Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-11-29
A Free Church Experiment.

FROM the Boston Advertiser.
When, nearly three years ago, the Berkeley
Street Congregational Church, in this city.
made its pews free, increased its pastoral force
from one man to three, opened its doors from
sunday morning until Saturday night and in
augurated various lines of practical Christian
endeavor it was new departure in church ac-
tlvlty such as this city had never seen before
on so large a scale. The movement had behind
1t, also, the support of several sister churches,
not so well situated for the prosecution of PEG,
pies work, and OF the Massachusetts Home
Missionary Society.
The enterprise has now passed through the
critical and trying period of its history and
seems TO be on permanent basis. 1t has had
OF course, to feel its way into the heart of the
problem OF city evangelization; it has en-
countered difficulties and ANNOUNCEMENTS. but
it has gone steadily on to larger successes, and
commands today the respect and the confidence
OF the entire Congregational denomination
Comparatively few of the Christian people in
this city even realize what a large and varied
work Is prosecuted at Berkeley Temple.
Classes in dressmaking, bookkeeping, painting.
elocution and stenography, reading rooms and
young mems debating clubs, temperance
guilds, a Chinese Sunday school-these are
some of the special features. The temple is a
home for scores of young men and women.
VINO otherwise might have to spend their even
lngs III the narrow quarters of South End
boarding houses or upon the street. Persons
In search of relief and sympathy and spiritual
mlnistration are learning that Berkeley Temple
desires to be the friend and helper of every
needy. distressed soul
Without disparagement to the other churches
of the city, it is worth much to have a down
town church in Boston of this type. The
Berkeley Temple year book, Just issued, shows
the scope and many sidedness of the work which
lies within the province of a modern church
in great city. All these secular instrumental
titles have an avowedly spiritual end and while
the church tries to carry on its philanthropic
and humanitarian work. its workers keep
steadily in view the purpose of bringing to men
and women the help and the inspiration which
are in the religion of Christ.
The influence Of such institutions as Berkeley
Temple in Boston. or of the now famous ST
Georges Church in New York, is widespread.
Their methods are scrutinized and copied all
over the country. Their spirit of practical
helpfnlness is mighty impulse to aggressive
Christian work in scores of places, east and
west. The time in which we live is urgent in
its demand that the church shall not only save
the individual, but shall reconstruct society:
hence the cagerness with which every effort in
this direction is welcomed by multitudes of
earnest souls.
1t is no wonder that the Berkeley Temple
workers feel like celebrating the achievements
of the last three years. So next week is to be
festival week, and several events bearing upon
the present and future work of the church will
take place on successive evenings. Beginning
with the address Of DIR. Moxom on SUNDAY
evening program will be continued during
the week, eliminating in the Thursday evening
reception to the public and the praise and
prayer service on the day following