Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-05
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
Preparations in Progress for the Proposed
Congress
The List of Lecturers Will Contain
Many Names Prominent in Va
rfous Walks of Life.

The executive committee Of the American
Society of Religious Education, which has
its headquarters in this city, is going rap
idly forward with arrangements for the
congress it is to hold here IN about
two months from now. 1t has been de-
cided to have all the meetings take place
in one building. and that there shall be
no simultaneous meetings. The session Of
the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church,
its official body, now has under considera-
ton the request of the organization TO hold
The congress in that church, and it is prob
able that the request will be granted. To
the invitations which have been sent out
to prominent divines and others TO speak
replies are being received frequently. and
within the last few days some gentlemen
of national reputation have Indicated their
intention of attending the sessions and of
making addresses.
Some of the Speakers
Among these latter are the following
gentlemen, with the topics to which they
have been assigned: Senator ]. II. Thurs
ton of Nebraska, Religious Education and
National Prosperity" Rev. Walcctt Cal
kins, ID. d., a congregational pastor of
Boston, Tine Family as an Educational
Institution" Rev. l.. T. Townsend. ID. D..
pastor OF Mt. NerI on Place Church, Balti-
more, Science and Philosophy as Aids TO
Pulpit Instruction." Rev. John r. Davis
u d.. pastor of the Fourth Presbyterian
Church, New York, The Preac ler as an
Educator" ard Rev. S. G. Graham. ID. d..
Philadelphia minister, 1.-The Bible and tho
Non-church-going. Population A plumber
OF other speakers from outside of Washing
ton are yet to be heard from, and when
TINS list of this class of lecturers is COM
pleted the committee on program will turn
It's attention to securing the best and most
prominent Of the local pastors Of all de-
nominations. There will probably be about
eighteen OF these latter in all. The pro-
gram as outlined i'm The Star about three
weeks ago will remain substantially un-
changed, and a number of the men who
were then announced as having promised 10
deliver addresses have been assigned their
topics. 1t is not expected, however that
each invited speaker who is present will
have some stated topic, but that those
VINO are SO unprovided for will take mart in
the general discussions, though the one
they take part IN Will probably be indi.
Gated.
Sunday Teachers Clubs.
In addition to pushing the arrangements
for the Congress, the officers of the society
have recently put in operation an already
organized branch of the association in a
new form. At the Congregational Church
ana at several other churches in this city
there has been meeting for about a wear
past Sunday Teachers Club This has
nCw been thoroughly revised and advanced
several degrees higher in the line of re-
nglouS education and given the name of a
normal college, with, however the Same
objects in view as those of the club name
ly, subjects in relation to the Bible to
spiritual life and to ecclesiastical history
and polity. Supervision is to be had over
This department by a board of twelve direc-
tors, all of whom have been selected and
are all men of ability, but representing all
the more important sects of Christianity
AS the college will of necessity have no
stated home its work is being done by
means of regular system of correspond
ence. The society has had in use in its
Sunday Teachers Clubs pamphlets and
books for use as text books These have
row been revised and extended in their
scope TO meet the advanced training and
are expected to be ready for publication
very soon.
DIR. Gilbert, the secretary of the American
Society of Religious Education, and Prof
John M Gregory, who has had Immediate
direction of the teachers clubs, have prac
ideally supervision over the new organiza-
ton. 1t is contemplated If the present plan
is success, as 1T is giving every promise
OF being, to organize other colleges or de-
partments In the various branches of Chris
tan science and to ultimately have prac-
tlcally a Worldwide university linked to-
eether by the courses which all in common
are studying, and by the system of cor
respondence