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 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.

25.

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 theological seminaries, 7 colleges, 13 academies, and 8 orphans' homes and other charitable institutions. 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 various Norwegian synods, and they embrace English, German, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Icelandic, Slavonian, and French Lutheran congregations. Several of them are active in the work of home and foreign missions, as also the work of education. Luther College, Decorah, Iowa, of the old Norwegian synod, was dedicated on Oct. 14, 1890. The property is valued at $75,000. The institution has 145 students.

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

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 of the existence of the Norwegian Lutheran Church in this country there have been different parties, which could not or would not work together in harmony, 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, lowa, 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 plac ing 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 that we have all reasons to be thankful to God, who our people, as compared with other people, is such 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 evil must necessarily aggravate this condition of things: Therefore, be it

Church, do hereby most earnestly protest against Resolved, That we, the United Norwegian Lutheran 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 deter mined 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:

MAINE, a New England State, admitted to the Union, March 15, 1820; area, 33,040 square miles. The population, according to each decennial census since admission, was 298,269 in 1820; 399,455 in 1830; 501,793 in 1840; 583,169 in 1850; 628,279 in 1860; 626,915 in 1870; 648,936 in 1880; and 661,086 in 1890. Capital, Augusta. Government.-The following were the State officers during the year: Governor, Edwin C. Burleigh, Republican; Secretary of State, Oramandal Smith; Treasurer, George L. Beal; Attorney-General, Charles E. Littlefield; Commissioner of Industrial and Labor Statistics, Samuel W. Matthews; Superintendent of Common Schools, Nelson A. Luce; Railroad Commissioners, Asa W. Wildes, Roscoe L. Bowers, and David N. Mortland; Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, John A. Peters; Associate Justices: Charles W. Walton, Charles Danforth, who died March 30 and was succeeded by William P. Whitehouse, William W. Virgin, Artemus Libbey, Lucilius A. Emery, Enoch Foster, and Thomas H. Haskell.

Finances.-The total bonded debt of the State on Dec. 30 was $2,602,300. Of this amount $118,300 is drawing interest at 5 per cent., $150,000 at 4 per cent., and $2,334,000 at 3 per cent. per annum. During the year the sum of $50,000 has been paid on the principal of the debt.

The Legislature of 1889 reduced the total
VOL. XXX. 33 A

72,865

2,389

14,872

16,184

1,262

19,272

19,452

180

82,838

82,627

294

32,463

27,759

* 4,704

44.484

44,482

#2

62,257 62,829

572

Total.

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 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 3 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 be reasonably expected from these sources, under a and special acts of Legislature. The sum which may 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 the general tax payer; in the new and imperative prowe most confidently expect relief will be found for visions 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

taxation throughout the State was last year 171 per cent. on a valuation which in many towns was much below a 'just value.' We believe that, under the system proposed, the annual levy need not exceed an average of 1 per cent."

Valuation.-Pursuant to the law requiring a valuation of all the property in the State once in ten years, for purposes of State taxation, the Governor in 1889 appointed a valuation commission of 16 persons. This commission met on Dec. 3, 1889, and continued its sessions to March 28, when it adjourned till the second Tuesday in November. The total valuation of the State, as returned to the commission by the assessors of the cities, towns, and plantations, was $258,910,524, against $228,030,656 returned by the assessors in 1880. The value of the wild lands, which is to be fixed by the commission, is to be added. The amount of railroad property reported to the commission is $2.300.000. Bank stock gives a total of $8,336.281. In 1880 the State had a reported value of shipping of $8,678,093. The amount reported in 1890 was but $5,523,626, a decrease in ten years of $3,154,470. The total value of live stock reported was nearly $16,000,000. At the close of the year the commission had not made its final report.

Abandoned Farms.-During the year statistics were gathered by the State Commissioner of Labor and Industrial Statistics from all but 12 towns and plantations in the State, respecting the number and value of abandoned farms therein. His report shows a total of 3,318 such farms, or an average of nearly seven for each town. The number of acres included in these farms is 254,513, or 500 acres to each town, and they are valued at $1.268,769, or an average of $3.99 an acre. Prohibition. The decision of the United States Supreme Court, late in April, in the case of Leisy vs. Hardin, was soon followed by the opening of original-package shops in the larger towns and cities. A seizure of liquor at one of these shops was promptly made, and the questions involved were brought before the State Supreme Court in the case of State vs. Burns. The Court rendered a decision on May 29 to the effect that such seizure was illegal. The concluding portion of the opinion is as follows:

The case of Gus. Leisy et als. vs. Hardin, just decided by the Supreme Court of the United States on full consideration, seems to clearly settle the question, and to require us, as we are bound on such questions by the law as determined by that court, to reverse the rulings below, and sustain the law according to the respondent's contention. The opinion of a minority of the judges sitting in that case appears to be very elaborate and exhaustive of the question involved and may commend itself to many as containing the better conclusion. Our obedience is due, however, to the judgment which prevails. Not that our statute is unconstitutional, for it prohibits only the "unlawful sale" of intoxicating liquors; but that its interpretation must be constitutional.

No general effort was thereafter made to interfere with the business of these shops, until the passage of the Wilson bill by Congress compelled them to close. Regarding the general operation of the prohibitory law, the Governor says in his message to the Legislature of 1891:

It can not be denied that the law for the suppression of the liquor traffic is often violated, and that officials charged with its enforcement are frequently derelict

in duty. But it is undoubtedly true that this condition of affairs is mostly confined to our cities and larger villages. In other places the law appears to have been faithfully and successfully administered.

Political.-On May 20 a State convention of the Union Labor party met at Waterville and nominated Isaac R. Clark, of Bangor, for Governor. A platform was adopted favoring the distribution of the United States Treasury surplus among the people, the establishment of postal savings banks, the ownership of transportation and telegraph facilities by the Government, and the pensioning of every soldier and sailor who has seen service. Opposition was declared to the gift of land to corporations, the sale of land to aliens, the dealing in futures of agricultural products, and to employment of contract labor. The Australian ballot system. and a graduated income tax were recommended.

On June 4 a State Democratic convention at Augusta nominated Francis W. Hill, of Exeter, for Governor, and adopted a platform that contained the following:

Resolved, That reform in the administration of the affairs of the State is urgently demanded. Needless and extravagant expenditures have come largely to absorb our State revenues, thus postponing the payment of the State war debt, upon which more than the original amount has been already paid in interest. Salaries have been unnecessarially increased, in some cases without request; and that with a population nearly stationary, with no State enterprises requiring an outlay, the expenditures for State purposes have been nearly quadrupled under the rule of the Republican party.

Resolved, That the hypocrisy and dishonesty with which the republican party has dealt with the question of temperance deserves the condemnation of all good people. They use the statutes of the State for party purposes and the corruption of the ballot. For party ends they permit the laws to be openly and notoriously violated.

On June 12 the Republican State Convention assembled at Augusta and unanimously nominated Gov. Burleigh for re-election. platform includes the following:

The

ministration and a continuance of the financial policy It [the Republican party] favors an economical adwhich, under the administration of Gov. Edwin C. Burleigh, has lessened the burden of the people by reducing both the amount of the State debt and the rate of interest paid upon it.

It favors the enactment of such laws as may be necessary for the protection of labor.

It not only recognizes the evils of intemperance and sympathizes with all honest and well-directed efforts to eradicate them, but it unreservedly renews its adhesion to the principle of the prohibition of the liquor traffic, and insists upon the thorough and effective enforcement of the prohibitory law. It demands of Congress the enactment of such legislation as shall

enable each State to exercise full control within its borders over the traffic in all liquors whether imported therein in the original packages or otherwise.

It favors an elective system free from corruption and fraud, and it approves of any legislation that may be required to secure that end.

It favors the policy which protects American labor against foreign competition, aids agriculture, builds up American industry, and creates an adequate home market for domestic production.

It favors liberal pensions for service rendered in the war of the rebellion.

It favors the regulation of immigration, so as to prevent the introduction of convict and pauper labor and the criminal classes.