The Portland daily press., 1894-09-03
THE EPWORTH LEAGUE.
The Annual Convention to be Held
iu Manchester.
THE GREAT GROWTH OF THIS
FOUR YEAR OLD ORGANIZATION.

The Prospects Are for Most Enthusiastic
Convention-The League is the Most
Popular Form of Church Work for In
teresting the Young People-Already 1t
Numbers One Million Members in This
Country
Manchester. N. H., September 2.-The
fifth annual convention of the New Eng
land District of the Epworth League, the
young peoples organization ofstheMethodist
church, will be held in this city, October 4th
and 5th. This meeting has grown to con-
siderable Importance among the young
Methodists of New England, and its pre-
vious meetings have been largely attended.
Still it is hoped that this one will be even
more enthusiastically supported. and those
having the various departments in charge
have been unsparing in their efforts to have
the result realize The previous conventions
have been held in Providence, Worcester,
Portland and Plymouth. The president of
the district is Rev. Edward N. aylor, ,spastor
of the Winthrop street church, Boston. he
is the successor of other presidents VINO
have been, as he is, mot cordial supporters
of the work of the league and thoroughly IN
touch with the young people. Revs. William
/. Haven of Brookline, George S. Buffers OF
Fitchburg, Frederick H. Knight, formerly
of Springfield, now in Germany. are those
who have previously held the Office. The
other officers of the district are: K. ).
Douglass, first vice president, Plymouth,
Mass; l. p Chase, second vice president,
St. Johnsbury, VT; W. j. Yates. third vice
president, Nsw London, Conn.,, John Legg,
fourth vice president, Worcester, Mass;
Frederick N. Upham, general secretary,
Dorchester, Mass: Merritt G. Beale. record
ing secretary, Boston, Mass; William M.
Flanders, treasurer, Newton Centre. Mass.
Mrs. Annie E. Smiley, superintendent of
Junior League, Ipswich. Mass.
President Taylor, besides being one of the
most popular young men in the New Eng
land conference, and possessed of very
large pulpit power. has manifested much
ability and efficiency as president of the
league. He was born in Washington. Pa,
February rs. 1852. After passing through
the public schools of that place, he entered
Washington and jefferson colleges, and
graduated from that institution In 1873. In
in the Pittsburg conference, and was ap-
pointed Junior preacher on the Florence
circuit. Feeling deeply the need of q
theological education. his spresiding leader.
at his request, released him from his ap-
pointment, and in the fall of 1874 he came to
Boston and entered the Theological school
of Boston university, from which he re-
ceived the degree of S. t. B.. in June. 1877
I0,,,.; h on, in1, in ho
theology he supplied the Methodist church
in South Braintree, Mass. land after gradua-
ton was appointed to South Braintree for
two years. Since that time his appointments
have been as follows: East Main street,
Norwich, Conn.,, three years; st. Paul's,
Fall River,ss Mass, three years; Flint street,
East Somerville, Mass, one year; Trinity,
Charlestown, Mass, five years.
There are 700 leagues in New England,
with membership of 10000. while in the
country at large there are 10000 leagues
with membership of nearly 1.000,0O0. The
figures increase every year, and yet there
are oyer 200 churches in New England which
do not have league, or any young peoples
organization. Though it is true that there
is some opposition to the league in a few of
the churches, because it is thought to separ-
ate the young sand old members of the
church into two distinct classes. still in
most of these 200 churches that is not the
reason for the lacK of a league. The reason
lies in the fact that the church is small, or
perhaps Indifferent, and it is therefore
hoped that Representatives of these 200
churches will go to this years annual meet
ing and get just and adquate idea of what
the league is, and what it is to accomplish
for the church.
AS the league is only few years old, its
growth and work in New England will COM
pare favorably with that of any other part
of the country. The Epworth Herald, the
official organ of the league. is one Of the
brightest and newsiest of the religious
weeklies, and keeps marvelously in step
with the literary demands of the league.
It's circ ulation is as large as that of any
other paper in the country. Zlon's Herald,
New Enaland's famous Methodist weekly,
under the able editorship of DR.. Parkhurst,
also provides full and accurate news of the
league in New England. Thus equipped and
helped, the league in this section is ex-
pected to become sure feeder of the
church. St. Paurs church of this city,
where the convention is to be hel. is one
of the leading Methodist churches in New
England, and is served by former well
known member of the New England confer
enoe, Rev. G. D. Hills, D. D. It's member
ship is large, and it's league is one of the
most prosperous in the connection.