Evening star., 1898-10-15
IN THE. CH RICHES

| Great interest is felt in Washington, and,
| indeed, in many of the other large cities
| of the country, in the movement which has
been started in New York by Rev. DR.. Nc
| Sweeny, rector of St. Bridgets Church,
| for open-air services. The movement is
| regarded as a great innovation, and if as
| successful in the future as during the past
| two weeks, is likely to become general.
| The object is to reach those who it is be-
| lieved should, but do not, attend a Catholic
| church.
| DR.. McSweeny first obtained permission
| from Archbishop Corrigan to preach in the
| streets for the benefit of the large num-
| Der of Italians in his parish who would not
| attend church. In that city, he explained,
| there are 10000 Italians, all Roman Cath
| ones, and OF the number scarcely 1O,OisD at
! tend church. In seeking for the cause of
| this Indifference he found that the Italians
| We're opposed to building or supporting
chnrches. In their native land the govern
| ment did that.
Some time ago Father McSweeny issued
| a circular inviting Italians to attend his
| church at Sth street and Avenue B. and
stating that the services would be free to
| them. Very few responded, however He
| then decided that If they would not go to
| the church he would go to them and he
| lald MS plan before the archbishop, who
| approved it.
| A permit good until January was OBJ
tanned from the mayors office. and last
Sunday afternoon two big trucks We're
GraWn up on the sidewalk next to the old
| Calvary cemetery on 11th street between
| Avenue A and Avenue y, and facing row
| Of Italian tenemeuts. An American flag and
| an Italian flag were hung upon the ceme-
| terry fence and a church banner was raised
on one of the trucks. A choir of BOYS from
| st. Bridget's Church. under charge of
! Brother Albert occupied one of the wag-
ons. A delegation of men from the oily
| Name Society of the parish stood near the
| wagons. When the services began neOple
! We're on the stoops of houses others in the
| windows. crowds were upon the front fire
| escapes and many were on the roofs of the
! houses The crowd in the street extended
| up and down for nearly half a block, The
| Italians apparently looked upon the event
as of a festive character and every man
| woman and child on the block sought n
place to see, if not TO hear all that oc-
CURED.
Forefathers day, one of thu greatest
events in the Christian or Discfn1ae;
| Church, viii be celebrated in Washington
one week from tomorrow CSunday) Rev,
| Dr. j. Il. Tyler. national superintendent Of
the American Christian Missionary Society
| III a circular received here, suggests that a
| program be carried out as follows: Have
| the missionary COMMITTEES or a special com
mlttee begin TO arrange at once to secure
q, 3nsrlhgs ESQ on et that day from all the mem
bers these offerings to be sent to Benz. L.
| smith, Y. NJ. G. A building Cincinnati
| Cflo' the corresponding secretary of the
American Christian Missionary Society
| rake for your subject in the Chris ,ian
| EndeaVor prayer meeting Sunday, OctoDer
- 'Forefathers' Day; Its Lessons and It's
CaIl. The topic list published by the Unit
| ed Society makes this a missionary 6av
and names Go or Send as it's subject This
easily gives an opportunity to speak Of the
| work Of our forefa hers in going forth to
proclaim the gospel in its purity.
| Have at least three five-minute bio
| graphical sketches Of the society The pas
| tor will cheerfully aid his young people in
prsparing these sketches. l suggest as
| Sullaple SUBJECTS the Campbells, Stone,
Scott, Rogers and Smith.
| Have some one give, with the aid of a
| map ten-minute talk on the work of the
American Christian Missionary Society.
| ASK your pastor to preach that day Oc-
| tober %, on The Plea Our Father Made'
| This sermon should be given morning or
| evening, and the young people should make
| special effort to secure a large audience"
| Efforts ara being made by the National
| Council of Congrega tionalists to abolish
| the color line among members of the de-
| nCmlnation throughout the south. In Wash
| ingtOn there is the utmost harmony he
| tween the members of both white and
| black churches, but up to the present time
| there has not been this happy feeling in
some of the states south of the Potomac.
| At its recent meeting, the National Council
| refused to acknowledge the black associa-
| tion or the white convention as now being
| a true state body, and insist that they
| unite on the same basis as in other states;
| that is, in conference in which each
| church shall be admitted by pastor and
| delegates. This is what the older associa-
| ton, with its churches, mostly colored
| has repeatedly proposed, but which the
| white convention has as often refused to
do, solely because it would bring it into
| close fellowship with negroes. 1t was a
| sacrifice for some of the delegates and
| their friends to yield their old right and
| privilege as being the state body but they
| were willing to do this If only the principle
of equality in the church could clearly he
| set forth. If now the convention shall re-
| fuse to join such a body, they can have NO
standing in future session of the council
Local PreSbyterianS of the northern and
southern churches are much interested in
| the choice of a successor to the late Rev.
| DR.. John Hall as pastor Of the Fifth Ave
nue. Presbyterian Church of New York
| city. The Rev. DR.. Alexander Conneu of
| London is credited with the statement that
| he would not accept the pastorate, and
| much has been said as to the probability of
| the congregation calling the Rev. Dr. Pey-
| ton Hoge of Wilmington, N. c. DR.. IIoge
| is member of the southern assembly and
| a relative of the Rev. DR.. Moses d. Hoge
of Richmond, Va, who is probably the
| best-known man in the southern church.
| The Rev. DR.. William Hoge, the father of
| DR.. Peyton Hoge, occupied a New York
| pulpit for a number of years previous 20
| the civil war.
AS heretofore stated in The Star. the
| Methodist Protestants of this as well as
| other parts of the country will the 18th Of
next month celebrate the SEVENTEEN ami
| versary of the founding of the denomina-
| tion. Among the local clergy and laity of
| the Methodist Church without a bishop
| this is row one of the all-absorbing topics
| of thought and conversation, and many
| plans are being formulated for the celabra-
| tons in this city.
There will he general celebration but
| instead, simultaneous jubilee services will
| be held in all the churches of this city
| Few churches have grown more rapidly in
| recent years The Maryland conference has
| always been a stronghold of the denomina-
ton ana stnl continues to be the most pow
| erful conference both in point of numbers
| and influence. New churches are now be-
| ing erected or several OF the circuits in