Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-04
AMONG THE CHURCHES

Sunday, tie few couples occasionally. at
tend funeral once in awhile, make a
speech at the church social, be the richer
for an annual donation party and draw a
salary at intervals OF more or less irregu-
larity. According to the same idea the pas
tor was supposed to spend his time during
the week sitting in a coy study talking
with his friends and reading newspapers,
religious and otherwise. But this is not SO
now. II. indeed. it ever was. If any one
thinks that minister is to be found sitting
around the fire at home whenever he is
wanted, let him try to catch the pastors of
some Of our large churches at their houses
some time. The majority of them are on the
60 from morn till dewy eve and often well
into the night. Their life is quite as irregular
and uncertain as that of doctor of medi-
cine. and they quite as apt 10 be called
for at all hours Of the day and night. Worse
still, they must keep up patient and pi-
Gus exterior throughout it all and treat the
bore. the dead beat and the peddler with
all politeness and good WILL or get repu-
tation for being hypocrite. From recent
ly published statistics 1t is said that the
ministers in the majority of cases are a
harder worked set than persons in any
other profession, and that the majority of
deaths in their class are due to mental
breakdown and overwork. One rarely
finds a fieshy man in the ministerial profess
sion. Here in Washington there are per-
haps a dozen six-footers and many WELL
built men among the preachers. but one
has to go long way to find one who is
carrying around any flesh that he could
spare. Most of our large churches are run
on the most business-like system, exactly
as a real estate, dry goods other bust
ness would be conducted. the pastor doing
certain things on certain days and having
regular office hours at his home and church.
Don't think that minister has nothing to
do. and don't take up his time any more
than you would that Of any other business
man.
There is every chance that Washington
will have the opportunity of hearing two
OF the world-rencwned ministers of the
country in the near future, Dwight L.
Moody. the evangelist, and T. Dewitt Tai
mage. the Brooklyn preacher. Talmage
has promised to be present on the I'D OF
this month to preach at the dedication of
the Eastern PRESBYTERIAN Church. But
there Is a chance OF missing him after all.
The church has been ready for dedication
some time now, except that the carpet is
not laid. 1t has been promised and prom
ised again before this, but il is not there
yet II the firm in charge wakes up all will
be well. II IL doesn't, a church carpet will
be to blame for Washington's not hearing
the great divine from Brooklyn The Gen.
trail Union Mission is interested in the COM
ing of Mr. Moody. If sufficient money can
be raised. he will come and II Is thought
that this can be done with a considerable
effort.
Next Monday night will be big time at
the Central Union Mission. The delegates
TO the Christian workers convention at
Atlanta Will be there and MessrS. ,. ri.
Hadley, Thomas Il. Ironside and others will
be present and take part. 1t is probable
that many of the most prominent women
of the United States and Canada, on their
way TO Atlanta will also be here. and it is
thought that the Women's Band will invite
them to their hall on Tuesday morning to
hear them tell of their work.
Last Sunday reformation exercises were
held in many of the Lutheran churches. and
November u mos I of them will celebrate
what is known as"Luther Sunday" the 10th
anniversary of his birth. DIR. j. G. Butler
of the Memorial Lutheran Church has an
nOCnced his intention of preaching on Luth-
er's life and work on that occasion Just
now the various churches of that denOmi-
nation are interested In the coming enter
tainmeIt. The Story of the Reformation"
Last Sunday was a day which will not be
forgotten AT the Mount Vernon NJ. F.
Church South. A large attendance was
drawn by the home missionary exercises
and various speakers, but. better still. $3.50
was raised for the church. This practically
frees II from debt. y reception will be Civ
en- next week by the Christian Endeavor
and Young Mems Christian societies of
that church to the young men Of the con-
gregation.
A successful fair has been In progress
during the week for the benefit of st.
Cyprlan 3 Cnurch, at st. Peter 5 Hall, cor
ner of Cd and f streets southwest. 1t will
continue another week.
An interesting and suggestive service was
observed in two of our Methodist sanctu-
aries last Sunday. II was old folks day at
Hamline ard Fourth Street NJ. r. Churches.
The aged and iniirm WERE If necessary,
brought in carriages from their homes and
easy chairs were provided for them at
church. Special services. including an ap-
propriate sermon were carried out This
PLEASANT custom was originated four years
ago at the Fourth Street Church by Rev.
VI. F. B. Rice.
Bishop Keane Of the Catholic University
will lecture in Boston, November 80, under
the auspices of the Catholic Union.
At the Douglas Memorial VI. E. Church
corner OF H and 18th streets northeast, the
Circle OF Kings Daughters celebrated their
anniversary and rendered an attractive
program last Sunday night.
The hfty-fifth anniversary of the Metro
politan A. NJ. E Church on NJ street be-
tween 18th and 18th streets was begun last
Sunday with special exercises and has con-
tnued with undated interest all week
Among the various musical and literary
attractions there has been a forefather's
and mothers meeting, a dramatic enter
tainment by the Sunday school, an enter
tainment by the Bethel Literary Society. a
stereopticon lecture by d. p. Seaton on
his voyage round the world a Columbia
tea party by the Christian Endeavor Club
and concert by the Metropolitan Church
choir.in which Mime. Jennie Robinson Stew
aru OF Detroit appeared. Among the vari-
Gus pastors and men who have been pres
ent may be mentioned Rev. ID. p Seaton
OF the Ebenezer a. VI. T.. Church, George
town: T. II. Hunter. Eugene Johnson. pas
tor OF the Lincoln Memorial Congrega tional
Church; Rev George w. Lee, D. D. of the
vermont Avenue Baptist Church, and Rev
= j. Grimke, D. D., pastor of Fifteenth
street Presbyterian Church.
Inc contributions nave been generous and
tne EFFORT TO raise s2,500 for immediate use
Will undoubtedly be success full
The annual election of officers for the
WomenS Guild of the Ascension y !,
tnurch took place this week. resulting as
follows: Mrs Horace Gray, president: Miss
Condict. vice PRESIDENT Mrs Hanson. treas
urer' Mrs Stanley, secretary. The rector
or the church. DIR. Elliott has been giving
a series or practical sermons on speaking
the truth Tor the evening services He will
follow II up with the subjects of controlling
the temper and honesty. A chapter of the
daughters OF the King is being organized
IN the parish for the purpose of aiding the
rector III his work. The mission AT the
Freedmans Hospital supported by the same
church. mas been started for the winter
IAe Ascension Church also has a Sunday
schooI for Chinese boys and girls which
NUMBERS about twenty-five bright and inter
estel scholars. 1t is an institution well
worthy of success and an idea which might
Prontaoly be considered by other churches
the regular Sunday school of the church
mas elected John McWhorten for superin-
tendent
The sermons in the chapel of the Catholic