The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1894-11-06

. history ana ODJectS OF Lne moNouohb may
, be interesting.
. The Epworth League of the Methodist
Episcopal Church is purely denomina
tional institution, and aims to encourage
the study of the scriptures, to instruct the
membership of the chapters in the doc
trines, polity, history and present sctivl-
ty of the church and the other denomi-
nations of the church universal, and to
give stimulus and direction to general
Christian culture.
In the year 1880, provision was made
by the general conference for the forma-
ton of Church Lyceum, which was fol-
lowed in 1884 by the institution of the
Oxford League, of which John II. Vim
cent, D. D., now Bishop, who is known
throughout Methodism and far beyond Its
limits for his profound study of the
youthful mind and close sympathy with
the young, was the recognized head, it
being organized under the auspices of the
Sunday School Union.
The growing desire for UNCONVENTIONAL
unity resulted in conference Of all the
young peoples societies in the M. E. church
at Cleveland. Ohio, on May IA, 1889, through
the influence of the Methodist Alliance,
delegates being present from the Young
Peoples Methodist Alliance, the Oxford
League, the Young Peoples Christian
League, the Young Peoples Methodist
Union and the Young Peoples M. E. Al
lance of the North Ohio Conference.
The features of each society were duly
presented, q spirit of mutual concession
shown, and it was unanimously resolved
to merge all existing societies into one
called the Epworth League, the most
commendable features of the laws of each
society being drawn upon to effect, as
near as possible, model constitution.
The object of the league is ITO promote
intelligent and vital piety in the young
members and friends of the church; to
aid them in the attainment of purity OF
heart, and in constant growth in grace,
and to train them in works of mercy and
help"
The work is carried on through Six de-
partments, viz: Departments of Spiritual
Work, Mercy and Help, Literary Work,
Social Work, Correspondence and FL
nance. These are taken charge of in the
order named by a first, second, third and
fourth vice president, secretary and
treasurer, who, together with the presi-
ident. pastor and superintendent of the
Junior League, constitute the cabinet of
the chapter.
The president must be a member of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, while all
other officers must be member of that
or some other evangelical church.
An important auxiliary of the Epworth
League is the Junior League, boys and
girls under fourteen years of age being
eligible for membership.
The object of the Junior League is ito
promote IN its members an earnest and
intelligent spiritual life, bring them into
membership in the church, and train
them IN works of mercy and help" thus
fitting them for membership in the senior
chapter upon attaining their fourteenth
year.
In a number of chapters an Epworth
Guard is formed as part of the Junior
League, in which the boys are instructed
in military tactics
The district league, next to the local
chapter, is the most important link in the
system, and is organized in every presid-
ing elders district in the church. 1t is
needed in order to promote the establish
ment of the league in the charges, to help
them when established, and to increase
their efficiency by cooperation and su-
pervision.
The district league forms q bond of
union among the young peoples societies,
strengthens their esprit du corps, intensi-
fies their loyalty to the church and great
ly adds to their usefulness, the object
being ito unite in fellowship and Chris
tan work the young people of the dis
trict through the Epworth League and
other young peoples societies"
1t is needed also in order that the dis
trict league may elect delegates to the
general conference district convention,
which in turn chooses members for the
board of control
The Trenton District Epworth League,
of the New Jersey M. E. Conference,
which holds It's sixth annual convention
in the Mount Holly M. E. Church, on
Thursday, is the outgrowth of move
at1 cd hxy hn oh MTG of
Mount Holly, which proudly holds No. 8,
out of the thousands of chapters existing
in the United States and elsewhere at the
present time.
Chapter was organized on May 30,
1888, as a Young Peoples Union, during
the pastorate of Rev. w. W. Moffett, now
agent of the American Bible Society for
the distr let of New Jersey, Delaware and
Maryland.
The organization was effected with 36
charter members, and received an Oxford
League charter, Robert M. Early, now of
Smithville, being the first president, with
other officers as follows: Vice president,
Miss Matte Reynolds; recording secre-
tary, Ralph L. Mason; financial secretary,
j. Frank Scattergood; treasurer, Walter
E. Dobbins.
OF the charter membership of 36 per-
sons, owing to death and removal, Is still
remain, the total present membership
being H.
When the result of the conference, held
at Cleveland, Ohio, on May IA, 1889, to
organize denominational young peoples
society became known to the local Young
Peoples Union, they at once bestirred
themselves and made application for an
Epworth League charter, securing No. 3
largely through the fundamentally o.
Ralph Linford Mason, now deceased
then one of the most valued members
Shortly after this the name was changed
to Epworth League. No. g.
In the early fall of 1889, Chapter
being the oldest chapter in the New Jer
sey Conference, began to consider the ad
: visibility of effecting district organiza
ton, and through the secretary, Ralpl
Linford Mason, Rev. j. B. Graw, d. D.
+ then presiding elder of Trenton district
, was communicated with and asked to cal
, a convention of the young peoples SO
cietIes of the Trenton district, on Thurs
day, November 7, 1889, in the Noun
Holly M. E. Church. The request wa
acceded to and the Trenton District Ell