Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-17
RELIGIOUS SOCIETY
American. Education Organization
With Headquarters Here.
BIG CONGRESS- IN APRIL
Steady Growth and a. Present
Wide influence for Good.
SPEA KERS sell. G T E D

SPEAKERS ELEC ED
In response to call to those persons in
Washington interested in religious works,
but more particularly in religious education,
issued by the American Society of Religious
Education, which has it's headquarters in
this city, number of gentlemen gathered
at the Riggs House Wednesday afternoon,
as stated in The Star, to discuss the pros
poets for holding a convention of the Or
ganiZation and to adopt program for the
same. Quite a large number of the local
pastors were present, and deep interest
was manifested in the meeting The socie-
ty, though having been removed to this city
more than two years ago from indianapolis,
is yet not very well known locally, for the
reason that large part of it's work is scat
tered all over the United States. The total
m embership is something over twenty
thousand, and this membership will be rep
resented at the convention of the organiza-
ton, or rather its first congress, it is
called, which will meet in April, by large
number of delegates. The objects of this
assemblage will be to emphasize the i'm
pcrtance of religious education; to review
what has already been done in this country
by the Sunday school, the family the pulpit
and the college in imparting a knowledge of
Christianity, and to consider the value of
the methods and agencies now in USE in
! this department., and to determine what new
| methods and agencies may be necessary.
| The congress will be in two great parts,
| styled the senate and the house, meeting
always in joint session. The senate will be
composed of fellows of the American So
| ciety of Religious Education, and the in
| vited speakers. The house will include all
| other members of the society, and such mem
|
| such representation in the house as will
| render the congress most profitable and in
f1nential the faculties of higher institutions
| or learning especially those in which the
| Bible is a text book, including theological
| seminaries and biblical Institutes, have been
| invited to elect delegates from among their
number. The railroads have promised re-
duced rates. and all those who are not ac-
| commodated by private citizens will be
! taken care of at the hotels at reduced "a ties
! also The whole measure originated in the
| profound conviction that the interest in
secular education, involving large sums of
money and engaging the best minds. should
| be met by corresponding interest in relig-
| ious education.
| The Steady Growth.
| The society under whose auspices the
I congress is held began in Indianapolis in
| 1889. to cover a movement for the training
| of Sunday school scholars. Three years
sater it's scope was enlarged to take in the
/
| encourage the development of character at
all periods of life. Later it's constitution
was amended to engage the work of schol-
| ars who might be engaged in original in
| vestigation. and two years ago the last
| feature was added-the establishment of an
! exhibit of reausites-and Washington was
! selected for the headquarters. The work
has grown, until now it is embraced under
number of heads, each one of which is
under the direct supervision of standing
committee, all of whom have as their
chairmen men who are of national reputa-
ton. The first one is fellowship, ex-
| Assistant Secretary of Agriculture Edwin
Willis, chairman, and its duty is to rec
ommend to the executive committee minis
tiers and scholarly laymen for fellowship
in the society, and to devise and supervise
their work. The fellows, as last published,
are as follows: Gen. John Eaton, ex-com-
missioner of education; John NJ. Gregory,
ex-member OF the civil service commission
Rev. j. E. Rankin. DID,, president of How
ard University; Rev. j. E. Gilbert, DID,,
secretary of the society; Edwin Willis,
LID, lawyer. Washington. d. c.; William
L. Wilson, LID, Postmaster General
Rev. W. F. King DID,. LID, president OF
Cornell College, Mount Vernon, Ia: Prof
W. w. Grant of Providence, R. l.; Rev. S.
L. Beiler. vice chancellor of the American
University; c. w. Dabney, assistant Sec
rotary of agriculture; Rev. T. H. Hume OF
the University of North Carolina: James
,, H. Carlisle, president of Wofford College
Rev. J. B. Shearer, president of Davidson
College. Davidson, n. c.; T J. Morgan, ex.
commissioner of Indian affairs: Rev. J. NJ
Otis. ID. editor of the Alabama Presby.
: terrain; Prof. N. X. Davis of the University
of Virginia; Rev. s. Lander, president OF
the Female College, Williamson, s. c.
Rev. G. b. Patch, pastor Of the Guntor
; Temple Presbyterian Church, Washington
D. c., and Rev. J. F. Spence, DID,, LID
chancellor of the Temperance University
and formerly holding the same position al
Grant University.
Special Branches.
, The committee on home child culture o.
which Gen. Eaton is chairman, is to super
, wise the work of all those groups in which
the home nurture of little children is con
S sidered, and devise courses of reading fol
: their extension into all cities. Rev Alex
ander Mackay Smith, D. D., has charge Of
one, whose duty it is to supervise tn,
course of Bible reading for individuals
suggesting improvements and devisins
methods for its introduction. That under
l Mr.. John NJ. Gregory looks after the Sun
2 day Teachers Club, and has already es
tabished large and f1ourishing one il
E this city, besides others in other cities
: Dr. Rankin looks after courses of BibI,
reading for students of colleges, and An
5 drew 3. Duvall, Sunday school extension
Other committees are those of finance C
w. Needham, chairman; conventions. Rev
DR.. Gilbert; depository, Prof t. B
l Warder, and on lectures, William L. viii
s sen. That on lectures. headed by Post
4 master Wilson, has already been before tn
y Washington public through the course O
4 lectures on the Bible which they conducte
e last winter, and which has already beef
: started this season
Some Speakers.
The program, as prepared, will reuuir
forty-two speakers and of that numbe
: the following gentlemen have already sig
, | nifed their intention of delivering ad
: dresses: Presbyterian-Rev. Drs r.
n | Campbell, Asheville NJ c.; j. B Sheare,