Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-10-09
ST. ANDREW BROTHERHOOD
Extensive Arrangements Being Made for
the Annual Convention.
Growth Of the Society Since It's For
matiOn-Great Good 1t Has
Accomplished.

ton OF the country and which WILL De neld
at Pittsburg October 10. 16 and II.
The indications are that the approaching
convention will De the largest and most
important ever held in the history OF the
organization. The Brotherhood of st. An
drew was organized twelve years ago in
st. James parish. Chicago. by Bible class
for young men. taught by James L.
Houghteing. who has ever since been hon
ored with the Office of its president A
drunken, dilapidated old outcast presented
himself one day to the rector of the PARISH
and asked help. The rector gave him
substantial aid. but he repeated his visit
again and again, and as there seemed to
be no Improvement In his morals the busy
rector was anxious to hand the casa over
to some one else. In looking around for
help In the matter he found that about
all he could do with him was to commit
him to the care of Mr.. Houghteling's Bible
class. in the hope that they could effect a
but did not make success Of it. as the
old tramp died finally In jail at me con,
clusion of a drunken debauch. He had
lived long enough. however. TO inspire the
young men with a desire to do something
practical, and to mingle good works with
Bible study.
Growth of the Society.
A society was formed, under the name
of the brotherhood of st. Andrew" and
from this small beginning has grown up
| the magnificent work Of the national Or
ganizaticn. The brotherhood Is confined
exclusively to the Protestant Episcopal
Church, and is known wherever that
church exists throughout the country. It's
present membership in the United States
| Is about 1900, and 1t is growing with
rapidity which is remarkable. 1t Is ex-
pected that at no distant day every Parish
| in that church will have chapter OF the
| brotherhood in active operation.
The society has been organized for direct
| personal work. and its rules are exceedingly
simple: The constitution explains tne op-
| ject of the association thus: The sole on
| ject Of the Brotherhood of st. Andrew Is
| the spread of Christs kingdom among
young men, and to this end every man de-
! string to become a member thereof must
| pledge himself to obey the rules Of the
| brotherhood so long as he shall be mem
| Der. These rules are two: The rule OF
| prayer and the rule of service. The rule OF
| prayer is to pray daily for the spread of
| Christ's kingdom among young men and
| for Gods blessing upon the labors OF the
| brotherhood. The rule of service Is to make
| an earnest effort each week to bring Mt
| least one young man within hearing OF the
| gospel Of Jesus Christ. as set forth in the
| services Of the church and in young mems
| Bible classes
One of the most remarkable things in its
| history is the firmness with which 1t has
resisted all efforts to divert its simple pur-
pose or make it in any sense a social club
|
| which it's name implies. From so small
beginning the brotherhood has now in good
| standing 1900 members in nearly 1000
chapters scattered over the length and
| breadth of this land with branch Of sew
| eral thousand members in Canada and an
| other in Scotland.
Great Good Accomplished.
Working upon these lines the brotherhood
has accomplished incalcuable good, and
seems to be entering a field of usefulness
! almost illimitable. It's real work is done in
| the local chapters which are maintained
in connection with the various churches.
Any church desiring to do may esta blish
chapter with the consent of the rector
OF the parish If at any time he f1nds req
son to withdraw his approval the chapter
ceases to exist, A local council is organ
lied from representatives of the local chap
ters This council is really an advisory
board, and meets monthly for consultation
in regard to the interest Of the work In the
district 1t covers. In this way the work is
thoroughly organized and at the same time
| kept completely under the control of the
church, which is a safeguard against any
possible departure from the church.
The work Of the brotherhood is carried on
outside the parishes. several missionaries
are supported in the foreign field and are
doing good service. A feature Of the opera
tions of the society is Its work in colleges.
Large numbers of students in the promi-
nent universities and colleges Of the United
States have been gathered into the ranks
of the brotherhood. and are zealously en-
gagged In bringing their unconverted friends
into the church. This department promises
| to become one of the most important and
far-reaching Of all operations of the
| brotherhood.
At the last annual convention, which was
held in Louisville September 25-29 Of last
year, both Canada and Scotland as well
as the United States were represented and
| among the delegates were also numbered
| ll-h1 In6i
of the famous chief. Sitting Bull.
The badge of the brotherhood is a red
st. Andrews cross. woven in the lapel
| of a members coat, or q red enamel and
| committees are at work everywhere, not
only to make people welcome at church
services, but to render the smallest de-
tails of service to men who are strangers
for their comfort and safety.
Some Classes of Work.
Brotherhood boarding houses are main
tanned many brotherhood lay readers main.
tain the services of the church in the city
and country missions. Foreign missions
are aided by the brotherhood and visiting
committees are represented in thousands
| of homes Of sickness and need, hospitals
| reformatories and prisons.
, | AS preliminary to the convention q "uuiet
day service will be hell October IA, after.
noon and evening, in Calvary Church, Eas
End. Many of the convention delegates
will be present and participate. The bust
ness meetings Of the convention will b.
held in Trinity Church, 9Th avenue, ant
the session of the convention proper IL
the music hall Of the Pittsburg Carnegie
free library. Among the distinguished dele
gates who are expected to be present art
Henry Lloyd, the well-known labor leader
of Boston, Mass: William c. Sturgis O.
: Christ Church Chapter, New Haven, Conn.
who is in many ways the leader of young
men in convention: w. r. Stirling of Thu
! Chicago rolling mill; Robert E. Speer, mis-
sionary' of the organization. and also al
: English bishop. together with many Ameri
: can bishops and clergy. Every part o
| the United States willsbe represented, ant
1t is seldom a body of, men so distinguished
by their services to the church and stat
. | is convened in any city.