Clay Center District News from Clay Center, Kansas • 1

lm. Center Distk VOL. 2. CLAY CENTER, KANSAS, SEPTEMBER 1908, NO. I.

THE CLAY CENTER DISTRICT NEWS Authorized by the Clay Center District Conference of the Methodist Episcopal church. Published Quarterly by the District Superintendent, William C. Hanson and Pastors: W. H. Layton, Axtell; E.

W. Wilcox, Barnes; J. P. Youngman, Beattie; J. C.

Wilson, Blue Rapids; M. Jackson, Broughton; E. li. Brown Centralia; John Endacott, Clay Center; Thos. McConnell, Clifton; B.

P. Parlett. Exeter; J. M. Newton, Frankfort; H.

T. Davis, Green; E. L. Geyer, Greenleaf G. M.

Veael), Haddam; J. A. Rousey, Havensville; D. It. Laport, Hanover; R.

Gano, Ir.ving; W. E. Jenkins, Leonard-ville; A. S. Clark, Linn; A.

B. Shepherd, Mahaska; C. W. Talmadsre, Marysville; H. H.

Fowler, Mort'anville; Pred Boyer; Morrowville; P. P. Otto, Oketo; Thos. Klutz, OLsburtr; P. E.

Ryerson. Onasra; A. L. Tainter, Randolph; J. B.

Carder, Soldier; J. E. Goins, Surnmerlield; J. A. McClellan, Vermillion; J.

W. R. Clardv, Washington; G. P. Ream, Waterville; J.

15. Gibson, Westmorland. success of the will largely depend upon the doing of those things before the third quarter ends. 1. Plans For Kcdval.

"Whether the meeting is held during this quarter or later in the year the preparation for it should not be delayed. Plans should be matured, details provided for, personal workers' bands organized and 'trained, the privileges and responsibilities of prayer urged. 2. Tlio lieawvoleiioas. The subscriptions for the benevolence should never he left until the1 last of the year.

There should be faithful presentation of each of the great causes. Literature should be procured and wisely distributed. Write to the Societies for 'literature, Entered as Second-Class matter at the post-office at Clay Center, Kansas, under the act of Congress of March 3, 1879. Subscription Ten Cents a Year. eye.

I hear the father whistling a religious tune while "doing" his chores; I see him comes in, jesting with his wife as he passes through the kitchen, patting his daughter on the cheek, and giving me a cordial welcome. He opens his mail, joy lights up his face as hs reads a letter which he hands to me. I join ill the happiness. It begins, "My Dear Father and Mother." It tells of this Yale son's embarking; his plans for the voyage; his eager, joyful Anticipation of the delights before hin; his interest in the affairs at home; his wish that they could take the trip instead of and closes, "Your Loving Son." Then this farmer-father tells me once more the story of his leaving his native land; his early struggles; his great satisfaction in his home, the school, the church, his neighborhood, this country of ours, and his dear boys, and his gratitude to Almighty God, his Father, for His goodness Do you wonder 1 delight to call him "one of my choice friends?" Do you suppose any of the money kings recently figuring in disgraceful revelations of greed and graft were, or over can be, so happy as he? And is not his a successful life, and is not theirs a miserable failure? The secret of this happy, successful life is not remote nor hidden; and we. can be equally successful and happy in our respective spheres in life; for the same sources and conditions are within our easy grasp.

The homely virtues, faithfulness, fidelity, industry, integrity, honesty, piety, reverence, perseverance, patience cheerfulness, constantly and consistently practiced, are sure to bring their votaries safe on the winning side of a successful and happy life. A BRIEF FOR MY STUDENTS ONE OF MY CHOICE. FIJI ENDS. (President L. II.

Murlin.) He was born in a foreign land: a soldier in an unsuccessful war for freedom, he and his wife came to America and rented forty acres of Kansas prairie. He could not speak a word of English, and did not have a dollar to his name. But the sod-houso in which he lived was a palace, for he was now living in Freedom's land. He is a believer in education. Soon school house appeared but a short distance from his home, and he-has been "school director" for twenty years; he is a believer in the Bible, a Sunday School was organized in the little school house, and he has been superintendent for seventeen years.

The preacher is always welcome to his home. I dedicated a church, recently, only a mile from his house. lie believes in the home; sweetness and light abide there; music and pictures abound; books are therea standard general history, Just at this time, we hope that preachers and laity will give this phase of Christian endeavor the earnest consideration it deserves in the Clay Center District. We believe that the preachers are doing this very but cannot speak so much for the laity. What is Personal Evangelism? It is nothing more nor less than winning souls owe by one to the Master in His name, always in His name.

It is doing definite Christian work with individuals talking to them one by one about their souls. How is this work to be done? Work and pray, pray and work. A part of the work is, first, to find your unsaved, individual, then lay his case before the Lord. Add others to your prayer list as you go along. Second, prepare for the work' (a) by daily Bible study, (b) by reading the best books on "Personal Evangelism," (c) by following some definite course of instruction.

To organize a class, follow suggestions of T. S. Henderson, "Win One." For study, "Studies for Personal Workers," Howard Agnew Johnston, 40e. For reading and reference, Individual Work for Individuals, 40c (H. C.

Trumbull); Had ley of Water Street, $1.25 (J. Wilbur Chapman); The Passion for Souls Jowett) Per-so aal Wo rker ompan io Terr ey All of these may be secured from our Book Concern. Who is to do the work? Not the preachers alone, but Sunday School superintendents, Sunday School teachers, Epworth League officers and members of the Church and League. If every pastor iu Clay Center district had just five personal workers whom he could depend to assist during revival effort at the altar and in the inquiry room and who would do earnest personal work outside of special meetings, our membership could be almost doubled In two years. We appeal to the laity of the Methodist Episcopal church of Clay Center District to rally to our support.

You can do this work. You must do it. The cause of Christ is at stake. You who are the elect of God, awaken out of sleep. Souls are dying and no hand to save.

Souls aro drifting downward-and none to help. Be a volunteer today. Go anil win some soul. Stay with that sou until it has found the Christ. Then go win mother and another.

"Go work today in my vineyard. Respectfully. J. A. McClellan, Dist.

Sec. Win One Circle. envelopes, Use the district Missionary. Secretary. If you fear that you may not be able to meet your apportionment in full, write to the District Superintendent and District Missionary Secretary at once.

The pastors who desire the services of a returned missionary, or a series of illustrated lectures on mission lands should provide for them soon. Title District Superintendent will be glad to arrange an itinerary If the brethren will write without delay. The appeal of the Board of Foreign Missions should find a response in every, charge. Each of th thirty pastors should send at once lit "iuutt fifteen dollars quite a "number can send more to the treasurer this month and help avoid the deficit that threatens because of the money panic which swept through the eastern part of the country. Surely th burdened secretaries can depend upon u.

3. Subscriptions to the Central. The pastors have received the "Announcarftent Extraordinary" sent out by th publishers of th Central Central Christian Advocate. Fifty cents for th balance of this year. It is a surprising offer.

The Central was never so good as now. Send a big, list in now. Order a lot of sample copie and push the campaign. DO IT NOW. 4.

Tlio District Conference. It will be held at Loonardville, Oct. 2 7-2 9. The program i fine. The (business is important.

Can't' we have a fine delegation of the laymen? Pet busy now in working up a fine delegation from your charge. Tho Salary Claims. In some places the stewards have been taking it easy. In the meantime the. preacher has been compelled to get along without the money that he has needed and which belongs to him.

During the third quarter every dollar of the salary should be provided for. During the third quarter the stewards should find out where every dollar needed to pay the preacher up in full to the end of the year is goin to come from. MISSIONARY SECRETARY. Fellow Pastors: The conference year is half gone. Each of us has met with disappointments.

Our congregations have not been large on account of storms Mid floods. Perhaps some are discouraged about tho outlook for your collections. Let us try to keep faith with God, see Him before talking to anyone. Pro-sent every call of the church. Shout over the victories of the Missionaries.

Then give the people a chance and Clay Center District will make a grand advance this year. The secretary would gladly visit some of the charge for week night addresses and he will be glad to confer with any of tho brethren, who may feel the need of additional help. Let us i'ot minimize our influence as pastors. Gonerou.3 faith in the people who are furnished information, pays many J. W.

It. CLAIIDY, Dist. Mis. Secretary. an atlas, a dictionary, a few works on science, standard history of iiter-ature, Shakespeare, and the Bible; not a large collection, but read thoroughly; he and his family have become people.

He now owns one hundred acres of land, part of which is the forty originally rented; a neat frame structure supplants the sod-house; on the walls vhang framed diplomas of graduation from common schools, from a nearby college, from Harvard, and one from a Yale preparatory school. The oldest boy is tutor in Harvard; he mad.9 two trips to Europe, serving as tutor in a wealthy family, instructing the boys while traveling. The Yale boy sailed last winter with a wealthy family in which he serves as tutor; he spent the winter in Greece and Italy; he continued his own studies, and passed his examination when he retur" in April. Another boy is a trusted employee in a bank in" a 'nearby town; the youngest boy, liking lh farm, they are planning to buy a hundred acres adjoining the daughter will be a student in Baker University in a year or two. Day after day the vision of this happy family floats before my mind's MAV PASTOR AT KEATTIK.

Bishop- McDowell has transferred Rev. J. F. Youngman from the Missouri Conference and appointed Eiim pastor at Beattie. Brother Youngman is a Kansas young man highly recommended, and anticipate for him and his ifr mi--cessful pastorate at Beattie, Howe City and Hattan.

Tilings That Ought lie Done. With the middle of September the District Superintendent will begin the third scries of quarterly meetings. There are a number of matters that ought to receive special attention during the next three months. The PKILSOXAL 13VANGELISM. The subject of Personal Evangelism is receiving special attention ly preachers and laity everywhere..