Evening star., 1898-03-12
J N THE CHU RCHE S

In conversation this week with a Star
| reporter, Rev. DIR. Josiah Strong of New
York, general secretary of the Evangelical
Alliance of America, said he had reason to
believe that branch of that organization
would soon be formed in Washington The
purposes of the Evangelical Alliance, brief
ly outlined, are to enlist the efforts of the
members of all the evangelical churches in
movement which has for its object the
attainment of better government for the
large cities.
AT the present time il is a well-known
fact, he said, that the government of most
of the large cities is lamentably bad. and
while the balance of power, when IL comes
to question before the state legislatures
is in the hands of members from the
country districts, the movement from the
country to the city is of such a permanent
character that it will be but few years
at the most before it will no longer be
necessary for the city to ask authority from
the state to do this or to do that, and that
then 1t will be the bad members of society
who will dominate those of a more religious
turn of mind.
In order to counteract this adverse ten
dency the Evangelical Alliance has begun
campaign in various states, notably in
pennsylvania, where they have succeeded
In getting members in large numbers of
the Epworth League, Christian Endeayor
Society, Luther League, Baptist Young
Peoples Union and other kindred organiza-
tions to go from house to house and dis
tribute leaflets or small books, which have
been prepared for the purpose of awaken
ing voters to a sense of their responsibility
to the country at large. This is the plan
which is to be followed here. 1t is expect
ed that. while the citizens of the District
OF Columbia do not vote. an influence will
be thereby eNerted upon those who go from
Washington TO their respective homes to
vote Already steps have been taken by
some of the prominent leaders of young
peoples societies to have a great mass
meeting for the purpose of obtaining CO.
operation among all interested, in order to
bring about the desired result.
Considerable interest has been excited in
this city among Sunday school workers
regarding the publication recently, in a
monthly paper, of an article in which the
editor severely criticised the personnel and
conduct of Sunday schools generally. This
writer claimed that the Sunday schools
are decaying. and that even it's most zeal
GUS advocates concede the fact that its
strength is on the wane: that those who
attend are lukewarm in their interest
Leading Sunday school workers in this
city, who discussed the matter with a Star
reporter, were of the opinion that the Sun
day school is a greater force today in the
church than ever before; that brighter men
and women are engaged and better meth
DDS employed: that the interest is greater
than ever before. They say the declara-
tion that, as a rule. Sunday school super
intendents are stupid and the teachers list
less and uninterested. is absurd. AS a
matter ~of fact. il was stated, there has
been almost phenomenal progress made in
the Sunday school,
Rev. DR. HANNA of Washington, who.
since 1896, has been pastor of the First
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Altoona,
Pa. which city he has only regarded as
Lis temporary residence, has resigned his
position as pastor there, and will return to
Washington. When DIR. HANNA accepted
the pastorate it was with the understand
ing that he would remain but a few months,
but on account of the opportunities of the
members he has been induced to remain
from time to time for more than two years
A gentleman, who is thoroughly conversant
with the affairs of the Altoona Church.
says that during DR.. Hamma's pastorate
the congregation has risen from threatened
disintegration and almost bankruptcy to a
condition of great prosperity.
Sister Augusta B. Shaffer the present
head Of the Lutheran mother house at Bal
timore, who, as heretofore stated in The
Star, is to be a missionary to Africa, will
he the second deaconess TO go to the dark
continent from an American Lutheran
mother house. Sister Augusta will work
a missionary just as do others who are sent
by the Lutheran foreign board. She will
also remain a deaconess, and as such will
bear the same relation to the mother house
as does one who is working parish
deaconess under the immediate direction OF
a pastor of a parish in America. Sister
Augusta was the first of the deaconesses
OIL the general synod to enter upon deacon
ess work, and has been the head sister since
the opening of the mother house.
The ninth mass meeting of the Lutheran
Young Peoples Union of the District of
Columbia was held last evening at the
Church of the Reformation. Rev. DIR. w. E.
Parson, pastor. Those who took part were
Rev. DR.. j. G. Butler of Luther Memorial,
Rev. DR.. S. Domer of st. Pauls, Rev. DR..
Parson, Miss c. A Poggensee, president of
the Christian Endeavor Society of the
Church of the Reformation; Sister Keturah
Smith and the officers of the union. DR..
Parson spoke on "Christ's Call to Young
Men," and Sister Smith ION Christ's Call
to Young Women"
An intermediate society of Christian En-
deavor has been formed in Grace Baptist
Church. Rev. A. F. Anderson pastor, with
Mr.. E. A. Ferris as Its superintendent
Rev. Dr. Parson, pastor of Church of the
Reformation. will during the remaining
Sunday evenings in Lent preach on special
topics,as follows: Tomorrow. False Gods"
March 20, Pulpit and Pew" March %
TO Young Men and Young Women" April
3, ITO Fathers and Mothers" During Pas
sion week he will preach each evening. ex-
cept Saturday, on an appropriate topic, and
Sunday morning will discourse On 1.-The
Resurrection" The same evening there
VIII be confirmation. communion and recep-
ton of new members.
Representative Dolliver Of Iowa has been
seiected py the proper authorities to pre-
sent the claims of the American Uniyer-
slty to the general conference of the NJ E.
Cnurcn south. which meets shortly in Bal
timore. Bishop Hurst is almost daily re-
ceiving assurances that the members of the
Southern Methodist Church regard the es-
tablfshment Of the American University as
an absolute necessity, in order that educa-
ton under religious auspices may be kept
abreast of the times. and, while there is to
be an effort made to increase the endow-
ment of Vanderbilt University in Tennes-
see. 1T is not at all probable that those who
contribute to that cause will thereby be led
to give any less toward the endowment of
the great institution which is to be located
here, and one Of the buildings of which,
the College of History, has already been
completed. 1t 10 realized that the work of
the two institutions does not conflict in any
regard, and there is reason to believe that
many Of the students who will gradute
from the Vanderbilt will afterward take a
course at the American Uni
versity.
Bishop Hurst is confident that the full
amount OF $4,000. 900, which was asked for
when the enterprise was started for the
purpose of endowing the American Univcr-
sity, win be secured, and he also believes
that much more than this sum will be at
the service Of the enterprise when 1t Is
fully understood by the Protestant people