring to extend the Church within their own borders, and trying, in some measure, at least, to meet the grave problems presented by the incoming tide. of low-grade foreign populations, let

[blocks in formation]

The Financial Outlook

turn somewhat less than the income for the first few months of the fiscal year beginning September 1st, 1905, so that the net decrease from September 1st, 1907, to January 1st, 1908, as compared with the same period for 1905-6, is $11,772.21. From one point of view this is not a serious decrease. Every one will agree, however, that a steady increase from year to year, and for each month of the fiscal year, is necessary for the best interests of the Church's Mission. In some dioceses there have been slight gains as compared with the previous two years; in others there has been a marked falling off. In many instances this is doubtless due to variation in the time of taking the offering. For instance, the entire decrease of the present fiscal year is more than covered by the falling off in one diocese. To January 1st, last year, four of its congregations had given over $21,000. To January 1st, this year, these same congregations had given only $614. This no doubt will be made up before the end of February. However this may be, it is highly important that we should not accustom ourselves to even temporary decreases, but should endeavor month by month to go forward to larger things. The appropriations of the Board are larger by about $65,000 this year than last. With a growing work, with opportunities on every hand, with needs that only the Christian Gospel can meet, it is inevitable that this should be the case. Whatever economies may be necessary as a result of the so-called "period of depression" through which the country is passing, let us not begin with a curtailment of the support given to the work of making our Lord known and loved.

BEGINNING WORK IN
IN WESTERN

COLORADO

BY BISHOP KNIGHT

A TOWN WHERE THE CHURCH'S VOICE HAD BEEN HEARD BUT ONCE-GATHERING A CONGREGATION FROM POST-OFFICE, STORES AND HOMES-CHILDREN TO BE BAPTIZED-ADULTS TO BE INSTRUCTED-THE PIONEER EFFORT OF MR. OSTENSON

WR

E came from Trenton directly to Glenwood Springs, and on Sunday, January 5th, we had two splendid services which were largely attended.

I suggested to the clergyman at Glenwood, the Rev. Mr. DuBois, that we go on Monday, the Feast of the Epiphany, to Newcastle, a mountain town about fifteen miles off. Taking a few prayer books and hymnals we started off. Newcastle is a typical western town, with a population of 500 or 600 people. There is a small Roman church where they have occasional services, and a Congregational church without a pastor. We secured permission to use the latter for an evening service and then started out among the people. We called at the public school and talked to the children, we called at the post-office, several stores, one saloon -not for drink-and from door to door among the dwelling houses, so far as time permitted. We found fifteen or twenty persons who had been connected with our Church and who were very glad to welcome us. Among these, together with another family, we found five babies whose parents wanted them baptized.

Those not of our Church, however, were no less cordial in their greetings and their welcome when we told them of our mission and our object in coming among them. Toward evening we gath

ered about a dozen people together in a house and the Rev. Mr. DuBois baptized the babies. At night we had service at the Congregational church, with more than a hundred people present. The service was simple, but very hearty, all taking part gladly as I explained the service to them, and I have never preached to a more reverent and attentive congregation. At the service we found several more people of Our Church, both men and women, and we learned of a few more children for baptism at a later visit. The clergyman at Glenwood Springs will go to Newcastle once a month hereafter and all the people, without regard to denomination, promise loyal support and effort to make the service a success.

I learned from a good Churchwoman who was present that the Rev. Mr. Ostenson, who did splendid work in this county for so many years, visited Newcastle and held services once about ten years ago. This, so far as I can learn, is the only time our Church's voice has been heard in the community. Already I have my eye upon several towns where a like work can be done, and as I become acquainted with the district I shall, without doubt, find more. I shall never be satisfied until our dear old Church is bringing her glorious influence in some measure at least-in every town and hamlet in Western Colorado, being indeed, throughout the land, "a witness of His Resurrection."

[graphic][merged small]

GLIMPSES INTO CHINA

BY THE REVEREND S. HARRINGTON LITTELL

A Heathen Priest's Testimony to the Worth of Christian Doctors

T

HE other day in one of our stations, a man sent for the mission physician. The doctor inquired how the man heard of him, and was told, "The idol sent me to you." That was not very clear, so the doctor asked about it. The man told him that he had been ill for a long time, and had tried all sorts of native doctors and drugs. At last, after deriving no benefit from the treatments he had tried, he be thought himself of a certain temple where he felt sure he could find help. The particular idol there was famed for power to work cures. So he went, or sent someone, and inquired of the priest what to do to get well. The priest asked the god, and said, "The god says: 'Call the foreign doctor.' So it is," said the man, "that the idol sent me to you." The priest had evidently heard. of our doctor's work, and had full confidence in his skill. He also had an eye to himself and his temple, and will claim

answer

credit for his god's insight and wise answer when the man is entirely well. It was an unusual thing to have such a response from an idol; but in the event the Thus the was justified. heathen pay their tribute to Christ, and the ignorant Buddhist priest points his fellow-countrymen to the true religion. Chinese Archery

To-day, as we took our exercise, we saw relics of a past stage of Chinese history, men showing their skill in archery. This sport has always been considered one of the six Chinese "accomplishments," and its value as a means to official advance and emolument has been great (though to a westerner the connection does not appear close at first sight). The examinations in the sport are going on now, and have been held in sections for some weeks. As you walk in certain parts of the city, you have to watch out, or you will get hit. The shooters put up their targets anywhere they like in public ways, as well as in safe places-and shoot away, regardless of everybody.

« PreviousContinue »