line of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul R. R., is the thriving little town of Plankinton. Right in the heart of one of South Dakota's rich farming counties, it has enjoyed a rapid and substantial growth since its founding in 1881. When the writer passed through there in the fall of 1881, there were but four or five rude buildings to be seen. Now there are stores and shops and dwellings enough to accommodate the more than one thousand people who have come to make their home there. The people, as in all these Dakota towns, are wide-awake and enterprising. The two churches, Congregational and Methodist, with their substantial meeting houses and fine congregations, witness to the value placed upon religious institutions.

The newest enterprise here is the Plankinton Academy, under the leadership of Rev. R. H. Battey, pastor of the Congregational church. This school was opened last fall, with Mr. W. B. Pinkerton, a graduate of Grinnell College, as Principal. Although the winter has been a hard one, the enterprise has proved so far successful as to warrant an advance, looking toward permanency. Accordingly, on the 9th of March, in response to a call issued by the acting Board of Trustees, there gathered representatives of three or four neighboring churches, with members of the Plankinton church and community, for the purpose of organizing an Academy Association, a necessary step in Dakota, toward incorporation. The Association formed, the old Board of Trustees was declared elected, and they will at once perfect the incorporation, and the youngest of academies will be fully equipped for legally doing business. Steps are being taken toward building and raising an endowment.

On Wednesday morning, in spite of zero weather and strong south wind, four loads of ministers and delegates were headed to the northwest, taking what advantage they could of the wind as helping them on toward the Cole school-house, fifteen miles away, whither they had been summoned by letters missive. The Council was called to advise concerning the organization of a church, and, if deemed advisable, to assist in the organization, and to recognize it as a Congregational church. The school-house is in a purely farming region, fifteen miles from any post-office. So many were the Christian people here that they have sustained almost from the beginning of settlement, one, and some of the time two, Sunday-schools. For a few weeks previous to the meeting of the Council the people had been greatly revived, and there had been a number of conversions under the ministries of Rev. I. G. Gordon. And now they desired to have a church home and the administration of the ordinances in their own midst. The Council organized with Rev. R. H. Battey, of Plankinton, as moderator. The examination into the plans and spirit of the proposed church proved highly satisfactory to the Council, and they proceeded to the formal services of organization and recognition.

Rev. Stewart Sheldon preached the sermon, Rev. R. H. Battey made the consecrating prayer, and Supt. Sheldon gave the right hand of fellowship. Sixteen united, three or four of them only by letter, and ten more were to have united who were kept away either by the severe weather, or by sickness. It was very delightful fellowship that we had with this youngest of the churches as we broke bread with them in the ever old and yet ever new memorial meal.

But the campaign did not end here. After a night spent among these hospitable farmers, there was a northwest wind to face as these representatives of the churches urged on their way to another outpost. Soon after noon Templeton was reached. This place consists of a large cobble-stone house, 34x50 feet, two stories high, in which lives Mr. J. N. Cross, the post-master and hotel-keeper, and hither the families come up to worship. The nearest house is about eighty rods distant, and the next about a mile away. Yet, to our surprise, there were gathered here in the neighborhood of one hundred and fifty people to witness and participate in the ordination services for which the Council had been called together. In response to urgent requests from people living in this vicinity, the Home Missionary Society sent a student to labor during his vacation in the summer of 1884, among this people. Following upon his labors there was a church of twenty-four members organized.

Among the original members of this church there was a man of middle age whose life had been mainly that of a teacher; but he had always been a Christian worker. A throat difficulty which had its beginning in the war was at last so aggravated by work in the school-room that he was obliged to lay aside, as he thought, for a time, that work. Followng the advice of friends, he came to Dakota, seeking one of Uncle Sam's homesteads and health. He at once identified himself with Christian work, and when the church was organized, satisfied as to the catholicity of Congregationalism, although himself a Baptist, consented to its being a Congregational church, and became a member. It was very soon apparent that it would be difficult to find a minister such as would be edifying to the College graduates and other cultured people of this region who would be willing to seclude himself in the middle of a country unpenetrated by railroads.

So, in historic Congregational style, they laid hands on this one of their own number, Mr. S. F. Huntley, and persuaded him to break to them the bread of life. Doubtfully he took up the work, still in connection with his farming. So acceptable did his labors prove that the church have been urging him for some time to become their pastor. At last he yielded to their importunity, and consented to do what seemed to be the will of the Lord. The Council organized by electing Rev. W. B. Hubbard, of Chamberlain, as moderator, and Rev. F. G. Appleton, of the Firesteel church, scribe. The examination of the candidate proved

highly satisfactory, evincing as it did, not merely his soundness in doctrine but his firm grasp on the essential truths of the gospel, and the ability to state clearly what he did hold. One fact concerning his ministry, which the Council was permitted to see for itself, is the perfect love and trust of the whole community for him. He has endeared himself to the people as few ministers would do under similar circumstances. Moreover, it came to the notice of the Council that the labors of Brother Huntley had been greatly blessed, and that when those who are now ready to join with the church shall have been received, there will be over sixty members.

Superintendent Sheldon preached the sermon, Rev. R. H. Battey made the ordaining and installing prayer, the moderator gave the charge to the pastor, Rev. F. G. Appleton extended the right hand of fellowship, Bro. Battey charged the people, Rev. W. H. Brearley, of Lyonville, made the closing prayer, and the pastor pronounced the benediction, thus closing a service which had lasted from 2 o'clock until 6:45, with a half hour's recess while the Council was by itself. Not satisfied with even so long a service, quite a congregation gathered again in the evening and listened to an inspiriting sermon by Brother Battey.

Thus closed the campaign, which had been at the same time a feast of good things from beginning to end; so good indeed that the blizzard which followed us homeward could not make us repent of the part we had been permitted to take in making history in this rapidly developing region.-W. B. H.

FOREIGN WORK AT HOME.

[THE American Home Missionary Society has under commission ninety-six foreign missionaries at work among the foreign population in our own country, who preach the gospel to the people in a language which they can understand. These missionaries often beg our Christian forbearance" with their efforts to tell the story of the work, because "of their imperfect knowledge of the English angu age. "The following extracts from the latest quarterly reports will give our readers some idea of the simple faith and earnest sincerity of these devoted men who minister to their own countrymen in a strange land.]

Welch Missionary, Dak.—When I came here to my countrymen I find very soon, the members were not in good feeling with each other. I was disappointed at this, but I thought "the Lord has something for me in this matter. He sent me," and my text the first Sunday was John xiii, 34. The theme was that the great love of Christ for us is the great reason for Christians to love one another. My conviction is that the Lord blessed these words to unite those brethren in a closer fellowship with each other. The next thing I did was to make some special rules, based upon God's word, to be applied to those members who neglect their own church. There were lots of excuses, but we got them back to

the church, and things seem peaceable now. The next thing was to divide the field up between the brethren. We divided it into North, South, East, and West districts, and appoint a member to each district. His office was to see about those members in his district who were absent from church on the Sabbath, and bring his account every month to the church. Our field is very wide. We have members North, seven miles, South, four miles, East, five miles, and West, twelve miles. When the missionary starts on his new field, on this eternal prairie, he will find very often that his eyes have made a several mistake, by guiding him away from his home, and back there again, when he wants to go. to some other place. This is a noble work; the highest in the world, but my heart bleeds over my people, they are so destitute. The times are hard for them. I went to the house where was a little boy eleven years old, lying a corpse on a rough board. He was killed by a cow, and the parents were too poor to bury their child. The friends dug the grave for nothing. Sympathy is a great element of comfort out here. I am glad to remember that "Jesus wept."

German Missionary, Neb.-You may have heard that our work for this winter been pretty heavy one. The traveling so hard for the people, we had sometimes an unregular appointed meeting. But I thought "this is not my meeting. It is the Lord's time. He preach very loud in the cold, the storm, the snow and the suffering." I have had hard time to tell the good story all around, and have had to feel much experience myself. but the worst is now over. I found often a good chance to speak to the people who have lost so many cattles, about the treasury of heavenly goods, and to trust more in it, and build up God's Kingdom. May God help!

Norwegian Missionary, Iowa.-My work consists largely in talking with persons and families about the free salvation in Christ Jesus, and about his free Church. A good many questions are asked and answered about our Congregational polity and doctrine. Our people (the Norwegians) are generally ignorant about it, and misled by their priests to entertain false notions of Congregationalism. So I have to show them that our system is that of the New Testament. This I do in private

conversations, but not in public sermons. The people are glad to have the word of life preached to them, and I can say to the glory of God, it is not preached in vain. A man who has led a miserable life of drunkenness for many years is now a happy Christian, a new convert. One day he met an old associate who tried to persuade him to take a drink as in old times. Our brother said, "No sir! I have made up my mind to quit that business entirely. By the Lord's help I shall never take it up again." The drunkard gew angry and commenced to scorn. Our brother finished the dispute with these words, uttered in great earnest:

"He who drinks will surely fall; but he who drinks not, shall stand at length." The drunkard went on his way, and in that very hour fell down a stairway, nearly killing himself, and is still lying in a helpless condition. This awful event has been a strong warning to the neighborhood. May the Lord help us to lead poor sinners to the fountain of life and salvation.

Scandinavian Missionary, Minn.-One evening a young woman stood by the door, where we had a meeting, and when asked if she was a Christian, she said: "I don't know the way." We prayed with her, and let her read about the way, how plain and near it was. Christ gave her peace, and she now rejoices in him. To-night another stood up in the meeting and said: "I know now that I am a child of God." Others praised God for this testimony. We want five more students for Scandinavian work from Chicago. There are large fields ready, and anxiously waiting for them. A parish seventy miles from here is now open for the gospel. Could you send me a horse, to help carry the gospel to those who ask for it?

Swedish Missionary, Mo.-The weather has been very cold, the streets bad, and our church could not be heated up for such a time. The people are too poor to furnish themselves with clothing warm enough for this cold season. These reasons have kept many from church through the winter. In the prayer week we had meetings every night, but the weather was colder and rougher than ever; but we kept them up the next week, and had a glorious time. We have since kept up cottage meetings. We feel a very great loss in the departure of our very dear brother, REV. DR. GOODELL. He took such an interest in our work here. He sustained us in every way, and was always ready to give us useful advice. But what can we say. God found pleasure in giving him rest from his earthly toil, and we must patiently wait until God shall take us up yonder, where we will meet our beloved brother, and our questioning "Wherefores?" shall be changed to "Therefores." May God help us so to live that our Christianity be not an outward appearance only.

German Missionary, Neb.-One sad incident we have at present, in our church. One of the deacons, a born Lutheran, has withdrawn from us. He withdrew because he cannot agree in doctrine with us. He holds that baptism is the new birth, and lays the main stress on the words "born out of the water and spirit," especially on the word water. He says that if the gospel is to be so preached, that all men and women must repent, and be converted, he cannot go along with us any more. He is a fine man, but he knows not what it means to be a poor sinner. I begin a catechetical class of boys and girls at my home next week, and