melon is good to begin a breakfast with." So we thought in our trip to the Pacific Coast and up to Alaska that the tour of the great lakes from Buffalo to Duluth would be good to begin with. The writer uses the plural "we" for two reasons. First, he will thereby avoid the egotistic suggestions of the too frequently occurring "I," and, second, justice to his "better half," who by her presence more than doubled the pleasure of the journey, requires it. Six days on the steamer "Japan," with gentlemanly officers, good company, good fare, and good weather, convinced us that we had made no mistake.

From Duluth westward, by Northern Pacific express, we speeded two days and two nights through the forests of Minnesota, the wheat fields of Dakota, the bad lands of Missouri, and the almost interminable stretches of Montana. Saturday afternoon brought us to Livingston. Here, contrary to the usual custom of travellers in the West, we had arranged to spend Sunday for rest and worship.

On inquiry, we learned that there were two churches in the town: a Congregationalist and a Methodist. It caused us a twinge of pain to be told that there was no Baptist church here. Livingston claims a population of 3,000, and sustains, we were told, thirty saloons. In the morning we attended worship with the Congregational church. This body has a neat meetinghouse, a comfortable parsonage, and a missionary pastor. The number in attendance on this beautiful Lord's Day morning did not exceed forty.

receive good wages; one of them in "Paradise Valley," so called. This valley is situated in the cañon of the Yellowstone, where that river issues through the gate of the mountains on its distant course to the Gulf of Mexico. But in morals and religion it seems to us that the valley should be called "Paradise Lost," and that it needs to be "regained." This we infer from the fact that the trustee who hired the teacher told her that if she intended to read the Bible or pray in the school, she could not have it, as no such nonsense would be tolerated. However, as the people like to have their children sing, she ventured to sing the "Lord's Prayer" at the opening of the school, and she has not as yet been dismissed for that pious evasion of the demands of public sentiment in "Paradise Valley." In this land of civil and religious liberty, this land whose coins bear the motto, "In God we trust," this land which God has blessed, from the common schools of this land in Western mountain cañons, as well as in Eastern cities, the word and worship of God are thrust

out.

There are, however, no restrictions on the service of the God of this world. Up to the Lord's Day which we spent in Livingston all the stores had been open for business seven days in the week. But the comparatively small number of Christians, by personal solicitation, had induced most of the merchants to suspend traffic on the Lord's Day. On that Sunday evening, when we returned home from church, the saloons and gambling dens were in full blast. Dirty playing-cards were scattered in the streets thick as leaves in autumn. If the genteel patrons of progressive euchre, and the like, could walk through this town on a Sabbath evening, they would withhold their influence from encouraging incipient gambling, and from attempting to make that respectable which is essentially vicious.

In the evening we went to the Methodist church, and found about thirty present. The pastor gave an energetic address, mainly on temperance, which seemed to have been inspired by the fact that an abandoned woman had just lost her life through the baleful influence of strong drink. As we left the church, a lady stepped up behind us, and called the name of the writer. On turning about we found she was an old acquaintance-a former member of our own church home in Elbridge, N. Y. The following day this lady, with her husband and two daughters, called on us at our hotel. The mother and her daughters are Baptists. One of them had united with the church at Bozeman, twenty miles west of Livingston, where there is There is much need that the people of God an active Baptist church, and a working Sunday should pray the Lord of the harvest to send school under the fostering care of the Home forth laborers into this harvest field; and to Mission Society. give of their substance, to aid the harvesters of Both of the girls teach school, for which they this field of great needs, and great opportu

In this town, which is neither worse nor better than hundreds of others in the broad West, there were Baptists who would rally under the leadership of a man of God, able to break to them the bread of life. Our Baptist sister earnestly requested us to write to Dr. Morehouse to

see if he could not send them such a man.

The kind of work next required is to develope benevolence.

If I were to suggest a plan, I would say it should embrace four things: First, laying aside a certain per cent. of one's income for the Lord's use; second, make such a use of it as the best wisdom God gives, indicates; third, make the offerings for the support of the church weekly, and for other purposes at stated times; fourth, keep a strict account with the Lord's treasury. God will bless and prosper such work beyond the most sanguine expectation.

IV.

Another, and not less important, work of a Home Mission church is the developing of its

Building houses, supporting pastors and pay-various talent. ing the incidental expenses of a church is not usually regarded as benevolence. And yet, to

draw the line of distinction between these and other objects to which we pay the Lord's money is not so easy as at first might be imagined. One of the most difficult features of church

work is to develope its resources so that every one will bear his or her share of the expenses of the church, and give into the treasury, for the Lord's use, "as God has prospered " them. Yet difficult as it is, it ought to be attemped. It ought to be done. To say it can be done, requires courage, yet if the first work of the Home Mission church is done conscientiously, this will be neither impossible or difficult. The way to do it is the most difficult. We suggest a method that will succeed:

1. Have a plan that will reach every member. 2. Have the plan adopted by the church. 3. Work the plan with every member. Almost any plan adopted by the church, and prayerfully, carefully and persistently worked, applying strictly business principles, will succeed-with some churches one plan, with others, another. The plan must originate with those who work it, or must commend itself to such with sufficient force to challenge their enthusiastic effort in its operation.

The plan must not, nor ought it to be, wholly voluntary. As a member of the church I have entered into solemn agreement with the other members, that I will pay my share of the expenses incurred in carrying forward the work of the church. That agreement is binding. It is not voluntary any more than the expenses of the family or of business. It is to be paid whether we feel like it or not. Let the plan cover all the work of the church : Pastoral support, incidental expenses, mission work, Christian education-in a word, all religious work in which the church statedly engages.

Churches have a 66 diversity of gifts." These are to be sought out and utilized. There is some work for all, from the oldest to the youngest. Study to find what each is adapted to do, and is moved to do, and set every one at work. Members get dyspeptic, and cross, and touchy, and jealous when they stop working for Jesus. Churches never die when at work. It is the stagnant water that becomes impure. Keep it running, and the more rapidly, the purer it becomes. So with Home Mission churches. Keep them busy as the beeThey grow by working. hives with some stimulating Christian work.

V.

A Home Mission church should work itself | into the denomination till it becomes an integral part of the same.

This can be done by connecting its work with all the great missionary and educational enterprises of the denomination.

1. By knowledge of these enterprises.
2. By gifts to these enterprises.

Many members of the Home Mission churches know very little about our great denominational societies. The writer once found some in a Home Mission church, intelligent, prosperous business men, who, after a hour's conference in their office about the Home Mission Society and its work, in presence of their pastor, who had been supported by the society for three years, said: 'Brother Baker, we never knew anything about Home Mission work before." The confession must have been very humiliating to the pastor, as it was tearfully made, and followed by a generous contribution. This is one case of many that have come under the writer's observation.

Give the members of Home Mission churches information about our great Societies, and

the various departments of work engaging the effort of the denomination, and the rule will be, liberal offerings for its support, and vital and unremitted connection with it.

In the presentation of this subject we may not have followed the order in which these various departments of the work of a Home Mission church will always be taken up. They are parts of a great whole, and mostly proceed together. But that they are essentially fundamental in the growth to self-support and efficient service, which is the object sought, is certain. Self-support should be reached at the earliest possible date, but not at the expense of neglecting the broader field of Christian effort, by teaching the Home Mission church to be narrow and selfish in its aims and work.

But it is objected, "You have said nothing about fairs, concerts, literary entertainments, Chautauqua Circles, temperance societies, third party, etc." In reply we would say: These things might be dispensed with until the church becomes self-sustaining and completes its work of winning souls. Then, if thought best by a two-thirds vote of its members, attach these parasites. I would hesitate to do it before.

NEWS AND NOTES.

Times of Refreshing.

-Rev. R. R. Williams, of Madison, Dak., has been holding meetings with excellent results. The revival is the first known in this place. He

says:

number have been brought in from an inactive
life.
We have received a few very valuable
accessions. Their influence is already felt. In
a word, I think there is a bright future for the
church at Madison."

-Rev. Geo. H. Brown, of Baker City, Oregon, has held protracted meetings for several weeks, preaching nearly every night, without help. Nine have been baptized and seven others added to the church. Several await baptism, while others are inquiring.

-Rev. Geo. T. Ellis, of La Grande, Oregon, writes:

"For eight weeks I have been holding special meetings. Rev. G. J. Burchett was with me for ten days, and rendered very valuable assistance. Rev. J. T. Moore, of Elgin, has also been with me a part of the time. We have had the most powerful work of grace that this place has ever known. I have already baptized twenty-two. Two others have been received as candidates for baptism, and a number more have signified their purpose to unite this week. The last four Sunday nights I have administered the ordinance of baptism in the presence of a crowded house. And it has exerted a mighty influence in our favor in this community. From the present indication I think we shall fully double our membership as a result of this meeting; and that this church will be self-supporting after this year. As yet, I can see no abatement of interest or power in the meeting. I am nearly prostrated with the labor and anxiety of the past eight weeks, and may be compelled to close the meeting with this week. The additions have been largely heads of families.

I am sure you will rejoice with us in the prosperity God is giving us. From being the weakchurch property, the most members, and by far est church in the place, we have now the best the greatest influence. The church is free from discordant elements, and a strong tie of Christian love binds them together in their work for Christ."

"There have been a good many truly converted and our Baptist church have been made to feel their responsibility as never before. We have baptized ten and have received three others for baptism. Besides these we expect four or five more to come soon. They are converted now, but some are hindered by husbands and parents. There is a good deal of prejudice against Baptists here, still the standing of the Baptist church in Madison is very different When I first came here we could hardly persuade any outside of the church to attend. Now, we have good congregations, not only on Sunday, but week evenings. The spiritual power is recognized by all. God has blessed us -Rev. G. S. Clevenger, of Brookings, regreatly. Besides those received by baptism a joices in the spiritual prosperity of the Church,

now.

DAKOTA. Rev. Peter Mitchell, of Park River, in a recent letter says:

"During the year on the whole field there have been nineteen baptized; fifteen of these have joined the fellowship of Park River Church, and four have united with the church at Galt."