The Congregational Telephone from Manhattan, Kansas • 2

Tho Kansas Telephone. thrown into the tub; electricity boats tho wutor, rubs, scrubs and cleanses the clothes. After being rinsed and blued, they pass into an electrio wringer, and are dried in an electric oven, and then aro ironed by electrio ironing machines. A little electric machine sweeps the carpet, an electrio thermostats will keep the house at just the right temperature. Who would not live in the good time coming when electricity will do expected to get thoir pay in tho greater freshness and variety of tho sermons which these pastors will preach after thoir return.

Sometime ago I inquirod of an aged brother he does not go to my meetingif he still attended church. Ho replied that he did occasionally, and then added, a good many don't like our preacher. I was surprised as I had understood that ho was universally acceptable nud popular. Why, said what fault do they lind with him. Well, for one thing, was privilege for Kansas to give a thousand dollars on that day to this society.

Push the envelope system thoroughly. Let our efforts in every direction bo worthy of the day, the year and the cause. J. E. Piatt, StateS.

S. Supt. A Iteeelver, not an Undertaker. The ho called "dying" of churches is made to seem a much more funeral subject than it would be if we used a better vocabulary. When a corporation organized for business purposes fails of success the business is brought to a close; a "receiver" is appointed who winds up tho affairs of tho corporation.

Everything is settled. A church is a business association. Its business is to worship the Lord, to build up the spirituality of the mombers, and, so far as may lie, bring men to tho knowledge of God. If now for any reason it fails of its end and must discontinue its work hat is wanted is not a "church executioner" but a "receiver." Tho affairs of that church need simply to be Bpeedily and honorably closed up. Thero is no corpse to bury, only a business to be settled up and discontinued.

I remember visiting a church once that was in such a condition. It had lost its building, though temporarily allowed tho use of it. There was a good Sunday school loft though men who ought to have helped in tho work had abandoned it. But the business affairs of that church were in utter disorder. There were debts unpaid, nobody seemed to care to have things straightened up.

It was evidont that the work of tbo church must come to a close. What was wanted was not an executioner but a "receiver." Most churches "die" for tho Bamo general reasons that firms go out of business. The reasons are not always dishonorable or mournful. The work is not at hand to bo done, or is of such a character that the means aro inadequate, or the workers may remove. What is needed is not a funeral but some means of having the business honorably brought to a close.

T. C. Moi'FATT. Douglass, Kan. Central Association.

information that ho has gathered in journoying over the world. And so with equal fitness and to the edification of his people, tho minister after he comes back from tho World's Fair may give point and freshness to his discourses by illustrations drawn from what he has witnessed. Apparently tho Lord Jesus made continual reference in his teachings to what ho saw as ho journeyed over the hills and plains of Palestine, and why may uot we speak of what passes under our observation, in our own country and in other lauds what we see at homo or at Chicago. May we not be pretty sure of this, that a month's visit at the World's Fair will give freshness and now iuterost to tlio preacher's discourses for a long time after if In this way tho churches who send their ministers to Chicago will get their pay. But may we not also Bay that a month's sojourn at the World's Fair will make the preacher permanently more of a man that he will gain intellectual enlargement that ho will never loso and that ever after ho will be able to perform better service in his profession and that his people will bo rewarded for sending him to Chicago, by securing for themselves an abler, more efficient and more useful minister? There aro many wonderful things in our own land, which most of us have never seen and perhaps never will like the Mammoth Cave, the Canyon of tho Colorado river, the big trees of California, the Yo Semite valley, tho Yellowstone Park.

Not many ministers will ever make anything like a thorough exploration of tho United States. Only now and then one will make a journey around the world. Most ministers, by their circumstances and duties and by their restricted means are chained to ono spot, from which they cannot wander far, unless compelled to do it to seek a now settlement. A large proportion of them will not feel justified in going to the World's Fair even, unless some extra assistance is given them; but if such assistance is received by them, the best possible substitute for home and foreign travel, a visit to the World's Fair will be within their reach. If wo cannot go into all the world, all the world will come to us in Chicago.

At least samples and courses, the faculty intend that the prescribed courses shall give every student a good training and equip, niont in all the departments of! theological education. No less work is required of students than heretofore, but it is made, more attractive. The course is not weakened, but strengthened. Along tho line oi the eloctive work is tho Seminar. This is a society for the prosecution of independent work in boiiio chosen field.

Each society is limited to ten members, meets once a week, and is under the direction of a professor. It uffords opportunity fur students and touchers to becomo better acquainted as well as opportunity to do indepon-dent work. There are to be eight of these Seminar next year, three the first term and five the second. Another important Btep, to which reference has already beon made, is tho plan for an institute of theology. It is hoped that this may become a permanent part of tho Seminary's work, and it doubtless will if our constituency support it.

The ob-ject of tho institute is to help Christian laborers, men and women, along tho Hue of scientific theological thought and methods of work. It will be a helpful thing for them to bo brought together for a few days in Chicago, to listen to, and take part in, the discussion of the living religious questions of tho hour. There will be no further expense connected with this institute than such as is necessary to dofray actual costs. The Seminary bolongs to its constituency and this institute is an attempt to help the constituency to make a good use of the Seminary. A full announcement of the institute will 1)0 found on another page of this paper.

Tho financial effort of the past year has been attended with gratifying success. About one hundred and seventy thousand dollars have been pledged toward the four hundred thousand necessary to secure Dr. Pearson's munificent offer of one hundred and fifty thousand. A very large amount is still needed, and overy friend of the Seminary is called upon to help in this hour of unique opportunity. At the meeting of tho directors on April l'Jth two new chairs were established, that of Assyriology and Comparative Religion, and that of Biblical and Systematic Theology in the Swedish department.

The gentlemen appointed to these chairs are Prof. E. T. Harper and Prof. Fridolf Itisberg.

In conclusion it may bo noted that all but seven of tho rooms in F'isk Hall have already been engaged for next yoar. The other buildings are sure to bo filled with the in our German, Swedish anil Danish-Norwegian departments. Judging from present appearances, the Seminary will urgently need a new dormitory within three years, in addition to tho students' rooms in the now chapel, which we hope to see erected in the next twelve months. OeOHOE H. GlUiEIlT, Children's Day.

Manhattan, Kas May, 1893, Monthly. Eev, R. D. PARKER, Editor. Cirns)omlin Editors.

llliV. R. OoilDLEY, D. D. Puns.

P. McYu-AB, 1). D. Rev, L. Blakksley, D.

D. Rkv, 11. M. Tunkell. PiEV, L.

P. BlIOAl). Rev. Peauhe Pinch. Rev, C.

N. Queen. Devoted to the interests of the Con grerntional churches of Kansas, CU. a yciir In ndvuiiuo. xt A florins, 8 eta, cncli.

Tho Kansas Tiii.ri'IIonr bus boon heartily adopted by tho Local and General AssoolB' tlmiHof churches or Kansas as thniroi'imn. 118 chief aim la to bo a bond of fellowship amonir tho churohes, reporting tho protrniRS of Christ's kingdom In our midst Washhuni College, mission work and Bible school work will receive special attention. Tho paper is published at so low a price that it can easily enter cvory family of our conirre. ifiit ions. All piiBtors and churches aro Invited to send condensed news of their work.

Would It Pay the Churches to Defray the Expenses of their Pastors to the World's Fair. KYtrnctH from a paper read by Hev. Arms- 1... I. .1...

I jr Mil, I llllllll III 11UI 111 Topeka, April II), 1W1 In answering tho question, would it pay tho churches to defray the expenses of thoir pastors to the World's Fair, I might say I think it would be well for them to try the experiment. However, as an honest ana canciea man i must not conceal my apprehension that if they do this with the expectation of getting the worth of their money back again with large interest, they will not received much credit on the books of Heaven. If we simply give to those irom wiiom we nope to get as much or more in return, what praise do we deserve. Publicans and sinners, the unregenerato and wicked will do that. Selfishness, though it take the form of giving away money, looked at in a large, comprehensive way, never pays.

But if the churches will send their pastors to Chicago this yoar from unselfish kindness, I think that their reward will be ample. They will have the consciousness of doing a generous act, and anything which gives that always pays. Of course any church which gives the pastor a hundred dollars to enable him to go to the World's Fair, will first pay up all the arrears of his salary. They will feel obliged to do that. If I have been owing my poor and afflicted neighbor fifty dollars for a long time, I should feel cheap to go and offer him ten dollars as a free gift.

He would much prefer to havo mo discharge the debt. Therefore, preliminary to raising funds to send their pastors to the great exhibition, the churches will wipe off past indebtedness to them; and that will bring them a largo reward. Perhaps we all know from our own experience that it is a blessed thing to have the burden of debt lifted from us by paying it off in full. The eye is brighter, the countenance more cheerful, the step more elastic, when we can say, I owe no man anything except to love him, Sometimes when churches find themselves able to remove mortgages on their houses of worship, in the exuberance of their joy they meet together, burn the mortgage deeds in tho presence of the assembly and with congratulatory speeches and music and songs full of hallelujahs they rejoice to seethe curse removed. There is grout satisfaction in getting free from debt.

Let the churches who owe their ministers try the experiment and see if I am not right in this assertion, and to the back pay lot them add a hundred dollars as a clear gift and will not their satisfaction bo large indeed. And it will heighten their satisfaction to see the wondering gladness of their pastors in receiving all this money. Joy, from whatever source it comes, is strength. The minister is tho people's servant; that is what tho word means, and he will have power to serve them a good deal hotter if they can succoed in making him joyful in doing it. A gentleman took a long walk one day with his two little nephews.

In returning in the dusk of the evening the boys were tired and wanted to be carried. He cut three sticks which they bestrode and it acted like a charm. At once their weariness vanished, and in high glee they galloped home. Let the churches give their ministers thoir back pay and the hundred dollars in addition, of which I have spoken, and it will be like mounting them on the backs of spirited horses. They will bo filled with exhilaration.

The mettle and strength of the steeds which they ride will seem to be their owu. Then they can run and not be weary; their ability to labor will be greatly enlarged. The churches who sond their pastors to the World's Fair may bo its perfect work and our wives and daughters and maids will only havo to touch little buttons and this invs. terious agent will perform all the uruugory oi the household Tor thorn. Tho church of Christ will bo brought forward in the Culnmbi.in Exposition as it never has been before.

Evory branch of tho church will have the opportunity to show wuai it nas done for the world. This is most appropriate, for ehrin. tianity alouo has made the great worms air a possibility. The civilization of tho world is the rnft nf Christ. In September there is to bo a parliament or religions at Chicago.

It is woll; lot tho claims of every tormof religion bo set forth with utmost fulness and fairness without prejudice, without partiality. uy tneir fruits ye shall know them. The religion that will most effectually cure the disease of sin in man, restore him to moral health and bring him into communion with God, is the best religion. If Buddah or Mohammod can do more than Christ in that direction, we should like to know it. Who of us has any fear that Christianity would suffer by the comparison.

Never before in the history of the world has so much been brought together that will interest and instruct as will bo seen this vear at Chicago. No class of men are hotter fited to profit by the exhibition than ministers and no class will do more to communicate to others the benefits which they receive. Another such occasion will not offer itself during the lifetime of most of ns. It is very desirable that th pastors of our churches ehould avail themselves of this opportunity. But how can they go, most of them, unless they be sent? A large proportion of them cannot enjoy the advantages of the exposition unless they receive special aid, And who will send them who will give this special aid unless it bo the people fur whom they labor? C'li h'jiiro Theological Seminary.

THE TEAll WOHK AND IMiOUKESH. The past year has been a notable one in tho history of the Chicago Seminary. In keeping with the memories of this Columbian year the Seminary has made some discoveries and entered into some new fields. It has discovered the chair of Christian sociology and has discovered a man to fill the chair. It has entered into larger possession of the field of tho-ology by means of tho elective courses and by tho establishment of seminar.

It has entered upon tho subject of seminary extension, and has laid plans for an institute of theology, to bo held in tho coming July. It has entered tho field for a larger endowmont of tho Seminary, and has already made a good beginning in this work. These are among the features that have made tho year exceptionally significant. The chair of Christian Sociology was called for by the times, and with the right man in it there can bo no doubt as to its eminent usefulness. The inaugural address of Prof.

Tay-lor on April 18th and tho work which ho has done during the year show that the directors havo made no mistake in their choice of man fortius important departmont. Prof. Taylor has the superintendence of tho Christian work of the students, which has come to be sig-nificont feature of the Seminary and an important factor in the life of Chicago. Nearly twohundred young men engaged in systematic Christian work in the needier parts of Chicago constitute an element of great power on the side of righteousness. All financial aid to students conies to them now as pay for work, not as charity.

But the evangelistic activity of tho Seminary is of course secondary to its theological training, The chief work of tho student whilo in the Seminary is study. This has been made attractive and profitable the past year by the introduction of eloctives. There have been eleven hours of prescribed work and three hours of electives each wook. Next year there will be four hours of elective work and ten of prescribed, The elective courses are open to all classes of students. A schedule of of elective work covering three years and embracing fifty-one courses of lectures has just been prepared and it is expected that students will be able to plan their elective work for the entire three years.

If a student wishes to make a specialty of exegesis, of Biblical history or Biblical theology, ho can choose nearly all his electives in these lines. So with tho other departments. But while offering these elective his answer, he is too mono-to nous, I had never heard the word accented in that way before, but I knew what ho meant. Is not that a fault into which ministers are apt to fall They are too monotonous. They repoat themselves over and over.

They live, most of them, in small com munities. They aro outside of tho stir and bustle of tho world, They soldom hear from the pulpit any voice but their own. Eloquent lecturers they do not often listen to, The Homiletio monthlies, containing the sermons of distinguished men, do not seem to help them much They could not properly use these sermons; and if it were permitted, they would not do it. I could no more preach one of Phillip Brooks Bermonsthan I could wear his clothes. They would not fit.

They would bo much too long and wide for mo. Brooks was a giaut. My own ser- raous, falling from my lips, would be much more acceptable to my peo pie, or to any people, than the ser mons of a much abler man. Is it not inevitable, moving in a limited sphere, seeing tho same objects, meeting with the same persons, reading for the most part from the same papers and tho same books from week to week, and performing the same duties from year to year, that the preacher will become some what monotonous in his preaching? Every well instructed sonbe and minister will bring forth things new and old out of his troasure house, but I fear that with us the old things are out of proportion in numbor to the new. I am well awaro that life existence itself may be called monotonous.

There is a repetition of the same seasons, the same alter nations, the same duties, the same experiences. Jjile is a constant repetition with variations, and as we optimists think with certain con tinual advances. The thing that hath been is the thing that is, and the thing that shall be essentially. The Bible is the same old book that it has been for ages, though the higher critics find out some things about it, or think that they do, which were not dreamed of in former times. Every writer who writes much, every preacher who preaches from year to year must repeat him self.

Read for the first time three or four of Scott's or Dickon's novels and then read the rest and you will have the impression that you have read them before, borne speakers speak so well that you would like to hear them say the same things again and again. A distinguished preach er of Sweden is said to have had but one sermon. When I heard John B. Gough, I always thought I should like to hear him give the same lecture the next night. I should like to hear wight L.

Moody preach his sermons again and again. But extraordinary men can do that which is not permitted to ordinary men. There must be a large element of tho new in the discourses of common speakers or the people will grow tired of them. No minister can spend four weeks in diligent sight seeing in that greatest show of the world which is to be held this year on the shore of Lake Michigan, and not gain many new ideas and now illustrations to give variety to his sermons. 1 have heard the remark made that whenever a minister makes the tour of Europe and visits Egypt and the Holy Land, ho is sure in every sermon after his return to make some allusion to what ho has seon and heard.

He will say, perhaps, "In my late tour, I was walking through the streets of London, the most populouscity of the world;" or "When I was Westminister Abbey, the last resting place of so many of the mighty dead;" or "When I was in Paris, I went one day to the Louvre, that magnificent repository of art, of pictures and statues;" or "Whenl entered St. Peter's church at Rome, that costliest and most splendid temple ever roared for tho worship of the true God;" or "As I stood beneath the' shadow of the pyramids of Egypt and remembered that Napoleon, standing in the same place, Baid to his army: 'Soldiers, lorty centuries are looking down upon you from those piles of or "As I ascended Mt. Olives;" or "As I went through the narrow streets of Jerusalem." I am awaro that ill-natured, sarcastic people will say, as they listen: "The preacher wishes to let us know that he is a traveled man and has soon a good deal of the world." But then a preacher may exhibit vanity in anv style of preaching and in the use of any class of illustrations. And surely one may with duo modesty and great propriety and to their advantage, give to his hearers some of tho Central Association met April 18-20, 1 803, with the church at North Topeka. There was a good attendance, considering the special attractions at Great Bend; twenty of the thirty-eight churches were represented; and Bn excellent program was carried out Papers were presented upon the following subjects: Phillip Brooks a character sketch; A Review of the book, "Who The Inductive Bible Studies; Would it Pay the Churches to Defray the Expenses of their Pastors to the World's Fair? Tho Institutional Church; To What Political Party in the United States would Jesus Christ Belong, if He were a Citizen Now? Free parliaments were held upon the importance of giving to the seven societies; and upon Homo Missions.

Letters of dismission to tho Northwestern Association were granted to Bros. T. V. Davies and L. II.

Piatt. Bro. Harry E. Mills presented himself for examination, and was approbated to preach for one year. Bro.

J. F. Drake spoke upon tho relation of tho pastor to the Sunday school, and Rev. E. R.

Drake addressed the Association upon the work of Foreign Missions. Supt. Broad and Evangelist Veazio were present and spoke inspiring words. We were all glad to see the encouraging outlook of tho North Topeka church, aud to witness encouraging reports from nearly every church. The next regular meeting will be held at Onaga Sept.

2(')th, 181)3. W. C. W. World's Fair Henduunrtcrs For ('(in-trrcgutioimlistH.

The University Congregational Church, of Chicago, located at the Corner of Madison Avenue aud 5(ith street, withiu four blocks of tho 57th street entrance to the World's Columbian Exposition, announces that it will make its chapel a Congregational Headquarters during the World's Fair season. The rooms of the chapel will be open to visitors, during tho World's Fuir, as a meetingplace for friends, for resting, writing, etc. Mail may bo addressed in euro of tho University Congregational church. Some one will be in attendance daily from a. m.

to 5 p.m to make visitors comfortable, and also to furnish information in regard to lodging, meals, and points of interest connected with the Exposition orthe city. This iuvitaton is cordial and heartily extended by the members of the University Congregational church, with tho hope that any one who so desire shall feel free to accept its hospitality. Will all Congregational ministers please call the attention of their congregation to the above notice. Rev. N.

I. Ritbinkam, J. uou "It is more blessod to give than receive." Pastor. to specimens of all the world will be there on exhibition. Some of us went to the Centennial in Phila delphia in 187(5, and wo met people thero from almost every part of the globe the lively, graceful, courteous Japanese, tho stolid Chinese, the swarthy Hindoo, the lithe Arab from Jerusalem with his mementoes of the Holy Land fashioned from olive wood, and representatives of all branches of the Caucasian race.

There wo found tho minerals of every country the Lapis Lazuli of Kussia, marbles and ores from everywhere. There were fabrics from France, Germany and Great Britain. There we saw the varied vegetable productions of all countries and climes. Within and around Horticultural hall all kinds of flowering plants were blooming. Machinery hall contained every kind of ma-chino, and the huge Corliss engine, which moved these machines, was a marvel.

Tho Government build ing had a thousand things in it to instruct and please. Tho Art building was filled with paintings and statues, tho largest collection of tho kind, I suppose, ever brought to gether in our land. Tho state build ings, containing the special produc tions of each state, drew crowds of visitors, and of these no one attracted larger numbers or elicited greater admiration than that of Kansas. And tho World's Fair this year is to be a reproduction of tho Centennial on a larger scale, with many additions and improvements. The world has made great progress in the last seventeen years, in science, in inven tions, in every direction perhaps.

bo far ai I enn remember, thero was no electrical display at Phili- dolphin. I do not know that so long ago as that electricity was used at all for illuminating purposes, or as the propelling force on railways. Edison build his laboratory at Menlo Park in 1870, and ever since that has been known as the man who has kept the grass from growing on the pafh to the patent office at Washington. But the Electricity building will be one of the most prominent features of the Columbian Exposition. There will bo electric pyrotechnic displays such as the world has never yet seen, which will dazzle all be holders.

According to W. T. Stead, there- is to bo an electrical model dwelling houso. You have only to touch the button and electricity does the rest. The hostess comes down to dinner, she touches a button and the dishes descend on dumb electrio waiters frcm the kitchen in the attic'.

On tho table the dishes are kept warm by wires under the table from electrio heating furnaces. Dinner over, the dishes go up on an electric elevator; in live minutes they are washed by tho electric automatic dish washer and dried by an electric dish drier. On washing day tho dirty clothes and a piece of soap aro Dear Suteiiintendent: Tho soc-ond Sabbath in Juno is now rec ognized, ho world over as a day to ue especially devoted to tho interest and instruction of tho children. Let us all fall into lino with the rest of the world in earnost effort to make it a glad and profitable day to them. Think what you can do for the benefit of tho children on that day.

Let our Sunday School rooms be decorated with tho choicest flowers and singing birds. Let a program of exercises be prepared with care, remembering the old maxim, "No excellence without lubor." Begin work early and lot every part of the program be well prepared. The Congregational Sunday School and Publishing Society havo given us most appropriate service, entitled "Our Country," especially adapted to this Columbian year. It is really excellent. Thos who used last year's exercises from our society pronouced it very interesting, and this is certainly a better ono.

Some of tho music is bright, cheery and grand. If you think other music is better adapted to your particular school than a part of this, substitute it. Samples have already beon sent you from Boston. You will find it a good exercise, and it is furnished absolutely free to all schools that will take a collodion for our society on that day. Sond to Dr.

Boynton for a sufliciont number of copies early. If you have not received a sample, send to mo at Manhattan immediately. Should we not teach our Sunday Schools the blessedness of giving for the benefit of others? Teach them to appreciate the work of the Con gregational Sunday School and Publishing Society for the neglected children of "Our Country" as well as for our church schools? Is not Children's Day a most appropriate time to make a liberal offering to this society? Encourage all to give something, those who are able, to give dimes and quarters instead of pennies, and the older ones dollars instead of dimes. It ought to bo a.