Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-13

President Washington District Epworth League.
number. He is an eloquent speaker. and a
writer and scholar of some note. While
here he will be the guest of President f.
Z. Tasker
About two million members represent the
numerical strength of the Epworth League
army in the three branches of Methodism
The Methodist Episcopal Church alone has
1.3Go,OO0 Epworthians The growth of this
organization has been phenomenal. The
circumstances leading to its organization
are looked upoi- as providential, it's history
is interesting and deserves mention. The
church has at times been criticised for
forming a purely UNCONVENTIONAL society.
Up to May 10, 1880. the Methodist Episco-
pal Church had five officially recognized
societies, viz: The oxford League" the
Young Peoples Union" the Young Peo-
pies Methodist Alliance" the Young Peo-
pies Christian Alliance" and the North
OFio Conference Methodist Episcopal Al
lance There was a lack Of uniformity
in the work. A call was issued for con-
ference of these several societies TO meet
at Cleveland. Ohio. May IA, 1889, to formu-
late some plan of unity by which the
church and young people might be bene-
fitted. After two days of prayerful and
spirited conference, with concessions from
each of the societies represented. the plans
and name of the Epworth League We're
heralded to the world on the evening of
May H. 1889.
The league was officially adopted as a
part of the religious economy of the Meth
conference in May. 1892. Stree then the
Methodist Episcopal Church South and the
Methodist Church of Canada have official
ly recognized and adopted the name Ep-
tically the same.
The Epworth Herald is the official or
gan OF the league, published weekly at
Chicago and New York, edited by Rev.
Joseph F. Berry, who is an able expo
nent of the league The growth of the
ieralds circulation has been marvellous
from its first issue, June l. 1890, and now
numbers over 100000 subscribers
There is no feature, it is claimed, of the
Epworth League that has hot been char
acteristic of the Methodist Church from
its very beginning.
Working Plan of the League.
Every chapter has a cabinet, composed
OF the pastor. president, four vice presi-
dents, secretary. treasurer and Junior SUI
perintendent. Each officer has a commit
tee of from three to five members The
first vice president looks after the spirit
uai welfare of the members of the chap
ter; the second vice president has charge
of the department of Mercy and Help"
the third vice president of Literary
work, and the fourth vice president of
Social Work"
The chapters in a presiding elders dis
trict are organized into district leagues
the district leagues into conference dis
tricts. and conference districts into gen.
nual conventions. International confer
enceS are held every TWO years at such
time and place decided upon by the board of
control of the three leagues. The last con-
ference was held at Chattanooga, Tenn
in June, 1885. the next Will be held at To-
rOnto, Canada, in 1871.
The Washington district has steadily
grown Slcce its orsdnizat ton, January .
1871, and nov has tlirty-One chapters, in
GLIDING four affiliated societies. with a
total membership of over four thousand
These who have presided over this dis
Woodward. Mr.. G. W. F. Swartzell, Prof
c. NJ. Lacey Sites and Mr.. VIM Burdette
Matthews, whose recent resignation and re-
moval from the city necessitated the cleo
ton of successor, and Mr.. Fred E. Tas-
ker was chosen.
Mr.. Tasker was born in Manchester NJ
H, and moved to this city in his infancy
He. has been member of Metropolitan
NJ L. Church about twenty years, has
served that church as a trustee and in
other official relations. In 1883 he was
president of the Young Peoples Lyceum
In that church and a charter member of
the league. which was organized as the
successor to the 1yceum in 1889. In 1881
ne went as delegate from the District
League to the general conference district
convention, and represented METROPOLITAN
Chapter in 1892 in same district conyen-
Won. ne was lrst vice president of the
washington district in 1893. Mr. Taskcr
was the assistant secretary of the recent
lay electoral conference in Baltimore He
assisted in the organization of ST. PauPs
NJ. h. Church, of which he is member
He is also chairman of the tri-state execu-
tive committee of the Young Mems Chris
tan Association. which includes the states
of Maryland. West Virginia Delaware and
the District of Columbia, and a director of
the Washington City Bible Society.