commission. To the district synods is assigned the duty of carrying on missionary operations within their respective districts, while the general body directs its energies chiefly to the scattered German immigrants and to work among the freedmen in the South. The other interests of this general body are intrusted to the care of special committees. Both the general missionary operations and the mission work among the colored population in the South were reported as being in a flourishing condition. For the final success of the work among the freedmen, enlarged facilities for church and school were found to be necessary. Action was taken to enable the missionary commission to provide the necessary accommodations for the schools in New Orleans and elsewhere, where there is a constantly increasing number of pupils. Provision was also made to enter more largely into the sphere of English missionary operations. The Synodical Conference, the most German of German Lutherans, is preparing to take hold of the English work with the same energy with which its German work is carried on.

Some time was also devoted to discussion of the school question, which has become a burning topic, especially in Illinois and Wisconsin. The position that Lutherans have taken in this matter has been grossly misrepresented and misapprehended. Lutherans are not opposed to the public-school system, nor do they ask the State to appropriate funds for the benefit of their parochial schools. On the other hand, they pay their school tax; but they ask the privilege of maintaining schools of their own, in which they can teach the Bible with the secuHar branches. They feel that they can not afford to have their children deprived of ChrisLian training. Lutherans will not give up their Bibles without a struggle, both for themselves and their children. All the district synods had caken action in this matter. The general body reaffirmed their action, and adopted as its own action the resolutions of the synod of Missouri, Ohio, and other States, at its late convention. As these resolutions give correctly the position hat Lutherans have taken in this matter, they are here presented so far as they have a bearing on the general subject:

1. Whereas, The Word of God, our rule of life, en

oins upon all Christian parents the duty of bringing up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; therefore all Christians who educate their chilren in schools are in duty bound to intrust their chilren who are not yet confirmed in Christian truth to uch schools only as secure the education of children in he nurture and admonition of the Lord, while at the ame time it is with us self-understood that we are willing to make good citizens of our children, to the tmost of our ability, and that we also endeavor to ive them the best possible schooling in the use of he English language.

2. Whereas, In the non-religious public schools, herever they are conducted in the sense of the noneligious state, not only Christian education is exuded, but also, as a rule, things not in harmony

ith the Word of God are by way of instruction iscipline inculcated on the children, and the spiritual fe of Christian children is thus endangered and inired; therefore we as Christians are in conscience ound to submit to no law of the State which is di

3. In accordance with our daily prayer, "Thy kit " come, it is duty to preserve and extend

dom

orthodox Evangelical Lutheran Church in this cot try, and we are, therefore, in conscience bound combat each and every law which is directed or m be used to the detriment and damage of Luther parochial schools, which are effective means of tending and perpetuating the kingdom of God.

4. For as much as our Lord Jesus Christ sa "My kingdom is not of this world," and "Rend unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar's, and ur God the things that are God's," the separation Church and state is for all times to be acknowledg as in accordance with the Word of God; and sin God has in this country vouchsafed unto us the pi cious boon of religious liberty, we may not as faithi stewards approve of any legislation which ten toward a confusion of spiritual and secular affairs an endangers our religious liberty, and we most cordial approve of combating with legitimate means su laws as have to the detriment and damage of o parochial schools been enacted in the States of Wi consin and Illinois during the past year, while on t other hand we, for the same reason, condemn all d mands upon the public funds for the erection maintenance of parochial schools.

5. For all the reasons stated we must, as Luthera Christians, grant our cordial approval to the fact th our brethren in the States of Wisconsin and Illino have, whether in courts of law or at the ballot-bo: taken up and hitherto carried on the contest force upon them against such laws, and we are, further more, determined to make most energetic oppositio wherever in other States such or similar legislatio may be attempted.

General Council. This body held no con vention during 1890; but in the mean time it affairs were managed by committees and boards The mission in India, which has Rajahmundr as its central station, was cared for by the com mittee on foreign missions. The estimate of ex penses was $3,000. The Rev. Emanuel Edman M.D., arrived in India during the year and tool charge of the stations in and around Samulcotta. Twozenana missionaries-Miss Catharine Sadtler, daughter of the Rev. Benjamin Sadtler D.D., and Miss Agnes Schade-were sent to India during the year. The mission reports 4 missionaries, 2 native pastors, 100 villages. 2,433 Christians, 49 schools, 42 teachers, and 899 pupils. The English, German, and Swedish home-mission committees report progress in the missions under their care. The English committee, through its superintendent, the Rev. William A. Passavant, Jr., has increased the number of missions and missionaries, 18 missions being supported, in Illinois, New Jersey, North Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, and Oregon, each 1: 2 in Ohio; and 7 in Minnesota. The estimate of expenses was $10,000. The German committee devoted all its resources to missionary operations in British America-Manitoba, A siniboia, and other provinces-having three mis sionaries in their employ, whose labors extend over a vast territory. The estimate of expenses was $2,000. The Swedish committee has the oversight of 150 missions, for which $17,311.95 were expended. Besides these, the district synods supported 109 missionaries, 155 missions. at an expense of $18,150. These items aggregate about 225 missionaries, 330 missions, and $50,000, as the result of one vear's work This general body numbers 8 district synods, 923 ministers, 1,591 congregations, 273,659 communicant members, 1,280 Sunday schools, 155,725 pupils, 338 parochial schools, 16,206 pupils; 2 theological seminaries, 6 colleges, 5 academies, and 19 orphans' homes, homes for deaconesses, hospitals, and immigrant missions.

General Synod.--No convention of this body was held during 1890; and in the mean time its affairs were managed by the various boards, nearly all of them employing secretaries to whom is intrusted general oversight of the work of their department. The missions in India and Africa were cared for by the Board of Foreign Missions. The report in the "Annual Cyclopædia" for 1889 is the latest official report of the work of these missions. The Board of Home Missions has been prosecuting its work with energy. During the year 101 missions were supported, of which 26 are new organizations. The number of missionaries employed was 114, and the number of mission churches erected was 25. The estimate of expenses was $35,000. The Board of Church Extension is continuing its strong efforts, in advance of the Home Mission Board, to secure lots for the erection of churches in new localities. This general body numbers 23 district synods, 969 ministers, 1,409 congregations, 154,465 communicant members, 1,355 Sundayschools, 155,116 pupils, 5 theological seminaries, 5 colleges, 2 academies, and 5 orphans' homes and other charitable institutions. Hamma Divinity Hall, founded by the Rev. Dr. Hamma, of Baltimore, Md., erected on the grounds of Wittenberg College, Springfield, Ohio, was dedicated on Nov. 20, 1890, in the presence of a large assembly. The cost of the new building is about $10,000.

United Synod. -This body, organized in 1886, numbers 9 district synods, 189 ministers, 396 congregations, and 35,782 communicant members; 1 theological seminary, 4 colleges, 7 academies, and 8 ladies' seminaries, besides several charitable institutions. This general body is prosecuting, with energy, the work of home missions in its territory, under the supervision of a superintendent and an efficient board of missions, as well as foreign missionary work in Japan.

Independent Synods.---Thirteen synods occupy an independent position. They number 1,319 ministers, 2,849 congregations, 328,435 communicant members, 436 Sunday-schools, 11, 482 pupils, 426 parochial schools, 201 teachers, 16,489 pupils, 12 12 theological theolog seminaries, 7 col

leges, 13 academies, ies, and 8 orphans' homes and other charitable institutions. Amo Among these synods are several of the largest and most active of the district synods in the Church, such as the Joint Synod of Ohio, the German lowa, and the 1 various Norwegian synods, and they embrace ma English, German, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, nar Icelandic, Slavonian, and French Lutheran conA gregations. Several of them are active in the nis work of home and foreign missions, as also the end work of education. Luther College, Decorah, Iowa, of the old Norwegian synod, was dedicated the on Oct. 14, 1890. The property is valued at 95 375,000. The institution has 145 students.

ict Union among Norwegians. - During the ear three of the Norwegian synods united, after nany years of separation, in the formation of one large and influential synod. About the is middle of the present century Norwegians began

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to come to this country in considerable numbers. In 1845 their number was roughly estimated at 10,000; at present the number probably reaches nearly 500,000. The entire Scandinavian population of this country doubtless numbers more than 1,500,000, a large portion of whom are Norwegians. They have gone principally to the Northwest, and have become a powerful factor in the settlement of that portion of the United States, and they are gaining for themselves "the finest lands in the most commanding situations in the first nation of the age."

From the very beginning ng of the existence of the Norwegian Lutheran Church in this country there have been different parties, which could not would not work together

though all claim to be strictly and distinctively

Lutheran. These different tendencies were brought from Norway by the immigrants themselves, and hence can not be said to have arisen here, or to owe their origin to their peculiar situation in this country. Some were adherents of Hauge, a reformer in the mother-country, and were noted for their simplicity and earnestness in worship and work; others came over in full sympathy with the state Church of Norway, and were zealous for the faith and usages of the Church at home and accustomed to the full liturgy and vestments of the Church. It was very natural that these two parties, differing so widely in their views, should not be able to labor harmoniously in one synodical organization. Then there was a third party mediating between these two extremes. These differences, instead of being healed, caused great controversies to arise and a gradual development of some doctrinal differences. Notwithstanding this state of affairs, there have always been those, in all the synods, who lamented these divisions and have been anxious for peace and harmony, praying for a union of the entire Norwegian Church in America. To this end, conferences were held in 1859, 1863, and 1864, and again in 1881, and since then. During the long interval between the last two conferences, numerous changes took place, which indicated better feeling and a better understanding, and the time seemed ripe for a strong effort at a general union among all the different synods, of which there were five. The conference held at St. Ansgar, Iowa, in 1881, enabled them to see not how much they differed, but how nearly they agreed on all points that had caused divisions. Other conferences were held from year to year, with the result of gradually bringing the different parties more closely together, and in 1888 two conferences were held, at the latter of which, in November, at Scandinavia, Wis., the plan of Union agreed upon at Eau Claire, Wis., earlier in the year, was unanimously adopted and sent to the four synods for adoption. It was unanimously adopted by three; but the fourth, Hauge's, refused. From the synods the plan of union was sent to the individual congregations for ratification, and their action was again to be presented for final action at a joint convention of the synods in Minneapolis, Minn., in 1890.

Accordingly, on June 11, the Norwegian Augustana Synod, the Norwegian-Danish Conference, and the Anti-Missouri Brotherhood of Norwegians met separately, at places arranged for them, in Minneapolis, and attended to the transaction of necessary business, after which they severally adopted the constitution prepared for the United Synod. A committee of two from each synod met in order to ascertain how far the proposed condition of union had been carried out by the several synods, and were surprised to find that the conditions had been more than complied with. On Friday, June 13, the Norwegian-Danish Conference met in Trinity Norwegian Church and took a final vote in favor of union. Meanwhile the other two bodies marched to Trinity Church. The Anti-Missouri Brotherhood arrived first, followed closely by the Augustana Synod. They were received by the conference standing, while a hymn was being sung, which was taken up by the new arrivals as they entered. This being ended, the majestic notes of the "Te Deum" burst from a thousand throats, a fitting song of praise at the successful realization of the long-desired union of brethren. The Lord's Prayer and the Apostles' Creed were repeated, and the immense congregation, which extended into the street, was dismissed with the benediction. The Rev. M. Falk Gjertsen was announced as marshal to conduct the vast congregation to the more spacious Swedish Augustana Church. More than 2,000 men were in line, and the spacious church was taxed to the utmost. The grand old battle hymn of Luther, "A Mighty Fortress is our God," was sung, after which the Rev. Rasmussen offered a deeply affecting prayer which stirred the hearts of the vast audience. After the singing of another stanza, Prof. S. Oftedahl, of Minneapolis, was elected temporary chairman, and the Rev. Kildahl, of Chicago, secretary. It was moved to adopt the constitution already adopted by the several bodies, as a whole, by a rising vote, which was done unanimously. Thus the United Norwegian Lutheran Church in America was organized. The United Synod, as now constituted, numbers 250 ministers, 850 congregations, and about 100,000 communicant members. The old Norwegian Synod and Hauge's Synod still stand aloof.

The officers of the United Synod are: The Rev. Gustavus Hoyme, Eau Claire, Wis., president; the Rev. Lars M. Bjoern, Zumbrota, Minn., vice-president; the Rev. John N. Kildahl, Chicago, Ill., secretary; and the Hon. Lars Swensson, Minneapolis, Minn., treasurer. The new body at once set to work to transact important business. Among the first matters that claimed attention were the proselyting efforts of various denominations among the Scandinavians. The following protest was adopted:

Whereas, It has for many years been customary for several of the larger denominations to send missionaries and grant funds for the establishment and maintenance of missions among the Scandinavians in Europe and in this country; and whereas the Scandinavian people are, by this proceeding on the part of such denominations, placed before the Church and the world on the same footing as Jews, Mohammedans, heathen, and apostates; and whereas, the religious press of said denominations has been used for traducing and calumniating the Lutheran Church, its doctrine and Christian life, special reference being had to articles by the agent among the Scandinavians of the Congregational Church, M. W. Montgomery, in the "Pioneer" and the "Independent"; and whereas, in view of the conditions obtaining among our people and concerning which we deem ourselves to

have the fullest information, we must resent the placing of our people before the Church of God and the world in such light as unjust and in direct opposition to that Christian courtesy which we have a right to expect; and whereas, the real religious condition of our people, as compared with other people, is such that we have all reasons to be thankful to God, who in his mercy has richly blessed the preaching of his word and the administration of his holy sacraments among us; and whereas, the Lutheran Church, through God's grace, has found herself fully able to administer to the religious needs of the people, raising us to one of the foremost nations of the Christian world in devotion to Christian truth and institutions, and in faithfulness in Christian work; and whereas, the denominational proselytism of past years among the Scandinavians in Europe and in this country has already proved itself a dire cause of contention and strife and a promoter of religious indifference, laxity, and even infidelity, and a continuance of this great things: Therefore, be it evil must necessarily aggravate this condition of

Resolved, That we, the United Norwegian Lutheran Church, do hereby most earnestly protest against this proselyting among our people as unjust, unchristian, pernicious in its effects upon the Church of God, and an insult to our Church and our nationality, and do most earnestly request the denominations concerned to desist therefrom.

Perhaps the most important business transacted had reference to the institutions of learning for the synod. The three theological seminaries - Augsburg Seminary at Minneapolis, Augustana at Beloit, and Luthersk Presterskole at Northfield-were united and located at Minneapolis, and the three theological faculties were combined. This makes a strong seminary, with a faculty of five professors. The institution has an endowment of more than $125,000 to begin with, and more is promised. It was also determined to make St. Olaf College, at Northfield, Minn., the general synodical college, with the understanding that the collegiate department of Augsburg Seminary be continued for one year. and that the seminary at Beloit, Iowa, be turned into an orphans' home.

In order to care properly for all parts of the synodical territory, the synod was divided into nineteen districts, and a "visitator" was elected for each district, whose duty it is to visit every congregation at least once in three years and report from time to time to the president of synod. The work of missions also received careful attention; $10,000 were appropriared for home missions and a superintendent of missions was elected, who shall reside in Minneapolis and oversee the entire work of home missions, which covers nearly every State and Territory in the Northwest. The meeting of the synod was concluded with a grand jubilee, on June 18, in the Coliseum, where addresses were delivered, in Norwegian and English, to an audience of more than 5,000. The following is a statistical summary of the Lutherans in 1890:

General Synod.
United Synod.

Independent Synods....

debt $172,778, making a total of $449,878. This is a decrease of $1,931 in the total debt in ten years. Only two of the sixteen counties are without debt.

Education. The following common-school statistics cover the school year 1888-'89: Children of school age, 212,064; number attending, 143,113; average daily attendance, 98,642; average school year, 22 weeks 1 day: teachers employed, 7,549; average monthly wages male teachers, $35.22; average monthly wages female teachers, $17.24; number of towns and plantations having town system, 120; number of school districts, 3,372; number of school houses, 4,364; built during the year, 75; cost of new buildings, $163,650; total value of school property, $3,481,835; total expenditures for the year, $1,287,948. While the number of children of school age was but 92 fewer than in the preceding year, the number in attendance on the common schools was 1,145 fewer. For the past ten years the decrease in children of school age has been 3,600, while the number of attendants has decreased 8,835. One cause for the greater proportionate decrease in attendance has been the placing placing of pupils in the parochial schools. It is estimated that in Lewiston, Auburn, Biddeford, Saco, Waterville, Calais, and Westbrook, at least 2,500 pupils are in these church schools. A further cause is found in the growth of free high schools, the increase in attendance upon these schools during the decade being almost equal to the decrease in attendance on the common schools. These schools are rapidly growing in favor and efficiency. During 1888-'89, the number of towns supporting them was 204, an increase of 28 in one year, and the attendance was 14,900, an increase of 595. The sum of $139,799 was expended for their support, of which only $34,481 was derived from the State treasury.

At the three normal schools the number of pupils was about the same as in the preceding year, the total number graduated being 101 and entering 225. The Madawaska Training School reports an attendance of 65 pupils.

Charities. - At the State Insane Hospital there were 580 patients on Dec. 1, 1889. During the year ensuing 253 patients were admitted, making a total of 833 under treatment. The expenses for maintenance during the year were $161,599.82, and the sum of $55,651.79 was disbursed for improvements and additions to the present buildings. The commission appointed under a resolve of the last Legislature to purchase a site for a new Insane Hospital has secured an eligible location in Bangor.

Prisons. At the State Prison there were 150 prisoners on Dec. 1, 1889. During the year ensuing 65 were committed and 41 discharged, leaving 174 in custody on Nov. 30, 1890. The net expense of the prison to the State during the year was $16,578.10. At the State Reform School there were 159 boys during the year, 114 remaining at its close.

Insurance. The insurance written in the State during the year, by companies other than local mutual companies, was as follows: Fire, $87,650,513.97; marine, $10,323,574.77; total, $97,974.088.74. The premiums received for the year were: Fire, $1,175,299.50; marine, $851, 291.37; total, $1,426,590.87. The losses paid

for the year were: Fire, $532,092.57; marine, $155,294.24; total, $687,386.81.

Savings Banks. The savings banks of the State are prosperous. The total deposits amount to $47,781,166.90, an increase of $3,804,081.81 over the amount at the close of the year 1889. The total number of depositors is 140,521, a gain from last year of 8,329. The total amount of State tax paid in 1890 was $323,549.98, an increase of $27,738.38 over 1889. The total amount of municipal taxes paid in 1890 was $13,517.13. Militia. The total number of officers and men in the First Regiment of the State militia at the end of the year was 386, and in the Second Regiment 420. The Frontier Guards numbered 48 and the First Maine Battery 82. Four unattached companies contain 172 men, making the total strength of the militia 1,120. The cost of maintenance during the year was $20,209.64.

Railroads. During the year about 42 miles have been added to the railroad mileage of the State, as follow: The Dexter and Piscataquis, now a portion of the Maine Central, a line running from Dexter to Foxcroft, 16:54 miles; the Kennebec Central, a narrow-gauge line of railroad running from Randolph, opposite Gardiner, to the National Soldiers' Home, in Chelsea, 5 miles; the Augusta, Hallowell and Gardiner, an electric street railroad, running from and through Augusta, Hallowell, Farmingdale, and to Gardiner, 7 miles; also, an extension of the Bangor Street Railway, through several streets in that city and to and through Brewer, 2.93 miles; the Somerset Railway extension, from Embden to Bingham, 10-06 miles.

Taxation. Under a resolve of the last Legislature, a commission, consisting of Judge Oliver G. Hall, Hon. John L. Cutler, and Gen. Samuel J. Anderson, were appointed by the Governor "to provide for a more equal, just, and equitable system of taxation of all kinds of property in this State, for State, county, and municipal purposes," and also "to provide for a better and more effectual system of collection of taxes." The commissioners entered upon their duties in November, 1889, and presented their report to the Governor in September. They submitted a proposed law, concerning which they say:

The new direct sources of State revenue under the

proposed law are: "The taxation of collateral inheritances; increase in railroad taxes by removing the 34 per cent. limit; the taxation of sleeping-car companies; the taxation of telephone instruments leased or royalty paying; the taxation of insurance and guarantee companies on gross instead of net premiums; taxation of foreign and unlicensed insurance companies; taxation of accumulations of savings banks; taxation of trust and loan associations; taxation of corporate franchises; tax on enrollment and organization of corporations; and taxes on private and special acts of Legislature. The sum which may be reasonably expected from these sources, under a system administered by an efficient Board of State Assessors, in addition to the amount to be derived from present sources, will, we believe, be quite large. But it is from the increase of taxable property which will be brought to light by the system proposed that we most confidently expect relief will be found for the general tax payer; in the new and imperative provisions which are intended to unmask the property of the dishonest, defeat the cunning of the invader, lessen the burdens of the upright citizen, and stimulate the fidelity of tax officers. The average rate of