Evening star., 1895-06-01

| on the main stem of the Baltimore and
| Ohio railroad, cut of which has hereto
| fore been printed in The Star. The i'm
| portance of adding more homes will no
| doubt come up for consideration at the
convention, as also plans discussed for
| putting the home better working
basis. No doubt other synods will avail
! themselves of the privilege of building ad-
| ditional homes. The plan is to build a
number of cottages, instead of one large
| building. as originally intended
Two committees of five members each,
| one 20 revise the hymns. the other the
| music of the Book of Worship, were ap-
| pointed at the last convention. to act in
cooperation and to report at this conven-
| ton, pastors generally having six months
| in which to send in suggestions. These
committees have been hard at work, meet
| ing number of times since their appoint
| ment, and have about completed their la
DCrS.
Foreign Missions.
The board of foreign missions, of which
| the Rev. j. G. Butler, d. O., of this city is
| the president, will have very gratifying
| report to make. The secretary's (Rev. Geo.
ScholD report will show receipts largely
| in excess of those of the last two years
| preceding the convention held two years
| ago at Canton, Ohio. at which time the
receipts reported amounted to S113,9S7.1I.
and $4,329.47 from the sale of African cof-
fee raised at the Muhlenberg mission, and
| 1880 from the publication society; the re-
mainder principally from the district
synods, the Woman's Home and Foreign
| Missionary Societies, and other sources.
Recently the board engaged MIR. Prabala
Ramachandrayya Garu, b. A, a convert
from Bralmanism, 20 visit the congrega-
tions and institutions of the church in the
| interests of the work in India. He was
well and favorably received by Washington
Lutherans, having been heard in Memorial,
st. Pauls and the Church of the Reforma-
ton. He is a good talker, and has excel
lent control of our language A few even
irgs ago, at his closing lecture in Memorial
Church, he was presented with a gold
| watch, much to his surprise and delight
His lectures were all highly appreciated.
Home Missions.
In the consideration of home missions
all have keen interest. and when the
secretary, Rev A. S. Hartman, D. D., of
Baltimore presents his report, it will be
received with, if such thing be allowed,
much applause. Notwithstanding the hard
times and consequent depression of all
business. the church work at home has not
suffered, but on the other hand been all
and more than one could expect The two
years ending March 81, 1895, were the best
sions in the church. One hundred and six
ty-three missions were under the care of
the board, an increase of twelve. The re-
cefpts Of the board were about $50 GOO an
increase of nearly sS,0o0' Thirty-four new
missions were enrolled. Twenty missions
became self-sustainirs &. Twenty-six churches
were built. Six thousand members were
received in the mission churches. The
president of this board is the Rev. Charles
S. Albert, d. D.. the local members being
Revs. w. E. Parson, D. D., NJ. W. HANNA
d. D.. Messrs. Albert F. Fox and S. E.
Slater.
The publication society," located in Phlla-
delphia and from which the several boards
receive SO much financial aid, has been
making rapid strides.
The Deaconess Work.
The youngest institution 81 the, church
is the board on deaconess work. of which
the Rev. G. L. Wenner D. d., of New
YORK is the presidents Heretofore this
work has been largely PREPARATORY but
that stage has now been passed, and the
board is IN a position to take up the work
Tor which 1t was appointed and will be
prepared in the coming fail to arrange for
the training of Lutheran deaconesses in
its own institution by corps of specially
trained sisters. Six of these sisters, who
have been under special training at Kat
serworth and elsewhere, will return to this
country during the summer and be prepar-
ed TO enter on their active duties in the
service of the board in the early fall
An offer has been made to the board on
behalf of the Lutherans of Baltimore of
suitable house tree of expense to the board
Tor term of three years, for use as a
mother house and training school. and
the board having formally accepted the
offer will establish the headquarters for its
work in the city of Baltimore. The mother
house will be formally opened October l,
1885, and will be in charge of the six sis
ters who have been specially trained for
this purpose Candidates who desire to
enter on the work of a deaconess will be
accepted on probation in this institution,
where they will be thoroughly trained in
the duties required Of a deaconess. One
candidate has already been accepted, and
other applications are now pending before
the board. In addition to the practical
course of training to be given by the sis
ters. further instruction will be given by
faculty of ministers, who will be specially
selected for this purpose
The work Of the board is meeting with
announcement wherever 1t is presented.
and 1t is believed the house will be opened,
october l, under very favorable auspices.
The board at its last meeting adopted a
constitution for Its guidance, to be sub
mtted for approval at the coming meeting
M the general synod, and also took action
looking &c the incorporation of the board.
Dr. Wenner. in recent publication con-
cernins deaconess work, says: "The rapid
growth of cities. the condition of the sick
and the poor in cities and towns, the alien
alton of large masses from the church, the
religious destitution of the young, the in
nuence of heather sentiments and worldly
lives, the moral degradation of vast masses
dinary means of grace-these are condi-
tons which require a vast enlargement of
the churchs agencies in reaching the
world. On the other hand the cmancipa-
fion of woman from old time restrictions
has opened to her wide fields of usefulness
from which she has hitherto been debarred.
This has created widespread desire on
the part of woman to engage more actively
in public duties and in the work of her
times. The mission fields of farthest In
dia and of the islands of the sea bear wit
ness to her zeal and devotion. At home
she competes with man in almost every
station Of life. Hence the age itself is
opportune and helps to open the doors of
a work in which she has proved singular
ly successful and for which she is by ma
ture admirably fitted.'
The work of the deaconesses as proposed
is to include the care of orphans homes,
of schools and homes for servants and
working girls and hospitals. The deacon
ess Is also looked to to become a visitor
to the poor and thus a valuable factor in
congregational work.
Full of Interest.
All things being considered. the coming
thirtyseventh convention Of the general
synod promises to be full of interest, and
doubtless much good will follow, and more
active interest than ever before be shown
fna ,ortn nf 1Nof1 81, op1 oft