The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-04-01
M EFT TH0DIST CONFERENCE


The Seventh Anniversary of the Epworth
League of the Conference Observed at
Trinity Church Last Evening-opening
Exercises of the Session-Addresses and
Reports From District Presidents-Pro-
gram of the Conference For ro-day.
The forty eighth annual session of
the New York East conference opened
at the Trinity M. e. church in this city
last evening with the observance of the
seventh anniversary of the Epworth
league of the conference. The commit
tee which had in charge the work of
preparation for the opening services of
the conference were busy all day and
at 1880 the examinations for deacons
and elders orders began in the ante
room of the church.
There were about a dozen present in
the classes for each of the four years,
those for the first and second year being
asplrants for the title of deacon and
of the third and four years for the de-
gree of elder.
The examinations were conducted hy
committees of clergymen from the con-
ference. the chairmen for the various
committees being: First year. Rev. w.
T. Pray, Rye, N. Y; second year, Rev.
Arthur H. Goodenough third wear.
heV. A. D. Vail of Brooklyn, and fourth
year, REV. w. E. Scotield of this city
The classes is Swedish and Norwe-
glan We're under committee of which
Rev. s. e. Simonson of Brooklyn is
chairman.
The examinations occupied the great
er part of the day.
In the evening the assembly room
of the church was filled at the En-
worth league anniversary, at which
Rey. Arthur E. Goodenough presided.
Ihe program began with a song service
OF fifteen minutes by the choir and
congregation, which was followed by
responsive reading, led by the chair
man, Prayer was offered by Rev. The
odore l.. Henderson. After more re-
sponslve reading and hymn by the
cholr short reports were read by the
district presidents of the four districts
IN the New York East conference of
the Epworth league
Rev. Elmer A. Dent, president of the
New Haven district, welcomed the vis-
iting leaguers and began by asserting
that the New Haven district was the
best one in the conference There were
last year in the district ffty-eight
young peoples societies, while this year
there are sixty-seven, of which nine
teen are Christian Endeavor societies.
There are also twenty-four Junior So
cieties a gain of ten over last year and
of 480 in membership. The number of
members in the Senior league last year
was 3,9o0 this year it is 4,249 Mr. Dent
said that Methodism is noted for it's
constructive genius and this is evil
denced in the league in New Haven.
The number of conversions in the
league has, however, not been so great
during the past year as might be de-
sired and there is only an average of
one to report for each society. The
league has raised considerable money
for various charitable purposes
Rev. Mr.. Goodenough, president of the
New York district, reported that there
We're twenty six Junior societies in the
New York districts, with 1000 mem
bers, and fifty-fivel chapters of the
Senior league, with $500 members The
conventions and sub-district meetings
of that district are well attended and
are occasions of mental and spiritual
stimulation. AS a rule the young peo-
pie are doing earnest, practical work
Perhaps not as much is being done as
might be in social and literary work
''The New York district is" said Mr.
Goodenough, "however, all right"
John J. Holden, president of the South
Brooklyn district, reported that the de-
velopment of the individual was the
great work in his district. There has
never previously been such activity in
evangelistic work among the young
people of that district as at the pres
ent time. They are also seeking
through various lines of literary work
to spread intellectual development, but
the fact that the religious character
must be first developed is borne in
mind. The membership of the Senior
and Junior leagues is about 10000 in the
district.
Rev. James A. Macmillan, president
of the North Brooklyn district, said he
was pleased to hear such favorable re-
ports from the other districts and was
glad to be able to report the same of his
district. The membership is, however,
very uncertain, but is about 1900.
There are also twenty-five Junior So
cieites, with membership of Oil. The
aim of the combined societies of the
district is symmetrical culture.
After a hymn by the choir Rev. F.
W. Crowder of Rockville Center, N. Y,
delivered an address on "The Epworth
Lacquer as a Citizen" Mr.. Crowder
said that his subject was an espe-
cially live one in New Haven on ac-
count of the extensive work for good
government being done in this city and
which is widely known over the coun-
try. Continuing he said in part: 'Ep-
worth leaguers are not only Christians,
but they are citizens; not only members
of the Methodist church. but of the
nation, and they have duties not only
as loyal Methodists but as citizens.
We cannot interpret Christ's injunc-
ton to be in the world but not of it
to mean the exclusion of state and
nation. I believe it is Christ's purpose
to use our national life for God. A
greater responsibility rests on citizen
members of the Senior and Junior
leagues in the United States than those
of many other countries. Citizens here
are sovereign and as sovereigns they
must accept the responsibility. L be-
lieve it is time for the Epworth league
to wake up to this responsibility, shake