Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-12-31
CHRISTIAN ANNALS.
Opening Session Of the American Society Of
Church History.

Opening Session Of the American Society Of
Church History.
The proceedings Of the opening session of the
American Society Of Church History at Foun-
dry NJ. E. Church last evening were begun with
prayer by Bishop Hurst, who is one of the vice
presidents of the society. In his opening adj
dress Rev. Prof DR.. Philip Schaff of New York,
the president, announced that it was the third
meeting Of the society and likely to prove the
most important the society has ever held, mas
much as papers would be read which would
give the members o vast amount Of labor If
their suggestions were properly carried into
effect. Formerly church history was a subor-
dinate and rather unimportant study, but its
importance is already beginning to be felt.
Professorships in church history have been
founded in many Of the colleges and theologi-
cal seminaries OF the country and greater at
tention is being given to this branch Of his
torical research. DR.. Schaff made feeling ref
erence to the members of the society who have
died within the past year. The work Of this
society has received attention abroad and DR..
made upon its transactions in the foreign scien-
tito and historical periodicals.
The secretary and treasurer, Rev. Samuel
Macauley Jackson Of New York. read his annual
reports, one Of which showed that fourteen new
members had Joined the society and the other
that the society was in fourishing financial
condition, with a satisfactory balance in the
treasury.
HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY. OF THE CHRISTIAN
CHURCH.
There were three papers on the evenings
program, the first being one on the Historical
Geography Of the Christian Church." by Rev.
Prof. H. W. Hubert Of Marietta College Ohio
Prof. Hubert said that a knowledge of the lay
OF the land, the geography Of the scenes Of
action, is OF the greatest value to those who
would make thorough research into the his
tory of the past He then went on to give an
account of the geography Of the early Christian
church. under Greek and Roman influences
through to the feudal church. The growth dur
ing the crusading period was mill
powerful agent. Prof. Hubert traced the
spread Of the territory Of the church down to
the present era and his paper was in a sense q
brief chronicle Of the expansion of its geography
The next paper was entitled THE Anabaptists
of the Sixteenth Century" by DR.. H. s. Bur-
ridge Of Portland, Me-, who said that the origin
Of the movement Of the Anabaptists dated back
to 1920, at which time it began in Switzerland.
II was child OF the reformation. and first at
tracted attention when the reform movement
In Switzerland sprang into existence.
CHURCH HISTORY IN THE COLLEGES.
The place Of church history in the college
course Of study was the subject Of the next
PaPer, Which, was reau Dy rev. LIT. n. M. NC
Cracker, vice chancellor Of the New York Uni
versity. He said that there we're one hundred
and fifty typical American colleges. leaving out
Catholic and state colleges, and every one also
that had less than fifty regular students. He
found thirty per cent Of these teaching Bible
history and the Bible. The speaker then con-
trasted the English requirements with ours,
showing the demands Of the Oxford and Cam
bridge examinations. He presented the German
gymnasium as the best model Before the stu
dent reaches Cicero and the Odyssey he has
studies the ancient church: in his last years the
modern. He gives two hours weekly to the
study.
After hearing the report Of DR.. Newman on
proposed series Of denominational histories,
to be published under the auspices of the so
ciety, and the appointment Of committee con-
sisting Of DR.. McCracken, Prof. Wolf and Dr.
Newman to nominate officers the meeting adj
journed.