Brother L. Wiesele, whose marvelous conversion and call to the ministry were read in the June num ber of the MONTHLY. As soon as it became known that the German Baptists had decided to organize a church—the first German church of any kind in Coal | City, Ill.-a Lutheran pastor was sent upon the field, calling upon every German to have his or her name placed, as a "true Christian," upon the roll of a regular church of Luther. He has since built a German-American day school, meanwhile preaching polemics against Anabaptist heresy." Brother Wiesele, however, has, during the summer, repeatedly led willing converts into the baptismal waters, and is as busy as a beaver in building a chapel by the aid of God and the Church Edifice Fund. THE GERMANS IN AMERICA. BY PROF. CALVIN THOMAS. "In the decade 1831-40 our German immigrants numbered 152,434, and in 1841-50, no less than 434, 626. It may be of interest to mention incident. ally that the other great replenisher of our population, Ireland, contributed during the two decades just mentioned respectively 207,381 and 780,719 souls. By the census of 1850 it appears that there were then in the United States 583,744 persons who were born in Germany. Those born in Ireland numbered 961,719. From 1880 to 1885 the German influx reached 940,000, the highest number in one year, 1882 being 250,000. "The recent large influx, culminating in the phe. nomenal figure of 1882, is to be explained in this way: directly after the war with France, Germany enjoyed for a time an unnatural and inflated prosperity.' Then came the reaction and the inevitable hard times which impelled multitudes of Germans to cross the "From these figures it appears that the Germans abound especially in that part of the country which was once the great North-western Territory, and in the states contiguous thereto. They have in general avoided New England and the South. How marked this avoidance has been can be seen from the fact that the en tire German population of the New England States was, in 1880, only 36,348, or a little more than half of that of Minnesota. The ten States, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia footed up but 31,915 Germans, and of these nearly a fourth were found in West Virginia. On the other hand the four States of Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, and Texas showed a German population of 128,716, of whom nearly half were found in the cities of Baltimore, Louisville, and New Orleans. "If it be asked what the cities are where the Germans are most numerous, here is a list of the first twelve in the order of their pre eminence in absolute numbers of Germans. The figures indicate the percentage of Germans to the total population of the city. New York, 13; Chicago, 15; Philadelphia, 6; Brooklyn, 10; St. Louis, 13; Cincinnati, 18; Baltimore, 10; Milwaukee, 27; Buffalo, 17; Cleveland, 14; San Francisco, 8; Detroit, 15. "The Germans in America are, as a rule, an industrious, honest, and thrifty class of the population. They work and they get ahead.' They probably contribute less than their per capita share to our prisons and poor-houses. German tramps are not abundant. In public and private life the Germans stand for integrity and fair dealing, and where 'boodle' is king they are but sparsely represented. "They are, as a people, much given to thinking. Even the less highly educated among them are prone to theorize and to go into the rational grounds of things. The German loves the appeal to argument and is fond of getting down to first principles. On the other hand the great historical vice of the entire Germanic race, intemperance in drinking, flourishes digious increase in the American consumption of beer, painfully among the Germans of today. The prowhich has been going on for the past quarter of a century, has been in the main due to the presence of large numbers of Germans among us. They have used more and more of the beverage themselves and have taught their American cousins to do likewise. "In general the Germans have been and still are a powerful solvent in the disintegration of Puritanism which has long been going on. They have not the Puritan tradition behind them and do not like it, whether it manifests itself as a system of beliefs or as a code of observances. Where Germans predominate, the Puritan Sabbath has to give way. The Germans are prominently represented in every field of industry, both manual and mental. They have added enormously to the intellectual forces of this country, and they have furnished us with vast numbers of good workmen, skilled and unskilled. On the other hand COLORADO.-Rev. E. Nisbet, D.D., of Denver, writes that the Calvary Church will be self-supporting after January 1, 1888. This is the church to which Brother Yerkes gave so much of his energies, dying while its pastor. The past year under Dr. Nisbet has been a good one, and with the growth of Denver the church must soon become a strong body. Our benediction follows the child as she takes leave of the mother society. NEBRASKA. Rev. E. A. Abbott, of Nelson, reports decided progress the past year. But he has worked with his own hands to accomplish some of the results mentioned: "The year has been one of advance to the church, thirteen being added to its membership. Securing a subscription of $930, we have built and completed the largest and best furnished church edifice in town, at a cost of $1,500. "A new pulpit Bible was received a few days ago from Dr. Griffith, and our church hopes to secure a donation from our Home Mission treasury in New York. I painted the church myself, secured the subscription, and have collected the most of the funds so far, besides having three preaching appointments. The drouth the past season hit us hard, and money is very scarce." KANSAS.-In Southwestern Kansas are thirty-one counties embraced in the Arkansas Valley Association. A year ago in this great area there were only twentyeight churches. A correspondent of the National | Baptist tells of the great progress since: "The Baptists of the East may read of the glorious work of the Home Mission Society here in the West; but you need to see it. There is no other organization so loved, for none has been so helpful. These twenty-two new churches, with the unmeasured possibilities of the future, exist because that Society held out its strong arm to support. Where would Kansas with its 600 Baptist churches and 28,000 members be, if there had been no Home Mission Society? These figures might have been doubled if that Society could have met the demands upon it. There is need now of twenty earnest men here in the Southwest; but more men means more money in the Home Mission Society treasury." INDIAN TERRITORY.-Rev. Daniel Rogers writes: "I have just returned from our Cherokee Baptist Association. Our meetings were interesting. Over 100 baptisms were reported. From four or five of our churches no statistics were sent, as their delegates failed to reach the meetings. In two of these churches I have learned of sixteen baptisms. I suppose there were at least 125 baptized in the churches comprising the Association. I have not received reports from the Association of the Cherokee Colored Churches, which drew off and organized last year. The Association has taken an advanced step in missionary work. It was recommended to raise $300 for this purpose; $150 for work in the Cherokee nation, and $150, if so much should be needed, from the Association toward supporting a missionary teacher at the Wichita Agency. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.-Rev. C. W. Gregory, of East Los Angeles, furnishes facts of special interest about the progress of our cause there. It is refreshing to learn that our mission churches there do not propose to be "babes" in the lap of the mother society any longer than absolutely necessary. He says: "I cannot well tabulate my work for the past quarter. I have traveled about 450 miles mostly by buggy, have visited many new fields, and am doing my utmost to work up new interest at about half a dozen points. I have spent some time at Banning, and have succeeded in placing the Rev. S. J. Nunn, of Spring Valley, Minn., at this point as resident pastor, he caring also for Beaumont and San Jacinto. At Beaumont we have secured two church lots by contract, on condition of building in two years. At San Jacinto I think we can secure lots, and shall We are "Rev. W. W. Willis, once a pastor of the Eleventh Church, Philadelphia, has been on this field nine months, and has traveled 5,000 miles, and organized twelve churches. Twenty-two churches applied for membership at our annual meeting at Raymond. They report 338 members. Add to this 314 new members in the old churches, 162 of whom were bap-organize with about a dozen members. tized the past year, and the aggregate, 652, represents a good year's work. Many more churches could be organized if men and money could be had to furnish them pastors. The Home Mission Society should be very close to the great Baptist heart. It is doing a work beyond all human calculation right here in Kansas; it is doubtless as true in all the great West. grateful that so efficient a brother is secured for this important region. We have organized with twelve members at Alhambra, seven miles east of Los Angeles, and hope that a missionary pastor may be secured for this point and the fast settling San Gabriel Valley. On the 13th of November we organize a church at Redlands, seven miles from San Bernardino. Lots are secured and there is a hopeful outlook. Oh, that it were possible to put more money into the work in Southern California just now! This is a golden time to strike, as churches will rapidly become self-supporting. All the older churches, if we except Banning, which has never had a resident pastor, decide to dispense with missionary aid, but new churches call loudly, and with the determination-which we insist on as a principal-of not calling for a babe's portion more than one or two years at the outside. Our churches feel warmly towards our beloved Home Mission Society, and more will be done for Home Mission collections, as you will find in the future. Would that it were possible for you to see the tide of increase, and the grand possibilities for the Baptists to regain position and prestige lost years ago. It may be possible that during the winter individual members of the New York Board may come this way and see for themselves the opportunies of the hour." WASHINGTON, D. C.-That our help in mission work at the Capital of the Nation has not been in vain is seen by the following paragraph, which we take from the correspondence of our religious papers. Brother Ellyson is maintained in part by the Society. The Anacostia Baptist Church is the wonder among Baptist missions in this section of the country at least. In less than four years, under the pastoral care of Rev. O. Ellyson, the little faithful and courageous band of Baptists living in that vicinity, who very recently came into church life, have erected and nearly, if not entirely, paid for a beautiful and suitably located house of worship, secured other desirable church property, and have increased their membership in the meantime quite as rapidly as is conducive. to the permanent prosperity of the church. This church is located in the midst of an intelligent and enterprising community, and with the eastern branch of the Potomac, nearly a mile wide, between it and the western section of Washington, it has the whole of the eastern section of the District, so far as the other Baptist churches are concerned, to itself; and we see no reason why Brother Ellyson and his colaborers may not push their lines far out into the country east and southeast of Anacostia and establish the Baptist cause among the people living in those populous regions. WASHINGTON, D. C.-Rev. W. B. Johnson, who, in addition to his teaching in Wayland Seminary, has the charge of a church, sends good news of the interest in his church. "A glorious revival is in progress at my church. We have nearly sixty inquirers and a large number of converts; besides the spiritual interest, we are doing well financially, having raised nearly $2,000 for my new building this year, and $1,000 incidental expenses. The Seminary opened with great promise. The First Washington and Mt. Bethel Associations en dorsed the Seminary, for the first time since our troubles, etc. Several young men of piety and influence from the District churches are at the Seminary, which shows a change in popular opinion.” VICTORIA, B. C.-Rev. Walter Barss, who, during about five years' labor at this important point, succeeded in building a fine house of worship, gathering a large congregation and adding many to the church, has these good words to say as he leaves the church for an Eastern field where the strain upon his ener The church was aided gies will not be so severe. from the Missionary and Church Edifice Funds. "What the church owe to the Home Mission Society can never be expressed in words. I think the brethren do realize to some extent their indebtedness, and have been liberal in giving to home mission work according to their ability. I have plainly stated to the brethren that they should not apply for further aid from the Society, and such was the understanding when I left. But I trust that you will at least keep that amount ($500) on the British Columbia field. The work is really deeply encouraging, and I feel that in view of what the British Columbia churches are as a factor in the Puget Sound Association, all help should not be withdrawn." SCHOOLS. ATLANTA BAPTIST SEMINARY.-Dr. Graves says: "The Seminary has opened very hopefully. A larger number of students than ever before, I think, during the first month, have entered. The new professors are well received by the students, and more than usual earnestness is manifested in study." JACKSON, COLLEGE, MISS.-President Ayer reports a good attendance and much interest. The young men's workshop is nearly completed. The industrial work will be conducted by assistance derived from the Slater Fund. The most of the students are near twenty years of age, and quite a percentage of them above twenty. BISHOP COLLEGE, MARSHALL, TEX.-President Culver writes: "We have two more than were reported for October last year. I think the character of our students never stood higher than now, and, of course, the school is moving on pleasantly. I think I have reason to look for a prosperity not surpassed, perhaps not equalled, by that of any other year. We have, I think, the good will of both white and colored people, so far as the school is known, throughout Texas, Northern Louisiana, and Southern Arkansas. "I am saddened at the loss of our dear Brother Marston. His genial presence always brought sun opens with more students than were enrolled at any time last year. So far as I can judge, the year opens with more than usual enthusiasm and promise. Never was the wisdom of the Society's educational work more apparent than now. May the Lord multiply friends and means." shine when he came. He met me, when I first came here, as a brother, and as time went on our acquaint- | ance ripenened into intimacy, and he was truly a brother beloved. He was wise in counsel, and an indefatigable worker in the Christian cause. No man living has done so much to put in operation those lines of activity, educational, moral, and religious, The seminary has been favored in the gift by among the colored Baptists of the Southwest, which Mrs. Gault, of Baltimore, of a large part of the library are now raising them to a higher and better civili- of her late husband, Rev. J. E. Gault. These valuzation, as Dr. S. W. Marston. The amount of workable books will be a memorial to him in the city where he did here can hardly be understood by Northern | he was born. people. Suffice it to say the influence of what he did will survive and continue past all possible calculation. Surely his works do follow him, and when the sum mons came to him to come up higher,' I have no doubt he listened to the approving words, Well done.'" SELMA UNIVERSITY, ALA.-Rev. Chas. L. Purce, November 1st, says: "We have now enrolled 201 students. Our few teachers are very crowded, and if students continue coming in as they do, we will have more than we can manage. There is nothing to keep us from leading the State, if we only had the accommodations and facilities necessary." WAYLAND SEMINARY, WASHINGTON, D. C.-Rev. S. H. Greene, pastor of the Calvary Church, Washington, sends the following note about the dedication of the enlarged chapel: "I have spent most of the afternoon at Wayland Seminary in attendance on the reopening of the enlarged chapel, or Coburn Hall,' as it has been named. Addresses were made in the following order: Rev. S. H. Greene, Rev. F. M. Ellis, D. D. Recorder Trotter, and Rev. N. J. Wheeler. A colored pastor from Leesburgh, Va., made a short talk a student happily represented the student element, Rev. Robert Johnson, of the Fourth Colored Church of the city, gave an address, and the exercises concluded with prayer by Rev. Harvey Johnson, of Baltimore. "The audience filled the large room entirely, and the occasion was every way creditable to all concerned. The enlargement was a necessity, and the plan seems to have been well executed. The school INDIAN UNIVERSITY, MUSKOGEE, I. T.-Rev. D. Crosby gives his very favorable first impressions of the work at the Institution with which he has become identified. "One month has passed since we began the year's work. It has been a month of honest and effective work. Seventy-four students have entered this year; more than ever before since the school came to this place, and quite a number more than ever before at this time of year. We have eight young men studying for the ministry. They are fine, reliable, and working Most of them, I think, preached during young men. their summer vacation. 'Nearly all the seventy-four students are boarders, and hence come from a distance, East, West, North, and South. Nearly all are young men and women. "Our corps of teachers are earnest and are doing good work. Professor Bacone is very successful as a manager. I never saw a school under better discipline. Mrs. Crosby, who has had a long experience in teaching, says the same. Visitors from different parts of the Territory say this is the best school in the Territory. "Our Sunday school and preaching services on Sunday are well attended. Some of the citizens in the neighborhood are coming in to our services. I have only just begun to make religious calls; my hands have been so full of daily work that I could not do much in this direction. Hope I may be able to do more in the future. 'We both are pleased with the work, enjoy it better than we expected." INDIAN UNIVERSITY.-President Bacone says: "The Indian University has opened with a much larger number of students than usual. The prospect is that all our rooms will be filled. We shall crowd closely before we turn any away. "The students for the ministry have returned much improved for their summer's work. I believe they have done faithful Christian work among their people during the vacation, and their experience has seemed to make them stronger and more zealous." UTAH.-Rev. Dwight Spencer, writing from Salt Lake City, October 10th, states that "The schoolhouse has cost $3,735-74, so that I have had to raise $735.74 instead of $500. In addition to this 1 have raised $500 for improving church property. It is all fenced in now, and everything made secure." THE RESPONSES. The responses to the proposition to secure $10,000 by early spring, are beginning to come in. We must have this money by the first of April in order to begin the erection of twentyfive chapels as soon as the weather moderates, so that work can begin. Responses have come from several sections of the country, and we have now about $3,000 secured. We wish the names of seventy more individuals and churches to complete the hundred subscribers of $100 each. With this amount we shall be well provided for our spring work. Without it our work must suffer greatly. The amounts can be paid in any time before the first of next April, but we ought to have the names as soon as possible, so that our missionaries in the West can arrange to have work begun as soon as the winter clears away. Brother pastors, help us this once. Address, O. C. POPE, Superintendent, Church Edifice Notes. -In Kansas fifty-seven white churches have been organized within the last year, and these must have houses of worship or they will die out. We pray the Master to send laborers into the harvest, and the laborers go out into the new settlements, gather together the scattered Baptists, organize the children into Sabbath-schools, and baptize the new converts; but much of the labor is lost when these little flocks are unable to obtain a church home. In one western State, where the people are flocking from every quarter of the globe, fifty-seven churches were organized in one year. These churches will grow and strengthen and permeate the entire communities in which they are located, if they can be helped in their infancy to obtain a house of worship, where the people may be invited to come, and where the children may be gathered in Sunday school. Left without further assistance they must eke out a feeble existence for awhile, and many of them droop and die. Fifty-seven new churches in one State during one year! What shall we do about it? It is impossible for these new churches in frontier settlements to obtain houses without aid. It is impossible for the few older and better settled churches in Kansas to help all the new churches. They are looking with anxious eyes and throbbing hearts to the Home Mission Society for help. Shall they look in vain? Baptists of the East can answer the question in the negative by remem.bering our Church Edifice work and sending contributions designated for this department. More laborers are needed in the harvest, but it is almost useless to reap the grain and leave it exposed to depredation and loss, unhoused and uncared for. -As we walked toward the beautiful new chapel in Osage, Iowa, where the State Convention recently held its sessions, the good pastor said, "We could not have built this house without the aid of the Home Mission Society. As soon as it was known that we could get help, not only were our own people encouraged and filled with enthusiasm, but the townspeople took hold and helped us. One Methodist brother came forward with $500, and the house was completed and paid for. Now we are prospering." Thus it is that with a little help as an encouragement, a live missionary or pastor can bring his own people up to their very best, and can go with a confident heart before the people of the community. -There is only one Baptist house of worship in the entire State of Nevada containing over 60,000 inhabitants, and that house was built through the aid of our Church Edifice Department. With only one Baptist house in a whole State is there not need of our Church Edifice work? Some of the other States and Territories are but little better off than Nevada, and yet the tide of population is pouring into these States and Territories. We must enlarge our work. -The Home Mission Society has assisted by donations in erecting seventy-one houses of worship in Kansas in five years, but then churches are being organized in the new towns at the rate of over fifty a year. We ought to double our church building work in Kansas; but to do so our resources must be doubled by increased contributions to our Church Edifice Department. Have you or your church given anything to the Society for this special work? -At the recent sessions of their State conventions, Kansas agreed to raise $1,000 for the Church Edifice work of our Society, Iowa will raise $1,000, and Nebraska $500. Minnesota has promised $1,500, and has paid in over one-third of it. If the older and richer States would do as well in proportion to the number of Baptists, our treasury would soon be full and our mission fields would soon be supplied with chapels. If the pastors in our older States could see, as we have seen during the past month, the great needs of these new States and the efforts they are making to supply these needs, we believe that before the first of January they would induce their churches to send a contribution designated for Church Edifice work. -We have now on file forty-nine applications from needy churches, asking help to build houses of worship. There are many others equally needy and worthy, who will have their applications in at an early day. What shall we say to these churches? We have provided for the erection of thirty chapels by the liberal response to our appeal for $12,000 last summer, but how shall we help these needy cases now |