The Congregational Convention

The annual convention of the Congregational churches and ministers of Michigan began its sessions in the Congregational church of this city, Tuesday evening. The annual sermón was delivered by Rev. Moses M. Martin, of Allegan. Rev. John W. Bradshaw gave a very finished and eloquent address of welcome, during which he stated that he was glad to welcome the association to this city, that they might see for themselves the religious influences and opportunities which surrounded the students at the University. Wednesday morning, Rev. Dr. Noble, of Grand Rapids, was elected moderator, Rev. Mr. Lovell, of Flint, assistant moderator, and Rev. Mr. Marsh, of Edmore, scribe. After adopting a course of study for those preparing for the ministry, the association listened to an eloquent plea from Rev. Dr. Corwin for funds for the Chicago Theological Seminary. In the afternoon, the financial secretary reported $610.21 on hand. rhe board of trustees reported the :hurch in the state in a healthy coniition. Five home missionary ;hurches have secured houses of tvorship and five have secured parsonages; eight have enlarged, improved or extensively repaired their tiouses of worship and sixteen have snjoyed revivals of considerable power; seven home missionaries have been ordained; the average number of mifsionaries in service at any one time has been 71, and 190 churches have been statedly supplied with preaching. The report also showed the congregational church property in Michigan to be worth a million and a half, and it presented facts showing that Michigan has more congregationalists in proportion to the population than many of the self-supporting states, and was in fact an unanswerable ment in favor of a transition from iependence on the national society Eor the support of the home missioniry churches. The board recomnaended that the association undertake to raise this year $20,000 for the state 'work, also to undertake to secure by individual pledges $10,000 toconstituteajubileememorial fund, the interest only to be used for home missionary work. Prof. John Dewey read a very interesting paper on "The Relation of the Present Philosophic Movement in Religious Thought." The convention was occupied Wednesday night with the consideration of the question of home missions. It was the desire of many that Michigan should take upon herself the care of her own home missions. In the past two years the state had received $12,000 a year from the national board, besides its own contributions. On Thursday morning, Jackson was selected as the place for holding the next meeting, as the association was organized there fifty years ago. Rev. W. H. Davis, of Detroit, was selected to preach the annual sermon next year. The committee on necrology reported five ministers who died in the past year. The first Sunday in November was set apart for contributions in all the churches towards the $100,000 fund for the care of disabled ministers. Yesterday afternoon, the convention decided to take upon the state the care of its own home missions and a committee of five were selected to devise means of raising the additional money needed. President Angelí addressed the convention on "Methods of Increasing the Efficiency of our Churches." The Woman's Home Missionary Union of the Congregational church met yesterday, fifty unions being represented. The treasurer's report showed Í5, 340-41 raised by the Union during the year, an increase of L300 over last year. The young people had raised $1,213 during thj year.