lence of
the kingdom of God. These things cannot be definitely reported, but some
things can be mentioned that will indicate progress.

The work has been fairly well organized throughout the whole parish and is
moving steadily forward in definite directions. There are now twelve
points where regular Sunday services are held in this territory, which
comprises one whole township and portions of five others. These services
are held in one church, six chapels, four schoolhouses, and one private
home. Other points are asking for services, but with our present force no
more work can be undertaken. These preaching points are so arranged that
no family, with the exception of a few who live in one remote corner of
the parish, need go more than a mile and a half to find a place of
worship. The aggregate attendance on these services will average not far
from six hundred, in a population of twenty-five hundred--about one fourth
of the inhabitants of the parish being present with some degree of
regularity.

There are four organized churches in the parish, at Benzonia, Grace,
Champion Hill, and Eden. Their combined membership is about four hundred.
When the church was organized at Eden last year, thirty members were
dismissed from the Benzonia Church to enter the new organization. They had
long been connected with the Benzonia Church, and it was with some
reluctance that they severed their connection with the mother church. They
wished in some way to retain a relation to the church that had for them so
many tender associations. So they decided that of their five trustees, two
should be chosen from the old central church. The two churches at Grace
and Champion Hill are likely to follow suite. In that case, we shall have
a group of four churches, organically related, standing together to do the
work of the Larger Parish. The trustees of the local church will attend to
all ordinary matters, but will feel free to call in the other two trustees
to consult with them in things of special importance. The trustees from
the central church will, of course, feel a special responsibility for the
welfare of the branch church with which they are connected. This
arrangement will unify all the religious activities of the parish, and
bind them up together in one organic relation. And the churches that
enter into the arrangement will surrender none of their independence as
Congregational churches. They will still be absolutely free to control
their ow