Kankakee, Vera, Minonk, Pekin, Baileyville, Ill.; Higginsville, Mo.; Kossuth, Baraboo, Wis.; Detroit, Montague, Mich.; Minnetrista, Minn.; Burlington, Iowa; Dayton, Cleveland, Ohio; Newport, Ky.; and Cedar Hill, Texas.

I omit the names of the founders and aggressive workers because the greater part of them prefer to make history, leaving to those that may come hereafter to note their place in our record of development and progress.

In 1862 A. Henrich was elected editor of Der Sendbote. In 1865 the first of our Triennial Conferences was held at Wilmot, Ont. A basis for united action of all our churches was happily adopted. Our Publication Soci ety was organized, and P. W. Bickel and K. A. Fleischmann were elected Editors.

In 1867 our well-beloved brother, K. A. Fleischmann, was suddenly removed by death at the age of fifty-five years.

In 1870 the American Baptist Home Mission Society entered upon a system of cooperation with our Conferences, East and West, with the most happy mutual results. G. A. Schulte was elected by the Eastern Conference as General Missionary, in which capacity he labored for three years, organizing churches at Sebastapol, Ont., and Scranton, Pa., and stimulating all the churches in mission efforts.

In general, this decade was one of trial and anxiety, upon which I will not dwell. Marvellous are the intricacies of a depraved soul. More marvellous is the dealing of that overruling Providence which can make one who is blind, hold the light for the safe guidance of the upright; that can cause a leper to advise men how to care for their lives. The admonition of our blessed Lord is

ever appropriate: "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing; but inwardly they are ravenous wolves."Matt. 7:15.

It was during this decade that I, leaving Lewisburg, where I was then a student, came to Williamsport for a brief holiday. There was a sick chamber in this town in which one of God's dear children lay confined for many weary weeks before her triumphant spirit entered into heavenly rest. Her windows were open toward the hills. Shall I ever forget how, stretching forth her thin, pale hand, she repeated the words in Isaiah

54: 10: "For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but My kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of My peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee." It was the everlasting comfort of all in our Zion amid dire but transient calamity.

1871-1881.

During the fourth decade four new States were entered. Massachusetts-Boston, 1878. Nebraska-Shell Creek, 1873; Platteville, 1879; Glenville, 1880. Dakota-Scotland, 1875; Mile Creek and Big Stone, 1880. Oregon-Bethany, 1878.

Churches were planted at Tonawanda and Syracuse, N. Y.; Scranton, Pa.; Bloomington, Ill.; Wausau, Wis.; St. Paul, Minn.; Elgin and Rock Falls, Iowa; Meriden, Conn.; Hillsboro, Kans.; and Houston, Tex. Total of new churches organized in this decade, forty two, against twenty-nine in the previous decade.

New measures were adopted. In 1872 H. M. Schäffer was elected as our second Professor at Rochester.

In 1873 J. C. Haselhuhn was made General Missionary for the Western States. E. J. Deckmann and H. Trumpp labored as such in our Conference during the decade.

In 1876 the Ontario churches organized an independent Missionary Union.

In 1878 J. C. Haselhuhn became Editor of our Publication Society, and the Sendbote was published weekly.

1881-1891.

A decade of marked progress. Eightyfive new churches. California and Manitoba added to our list. Churches established at San Francisco, Los Angeles, Winnipeg, New Tulscha, Edenwald, Langenberg. In the older States in the cities of Minneapolis, Minn.; Kansas City, Mo.; Leavenworth, Topeka, Kans.; Beatrice, Neb.; Madison, Dak.; Coal City, Ill.; Bridgeport, and New Britain, Conn.

In 1883 all the Conferences united in our home mission work, and the General Secretary was elected.

In 1884 J. S. Gubelmann was elected Professor at Rochester, with A. J. Ramaker and L. Kaiser added to the Faculty in 1889 and 1890. Within the year past three new buildings have been erected for our German De

partment, which thus is placed on a fair working basis.

In 1886 our new hymn-book, "Die Glaubensharfe," was published.

ed before even a strip of matting was laid in the aisles. Some of us can remember when it was a novelty to find a carpeted room in a minister's home. The meagre salary, and

There were false teachers, whose ready utterance brought them into positions of influence for a while. There were erroneous notions regarding the pastor's salary, the introduction of choirs and instrumental music. There was opposition against women taking part in the prayer-meetings, and even Sunday-school; while the question of dress and cut of the beard gave occasion for acrimonious words and idle strife.

The struggle against poverty must also be mentioned. It was a great day when the first brick edifice was dedicated by a German church to the service of God, and years pass

ship, and all that, sounds like an ancient tale to our children.

Linked with the want of necessary means was the persecution of our pioneers. I remember when the first Sunday service, led by my father, at the corner of Graham Ave. and Remsen St., Williamsburgh, was held; how umbrellas went up in that basement for protection against the stones flung by a jeering mob through the windows.

Many a Protestant church has been organized in very close proximity to the saloon. Any organization which panders to the German notion of infant sprinkling and confirmation, is given an opportunity to live. But the German Baptist, true to the principles of the New Testament, finds the world arrayed against him. The soil for his seed is hidden beneath rocks of superstition, indifference and frivolity, which, without Divine grace helping him, would speedily prove learning and enthusiasm of no account, and sooner open up a grave for his very last hope than a square foot of arable soil. Nevertheless, our fathers have succeeded, as we succeed to-day, for God is in the truth and with them that fear Him.

IV. WHAT GOD WOULD HAVE US DO.

We are to take possession of this land for Jehovah. Israel must enter Canaan, and must subdue the enemies of an eternal law.

Christ for North America, and North America for Christ, means for us to press on until the ten millions of people speaking our tongue shall own Christ and Him crucified.

We are not alone in this endeavor for possession. The forces of Roman Catholicism are intensely aggressive. The denominations of Christendom are straining every nerve to make the most of present opportunities. They know that the immigrant must be reached now. We know it also. In the noble effort to win our countrymen for Christ we will be in the front rank, so help us God.

We are to combat the powers of darkness in our land. With Joss temples on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, with the masses

bending the knee in worship of Mammon, or indulging as votaries of Gambrinus, while the better classes seem ready to accept simple education as preferable to experimental religion, we must not shun to declare the whole counsel of God.

We may find it expedient to adopt different methods from those of our pioneers The times are different. Many of the glori" ous men I have named would not meet the same happy results were they in our pulpits to-day. None of us rode a pony to Williamsport, as did Brother Fleischmann fifty years ago.

The plodding pony was good for him; the fastest locomotive is our choice. But it is the same Gospel we bear, and the same end we pursue, and the same Lord we glorify.

Shall we grieve at the change? Shall Israel mourn because the pillar of cloud and fire which led the fathers out of Egypt ceases at the border-line of a new era? The Ark of the Covenant remains. It shall divide the Jordan of new extremity; yea, following its divinely appointed advance, the walls of Jericho shall fall, and our King at last be crowned in the city set upon a hill.

Let us press onward, then, beloved brethren. Let us not tarry in discussion where the Master bids us enter the fight. What if His coming be near at hand? He knows more about that than we. We are to work for the salvation of mankind as though this world were to stand thousands of years hence; or what matter if our work be tran

sitory, and our German churches eventually become English, as in the case of our oldest one? We are not laboring for our mother tongue, dear as it ever must remain to us. Ours is a higher calling. We must seek and save that which is lost. We must win the world for Christ. He will take care of all the rest.

God will have us remain loyal to His truth. We may safely trust in it. Hence we shall not break down the wall of our city to allow the Trojan horse of questionable

amusements to enter.

We do not need the aid of a carnal world to defend our sanctuary. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is, and will remain, the power of God unto salvation. Dear old Father Gayer's dying request, to preach at his funeral from the words, "The blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, cleanseth from all sin," shall

be, as it ever has been, our declaration of the world's only hope.

Here, then, at our semi-centennial Jubilee, in view of the past with its victories, the present with its encouragements, the future with its grave anticipations, we consecrate ourselves anew, in profound gratitude and adoration, unto the cheerful, entire and lifelong service of "Him who loved us and gave Himself for us."

"Praise Him long as time shall last,
Serve Him evermore;
Blessings from Him in the past
Tell us He hath more."

Does the American Baptist Home Mission Society Americanize Germans?

BY PROF. H. M. SCHÄFFER, ROCHESTER, N. Y. At the semi-centennial celebration of the Eastern Conference of German Baptist churches of North America, it was proven beyond a doubt that German Baptists can appreciate an English service. It was most fitting that arrangements had been made for a service in the English language, and opportunity given to meet the American brethren. Such a serivice can be of great benefit to the communities in which the Conferences are held.

On this occasion a very spicy and telling missionary address was delivered by Rev. Dr. H. L. Morehouse, Corresponding Secretary of the American Baptist Home Mission Society, a much beloved brother in the Lord among German Baptists for his intelligent zeal in founding and fostering churches which make it their specific business to labor for souls among the millions of foreigners who dwell in our land. His address startled some of our more conservative brethren with facts and arguments for undertaking greater things for God among the Germans. We Germans are slow by nature to arrive by consecutive steps of thinking at encouraging conclusions. It takes an American, with an outside view of things, to tell Germans that they are doing something and have begun to be somebody, and point out what they might do if they entertained a hopeful aspect of facts before all eyes.

Among other things, he said the German

Baptists were already feeders of Englishspeaking churches; that while our Conference statistics put the number of German Baptists at about 16,000, it ought to be, as a matter of fact, 25,000, since certainly about 9,000, including their immediate offspring, could be shown to have found a home in English-speaking churches, many of whom were men of power and influence for good. Two pastors of the Conference, who labored for twenty-five years with the same church

on

one of our oldest missionary fields, somewhat doubtful that the Americanizing influence of our Baptist missionary work was so potent a factor in evangelizing efforts among Germans, but at the same time ready to verify this statement if it could be shown to be true, took pains to study this side of the work that our German Baptist missions are doing. After one hour's inquiry as to the whereabouts of former members on their field, while simply relying on their memory, without having any list of membership before them, they came to the conclusion that the figure given by Dr. Morehouse was, if anything, an underestimate.

They could, in covering a period of only twenty-five years, put their fingers upon fifty male members, men who had formerly been useful in German churches, but who had become subsequently, with their sons, prominent and influential members of English-speaking churches, many of whom, if their names were mentioned, would at once be recognized as such by many who knew them years ago. They have been residing for years in all parts of the country-in Omaha, San Francisco, Chicago, Milwaukee, Buffalo, New York, Jersey City, in Texas and Colorado-some having become prominent business men; one has built one of our larger city church edifices almost exclusively with his own means, and one being very useful for years in occupying the position of an officer of a public trust of an important Baptist benefaction; two who are at present successful pastors, quite a large number being deacons and trustees of leading churches in the East-all of them are useful in all manner of labor of love, and showing zeal and energy in many good

causes.

The names of the men and of the churches, and all these facts, can be given to any one who wishes to know particulars.

In addition to these, twenty-five other male members could be mentioned, from the same German mission field, who during these twenty-five years have found a home in English-speaking churches. And certainly it would seem perfectly fair that if the female portion of the families of the above male members be taken into account, it would not be putting figures too high, if these and other single females, and widows with their children, were added, to say that within twenty-five years one German mission field has given to the American Englishspeaking churches 300 members.

Now, if four other important posts in German missionary labor of the East were searched, a similar showing could no doubt be made. This would make 1,500 members who have passed from German Baptist churches into the American churches in the Eastern Conference alone. If the less populous districts of German missionary labor were examined, we would find places where feeble German Baptist churches have become extinct, and the membership, with their descendants, have largely passed over into the English sister churches. Here places like Alexander, N. Y., Yorkville, N. Y., Long Island City, Staten Island, Breslau, L. I., New Brunswick, N. J., might be mentioned, where about 200 might be found in American churches. Besides these, there are at present within the boundaries of the Eastern Conference a number of English-speaking churches, no longer in fellowship with the Conference, of which some are as yet almost exclusively, others largely, constituted of German Baptists and their children, and some English-speaking churches which were organized by brethren and sisters formerly members of German Baptist churches. Such are the churches of Warrensville, of Lycoming, of Allentown, the Second Church of Williamsport, Pa., the church of Pedrickton, N. J., and of Linden, N. Y., a church in which, about three years ago, twenty-two were baptized, all of whom were children of German Baptists, whose parents were, thirty years ago, under the pastoral care of the same pastor who is writing these lines. In these churches at least 300 German Baptists could be found.

The membership of all the many less prominent fields of German missions in many of the Atlantic States, having passed

over into English-speaking churches, could justly be put at 500. Adding to this the 500 of the above-named churches whose lan guage has changed within twenty-five years, and the 1,500, the result of the labors in the five larger German churches, a total of 2,500 English-speaking Baptists appear in our American churches, won for our work by German missionary laborers only in the Atlantic States.

If the Central, the Northwestern, the Southwestern and the Texas Conferences, with their immense territory and teeming millions of Germans, within whose borders there are a number of German Baptist churches for over forty years, were looked over carefully, a like showing of feeding American churches by German missionary labor could be made. One German pastor in the East is acquainted personally with members formerly connected with German churches in the East, who are at present, or have been, or whose sons are, a power for good in English-speaking churches in San Diego, Cal.; Creston, Iowa; Madison, Wis.; Columbus, Neb.; St. Louis, Mo.; Bloomington, Ill.

If we had kept trace of the whereabouts of all members, and if search were made, the four younger Conferences might easily be put down on an average with a membership of 1,500 each, having bridged the dividing line of language; thus the number having become initiated into American churches would count up to fully 8,500.

America has become great and strong and rich by immigration of Teutonic races. New life and vigor is being put daily into our great commercial enterprises by German productiveness. New German blood fused into the Christian churches of our New World swell the strength of Christ's kingdom. The time is coming much faster than many think, much faster than is desirable, in view of the success of German missions, when German Christians cease laboring among their own countrymen. Oh! that the hearts and the hands of the faithful laborers among Germans might be strengthened; that proper privileges might be furnished for small beginnings in our populous German districts; that our small, struggling German churches might have proper meeting-houses; and that the German missionary might be equipped properly for the work of saving his countrymen; and that he

and his family might find proper support in his self-denying labors !

If the Home Mission Society could carry out its aims, what great results would be shown at the first centennial of the First German Baptist Conference in the way of English-speaking churches which have sprung up in all parts of the land as the fruit of the labor of the German missionary!

One hundred thousand children of German Baptists in English-speaking Baptist churches is the least figure which at that time must naturally be expected!

Help the Society to labor for such results.

Jubilee Meeting of German
Baptists.

The German Baptists have just closed a series of grand Jubilee meetings. Fifty years ago, among the hills of Lycoming County, Pa., Rev. Konrad A. Fleischmann organized the first German Baptist church of North America. Mr. Fleischman had been sent to America by the celebrated George Müller, of Bristol, England, to preach to the thousands of Germans who were coming to America in such large numbers. After spending a short time in Newark, N. J., he commenced work at Reading, Pa.; but hearing of the large numbers of Germans settled in Lycoming County, he rode out to them on a pony, preaching the Gospel with much acceptance, baptizing large numbers of persons, whom he organized into three churches.

It was at Anthony Township, Pa., where the first church was organized, in 1841, and the Jubilee was held with the German Baptist church at that place.

It was held as a part of the Eastern German Conference, which met in the German Baptist church of Williamsport, Pa., September 16th to 20th. It was, we believe, the best attended Conference ever held.

The introductory sermon was preached Wednesday evening, September 16th, by Rev. W. Ritzmann, of Bridgeport, Conn., from the text, "For the love of Christ constraineth us." It was a very able discourse. Thursday morning the Conference met for business. Rev. L. H. Donner, of Pittsburg, Pa., was elected Moderator, and the letters from the churches were read. The Confer