Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-10-03
BROTHERHOOD OF ST. ANDREW.

Those who went to the parish hall o.
Christ Church last evening to hear the
reports of Revs. Thomas Semmes and
Charles B. spsrks. the delegates from
Christ Chapter to the convention OF the
brotherhood recently held in Louisville,
were amply repaid for their trouble.
After prayers by Rev. S. A. Wallis
and the singing of the brotherhood
hymn, Mr.. Semmes began his remarks.
He dwelt particularly on the "charge'
by the Ri. Rev. T. U. Dudley, Bishop
of Kentucky, the address on "How to
Study the Bible" by MIR. Robert E.
Speer, of the Presbyterian board of
missions, New York city, and the con-
ference on the boys department.
In speaking of the first subject, he
said that Bishop Dudley charged them
particularly not to lose their individual,
personal effort in organization. This,
he said, was the greatest danger that
threatened the brotherhood.
"How to Study the Bible" is a most
important matter, and Mr.. Speer han.
died his subject in q mastery way.
Firstly, he said, we should know the
story of the Bible and become thorough
Iy familiar with it; secondly, we should
study it as collection of verses; third
ly, we should study it by books, how,
when, by whom, for whom, and for
what purpose they were written !;
fourthly, with good concordance. it is
an excellent plan to study by subjects;
filthy, we should study the characters
of the Bible, and lastly, study it as
personal message to ourselves.
The boys department, he said, was
one of the most important before the
brotherhood, and the opinion of all at
the convention was that the brother
hood isjust beginning to grasp the SUBJ
ject fully. What to do with the boys
between the ages of twelve and twenty
is a subject that has baffied and is still
battling many, and when the brother
hood has thoroughly solved this diff
cult problem it will have reached d
high-water mark in its history. This
subject is not only of vital interest to
the brotherhood but to all Christian
people of whatever denomination.
Mr.. Sparks dwelt particularly on the
spiritual side of the convention. He
said that those who attended the con-
venIion in Washington last year could
realize what it was to see o vest body
of young men from a.. parts of the
country gathered Together for one pur-
pose-the work of the Master. How
earnest, how spiritual, how enthusiastic
they all were for "the spread of Christ's
kingdom among young men," And
yet, he said, underlying all this enthus-
isam, all this earnestness, was Christ.
ian, brotherly love.
A "quiet day" for prayer and medi-
tation proceeding the business sessions
has become permanent feature of the
convention. This was conducted by
Rev. Floyd w. Tomkins, jr., of Pro-
violence, r. I. Mr.. Tomkins directed
tho thoughts of those present to "Our
Sins" "Our Powers" and sour Oppor-
tunities," and the service was closed
with renewal of the brotherhood
VOWS. This was one of the most i'm
pressive sessions of the convention.
MIR. Sparks in speaking of the sue
cess of the brotherhood said that it was
due in great part to the sympathy of
the workers. AS an instance, he said,
that while Mr.. Speer was speaking of
the mission work in the slum districts
of New York city in which he was en-.
gagged, the tears were streaming down
his cheeks.
The address of Rt. Rev. Davis SEES
sums, Bishop of Louisiana, on 'Social
Wrongs-The Mission and Power of
the Christian Church to Right Them"
was one of the most eloquent, scholarly
and rhetorical delivered. He said that
the motto of the anarchist was "Tbine
is mine," whereas that of the true Chris
tian believer was mine is thine"
Ia size the convention did not come |
up to the standard, but what it lacked
in numbers it made up in easnestness,
enthusiasm and spirituality.