Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-02
AMONG THE CHURCHES

After this, however, there are other things
which he may and does do. One of these is
writing.
AS is well known, many of the religious
and semi-religious papers of the country
publish regular Washington correspondence.
! There is no place from which this is more
| desirable or better suited to their needs
than from the capital city, and there is
no one by whom it can be better supplied
than by those who are in the very work
ard doing the very things of which a
glimpse is wanted. And SO it comes that
many Washington ministers are in the
habit of supplying weekly letters or making
contributions in the way of timely articles
on special subjects to the press outside.
| The work Is a natural one, and an easy
one for them. They are obliged in order to
intelhgently supply their pulpits to keep
abreast of the times, and wide awake to all
public questions, local interests and current
affairs, and from this reason the two en-
Payments go hand in hand and help each
other. Some of the best writers of the
country are by profession ministers, but
| they are often better and sometimes only
known as authors. a talent is frequently
developed which, although it more COM
monty leads to the essay, history. descrip-
tive or argumentative work. sometimes even
!
gard to our own pastors. however. it is not
generally known how widespread such work
is. Among those here who furnish the re-
hglous papers with Washington news DIR.
J. u. buLIer OF the Lutheran Memorial
Church is quite active in that way. he
has been the correspondent of the Lutheran
Observer for over thirty years. and also of
the Lutheran Evangelist, of which DR..
GelSer, formerly OF the geological survey
oIhce mere, IS III charge. Of the latter pa
nor last rod
cO-editor. Dr. HamLln's name is also tamil
lar To the readers OF the independent, and
he often maheS contrib ItiOnS to the month
~ magazines. Rev. Hugh Johnston, pastor
oil tnc metropolitan NJ. h. Church, also
corresponds Tor two Boston papers, one OF
which Is the ZIon's Herald ana Or. Chester,
OF the metropolitan Presbyterian Church,
although he mas now given il up was, for
long time, the correspondent or the
Christian herald, the PitLsDurg Banner, and
other papers. Dr. MchIm anu various oIn-
ers Will also be remembered in work OF
this KIND, and numDer more VINO have
flown their colorS and made their hight IN
Gays gone by.
1t seems that everybody came out nobly
in the charitable work for Thanksgiving
this year. OF course there were some, as
always, from whom not red copper, or
any other colored cent, could be obtained
for anyone but themselves. but II is hoped
that the number was few. The Central
Union Mission, the Associated Charities
and the churches all did a great work while,
perhaps, the best of all was the individual
help and aid so widely distributed in the
way of money, fuel, clothing and food.
Many happy countenances were seen about
the streets on Thanksgiving day, and in
the churches were many faces wreathed in
smiles, either because they had been helped
themselves or given help to a fellow man.
The services in the churches were interest
ing and well attended There was very
little in the way of floral decoration, but
some houses of worship were given a very
10 hxr th.a
heaping of corn, pumpkins, apples, pota-
toes and other gifts of autumn about the
pulpit and in the hooks and corners of the
church.
Now that the Episcopal congress In New
York and the cOnvocation in Baltimore are
over and gone, people who We're there and
people who weren't there are discussing the
real significance of these meetings and
just how much they meant to the members
of the Episcopal Church at large AS to
the congress, the majority of those who
We're there complain that the people. and
more especially the newspapers, were too
much occupied with the horse show which
occurred at the same time. Consequently a
false idea of the gathering was obtained by
the great bulk of the people from the press
dispa tches sent out. These We're sensa-
tiOnal, and gave such great prominence to
the doings and sayings of the cranks
skepttcs and humbugs. that persons were
led to believe that, instead of an assembly
of sober-minded. moderate and deeply re-
lgiOus folk, 1t a shouting mob of relig-
ious and sacreligious fanatics. The Balti-
more convocation. although of not nearly
so great interest or general importance to
the country, handled a subject of vital mo-
ment to the people of Washington This
was the division of the diocese. 1t will be
remembered that the diocese, which con-
tains the two big cities of Washington and
Baltimore. is probably the largest of, any in
the country except the diocese of New York.
The situation was summed up briefly in the
address of the bishop at the 10th annual
ntion in Baltimore, and ii would be
well TO recall a few words from his speech.
He said in substance: The wonderful and
rapid growth of our two great cities will
make division absolutely necessary before
long. L must and do remember that in the
city of Washington God has given us ma
uOnal opportunities and responsibilities.
Powers of ali kinds are centering there
The church should be strongly represented
there. 1t was the rule OF the church in the
earliest days that every strong city should
nave bishop. and If there is a city in our
land where more tnan in others that rule
should be followed it is in the city of Wash
ington. do believe that the time has come
when 1t is our sacred duty to take thought
and action for this grand forward step BY
the laws of the church the consent of the
DIshOp Is necessary for a division Dearly
as / love every part of the diocese, | would
II the convention should approve, give my
consent upon proper conditions" But, be-
sides this, the approval OF the general as
semDiy must be given, which does not meet
until lS9J The decision ought to be made
HO"eNtI' dI the convention OF the diocese
next summer The division would involve
a large additional expense and burden but
II Is evident that il must be made sooner or
later. There is plenty of time TO think II
over, and the problem is before the Episco-
palians of Washington today
Al the recent meeting Of the board of
control OF the Epworth League of the Dis
trlct some good IDEAS were suggested and
many plans made for the winters work
Inc hrst mass meeting under the new
officers VIII be held in the HamIine NJ f
church on Friday, December II, at which
time Rev. George Elliott. pastor of the
DumSarton Avenue NJ. T. Church. will
address, the young people on THE Place
of Young People in the Church" The
meeting viii be in charge of Secretary
PuSn Of the Y. NJ 6. A. and a novel DIan
will be tried for getting a large attendance.
I The society which has the best representa-
ton viii be given the right to choose the
church in which the next mass meetfr 9,
Will be held. and. Of course an effort win
be made by each society to secure it for
their church. Another incentive in the
w1r. OF the year will be the presentation
OF prize banner to the chapter either
junior or senior, which makes the largest
gain in numbers for the year
EAn Igr =